2016 PRS Paul Reed Smith S2 Vela Electric Guitar, McCarty Tobacco Sunburst, Bird Inlays
Player's Perspective
Mr. Paul Reed Smith is at it again. Revolutionizing the way guitars are made, played, and in this case, priced. With the same keen eye for detail and superior level of craftsmanship that PRS has always been known for, the S2 line is nothing short of a guitar manufacturing revelation. Standing for "Stevensville 2," this line of guitars is manufactured in PRS's Maryland shop.
The S2 Vela is a bold new design from PRS. While most S2 models are based on a guitar from PRS's core lineup, the Vela has its own DNA from top to bottom. It's one of the most creative new guitars I've come across in a while. The sound is bright and punchy, with a hint of jangle and plenty of body. The offset body is a first for PRS, but from the comfort of the design, you'd think they've been at it for some time. Check out the cool bridge on this axe. It not just for looks - those big brass saddles provide gobs of sustain. The neck and fretboard offer classic PRS comfort through and through: just the right amount of string tension and impeccable fretwork.
This guitar is special. It's a new sound and body style for PRS, but they've been in the game long enough to hit it out of the park on the first try. Perfect for anyone who's looking for classic PRS quality on something a little different.
Special Features
This PRS S2 Vela has a McCarty Tobacco Sunburst finish. The mahogany body has an offset design, a first for PRS. It looks cool and has a great ergonomic feel. The mahogany neck has a Pattern Regular profile, a rosewood fretboard, bird inlays, a 25" scale length, and the same fret wire that's used on all of the PRS Core line of guitars. The pickups in this axe aren't your usual S2 humbuckers. There's an S2 Starla in the bridge and a new S2 Type-D Single-coil in the neck. This unorthodox setup offers an enormous palette of sound that leans more in the punchy, crisp, and even jangly direction than the straight-down-the-middle, mids-happy, E minor pentatonic direction. I for one can't get enough of it, especially through a small tube amp. The bridge on this guitar has some special goings-on as well. It's a PRS plate-style design, and those big brass saddles aren't just there to look cool - they do wonderful things to the sustain and add to that bell-like chime in the high end. The intonation is spot on and string changes are a cinch.
Manufactured in the US, the S2's are offered at an affordable price point. This line of guitars uses some of the very same components found on PRS's most expensive models, and they're all put together with that exacting precision that defines high-end PRS guitars.
Specifications
- 2016 Paul Reed Smith S2 Vela
- McCarty Tobacco Sunburst
- Offset Mahogany Body
- Mahogany Neck
- Pattern Regular Neck Profile
- 25" Scale
- Rosewood Fretboard
- Bird Inlays
- Same Fret Wire as PRS Core Guitars
- S2 Starla Bridge Pickup
- S2 Type-D Single-coil Neck Pickup
- 3 Way Blade Selector Switch
- Volume Knob
- Tone Knob with Push / Pull Coil Tap
- PRS S2 Locking Tuners
- PRS Plate Style Bridge w/ Brass Saddles
- PRS S2 Gig Bag
- Made in Maryland
Overall Condition
Music Store Live is proud to be an authorized dealer for PRS. This S2 Vela is 100% brand new and is being sold with a full manufacturer's warranty.
note: The photos above may not be of the exact guitar you'll receive. The serial number may differ but specs will all be the same. Please feel free to get in touch with us for an in-hand description.
Our in-house guitar tech will inspect, test, set up, and clean all of our instruments on site prior to shipping. All of our instruments are guaranteed to be fully functional upon arrival.