PRS HOLLOWBODY II REVIEW : SE VS CORE

This is a review that compares the PRS HB II SE (Made in China) vs the PRS HB II Core (made in USA). I play the same licks on the SE and the core.

[@gaborfarkas9352]

The 58/15s is a covered version of 85/15s (no diference in windings or material, same kohm readings) while the USA 58/15 is a defined low wind pickup set and this is one source of the more sparkling sound of the core model. The other element of brightness is the solid carved wood while the SE is maple covered with flame veneer (so layered wood) and altogether less thick which gives a bit more acoustic loudness at the expense of chiming. It is a good comparison bringing the difference audible well.

[@nathanparktrio]

Unplugged - 4:58 SE 5:20 CORE Clean Neck Finger - 5:43 SE 6:46 CORE Clean Neck Picking - 7:46 SE 8:14 CORE Clean Both - 8:50 SE 9:01 CORE Clean Both - 9:11 SE 9:42 CORE Clean Bridge - 10:15 SE 10:36 CORE Crunch Neck - 10:56 SE 11:22 CORE Crunch Both - 11:49 SE 12:20 CORE Crunch Bridge - 12:51 SE 12:59 CORE Crunch Bridge - 13:08 SE 13:28 CORE Plexi Neck - 13:48 SE 14:08 CORE Plexi Both - 14:31 SE 14:50 CORE Plexi Bridge - 15:09 SE 15:34 CORE Plexi Bridge - 16:08 SE 16:40 CORE High Gain Neck - 17:14 SE 18:08 CORE High Gain Both - 19:07 SE 19:27 CORE High Gain Bridge - 19:48 SE 20:24 CORE High Gain Bridge - 20:59 SE 21:12 CORE High Gain Bridge - 21:26 SE 21:51 CORE High Gain Bridge - 22:19 SE 22:52 CORE

[@prcc]

I have the SE and I'm very happy with it... as long as I don't look too long at the Core. The carved top is insane. True art.

[@comptonmcdonald8235]

Thanks for this review and your demonstration of sound posibilities. I can hear the difference.

[@vittoriobassi9880]

SE vs Core (clean): - neck - 7:48 vs 8:15 - neck/middle - 8:50 vs 9:01 - bridge - 10:27 vs 10:47

[@Tiger1016.]

9:12 Woah noce surprise to find a little Showbiz - Muse slipped in here!

[@emmanuel817]

Yeah, the early Muse LPs are the best in my opinion😉

[@Tiger1016.]

@@emmanuel817 Definitely some lightening in the bottle magic captured within their first 3 albums and so awesome they have been able to keep the steam train rolling along 25 years into it both live and with some very respectable new albums along the way too.

[@russshaber8071]

I thought the core sound was clearer and more dynamic throughout the clean range. It will be interesting to see how age affects wood vs laminate.

[@jonathanseitz8644]

cor-tec manufacturing is the real deal those se guitar are super high quality

[@tommywilliamsjr.697]

Great comparison! Surprisingly, there aren't many out there. I just ordered a used core from Reverb and it'll be here today. Yay! I think the core unplugged sounds more like an actual acoustic guitar where the SE one is quite honky sounding. Plugged in, the core sounds more like a hollowbody showcasing the acoustic character whereas the SE has a big push in the lower mids that is unpleasant to me. It sounds woofy or boxy. I'm sure is a combination of construction techniques, materials and pickup quality. With the right set of pickups to swap to, you could get 80% of the way there to the Core.

[@emmanuel817]

Thanks Tommy. I hope you will enjoy your core. It’s really a great guitar.

[@LumaTo]

There aren't many because the Core's are mighty pricey so a comparison could cost 6k dollars. 😱

[@JTroskaTV]

I like the Core sound. The pickups are so clear, they almost get you into that Gretsch/Filtertron territory. But I’m past the phase of paying Core money on guitars. I wonder how difficult it is to swap out pickups on the SE. There’s no back plate so the work has to be done through the f holes. And I don’t know how the wiring works in that system.

[@emmanuel817]

I agree, the core HB II has its own sound and personality, clear, precise and dynamic. It’s different from 335 or other Gibson HB. The 58/15 are not paf like. If you want to change the pickups on the SE, I guess you need to unscrew the pots and switcher, remove them and put them out of the body through the soundhole. You can then shoulder the wires outside the body.

[@mKreifeldt]

The USA one certainly sounds more chimey. But had anyone considered the two different pickups might be the majority of the reason for the difference? I thought I read they use a lower wind in the USA version pickups.

[@emmanuel817]

Yes, the core is more chimey and in my opinion more versatile. The 58/15 are low wind, you're right, They don't sound like PAF, that's why some are surprised and find the HBII lacks of low mids, but the HBII is not a Gibson, and doesn't have to. One should try to swap the pickups between the SE and the core in order to hear the difference, but I dont' have time to do this.

[@jonathanseitz8644]

both core version and the se version have the 58/15 "S" The SE Hollowbody II combines the power and stability of a solid-body electric guitar with the captivating resonance of a hollowbody instrument. The 58/15 “S” pickups deliver clarity and balance that sound big and musical in the hollowbody platform. Designed to look as good as it sounds, the SE Hollowbody II also features a figured maple top and back and mahogany sides as well as a mahogany neck (set-neck construction) with PRS trademark bird inlays. Both hollowbody and solidbody players will feel at home with the SE Hollowbody II.

