OK, no mystery, let’s put it first: I’d love to see a PRS SE CE 24.
The PRS CE 24 is a roughly $2,000 American-made PRS guitar with a bolt on maple neck, SE quality hardware, American pickups, and a maple top that is contoured more than an S2 but less than a regular core PRS. It has a wide thin neck profile (which isn’t wide) and plays a whole lot like my PRS SE Custom 24. And THAT is exactly why I haven’t bought one – it’s a slightly better version of the guitar I already own, but for two grr. That’s not happening. If I’m going to drop that kind of money, I’d buy a used core model.
But I can’t see myself dropping that kind of money. Imagine what else I could do with 2 grand. I could go to Harbor Freight and buy an entire woodworking shop. Which might be exactly what I do when I retire at age 62.
So then why would I want PRS to make a SE CE 24? First of all, they couldn’t call it that, because SE and CE are different product lines. What I really want is a SE with a wide thin maple bolt on neck. I’m sure they’re considering it. They consider everything. I love the look of the CE. I just do.
I played a used CE once that was selling for something like $1,600. It needed fretwork. THIS is why I’m a budget guitarist. The premium you pay on these things is insane. That said, I certainly have spent PRS money when you add up my whole collection. Would you rather have one great guitar, or ten good ones? I’d rather have ten good ones, but that’s because I love them all. How could I not have a Telecaster? Or a Strat? Or a Les Paul?
Anyway, a SE version of the CE could sell for like $699, and that’s almost reachable for me. And used, it’d be under $500, which is very doable. It might cut into the SE Custom 24 line, though. Maybe that’s why they haven’t done it yet. I think that eventually, they will.
