PRS SE Soap Bar - Opinions Please?

[hardys]

I'm curious as to what the general opinions of the PRS SE soapies are? I've been thinking about grabbing a used one online, but have never had the chance to play one. I've played some other SE models and fit and finish was surprisingly good for the money...better than the current faded Gibson P-90 offerings. I've always lusted after the sound of an old Les Paul Jr. Do the SEs get anyware near that bark & grind?

 

[dave s]

My son has a first-year lawsuit single cut SE models with soapbars. His is the wine-red finish. Wonderful guitar. Plays incredibly well, put together very well and sound incredible. Lightweight and resonant. Probably PRS' best pickups, IMO. It screams through a JCM800 and a 212 cab.

Just as an FYI, my son's has the wide-fat neck and it's pretty beefy with a wide fretboard. Not sure of the exact width, but it's enough for my hands to tell the difference.

I wouldn't have a second thought recommending one of the early models.

dave

 

[bluesrules]

Great guitar. Very lightweight and the middle position sounds like the thing should weight 20 lbs. I mean it has alot of presence and sounds big and full. I had 3 of them at one time now I'm down to one and it's the singlecut SE Soapbar.

All sounded the same, Big in the middle position with Hum-cancelling. But they pretty much sounded basic with only the bridge and neck with quiet a bit of noise. But the two pickups together and how nice the neck was makes it an EXCELLENT import guitar.

 

[jads57]

I have a PRS SE Soabar wonderful instrument . I paid $300.00 used for it, worth at least twice that.

 

[Bluesbuff]

I have an SE Soapbar II. The build quality is excellent, finish looks great and I really like the wide fat neck. The pickups are decent but a little thin sounding and not a lot of harmonic overtones. They don't really compare to the Lallor P90s II have in my Les Paul Deluxe. I don't think you'll really reach the LP Jr tone without changing the pickups. But a couple of Duncans would probably do it at a reasonable price.

Buy one used, for the money I don't think you can get a better P90 guitar.

 

[simon_62]

Ive got a very special soapbar 1, one of 60 worldwide and the last of the old run (just been rereleased at NAMM btw in some new colours).

Best guitar under £1k ive played and easily better than any other p90 guitar ive tried yet.

 

[hardys]

Ive got a very special soapbar 1, one of 60 worldwide and the last of the old run (just been rereleased at NAMM btw in some new colours).

Best guitar under £1k ive played and easily better than any other p90 guitar ive tried yet.

That's a nice looking ax. So, do I understand you correctly, that there is a new version just released at NAMM? Are they single cut with two pups?

 

[hardys]

I have an SE Soapbar II. The build quality is excellent, finish looks great and I really like the wide fat neck. The pickups are decent but a little thin sounding and not a lot of harmonic overtones. They don't really compare to the Lallor P90s II have in my Les Paul Deluxe. I don't think you'll really reach the LP Jr tone without changing the pickups. But a couple of Duncans would probably do it at a reasonable price.

Buy one used, for the money I don't think you can get a better P90 guitar.

Are the Lollar, Duncan, etc. P-90s direct replacements (drop ins) for the stock pups on the SE?

 

[FFTT]

I was already really impressed with the MIK P-90 pickups on my friend's
St Blues Mississippi Bluesmaster.
The Soapbar SE sounded as good, but played better as far as the neck
radius.
The St Blues had a dead flat shredder neck, so I preferred the Soapbar.

I don't really think you need to yank the stock pick-ups, just play through
a good amp.

If you want to sound better, play more!

 

[Serious Poo]

They're a stupidly good deal IMHO. Well built, great looking, great sounding, easy to play, and very reasonably priced.