Talking PRS SE Guitars With Jack Higginbotham

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[@deckert618]

I've been playing for 40 years and I absolutely love my 2019 PRS SE. Kids today have no idea how bad cheap guitars were in 1981.

[@erikwilliamsen2830]

Also terrible in 1991. So much better now.

[@leightnite3056]

Also, also terrible in 2001!

[@VintageRadius]

And 2011? Epiphone much better today....

[@dw22509]

Since CNC has been come the production norm bad guitars are not nearly as prevalent. The diminishing return gap has been greatly shored up compared to even 10 years ago.

[@deckert618]

@@leightnite3056 Truth

[@siren604]

When I see a guy like Jack talking, all I can think is that Gibson needs to find someone like him. Fantastic interview!

[@pedraw]

Gibson would absolutely stifle and ruin his creativity.

[@AD1978leo]

@@pedraw I agree.

[@216trixie]

They have Mark Agne... Never mind.

[@kevinogorman7561]

I actually think he would be able to whip Gibson into shape. He wore Paul down to make the SE line what it is. Look at how far it has come, we now get Paul's signature and the birds, even optional locking tuner upgrades. It's going to end up outselling the core line if it isn't already.

[@MiguelMakesMusic]

@@216trixie out of the loop, what happened with Mark?

[@tricornium]

I only own 1 SE, but PRS has my brand loyalty for life, and this video only confirmed that. I love the transparency and honesty of these guys, there's not a lot of companies I believe in as much as PRS. I just started my own business a year ago, it's been hit hard with covid, but this really inspired me to push on and power through.

[@Daddysboys75]

South Korea.

[@Daddysboys75]

He reminds me of Bob Lazar a little bit.

[@vanshumundra9569]

😂qq 😂qqqqqqqqqqqqqqq 😂qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq

[@oldmanzen6682]

I've seen him in other videos and tours. Seems like a genuinely nice guy who cares about his staff and clients. I've got 3 PRS guitars, and am always on the lookout for another that speaks to me.

[@merkury06]

I discovered a PRS SE in the "secondary market", I could not be happier. Way better than anything I could have justified new as a beginner and affordable path to PRS quality. The SE line punches way above its weight.

[@peterdebad1]

Thank you Phil for getting Jack on the channel. Paul may have his name on the head stock but it takes a team to make the dream happen. I learned a lot today from your interview and it is much appreciated. Have a great week. Peace!

[@MarkJohnsonJams]

Jack is a cool dude. Seems super passionate.

[@jamesshaw476]

Love my 2019 SE Custom 24! Thank you PRS! Thank you Phil for getting this interview together!

[@gorlagOv]

My PRS custom 24 is my favorite guitar and is the best guitar I have ever played. I love it thanks you all for your hard work.

[@kevinmadden1164]

Jack's a class act.

[@thecraikybunch6789]

Great interview. I absolutely love my SE Custom. Also own a LP Studio, but always go back to my PRS.

[@mikeelwell3355]

Just picked up an se custom, love it. Don’t have to baby it like a private stock. Love all prs guitars!

[@RobinsonRDavid]

Brilliant! I think you’ve found a new way to shine, interviews. More please!

[@I-Libertine]

I just bought my first SE (Strella) and listening to this was inspiring. Made me feel like part of something good, worthwhile, wholesome and positive. Part of family.

[@noahtenshen]

My First was a Silvertone in 1965, with heavy flat wound strings and I loved it. I still have it and I can honestly say it is like driving a truck with manual steering and manual brakes compared my SE with Power everything. I recall the debacle of my first drive with power steering and power brakes--manhandling was dangerous. Finesse took a while. That idea of easing up in a beautifully playable guitar was similar. My aging hands are so pleased things evolved. Great interview. Rock On Phillip! Stay Well.

