American PRS SC245 Vs Korean Import Zack Myers PRS Sound Shootout

[@styx85]

It'd be a lot easier to compare them if you placed the respective clips back to back. Dirty bridge A, dirty bridge B, etc. :)

[@markdp1983]

Interesting comparison; the feel in the hand of course is a big difference, that's where the sc245 leaves the SE for dead. One plays like butter; the other you're fighting it a little. That's a big thing for many players..

[@addictedtogear]

I would have to disagree with you. The 245 does play very effortlessly but to me not 2k better if you know what I mean.

[@jerryx2000]

I just ordered the SE Custom 24 Ltd Edition, Sapphire. They have the new 85/15 '' S'' Humbuckers. I am so hyped up.

[@IvorThomas]

Without looking at results... A) Korea, B) USA. B was better tuned, so probably affected my vote. ;-)

[@TKReo1010]

Guitar A is probably the Korean PRS with the PAF and B is the American PRS. Guitar B seems to be a lot more hotter with more bass. PAF are low outputs which gives more space for the high frequencies to come out more. By the way I like A better and I'm hoping that's the modified guitar cause if that's the case I've might of found the pickup I was looking for

[@ricardomadrid2512]

It can Helps: Bridge Dirty A: 8.14 B; 10:18 Neck Dirty A: 8:51 B: 11:01 Bridge Clean A: 9:56 B: 11:45 Neck Clean A: 9:29 B: 12:12. Guitar B is a little Brigth. Maybe B is a solid body and A is a Hollow body.

[@addictedtogear]

Thanks I've added them to the notes.

[@TomLuck]

I'm guessing A is American, B is import. B sounded a little more open maybe from the semi hollow body.

[@AntonioCavicchioni]

I like guitar A dirty tones but like cleans in guitar B

[@rezakhan8290]

B for me

[@keithstoltzfus645]

Makes no sense if u changed the pickups.....

[@addictedtogear]

A pickup upgrade is not an uncommon thing. If you like the SE in its stock configuration you can make it much better with a pickup upgrade. Thats what I was trying to point out here. Thanks for watching!

[@mikepatton2300]

For someone trying to figure out between the two its kinda hard to tell the difference if you change one. Other than the pick up change its a great video for info on each guitar. I would just hold off on changing anything before you do your next video.

[@addictedtogear]

Yes, I understand but to me the two guitars were even closer in tone after the pickup swap and that is the point I was trying to show.

[@jusdagirlz69]

Makes all the sense in the world. I think what everyone wants to know is.... can we save $1,500 by buying the SE. The upgraded pickups is a way to level out the playing field. It's a $200 difference. I bought Bareknuckle Nailbombs for my SE. It was a way to make a $500 guitar compete with the sound of a $2000 guitar. Makes alot of sense ok bro.

[@upload2352]

Where are the results of the shootout that were to be posted at 1000 views? 2664 views to date.

[@addictedtogear]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6OZo3arfp1mla8

[@upload2352]

Ahhh, thanks for that.

[@inko_p]

guitar A

[@markleyva3108]

A

[@petkopeet]

A sounds way better, so I reckon its USA made.

[@vigilantdr.dolittle]

You can’t compare a semihollow guitar with a solid one. This test is not legit.

[@daveg4236]

Exactly. Not a real comparison

[@henryhartley9993]

Hard to call this one, both sounded pretty similar to me, can't hear 2,000 dollars difference that's for sure!!

[@WhippJunior]

I liked guitar A. Brighter & punchier. Guitar B sounded flabby & boxed.

[@dcaudio1]

Ive had both of these guitars and i can say for sure the Korean Zach Meyers is a great guitar but the sound of it is much thinner than the USA 245. I switched the korean pickups to USA Dragon 11 pups to remedy it and it helped but still did not give me that deep sounding chunk you get from a solid piece of wood. I will say the playability and fit and finish on the zach meyers was stellar for sure...very nice guitar for $700.

Muy bueno , traigan las guitarras a la Argentina

[@jad547]

B all the way, sounds more crisp and clear. But then again you did change the pickups on the Korean guitar.

[@sosmooth7]

Its like you said is there enough difference to warrant the huge difference in price? To me the answer is NO! Both instruments sound almost identical with the USA made one have just a little more bottom which can be remedied by adding a little more bass on your amp. Overall. I think the Korean made PRS SE's are great guitar. PRS made a great decision to make these guitar at an affordable price. The craftmanship is ever present in these guitars and the guitars are well made! My vote is the PRS SE.

[@addictedtogear]

I totally agree with you. Thanks for your comments

[@jakajarc]

I prefer A, it has more bloom to my ears - I would also imagine guitar A is semihollow... hard to say, they are certainly not miles apart in sound quality - how about playability?

[@bimmarvinlim3804]

The tone comparison should be alternate to hear the difference rightaway.

