PRS SE Standard 22 Review

Written by Mark Le. Last updated on September 19, 2020.
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PRS SE Standard 22 Review

TL;DR (Too Long, Didn't Read): Here why you should buy a PRS SE Standard 22.
✅ Well-made and finished mahogany body
✅ Hardware and materials are of high quality
✅ Great sounding range of tones
✅ Relatively lower priced
✅ Fast playing ability

We all know about how a great church song performance can uplift and amplify the service to new levels. A great church choir always needs a gifted band to work alongside them, and the band should have the best equipment to provide just the right accompaniment.

Since I was a young boy, I have seen how the use of technology at church has evolved and changed with the times. Service incorporates the use of the best technology to efficiently spread the word of God and give all churchgoers a powerful experience, with no hiccups!

I know personally how difficult it can be navigating the world of guitars. When graduating from an acoustic to an electric guitar, it feels like you are entering another world entirely! From the choices of the guitars to the amplifiers, it's so easy to get confused and not be able to make your mind up.

A great electric guitar can uplift a band performance and provide power and great musicality that will have everyone on their feet in praise and worship. I know how having an electric guitar could have changed and upgraded the sound by miles! So, this time I have done a lot of research and present to you the PRS SE Standard 22 Review.

Things To Consider When Buying An Electric Guitar

An electric guitar can really be a step-up from a regular acoustic guitar. It offers a much wider variety of sounds and tones that can be played and amplified! The sound of an electric guitar can be far louder and reach larger groups of people during service. Effects can also be added through pedals, and you can even switch from clean to distorted sounds.

The electric guitar is a great segway for a beginner to explore different styles and tones of music. The amount of options an electric guitar provides with sound is endless. 

Confused about how to pick the best electric guitar for you? I was too. After scouring the net for guitars coupled with my personal experience, I have compiled some pointers to consider before buying an electric guitar.

The three main things to consider are your budget, your tone, and the look of the guitar!

Budget - PRS SE Standard 22 Review

Yes, electric guitars do cost more than acoustic guitars and also have accessories like the amp, cable, strap, and much more that will add to its price. You should always shop for an electric guitar keeping your budget in mind because the price ranges are huge. If you are not an expert, you do not have to go for the most expensive guitar to get the most out of it. Stick to a reasonable price range and look around- you will find a great guitar that will grow on you and not break the bank!

Tone

The tone of the guitar is crucial. There are different styles of electric guitar that suit some music genres more than others! This is based on the build and hardware features of the guitar. Some are more geared towards indie, folk, and blues music while some cater to rock ‘n’ roll and metalheads. Always look up the best guitar style that is closest to the music you would like to play.

Looks

Looks aren’t everything, but with an electric guitar, they do matter a whole lot! You’ll likely be more inspired to play some tunes if you think your guitar looks appealing. And you are paying quite a hefty price for one, so you may as well ensure it suits your taste. Electric guitars come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, so you can find one that inspires you.

Presenting The PRS SE Standard 22

PRS or Paul Reed Smith guitars are known for their high quality and consistent standards. The SE Standard 22 takes us way back to 1985 as it is based on one of the first PRS guitars ever. PRS has taken the initiative to combine the traditional greatness of one of its firsts, with all the modern elements a guitarist would desire today.

The PRS SE Standard 22 is an electric guitar that is meant for both studio and stage. It has a classic mahogany body and a 22-fret mahogany neck. The tone fits a wide range of genres as it is warm, woody, and has a focused, clear midrange.

Other features include a rosewood fretboard, bird inlays, humbucking pickups with a PRS-designed stop tail, 3-way pickup selector, coil tap, and nickel hardware.

 This guitar, along with the others in the SE Standard collection, is aimed at being affordable powerhouse guitars.

Pros

  • Well-made and finished mahogany body
  • Hardware and materials are of high quality
  • Great sounding range of tones
  • Relatively lower priced
  • Setup is player-friendly
  • Fast playing ability

Cons

  • Pricier than other guitars that have similar features
  • Awkward placement of the pickup selector
  • Some people have reported that it has trouble holding its tuning when newly shipped.