[@matthewkuhns7303]

What I crave most is a core custom 24 at the moment. But I figure that me being only 15 years old and being a player of 3 years, an almost 4000 dollar instrument would be too much for a 15 year old. I currently do have an SE Custom 24 (Spalted maple in vintage sunburst) and I got it back from the factory on Friday because there was a chip next to the bottom strap button because it got damaged in shipping back from the first time I sent it because there was some finish cracking along the binding and I wanted to send it in and see if there was anything wrong and they just had to sand it down. This chip by the strap button though was a quarter sized chip, fairly big. I got it back and it looked like there was never a crack or chip there. The wood grain looks as it did before. What they did for me was amazing and there attention to detail was immaculate. And guess what!? I didnt even get charged!! So happy with my baby now and it plays so well.

[@ciggy_]

Man I’m glad I got hooked on fenders instead of prs, just because I might actually be able to afford an American original fender in a couple years because they’re “only” 2 grand haha but hope you get your hands on a core prs eventually, seems like great guitars!

[@matthewkuhns7303]

@@ciggy_ they're great I have an SE but a core or CE would be magnificent

[@matthewkuhns7303]

@@omnicognatesnr5947 wow that's a great collection. Definitely try and learn more and you will appreciate those babies even more!

[@joemckinney489]

Nice work, Phil. That was an excellent interview and the video editing was top notch.

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Thank you Joe

[@andrewbarker9773]

well done Phillip, you honestly just changed my outlook on never being able to afford a PRS even though I know top range is out of the question for me on a very real inability in my personal situation for a core product but now I feel at ease with whatever time it takes to accumulate enough capital for an se range product and be comfortable knowing I dont have to compromise the quality and playable differences I once thought would maybe be too different, thanks man

[@luciansirbu1784]

I bought an SE charcoal fade...I hope it will arrive soon. Love PRS guitars and their passion for building musical instruments

[@gregorygetable]

Great talk. I have vintage name brands from 71 on. I fell in love with PRS SE 245, purchased, and few months ago added Paul's SE. I'm 67 and not in electric bands any more yet enjoy the sustain and ease of playability and stunning look..thank you....

[@steveburman5957]

My Mira SE is my favorite guitar I own right now. I can get so many sounds out of it and it plays so nice.

[@ThunderFalcon333]

Great interview with a cool guy. Maybe a PRS in my future after hearing him talk.

[@bigdogpete43]

You can review all the guitars you want, but this is a company I want to do business with and support. Jack and PRS are a real class act.

[@faizfarhan903]

Thanks Jack Higginbotham for sharing the knowledge on how the SE model is born as well as Phillip for uploading the content on this video at your channel. Hope PRS able to maintain various model on SE series so that more people can get inspire to play music with PRS instruments.

[@lonniezamarripa959]

Very good stuff , Phillip! Every time I pick up my Brent Mason Artist Series PRS and get ready to play the first thing that comes out of my mouth is : PRS makes the best guitars in the world!

[@skeetschuler1859]

Great interview Phil. PRS is a great American Company. Thanks Jack

[@Justafeller]

Great interview. Great guys!

[@netzer442]

Great interview!

[@BadEagle]

Really interesting and honest interview. Thank you!

[@palm444]

Great interview! I recently bought a 2012 PRS SInglecut SE Korina. What a great guitar.

[@billspruce8368]

This was great, Phil... my next guitar will, without a doubt, be a PRS... I live 45 miles from the factory and I am embarrassed I don't own a home-state built guitar!

[@timchalmers1700]

I got my first PRS guitar in October 2020. I got the most affordable SE Standard because that was what I could afford. I'm not a doctor/lawyer/engineer. But when people see my SE Standard they are stunned at how beautiful it is, as am I everyday I pick it up. People who know that I've been going thru some tough times assume that it is far more expensive than it is and I can see them wondering how I could come up with thousands of dollars, so I tell them how much it cost and again they are stunned. I have so much fun doing that. I've been playing guitar for 55 years and I love playing this guitar.

[@jorgegvb]

Proud owner of two SE guitars. I actually play my 245 more than my Les Paul. I prefer the PRS wide-fat neck.

[@kevinogorman7561]

I have a 245, a SE 35th Ann Custom 24 and the Hollowbody II. And am always impressed how much guitar the 245 is when I pick it up. Such a great guitar for an amazing price. Middle pickup selector, treble tone knob to zero, roll back the neck volume and you get this luscious Clapton woman tone.