[@AndrewReynolds1]

I don't know which was which and I would be happy with the sound of either. I liked the clean sounds of B slightly more.

[@atquinn1975]

The only place A sounded better to me was bridge dirty. I preferred B everyplace else.

[@noseyparker6622]

Its not even a relevant comparison as you changed out the pickups on the Korean guitar If it still had the stock pickups people would be able to make an informed choice don't you think?

[@addictedtogear]

I removed the stock pickups because I didn't like them much. I agree that if I was trying to compare both guitars 100% stock then the video would not be as relevant but the point here was to show that even inexpensive guitars can sound as good as more expensive models with some minor upgrades.

[@masterbeernuts9344]

totally agree. Let's compare 2 PRS's but I've removed the Korean models voice and put in a completely different one, so you can compare... something. Sense it make not do.

[@addictedtogear]

removed the stock pickups because I didn't like them much. I agree that if I was trying to compare both guitars 100% stock then the video would not be as relevant but the point here was to show that even inexpensive guitars can sound as good as more expensive models with some minor upgrades.

[@robertclinger7351]

I think B was cleaner, so therefore it's the cheaper one with great after market pickups!

[@jonlennon3348]

I likes A best but B had more presence in clean mode.

[@gregoryduffin524]

Of course it could be that it was those Canadian pick ups that got the tone so close. A neck clean seems more upfront present yet dispersed wide where B neck clean sounds cleaner laid back more and thinner, I must say I think I like the B here better.

[@snotbog]

if A had adjustable saddles im sure you would have tuned it better . B is SE

[@alexandrdoulkin6274]

Where are results?

[@damianmb5]

But... the comparison is made using non stock pickups

[@TheApsodist]

A lot of people change the stock PRS SE pickups anyway

[@Junebu99ie]

Guitar A is the American one and Guitar B is the Korean one.

[@uuutooob9]

Since you said you might change-out the American pickups at some point, it would be very instructive to hear the Sanfords in there first. That way you can compare two guitars with identical pickups so the two guitars' body's sonic contribution can be assessed. To me, this is the most legit way to compare the two guitars, and what really matters. And as others mention, an A-B-A-B comparison is easier to assess than A-A-A-A-B-B-B-B, by far. In any case, the SE (I have 2017 Zach Myers) is truly the perfect blend of quality and price.

[@RNAMusic]

nice video. I have a SE and a S2 and have quite a bit of time with a Core model 10 top. All great guitars. Interestingly I tend to play my 30th anniversary Custom 24 SE the most.

[@addictedtogear]

The SE models are very good so I'm not surprised. Thanks for watching

[@tonyenglish7176]

As do I!!

[@Ab20222]

Thanks for your awesome reviews. Your reviews of EVH Wolfgang & PRS guitars helped a lot. Quick tip: Your videos will sound much better if the you’d improved room’s acoustics.

[@addictedtogear]

Thanks for the advice. I will see what I can do.

[@Ab20222]

ADDICTED TO GEAR kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XYhIVpmLqIibs This will help you understand your room.

[@marcelpacheco7878]

B is the better sounding.

[@spud1117]

Marcel Pacheco i agree

[@ettorecolicchio8437]

Ok I am usually bad at these blind tests but here is what I think: Guitar A is the USA PRS because it seemed to have a higher output. A little more crunch/punch. With that said, I found the neck pickup on Guitar B more "natural" both dirty and clean. I liked the sound and brightness of the bridge pickup on Guitar A but the dirty sound of Guitar B was smoother. Both guitars sound great. I just need to get over the bird inlays. Not sure why but they always bothered me.

[@PhysicalTherapyAndFitnessPLLC]

The way I see it is are you wanting to invest and have something that will eventually be worth a lot of money or do you want a player. If you want utility than the se all day. If you want something to pass along to your children don't go cheap. SE with upgrades is going to be enough for anyone to gig.

[@Major7Sharp5]

Guitar B - USA

[@DrJackShelton]

