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Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 16 2014, 11:55 AM

I'm sure that a lot of you folks who know about PRS, have asked yourselves which are the differences between the USA and the SE models - well, aside the tech specs which you can find in the links below - the video is in Romanian - you can hear the tones of these two babies in a comparative manner - the same phrases played on one guitar and on the other:



http://www.prsguitars.com/tremonti/
http://www.prsguitars.com/setremonticustom/

Can you feel the tone differences? The playability varies a bit as well, but that is an aspect which varies from one person to another - what one might feel comfy, would be very uncomfy for another. So let's stick to the tech specs and the tone

Posted by: Darius Wave Dec 16 2014, 04:36 PM

Top notch demo Cosm! A lot of audio video work. The only thing I'm always afraid of is that the most difference is actually what we feel on how the guitar translate our playing. That's somthing damn hard to show on demos be...we all keep on trying Both are great instruments though

Posted by: Monica Gheorghevici Dec 16 2014, 06:06 PM

Awesome demo!!! From my point of view SE model it's ok for her price. I personally would option for USA model even if it has a bigger price but there are differences between them which matters for me (starting with tuners).
Now about sound. Listening today very carefully on my monitors, are differences in sound. The USA model has a much defined, clear and sustained tone and this make SE model to have a "cheap" sound (mostly on neck clean position). But of course this is just my opinion. I'm not a PRS fan because for me it's an uncomfortable guitar. But you know...."de gustibus non est disputandum"
Anyway, congrats for this demo, I liked very much

Posted by: klasaine Dec 16 2014, 06:16 PM

Good video!

The only real tonal difference for me (on my computer speakers) was the clean sound on the neck pkups.
The USA had a warmer, bigger and a little more complex tone than the SE. Which may be just due to the nickel cover(?).
Both sounded good and the playing was great.

*I could actually understand a bit of what you were talking about. I speak a little Italian . My wife (from Italy) teaches Italian and tells me that Romanian is the closest living language to Latin and that her Romanian students are always the best in class.

Posted by: Darius Wave Dec 17 2014, 11:14 AM

Ha ha Nice add Ken. Though I live much closer to Cosmin, I do not get an 80% of what he's saying But fortunately we all understand the launguage of music

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 17 2014, 05:09 PM

Thank you very much guys and Monica

Well, I have two more coming up - for the Zach Myers and for the Clint Lowery SE and a Periphery playthrough, with one of my students in which I will be playing the SE 7 string from PRS.

Indeed, the Romanian language is VERY close to the Italian (fact proven by the presence of so many Romanian folks in Italy) - I am glad that you have felt the differences, because I was really curious how many people will really perceive them and say this and that about the guitars.

As Darius mentioned, it's impossible to showcase the way a guitar feels in one's hand, so that's a good reason for which anyone wanting to buy a new guitar, should only follow reviews for guidelines and then go test the gear on his own in a shop! I think it's mandatory, if you want to be happy with your gear. Different axes for different hands and hearts

Posted by: Mertay Dec 17 2014, 10:22 PM

Differences in tone to me are huge, like night and day to be honest

Clean:

On the USA model; no low or high mid. freq.s are popping out! Really balanced tone as I would expect on such a guitar. But its also obvious the very highs are a bit chopped off, they are actually designed that way specifically for distortion but engineers got it to sound "thick" on cleans rather than muddy which isn't easy to achieve.

This is really good and defines why one would have to choose between one top-of-the-line guitar from the other. Since this is about balance, I wouldn't expect that guitar to be as versatile as other guitars PRS makes as it isn't its purpose anyway.

Cosmin, keep in mind electronic tone balance on such guitars are actually fragile. Never ever modify it and on the long run if anything fails on it (pots for example) no matter what others say use original parts. Since its not a typical guitar and engineered with detail, any change on it will simply weaken its tone.

SE; Sort of sounded typical to me (weak) considering its price point, not too bad but not great.

But if it feels good, these guitars gain a lot from modifications. I advise complete electronics replacement (capacitor, pots, wires...) first as its not very expensive and later if the pickups still aren't what one wants then change pickups.

Distortion:

USA; Up front, bold and flows like a violin really nothing bad about to say, maybe some would like a little more 80's vibe where there is tiny bit less controlled sound (in a good way) but that can be some-what achieved with gear.

SE; I can hear how the individual notes are stepping on each other when more than 1 note is played. The distortion overall doesn't flow nice cause of the non-balanced highs compared to the USA model.

Unless the distortion is at very (ridiculous) extremes, I think I could pick the USA in a blind test by focusing on flow/balance factors rather than only focusing on tone color.

Congrats Cosmin! you've done a great job I totally feel I got the vibe of those guitars. I may have missed as I jumped the speaking parts but why not also add a short unplugged comparison on future video's too? many customers compares guitars also by listening it acoustically (checking loudness, string to string clarity and brightness).

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 18 2014, 09:55 AM

Hey Mertay!

Thank you for the kind words mate - I tried to encompass as many situations as possible and I will also take into account the fact that I could make a little passage without amplifying the guitars - I don't think that anyone does that in reviews It could be a great idea!

Well, the USA version is built to Mark's specs and it has to serve him - it's pretty clear to me now that this guitar is more or less a one direction instrument, but it sounds hellishly good! I will surely not change anything in the Tremonti USA - this one is mine and the SE I just borrowed from the dealer in order to be able to make up the review.

I hope the next ones will be at least at this one's level It's always a race, because I need to program the filming and then return them quickly because some of them are being ordered in the online shop and blam! They need them in the depozit house then

Posted by: bleez Dec 20 2014, 10:05 AM

excellent comparison vid, cosmin. Really cool to hear both of these side by side in this style.
your usa tremonti is a stunning piece of kit

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 20 2014, 10:07 AM

QUOTE (bleez @ Dec 20 2014, 09:05 AM)

excellent comparison vid, cosmin. Really cool to hear both of these side by side in this style.
your usa tremonti is a stunning piece of kit