[@daveg4236]

I've got quite a few SEs. Absolutely love them

[@semin811]

What a guy! I wish to see him more often here on KZbin. Maybe even more than Mr.Smith himself lol

[@williamwagnon2809]

Loved Phil's comment about noticing Dave Weiner for his tone. I noticed David Grissom when he was playing for John Mellencamp and I was hooked on his tone. That was his Gold dot guitar. I loved it!!

[@gregorygetable]

Watched this again, good stuff. I have 2 SE , Paul's an 245, plus other vintage , but these are right at top

[@talknrock9005]

Awesome video Phil 👍

[@thephotoyak]

Quality content Phil.

[@The-11]

Great interview Phil !

[@Chancho_Villa]

Picked up a new 2009 PRS SE at GC one day and played it unplugged. Immediately I noticed it played so fast and comfortably that I took it home without setting it down or hearing it amplified. I have not been disappointed.

[@jd3248]

Gotta just love Prs, wish more guitar manufacturers were like this

[@kyle9maloney]

SE is a working class mans guitar . Solid and reliable. I own a SE standard and it’s amazing 🔥

[@k-ondoomer]

Found your channel l, watched your shizz and heard you name drop the gretch junior jet. I'm so thankful you showed that guitar to me I've been glued to it the past two days

[@avielkharrat5788]

FANTASTIC VIDEO!

[@jimrankin5320]

I started at 12 years old on a "Throw-Away" guitar with only a body, neck, tuning keys, that I went into a music store and said what do I need to make this where I can play it. I left with a bridge and strings and 'no one' told me anything. I said all that to say this...That was in 1962, and...I'm still playing. I commented on your video about the tour of the PRS Factory. And it's going to take me a while to be able to come up with the funds, but after seeing this? I am really going to try to make my 'next' guitar a PRS. Thank you for 'All The Insight!!!' It's Priceless. (And I'm not trying to clone the credit card commercial. I promise. Priceless just "Fits.")

[@LeanBackMac]

I bought a LP classic in January. Then I played the Mark Holcomb 6 string SE fell in love with it. sold my LP and am looking to get a PRS. every guitar I have touched by them plays great, feels great. They are in my opinion top top tier.

[@peterdieduardo6792]

Bought my Lefty 2020 charcoal burst SE 2 weeks ago and love it. I've played strats and les Paul's for years but had to compromise with knock offs because of the scarcity of good mid range guitars for lefties, especially 20+ years ago. Quality was iffy and models were limited. I always wanted a PRS but price point and limited left handed models were scarce or nonexistent but today that wish has become reality with the SE line. Thanks PRS!

[@IDGAF_PLUS]

I own 2 SE Customs, the newest being the spectacular 35th anniversary model. Absolutely love them. For the price I feel they're as good as it gets.

[@chrissullins3]

I remember origin of manufacture discussions back in the 80s when my cousin got his first guitar a squier from Japan.

[@RalphPacheco2]

Great interview

[@toddflowers8052]

My experience with PRS is this , 2019 King Crimson SE from Indonesia has many problems with QC while my 2020 Zach Myers SE from Korea is perfect. Great interview Phil.

[@metalheadblues]

Can't go wrong with Korean guitars

[@cupcakeannihilator6742]

I own two PRS SE’s and they are the two I pick up the most! Great playing, great feeling, and I look forward to grabbing a USA model as well! Fantastic instruments at every price point!

[@BlueeyesofSkye]

I’ve owned Ibanez, Gibson’s, and Epiphones. I only own PRS guitars now, 3 SE’s, and a 2020 CE24. Two modified (my 2014 Tremonti SE heavily). I did have one that was not so hot (SE Standard 24), and one I just didn’t care for, but I love the four I have. They look, feel, and play fantastic. All of my SE’s are Korean built (2014 Tremonti, Akerfeldt, and a 2018 Myers). All different, yet feel familiar.

