I bought an S2 Vela about a month ago - second hand but like new - same as yours it still had the plastic on the pickguard. I love it and its my go to at the moment (and its got lots of competition) - that neck pick up is beautiful - everything is so nicely sorted - just what I want and no silly bling.
As someone who sees PRS guitars the same way as you do John, I also have to agree that this guitar is an exception. It looks more classic, no bling and sounds great. Is it a keeper? 🙂
I love my PRS guitars. This one is a stand out in their line as being very unique and, as you mentioned, versatile. A winner indeed. (you didn't mention if it was truly a "keeper" for your needs though.😉)
Don’t want to spoil the surprise but, looking on eBay, it seems to have already been sent on its way. Strangely enough, that’s exactly what I did with every PRS I ever owned - they just don’t seem to be guitars that I can form a lasting attachment with.
@@johngibson911 I wouldn't be surprised. There are many folks that don't find the PRS to their liking....and I was one of them in their earliest days. Didn't like the sound of the pickups. (...and I don't swap out pickups. If the Maker doesn't get it right, I move on.) But then they started trying to get a more traditional sounding humbucker, and succeeded... I tried the newer ones and like the sound. I've always liked the the way they play. I'm a Double-cut-away kind of guy! Not a fan of Teles or Les Pauls. I don't like the rounder fretboard radius of a Fender, whether it is the 7 1/4 or the 9 1/2 (the 9 1/2 is better, but I haven't met one that I am happy with over a period of time. Gotta be a 10" radius for me to feel at home on os flatter. I made my own Tele (a double Cut with a 10" radius fretboard & body contours) to get those sounds and settled on a wonderful G&L Legacy for my Strat style. For my L.P. style, I have found an older Cort CL 1000 guitar that feels the best in my hands. It also has a much nicer contoured heel joint than those clunky Gibson things. It's all about how the guitar sounds and feels in the players hands. Thank God for the variety that is available to us! LOL! Play On!
@@BrentAdams Sounds like you’ve had a great guitar adventure - as you say we are fortunate to be enjoying a golden age of choice & quality. I have always been pretty mainstream with my “keeper” guitars (USA Strats & Teles with the odd Jaguar for variety & Les Pauls when I feel the need for one of my “own brand” guitars) but I have tried loads of other stuff too. I’m not a modder either - if they can’t get it right at the factory then buy something else. I think I’ll start looking for a bit of variety in future long-term companions - always liked the ideas that G&L come up with and I really should get into Gretsch in a deeper way than I have previously. I will definitely also venture into the PRS catalogue again - I think I’ve tried harder with them than I did with my first marriage 😀! Maybe a Vela like John’s will be my epiphany. Keep on following your own road mate & stay lucky
Hi John, I think you hit the nail right on the head when you said, "It's a nice little guitar" it sounds great, I just don't think there's anything to make it stand out. I'm sure for a working musician it would be a great instrument to have. Don't get me wrong I'm sounding a bit like I don't like that guitar. That's not true. But if I had to chose between one of those or a good Tele then the Tele would always win.
Nice guitar John, is it like the Yamaha Revstar , both cracking guitars , nice demo again, i am a fan of PRS, but the neck look quite thick for my little hands
Guitar harmony, yes! The Vela looks great for sure. I guess if you're a PRS fan and wanted the Tele/Surfer tone this'll do. But I'd get the much cheaper SE Starla (with DS-02 pups) which is a little more Gretsch than Fender but sounds comparably good to the Vela. For an unadorned PRS S2 go for the S2 McCarty 594 Thinline that's an all mahogany, non-offset body, and has 58/15"S" (more PAF sounding pups) and a 24.594" scale. Or the SE Mira is also all mahogany, but with 25" scale and the 85/15"S" pups, with the pickguard controls like the Vela. Still not a fan of PRS pups but if I ever go back to PRS the Starla and the Thinline are on my maybe list.
Although I am not particularly interested in this specific guitar its fun watching someone live out our guitar fantasies and work his way through every guitar in the shop (well nearly!) - you may need some more wall space soon though John ;)
A nice piece of music for the demo John with some Wishbone Ash harmonised guitar in the mix. Looks and sounds really good.... But I hate the look of the pickguard. I still may consider searching one out though. Do they do an SE version?
‘If you’re a bit like me when you buy a new guitar you go hunting round RUclips for reviews of the guitar you just bought…’ how prophetic, John! Looking forward to my one arriving in a couple of days 😂 Did it stick around in your collection, or did you move it on? I’m a big fan of Gibson melody makers - I have a 1965 which toured the world in the 80s with a certain French rock band and is just too precious to take out too often so I’m hoping this can be a workhorse version that I don’t mind using
Cool guitar. It sounds great! My brother has the PRS Standard 22 S2. It has the same shape, wood, but 2 humbuckers. It's a nice guitar. It's kind of like a PRS version of an SG with the satin finish.
In my opinion the most underrated and unique prs
I bought an S2 Vela about a month ago - second hand but like new - same as yours it still had the plastic on the pickguard. I love it and its my go to at the moment (and its got lots of competition) - that neck pick up is beautiful - everything is so nicely sorted - just what I want and no silly bling.
As someone who sees PRS guitars the same way as you do John, I also have to agree that this guitar is an exception. It looks more classic, no bling and sounds great. Is it a keeper? 🙂
I love my PRS guitars. This one is a stand out in their line as being very unique and, as you mentioned, versatile. A winner indeed. (you didn't mention if it was truly a "keeper" for your needs though.😉)
Don’t want to spoil the surprise but, looking on eBay, it seems to have already been sent on its way. Strangely enough, that’s exactly what I did with every PRS I ever owned - they just don’t seem to be guitars that I can form a lasting attachment with.