[@revelationsoundstudio]

I like the Core sound and look better. Also the neck feels better too

[@emmanuel817]

I agree, the Core looks great and the neck is very confortable

[@2musiclover534]

Liked. I thought PRS SEs were made in Indonesia? Or just some specific SE? I have the 594 SE.

[@emmanuel817]

Thanks. I confirm the SE HBII are made in China (it's mentionned on the back of headstock). I don't know about the other models. What about your 594 SE, made in Indonesia ?

[@mattc2674]

Cor-Tek has two SE factories they use for PRS. All the solid body electrics are made at the plant in Indonesia. The acoustics are made in China. The Hollowbody SEs are made in the Cor-Tek acoustic plant in China.

[@2musiclover534]

@@mattc2674 Thanks!

[@nathanparktrio]

I'm also considering two models right now. Which one do you prefer? I guess for the clean tone, especially with flat wound strings, SE is better that has more bass and thicker sound. Today I went to the local GC and tested the CORE McCarty 594 HBII, and I have the SE Hollowbody Standard at home. I was not sure if I should pay 3.5k more dollars for the CORE model. The feeling of the neck was better, and the finish was more beautiful on the CORE. But other than that I couldn't find any reason to pay that 3.5k difference. Actually after seeing your video, I think SE fits more to me even if I had both of them on my hands, because I play jazz more. What do you think? I don't know why the solid wood of the CORE sounded not any better than laminated wood of the SE. I'm looking for the best hollowbody model from PRS, and fortunately SE HB STANDARD is the best one for me ironically when I am willing to pay 5k if the CORE sounded better. (As far as I know, SE HB Standard sounds a little thicker than SE HBII which has maple top and back). I guess the difference comes from the sound post inside the body. SE HB has a round and smaller sound post than CORE. CORE has a square and larger sound post inside.

[@emmanuel817]

Hi, I agree with you : the HB II SE sounds thicker than the core, and it's certainly more appropriate for playing jazz. I didn't play the HB II SE standard but I guess the mahogany top and back add thickness (vs mapple top which adds brightness). Personnaly, I prefer the PRS HB II core besause I play different kinds of music from blues/jazz to classic rock and hard rock, and I really love the neck, the way the guitar sounds and the quality of the crafting. But if you play mainly jazz, the HB II SE is a very good choice, it's a great guitar for the value.

[@nathanparktrio]

@@emmanuel817 thanks for the reply. I agree with you that CORE neck is superior than SE. I miss that feeling. Today I put 12 flatwound strings on SE HB STANDARD and I love it. Now I'm considering CORE HB II vs SE Silver Sky vs other options for covering all other genres. Thanks for the video. That was so helpful! :)

[@emmanuel817]

@@nathanparktrio you are welcome. There is a review of the SE Silver sky in the last guitar player issue, it looks great.

[@martinspreiter8240]

Take the PRS SE HBII Piezo. I have this guitar since one month at home, and I´m in love with her. The piezo is such a big gift. It opens new sound world.

[@gtibruce]

@@martinspreiter8240 Hi, can you connect to an amp with blue tooth these days?

[@tungwkseow5003]

End of the day...get both of them, and if money is not an issue, the whole series of PRS...bcos as the vlogger say...each have their own character that is why renown guitarist owns hundreds if not thousands of guitars of cos some are given free by the manufacturer.

[@emmanuel817]

I agree with you. The PRS are excellent guitars, I used to have a swamp ash special and I keep my 1991 custom 24, very different of the HBII. I own 15 guitars, they all sound different and great. People barely understand that a great guitar is unique

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

I agree with you that the SE sounded a bit better, unplugged. Plugged in, the Maryland built guitar out shined it's Chinese cousin. It had a more refined sound. The notes were less muddy and beautifully articulated. This comes to a money matter, imo. If you don't have the bucks, get the SE. If you want the better sound and build, go with the Stevensville guitar. If you go with the better sound, you will have the added benefit of knowing you are helping American workers hone their skills and feed their families.

[@2121toso]

I have found over the years that if I can afford the American guitar, it is always better than the import cousin. I have regretted and sold most of my imports. I have never regretted saving and buying the better one.

[@christianurgese]

Merci beaucoup. je préfère la se.

[@emmanuel817]

Avec plaisir

[@johndolores315]

WTF is honestly with the core PRS pickups? They sound lifeless. Where are the mids, lower mids, MIIIIDDDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Such beautifully built guitars. They need to change the way they make their pickups.

[@timhallas4275]

These pickups are designed for solid body performance. PRS failed to account for the loss of mid-range volume caused by the low mass mounting surface. The fact is,, all hollow-body guitars make better mid-range power with Alnico-2 mags and under-wound coils. Maybe Paul will catch on.

[@realtruenorth]

They sound amazing, it's a jazz box dude, what do you want AC/DC? Go buy a Gibson SG. This is exactly how these pickups should sound and if they sounded like what you're talking about, I would be pissed.