[@mikestillwagon5675]

I was at a pawnshop last week and they had an SE Soapbar hanging there. Just for giggles I picked it up and played it. It was filthy, and the action was lower than I would usually find comfortable, but it was completely free of any fret buzz. I would not hesitate to bring it home and would certainly gig with it.

[@love4boost]

I’m a person that likes quality but don’t like paying a high premium for it. So the se line is great for me. I get a guitar that looks, feels, and sounds expensive. But it’s not breaking the bank. That is something to be grateful for. I’ve never came across another brand that guitars under $1k are consistently good besides PRS. The ability to buy a guitar sight unseen and not buying the one on the wall so you know it’s setup properly is amazing.

[@GraemeCampbellMusic]

I have and have had more than a few guitars, including Gibsons, Fenders and Anderson, I recently picked up a 2004 PRS SE Soapbar II and it’s one of the best playing guitars I have ever owned.

[@scottstetzer]

I have a 93 SE Soapbar II that rivals any Gibson or Fender I've ever owned, and there have been many.

[@timcastle165]

Great video and I’m very impressed that the management took pay cuts in order to keep their employee’s payed and working!! It’s nice to see/hear that a company would go to that extent for their employee’s!! With that said, I have a 2017 SE Custom 24 in a Tobacco Burst and just to satisfy my curiosity I took it into my local music store to see what it was worth (not that I am going to sell it). The guitar is in new condition and the only thing that I upgraded was the tuners to PRS style locking tuners. Now new I paid between $700-$800.00 for it, they told me it was only worth $200.00, the guitar was only 2 years old at that point. Sadly they do not hold any value, just letting people know about this fact. Like I said I love the guitar and will not sell it, but I am looking to upgrade the pickups next!!

[@robertlee6781]

No, the local music store wanted to rip you off. You’re right though about keeping it to enjoy.

[@trevorgill2811]

Student Edition was the original term. I have one of the first models

[@SrDeMaFp]

Jack has always seemed super cool and knowledgeable. I'd love to hang out and shoot the shit with the guy. Good stuff, Philip!

[@anotherstart1]

Also best guitars made today hands down. No other manufacturers can touch them in quality or price point. From SE to core to private stock, no one touches them. And they stay in tune !

[@davidbloom2373]

Beautiful guitar

[@drp8062]

To a dishwasher an SE is a "lawyer guitar". It is so nice for PRS and Jack to realize this. I'm 59 years old and just bought my first PRS, an SE Standard 24-08. I love this instrument and treat it like it cost three times as much as it did. PRS quality brings this out. Now I want a CORE model!

[@metalheadblues]

I bought a used one for $200 , holds up to my higher end guitars and USA made guitars. Rock solid / stage ready no issue.

[@daveporter1029]

I have owned guitars made from just about every major manufacturer of instruments during my 55 years of playing guitar. I have a band mate that bought a PRS guitar about a year ago; I was surprised that it had a sound that was noticeably different than other guitars, in a very good sort of way. So, I recently decided to by a SE Paul’s guitar as a way of “trying out” a PRS guitar to see how it would actually fit with the types of music I play, largely, blues, jazz and classic rock. After a couple of months of use, a few recording dates and gigs, I am sold! The sound, quality and versatility of this guitar is amazing for the price. I am going to sell one of my Gibson guitars and one of my Fender guitars and buy a Core Paul’s Guitar!

[@reseidolon]

A CE 24 in either Whale Blue or Trampas Green is my dream guitar. It's just really nice to see a company that offers products out of pride and passion rather than some cynical marketing exercise. Don't know if I'll ever afford one, but I guess it's good to have something to shoot for.

[@Jeff-ik9zj]

Picked up a PRS SE custom 24 last week, tried out a few Gibsons and Ibanez' but the PRS was the best out of the bunch

[@davidbloom2373]

Prs s2 custom 24 2013 mape top beautiful features love this guitar

[@phowell333]

Mr. Higginbotham mentions working for minimum wage in the mid-80's and it was about $4.50...But I distinctly remember working my butt off washing dishes in the summer of 1985 and minimum wage was $2.90 !! He now deserves that with the decimal point moved over two places. He's a fantastic asset to PRS and one of the most likable people in the industry.

