PRS SE just keeps on getting better and better! This sub brand of the Maryland guitar giants was originally intended as a cost-effective Far-Eastern made entry point to the brand, for student players (hence SE - Student Edition) and players who were not quite able to stretch to the cost of an American-made guitar.
I’d say that’s not really the case any more, nor has it been for a number of years. PRS SE are legitimate choices for players of all levels, and with every brand refresh, they get closer and closer to the esteemed heights of those USA-born instruments. Whilst I’d not say they are comparable - that’s hardly fair, given the difference in cost - what is clear is that PRS SE are exceptional for their price, and offer a rich playing experience that all guitarists can enjoy. I mean, if Joe Walsh is happy to bring one out onstage - the man who sold Jimmy Page his ‘59 Les Paul, let’s not forget - then it’s clear that these affordable PRS guitars are hitting the mark!
Anyway, PRS have just announced their 2025 lineup for the SE range, and it’s gotten us very excited, here at guitarguitar! As you know, we’re mad about PRS, and we love how much the SE models perform, so seeing this lineup of brand new models and refreshed colours is basically catnip to us. We are freaking out. Let me share some gorgeous highlights with you…
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BRAND NEW PRS SE Custom 24 Semi Hollow Piezo
BRAND NEW PRS SE Custom 24 Semi Hollow Piezo
Is this the most versatile electric guitar in the world? All of the slinky, high performance greatness of the Custom 24 design, with added semi-hollow sweetness (and weight relief) as well as some cracking electro-acoustic tones? WANT! Anyone who has lusted after a USA P24 model and then sighed at their bank balance can now re-attack the notion with this much more attainable SE Custom 24 Semi Hollow Piezo model.
We’ve seen SE Custom 24’s with f-holes before, but this is the first time they’ve had the piezo pickup. PRS have collaborated with industry leaders LR Baggs to create a bespoke pickup for this model, which opens up all kinds of possibilities for the gigging player. There are individual outputs for the piezo and regular magnetic pickups, but here’s a cool innovation: one of those outputs is a ‘mix’ output. You get both pickups together, and can control the output of each via the guitar’s volume controls. Think about that for a second and you’ll realise how handy that can be! Also, it’s less guitars to take to your gigs, and that is pretty great news in itself!
PRS SE 24-08 Quilt
You’ll likely already be familiar with PRS’ 24-08 model. It’s very similar to their flagship Custom 24, but for the addition of two mini toggle switches. These are individual coil taps, which offer a good palette of extra tones - 8 switching variations in total, hence the name 24-08 - to add further versatility to what is already a great all-rounder.
This new PRS SE 24-08 uses that same design, and it’s amazing what such a simple innovation can do for your playing! If you have ever wondered why the guitar building world doesn’t make more HS guitars with a humbucker at the bridge and a single coil at the neck, then this is the guitar for you!
It’s a handsome beast, obviously since it’s a PRS, but the quilted top definitely brings a sense of luxury to proceedings, as does the binding around the body, fingerboard (ebony by the way, with birds) and headstock. Look and sound like a million bucks without actually spending a million bucks!
Left-Handed Models
Lefties, it’s time to break out the wallet, because there are some lovely PRS lefty models now available for you! Yes, southpaw guitar manglers can now buy the coveted John Mayer Silver Sky - with both rosewood and maple fingerboard options - and the enduring classic that is the Zach Myers single cut.
Despite both being artist signature guitars, each model has become continually popular on its own terms: after all, we’re talking about a great S-type and a great single cut that are attractive, well-priced and from one of the world’s top guitar brands! You don’t have to be a Shinedown fan or a Mayer acolyte to appreciate these fine axes and put them to good use!
New Colours
Sometimes, all a guitar needs is a new look: a fresh ‘set of clothes’ as it were, in order to feel vital. For 2025, PRS have introduced three lovely new hues to the SE line:
- Charcoal Cherry Burst
- Lake Blue
- Orange Tiger Smokeburst
- Ice Blue Metallic
- Metallic Gold
- Metallic Silver
These new colours can be found across the range. For example, the three metallic colours are for a refreshed PRS SE CE24 Standard Satin, which is easily one of the best value electric guitars we sell. Check them out below:
And the Charcoal Cherry Burst finish is available in the new SE 24-08 Quilt model and existing Custom 24 Floyd Rose, which both look pretty gobsmacking. Several acoustic models have new colour options too, such as a lovely Cobalt Blue Burst for the Angelus SE AE60 Ziricote…
Tweaks Across the Range
Other finetuning has been carried out across the SE range, from small details (knobs and switch tips changing on certain models) to relatively major things, such as the SE Santana model now sporting an ever-so-slightly longer scale length of 24.594”. This brings that guitar in line with other PRS models, and adds a little bit of length to the previous 24” scale.
Best SE Range Ever?
Take a look at those sumptuous pics throughout this blog and just try telling me that PRS aren’t absolutely smashing it with their 2025 SE lineup! I won’t hear it!
Never before has so much been offered with such quality and value. It’s a step up on what was already an impressive range, and I can’t help thinking that it’s something of a gauntlet throw-down for other major brands. ‘Beat that!’, this range seems to say, and well, I guess we’ll just need to see, but 2025 is shaping up to be one heck of a year for Paul Reed Smith and his team.