Features and Benefits - PRS SE Standard 22 Review

Tone

The mahogany neck combined with the all-mahogany body-work to give a mellow, warm sound that has a great presence in the midrange. Its humbucker pickups give it a “thick” sound, which makes the overall tone sound rounder and warmer.

It also emphasizes the sustain produced by the mahogany body of the guitar. The tone of this guitar is quite universal and is also capable of a broad spectrum of distortion effects. It can work well with jazz, blues, rock, metal, and many genres!

Build Quality

This guitar is reminiscent of all classic PRS guitars, so if you are already familiar with one, you will feel right at home. It has a very playable 25-inch scale mahogany neck with 22 frets finished with rosewood and filled in with bird inlays.

The neck is fairly large, but not so large that it feels hard to get your hands around. You will be able to move up and down it without feeling like you’re slowing down. 

Its beveled body looks amazing, and you will stand out on stage while you play for long hours without feeling a lot of stress on your back because of its sturdy but lightweight build.

Incredible Hardware

The guitars in the SE series are made in Korea and are more affordable. You might think that this means skimping on some features and finishing of the guitar, but that is not the case at all.

All the high-quality PRS hardware is on this guitar, even at its lower price. You get a PRS stop tail, humbucking pickups, volume and tone controls, a three-way pickup selector, and a coil tap on the tone control. All the features any amateur or professional guitarist could want or need!

An advanced player will love the fast playability of the neck and deep coax this guitar offers.

Classic PRS Finish

Even though they are made abroad, the high-quality of PRS never fades. The beautiful veneer finish on the mahogany body, beautifully made frets, great solder joints, clean wiring, and well-functioning pots just add to the near-perfect finish of this guitar.

If you are buying any PRS guitar, you can expect it to pass any quality checks with flying colors.

Great For Live Performances

Are you looking for a powerful, captivating live performance? This guitar might just be the one for you. It gives a lot of power but does not sacrifice the clarity of the sound. It also works well when recording or just playing at home, but it truly comes alive when on stage in front of a crowd, leading the performance. A guitarist who loves solos will really dig its powerful sound when its plugged into a power amp.

Customer Reviews

Nowadays, checking the reviews of a product is a must before purchasing it. While doing my research, I came across several glowing reviews of PRS SE Standard 22 from other players you might be interested in!

2020 09 17 14 26 08
2020 09 17 14 25 54

Alternatives

Not feeling like the PRS SE Standard 22 is the one for you? Here are some alternative guitars which are similar, but do have their own great features. Maybe these will take your fancy instead!

  • The PRS SE Custom 24 is a more high-end option if you feel like you still want more from your electric guitar. The 24 fret offers you are large range and slightly different sound. It has a molded tremolo bridge, 85/15 pickups, and a three-way blade pickup selector that allows a player complete control over their sound. It is also suitable for a wide variety of genres, although it does sport a higher price tag. You can take a look at it here.
  • A good option at a lower price point is the ESP LTD EC-256. It has a mahogany body and neck, a jatoba fingerboard, and flag inlays that give crisp and clear sounds along with a player-friendly setup with easy access to high frets. It is great for churches on a budget! Check it out here.
  • If you are liking the PRS brand but want a more metal tone, the PRS Holcomb SE is a great choice. It was created by celebrated progressive metal guitarist Mark Holcomb in collaboration with PRS and features a mahogany body, maple neck, ebony fingerboard, and two humbucking pickups! It does come at a higher price point than the SE Standard 22. You can check it out here.

Summing Up

The PRS SE Standard 22 offers some great playability for the amateur as well as the expert. It is designed to be used by several players and suits all genres, from hard-hitting solos to the gentle blues. All PRS guitars are guaranteed to come with their classic, high-quality finish and build that they never slack on. If you are looking for a great workhorse electric guitar that is also very affordable for its superior quality, the SE Standard 22 is for you!

Article written by Mark Le
An enthusiastic and charismatic Christian – dedicated to living a life of full service to the ministry through helping churches in bridging the gap between the Gospel and Technology.

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