hough best known for its solidbody electrics, Paul Reed Smith Guitars has long been a builder of quality acoustics. This year PRS added six new acoustics to its SE line of instruments, which are built in Asia rather than at the company’s Maryland headquarters. Though they take conceptual cues from the company’s high-end domestic Private Stock series, all six are under $1,000.
Three of the new SEs—the A20E, A40E, and A50E—are in the Angelus body style, which features a smooth Venetian cutaway for easy upper-register access. The remaining three—the TX20E, TX40E, and TX50E—have the moderately full-figured Tonare Grand body shape. All feature solid spruce tops, ebony fingerboards, bone nuts and saddles, and Fishman GT1 electronics, with volume and tone controls neatly hidden behind the upper edge of the soundhole. Aiming for a warm, balanced tone, the A20E and TX20E have mahogany back and sides; the 40s have Ovangkol back and sides for full, lush tone; and the A50E and TX50E have back and sides of figured maple that yield a brighter sound.
PRS sent the mahogany TX20E and notably fancier figured maple A50E for review, covering both ends of the SE spectrum. The two guitars have definite similarities, as well as distinct differences. Build quality of Chinese-made acoustic guitars has steadily improved in recent years, and both of these instruments are fine examples of that evolution. From endpin to headstock, woodwork to hardware, both instruments showed practically perfect fit and finish, and exceptional construction and attention to detail.
Both the PRS TX20E and A50E are exquisitely built instruments with sonic signatures that speak with clarity and resonance. At these prices, PRS’s new family of SE acoustic guitars is definitely worth a try.
FULL REVIEW: http://acousticguitar.com/review-prs-se-tx20e-and-se-a50e-acoustics/