[@robsonf6683]

Class act Master guitar builder. Thank you

[@updem]

My first two guitars were amazingly different. First was my mother's Spanish guitar(made in Spain) that she strung with steel strings, that was a workout! Then when I got my first electric it was an Epiphone LP special II that honestly didn't play bad, just weighed a ton!

[@jamesduckworth9117]

Can’t even imagine how many air miles this guy has logged because of SE guitars.

[@WalkenDead]

I've got 2010 SE semi hallow and the guitar is awesome. If this had been the very first guitar I had ever played on I would have been very.......unimpressed by any other guitar that I own. I was unfortunately a part of the crappy guitars from the 80's and early 90's. I say this with the the knowledge of what was, a $80 Glary is a much better guitar than allot of us started out on. My first electric guitar was a boat anchor strat copy, terrible. The first I bought myself was a GTX in blue crackle, kinda want one of those again lol, but it wasn't a good guitar. Now i could make it good. The next was truly my first stage worthy guitar, Hammer Duotone. That guitar was really well built, MIK, I wish I had kept it.

[@msaintpc]

Countersink the back cover plates, roll the fretboard edges, file down those vicious, snagging, finger tearing fret ends and the SE might be more interesting to we pros.

[@jason.h]

That little note at the begining is such a dig at Paul 😂

[@choowie92]

I can't believe I live in Maryland and did not pay a visit to PRS factory site in Stevensville yet. When that horrid virus thing is over, I go there and then I buy myself a PRS.

[@pedraw]

I'm seriously thinking about the PRS SE Paul's guitar model as my next acquisition. Thanks Phil and thank you to Jack for your time.

[@ronnieremark3355]

I felt the same way. Started w an Se standard and loved it. My second Se was the Paul’s guitar and it is the best decision I’ve made regarding what to buy. Totally satisfied. I recommend it and you won’t be disappointed

[@MobiusCoin]

YOU KNOW this guy is a great COO. The greatest tell of good management is someone who's done the job themselves. Management consultants and their MBA's have ruined so many businesses.

[@jppagetoo]

I think SE's were a success because they are built so well. They are excellent instruments that are affordable for people starting out yet you can grow into them and they can be used to play in a gigging band. Man... I wish these were around in 1977 when I started playing. I stuck with it through the crappy guitars, PRS put that step in the past. Others manufacturers have joined them, but they were the early leader in this movement.

[@Soonerbldr]

Man I love PRS. Just doing I right. More companies could learn from them.

[@jimaronson2323]

I usually don't like long interviews with guitar company management because they are usually boring. This interview, however, I found absolutely interesting. Very much so. Jack is just very interesting to listen to. Seems like a great guy. And, I think PRS knows exactly what SE stands for. Why won't they say??

[@Khobbyhobs]

My SE Custom 22 Semi-hollow is by far the best guitar I've ever played and I've played/owned pretty much anything you can think of.

[@salvatorepuccini4261]

Great interview but his bandana mask around his neck had me like 🤣

[@stephanematis]

Odd, I always used Bike Shaped Object for some of the big box 2 wheeled items. Guitar Shaped Object works well too.

[@chrisfrank6449]

Absolutely love my PRS Santana 24 SE!!

[@Skinned_Knees]

Now I want an SE Standard!

[@johntompson174]