@@johngibson911 I wouldn't be surprised. There are many folks that don't find the PRS to their liking....and I was one of them in their earliest days. Didn't like the sound of the pickups. (...and I don't swap out pickups. If the Maker doesn't get it right, I move on.) But then they started trying to get a more traditional sounding humbucker, and succeeded... I tried the newer ones and like the sound. I've always liked the the way they play. I'm a Double-cut-away kind of guy! Not a fan of Teles or Les Pauls. I don't like the rounder fretboard radius of a Fender, whether it is the 7 1/4 or the 9 1/2 (the 9 1/2 is better, but I haven't met one that I am happy with over a period of time. Gotta be a 10" radius for me to feel at home on os flatter. I made my own Tele (a double Cut with a 10" radius fretboard & body contours) to get those sounds and settled on a wonderful G&L Legacy for my Strat style. For my L.P. style, I have found an older Cort CL 1000 guitar that feels the best in my hands. It also has a much nicer contoured heel joint than those clunky Gibson things. It's all about how the guitar sounds and feels in the players hands. Thank God for the variety that is available to us! LOL! Play On!
@@BrentAdams Sounds like you’ve had a great guitar adventure - as you say we are fortunate to be enjoying a golden age of choice & quality. I have always been pretty mainstream with my “keeper” guitars (USA Strats & Teles with the odd Jaguar for variety & Les Pauls when I feel the need for one of my “own brand” guitars) but I have tried loads of other stuff too. I’m not a modder either - if they can’t get it right at the factory then buy something else. I think I’ll start looking for a bit of variety in future long-term companions - always liked the ideas that G&L come up with and I really should get into Gretsch in a deeper way than I have previously. I will definitely also venture into the PRS catalogue again - I think I’ve tried harder with them than I did with my first marriage 😀! Maybe a Vela like John’s will be my epiphany. Keep on following your own road mate & stay lucky
You sure can showcase this guitar! Tasteful playing!!!!!
That instrumental was fantastic!
Cheers mate 👍
Been avoiding buying one for years but now you've put me over the edge, damn you, Mr.P.R.S. Robeson....
Hi John, I think you hit the nail right on the head when you said, "It's a nice little guitar" it sounds great, I just don't think there's anything to make it stand out. I'm sure for a working musician it would be a great instrument to have. Don't get me wrong I'm sounding a bit like I don't like that guitar. That's not true. But if I had to chose between one of those or a good Tele then the Tele would always win.
Watch this space, mate
Brilliant piece of music. Thanks.👍
Yeah man! That was awesome! Great stuff! Loved it. Good show, mate!!
What a variety of tones! Impressive guitar!
Very Cool Guitar and awesome Demo/Review. Thankyou. 25.0 inch scale is interesting. Cheers
Nice guitar John, is it like the Yamaha Revstar , both cracking guitars , nice demo again, i am a fan of PRS, but the neck look quite thick for my little hands
Guitar harmony, yes! The Vela looks great for sure. I guess if you're a PRS fan and wanted the Tele/Surfer tone this'll do. But I'd get the much cheaper SE Starla (with DS-02 pups) which is a little more Gretsch than Fender but sounds comparably good to the Vela. For an unadorned PRS S2 go for the S2 McCarty 594 Thinline that's an all mahogany, non-offset body, and has 58/15"S" (more PAF sounding pups) and a 24.594" scale. Or the SE Mira is also all mahogany, but with 25" scale and the 85/15"S" pups, with the pickguard controls like the Vela. Still not a fan of PRS pups but if I ever go back to PRS the Starla and the Thinline are on my maybe list.
Although I am not particularly interested in this specific guitar its fun watching someone live out our guitar fantasies and work his way through every guitar in the shop (well nearly!) - you may need some more wall space soon though John ;)
Well done that lad. ;) At least you tried to digest the acronym PRS again.
Inspired playing there, John - sounds like you took to the PRS instantly! And no bird inlays 😉😂 I expect we’ll be hearing more of this one 👍
Pairs well with the Marshall.
A nice piece of music for the demo John with some Wishbone Ash harmonised guitar in the mix. Looks and sounds really good.... But I hate the look of the pickguard. I still may consider searching one out though. Do they do an SE version?
Cheers mate. No SE version at the moment.
Liberace John? Come now.. that's for the birds. Plays nicely.
@2.00 Do you have a licence for those legs to be on display . . . . .If not don't worry summer's over next week !!!!!!!!
seen better legs on a piano
‘If you’re a bit like me when you buy a new guitar you go hunting round RUclips for reviews of the guitar you just bought…’ how prophetic, John! Looking forward to my one arriving in a couple of days 😂 Did it stick around in your collection, or did you move it on? I’m a big fan of Gibson melody makers - I have a 1965 which toured the world in the 80s with a certain French rock band and is just too precious to take out too often so I’m hoping this can be a workhorse version that I don’t mind using
Cheers mate. The Vela left the building after a couple of weeks to be replaced with an S2 Standard, which I kept for a lot longer.
It reminds me of Brian Mays guitar
Nice guitar John. does it feel like your old CTS24?
Playability wise, yes. Sound wise... no. The CST24 was MUCH fatter & more "Gibson" sounding
Cool guitar. It sounds great! My brother has the PRS Standard 22 S2. It has the same shape, wood, but 2 humbuckers. It's a nice guitar. It's kind of like a PRS version of an SG with the satin finish.
Wow! Always rhought these were sleepers.
Why am I getting a Gibson SG feeling?
why no bird inlays? they put them on cheaper guitars but not this one.
You can find this model with the birds, but I *really* don't like them so I bought one with dots instead.
@@JRobsonGuitar i know it dosen't make a difference to the sound but it is there trademark, so i just wondered why not on these guitars.
Nothing special that’s why it was going cheap.