Its really more fair to just noodle away and play some chords and say now im switching pickups and so on, cause then its not just playing a zep kinda riff nearly the same.... Thought it was obvious that A was the PRS pickups and B was the Canadian pickups in a guitar hollow because of the extra Almost feedback thing going on, which on a fairly clean dirt sound is a bit of a problem but if the US 245 pickups were available aftermarket and just making the neck get tooled by a luthier or yourself to be just what feels best and then lubricate with the oils and all that after its all perfectly aligned and roughness removed then I think you might have that guitar being a better quality in function and look which are the most important.... More expensive wood may make a difference but theres so much more making a difference and I think both in 2017 have the added brass stuff to make things fully resonate through the body and the neck and so on and if youre doing your customisation afterwards then you're already making it better for yourself, though Im interested if that hollow feedback wouldve not come in after the dirty riff bridge pickup of B if you had left in the pickups that I think they have as cheaper reproductions of the USA ones though maybe not as perfectly reproed.... But thats all stuff I heard from Paul about 2017 production if Im remembering details right about both getting the brass and so on... Must say I wasnt impressed with SEs 10 years ago but now Im bloody eager to try one out in a music store with all of em and see what feels best and how they compare with the USAs and if either have the coiltap details and so on because thats important on particular sounding humbuckers when you just need it to be brighter and open and maybe do some unusual mixing w the two pickups like half from both pickups which is a popular sound with a lot of guys that they love about using the switch to have a humbucker made from half of the two where you could raise one lower the other and get interesting sounds which is making me wish I had one to screw around with.... But def props to the lads for keeping unusual scales and still finally changing to les paul style switching w coiltap on some models which if I remember taps both instead of just one at a time where you could get the real Jimmy Page tones cause of how hed use split on so many songs for the extra bright and open range tone and switch pickups to the non split for rhythm cause then he gets the closer to Jeff Beck's Tele he painted as a Dragon which he stopped using til the solo for stairway which was that tele, and I think live using split bridge pickup if he had that done on the doubleneck as well which would make sense for stairway to get both tones right... Either way still dig the sound of bith and curious on the feel and so on... Cheers

[@hgbuckwheat660]

Where's the answers 16k views? I believe the Korean is b a hollow body usually to have alot more sustain and resonance than a solid. I might be wrong but I believe I'm right that sustain at the end of the clip gave it away. Plus Americans have a more 80s esc low punch and crunch to them even compared to the 245 series of Koreans

[@hgbuckwheat660]

Check out his Korean vs American PRS video

[@46ace]

He changed the seth myers pickups.

[@daikuone]

Dirty tones in guitar B sound congested and more distorted with less top end clarity. I believe Guitar A would cut thru the mix more sharply. Kind of like Guitar B on the cleans more, though.

[@gregoryduffin524]

What got me was the upgrade on the import, what you paid and I believe you found something outstanding, B is the import, A is the USA. I can see why you love both. I appreciate your comments on both guitars, there are real sound changes between them where I prefer the bridge on the one dirty but prefer the neck clean on the other. I am curious as to which is which.

[@troy1258]

Well we are really just comparing the pickups and the strings here! Both have satisfactory intonation.

[@williampereira8868]

Guitar B for me also I believe that it's the American made. Now go hit me lol

[@poljakov13]

B sounds bit more tighter

[@pompom906]

I thought A sounded better especially on dirt. Also, at the end of the video you said 'which is guitar A and B' when you said A you pointed at the USA PRS, could have been a paraprax .... or not lol

[@addictedtogear]

I might have been using reverse psychology on you... LOL

[@jezerurena365]

Guitar A more tonal variety

[@Bob48]

Thanks so much for this..nice review.This gives me an overall idea of the PRS line...I've been looking at them the past few months. The 2018's are great.

[@MrMongo321]

Guitar A seemed to have a brighter punch and the tones I preferred.

[@ΕλευθέριοςΜπαρδάκος]

I prefer A, but I'm a not so sure. I could live with B , too. In any case, I would buy the American one (if I had the money) because it will last longer, it doesn't need any upgrates, I'd give it to my children after my death or I coud sell it a lot of money if I'm broke.

[@MrMongo321]

good point!

[@gjs850]

Guitar B is the american SC 245

[@munkeatphotography]

A = American , B = Korean ?

[@bamf0805]

I prefer A

[@guyfromnj]

Hey man, how do the necks compare or differ? I had a zach Myers so I know how the neck was. Is it the same neck profile on the 245? I'm about to buy a sc245 for 2000 bucks.

[@addictedtogear]

The SC245 is a fantastic guitar you will love it. The Zach Myers is also great but has a fatter neck. I really like both but play the Zack more often as I don't worry about scratching it as much. LOL

[@guyfromnj]

ADDICTED TO GEAR thanks again!! I appreciate the help.

[@d.j.burton9952]

All the SE’s I’ve played generally have a larger neck profile, some Core PRS models have different carve options. My 408 has a “pattern thin” neck which isn’t really thin imo, but my friend has an SC245 with the “wide thin” neck carve and that neck is amazing.

[@spud1117]

Which was which ?!

[@keithommart4388]

I have a 245 with evh Wolfgang pickups in it and a real bone nut locking tuners with brass gears and post it was just a little over 500.00 new best guitar I have ever had for the money I can’t see buying the American but I do still want one just to have it

[@PetesGuitar2303]

I liked the sound of Guitar A the best, B seemed a bit darker, less articulate. So I think A is the USA & B is the SE model, both sounded great btw

[@skimmer521]

Guitar *A* is the custom pickups in the Korean , and *B* is the usa because they have learned how to cheap out with the usa on the headstock.. and all in all with a 1000 in the guitar and 300 in pickups , id rather have the savings on *A* ,,, and i could be full of it,,