The "race to the bottom" in guitar manufacturing started with the "yen shock" of 1985 -- the value of the yen basically doubled in value overnight in '85 and Japan rapidly began offloading domestic manufacturing to places like Korea and Taiwan. You could absolutely still buy Japanese guitars into the 1990s and early 2000s (The RG570/1570 from Ibanez come to mind here because when I had them to sell I sold them!) but choices were getting fewer as time went on. Industry insiders in the early 1990s knew that cheap Korean guitars wouldn't last forever either, and new lower-labor-cost manufacturing bases would be found. I entered the business in 1997 and Indonesian instruments had been around for a few years. The first Chinese instruments were beginning to appear and we avoided the Chinese guitars like the plague...until we couldn't. I actually had one of the early Santa SE's in 2005...great guitar with an unclear identity. It was a better guitar than other Korean-built guitars of that time, and, it came with a gig bag! The line has certainly come a long way and there has been considerable energy expended in doing it as rightly as it can be done. In doing so they created the fine S2 series which are mid-priced workhorses. When I sold PRS guitars from 2000-05 Nu Metal was IN. The message about what PRS is about was not, but thankfully for consumers it has been coming out at least in the last 10 years. The 1990 promo video is hysterical because you're watching PRS himself, looking like a lanky mad scientist dive-bombing a Custom 24 '80s-style in a demo saying "The tremolo should stay in tune, right?" The visionary still owns the company and still tirelessly works to make better products. While the guitars may reflect more of a Gibson vibe in general, the endless tinkering and improving is very much a Leo Fender sensibility, as is having your nucleus of people to make it all work. I was talking to one of the field sales reps for my company this afternoon and he agreed with me here: for people born after 1960 (like myself), PRS is our Fender Electric Instrument Co. (1946-1965) blended with Ted McCarty-era Gibson.

[@ballsofdoom3124]

SE - Student Edition, South East,(Asia) Special Edition, Super Excellent!

[@gpdaelemans]

Yes. An Engineer with several PRS' including an '89 Custom 24 10-top. Six Figure salary? Not when I bought them.

[@frankenstein4106]

I have an SE, an S2 and recently got a used core PRS. All are great playing guitars, but I have always replaced the pickups in the SE and S2 guitars I have owned and currently own. The core one was fantastic all around, and I'll never part with it!

[@6stringstandard136]

What pickups did you put in your S2?

[@frankenstein4106]

@@6stringstandard136 I put a Suhr Thornbucker set in my current S2 Singlecut. Great pickups!

[@6stringstandard136]

@@frankenstein4106 Thanks. I will check them out. Looking to replace the VB and HFS pickups in my 2016 S2.

[@ScottMedinaX]

Interesting. Initially, I looked at this title and opening slide and thought eh' who cares what the COO has to say but then I thought about how different Paul was and thought hmmm maybe I'll give it a shot and was glad I did. Jack and his journey are as interesting as Paul and his.

[@wadeguidry6675]

I want a SE baritone. My understanding is that all offshore PRS SEs are made in S.Korea which is where many high quality offshore guitars are made. I've owned a few SKorea made guitars and their quality is great.

[@Ovibos5]

They were. Now they are made at a dedicated factory in Indonesia and the acoustics in China.

[@scottstetzer]

I dont think any from S Korea anymore.

[@charlesford8692]

My first guitar was a PRS SE Paul Allender in Purple Quilt burst. I love that thing to death and still take it to gigs regularly

[@georgealcoba3514]

I miss mine

[@codysifford5470]

Would love to know when those hollowbody iis will be available. Been waiting on my order to be filled for 2 months.

[@davidmiles533]

I HAD A 10.00 sears guitar as my first too! 1972 I think. Bleeding is right. I have permanent wrist damage from that.

[@TheTactical6string]

So can I say I have a PRS being an owner of the 30th Anny Custom 24 Floyd SE? I have an LTD M-1000 and an ESP KH2, but i dont say i own 2 ESP's.

[@JaniceLalla]

good interview, hey, what's the red and white guitar on the bottom next to you on the right?

[@KevPezJALP]

I own a core McCarty, and it’s my favorite guitar. I also own a Silver Sky SE, I temporarily had a Santana SE and an S2 Standard and they all could have been a number 1 guitar. PRS SE’s are no slouch.

[@louisburley1597]

The new SE's are killer. I love mine

[@metalheadblues]

They look good but the Korean ones will always be the best

[@TerentiusD]

I don't know of a reason I need a more expensive guitar than my PRS SE Paul's Guitar. The only reason for something more expensive is aesthetic, or supporting USA craftsmen.

[@toddyrocks]

I have a Hamer with World Music also on the rear headstock

[@sdaweqwaf]

I hope prs make an metal s2 guitar or core series, I have a ltd 1000, I want the construction of prs USA with metal pickups