Review quickie: PRS Standard 22 / 24 (Satin)

S2 Standard 24 Satin

S2 Standard 22 Satin

Overview

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• S2 Series are PRS’ affordable American models
• Electronics are not American, that’s one of the reasons why these are more affordable
• The Satin version of the Standard 22 / 24 has no final lacquer overcoat. The manufacturer describes this as a nitro layer. It’s a very thin top coat protecting the wood, you can feel the mahogany grain.
• Push / pull coil split option (tone control) for both models

Construction / features

LIKES

• Well made, top notch QC
• Not a heavy guitar at all, resonant
• Very comfortable lacquer-free neck feel, C-profile
• Smooth / responsive tuners

DISLIKES

• Pickup selector located quite away from the bridge making quick access via pinky stretch a little tricky
• Pickguard makes these guitars look entry-level

Playability / Tone

LIKES

• Non-lacquered neck supplements quick movements
• Good upper fret access despite blocky neck heel
• Pickups – impressive cleans, impressive jazz tones in the neck, adapts to drive / distortion well. One of the best midrange & coil split manifestation
• Responsive / smooth vibrato bridge

DISLIKES

• Pickups not made for metal / intense distortion, lacks clarity under such applications

Last say

There’s so much to like about this guitar at this price point. The feel is amazing & should spur players of any background to be more engaging during play, be it purposeful bending, slower, feel-inclined phrasing or all-out shred, these guitars are up to it. Many of us would dismiss these as merely the lacquer-less version of the Standard 22 / 24 but having played both models, I have to say it’s not merely a difference in feel. Due to the lighter nature, the treble response here is more organic. There’s a tad more warmth to the midrange as well. Personally, I note that the neck humbuckers of these Satin version do not mud-out easily under restrained volume applications. However, these pickups are definitely not the choice reference for metalheads; they don’t do bass notes chugging well under intense distortion / drive / gain. Coil split tones are a pleasant surprise. Not an exact replication but hold its own, impressive to say the least. Between the 22 & 24, the former has a deeper bass response, not much, just a tad. It’s almost unnoticeable unless you spend more time peddling bass notes.

Rating: 90%

Availability

• S2 Standard 24 Satin - Swee Lee / Davis (bag included)
• S2 Standard 22 Satin - Davis (bag included)