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Rating And Reviews: PRS Carlos Santana SE

The PRS Carlos Santana SE is the first SE that utilizes the very same silhouette as Santana's revered American-made PRS model guitars.

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"A great instrument at an affordable price!!" submitted October 5, 2011

By a customer from yahoo.com
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Musical Background: Active Musician
Music Style: Rock, Pop, Blues, Jazz
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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW
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Sound: The sound is as close to owning a REAL PRS Santana model as it gets! This instrument practically plays itself, all I do is press the frets and strum. Very expressive sound quality with rich tones and overdrive when I need it. I use a BOSS ME-70 multi effects pedal hooked up to my Peavey Valve King 112. The sustain on the guitar is most excellent and the .095-.043 strings are just what the doctor ordered for this PRS guitar! Feature: The gig bag is very well padded, roomy, and eye catching. Ease of Use: Easy to play and powerful. Quality: For the money, it's the best value out there. If you want PRS quality without having to take out a second mortgage, this is your instrument!! Value: Well worth the $$, you won't regret it! The Wow Factor: I just can't put it down once I start playing it! It feels like an old favorite T-shirt. You forget that you're wearing it!! Overall: This is one that will last me a long, long time. If it were stolen, I would definitely replace it! I chose this particular model because of the Santana Yellow paint, looks like it's been dipped in glass!!
7 of 7 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Don't Miss This One!" submitted July 12, 2012

By bigG B
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Musical Background: 48 + years
Music Style: blues, rock, jazz, classical, folk, bluegrass...
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Overall: Simply put, you will not find a finer guitar made by anyone, anywhere! I've been playing for some 48 years now, and have owned or played just about every production run guitar made. I've bought, sold and traded more than I can count. Along with a few choice Gibson electrics and Martin acoustics, this PRS SE Santana (yellow) is a keeper! Quality control is second to none - fit, finish and action are superb (I like my strings set as low as possible w/o fret buzz, and this guitar came like that out of the box!). Looks absolutely beautiful with very nice wood grain on back and neck and almost 3D maple veneer top. The pickups have a very round, lush tone that make my ears smile when played clean, and smile even more when overdriven. Sustain is excellent. Intonation is very close to perfect. Tuners are silky smooth. Frets are very well done. I'm not much of a whammy bar guy, but it's there and works nicely. This is my first PRS (go figure), and I honestly don't see how paying alot more money for an American-made PRS would improve much of anything, but that's just me and my experience. I'll have this guitar forever, and might someday experiment with another PRS (never say never). Simply an outstanding instrument! Hats off to PRS Korea; they've made one hell of a guitar here, and well worth the money! PS: comes with a nice gig bag, although I would prefer a bit more padding all around. But that's nit-picking - certainly not a deal breaker, and if I still played out, I would immediately buy a case for this beauty. Highly recommended to any level player!
21 of 22 people (95.45%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"SE Santana " submitted March 11, 2012

By Michael R in Harahan, LA
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Musical Background: 6 years of playing, 1 and half years of live performance
Music Style: Rock, Alternative, Blues, Country, Funk, Soul, Top 40
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Overall: Best guitar I have ever played on. Immediately took it out the box, set it up, threw some heavy bottoms on it, and played a show the following day. It has a smaller neck, which makes all your speedy riffs easier, and it has very low friction. My other guitarist has a prs just like mine and the two sound great together. It also goes well with a stratocaster, les paul. Buy this guitar, prs is an incredible company
1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Top Notch PRS Santana Model!" submitted December 14, 2010

By a customer from msn.com
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Musical Background: Home Rocker!
Music Style: Everything and Anything
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Sound: The guitar sounds great out of the box. Nice low action. The tone controls actually do the job. I have played many imports and the tone controls do very little. Not on this baby! Played it through my Fender tube and clean sounds great, very nice pick response. With my Marshall and Orange the crunch is classic rock all the way! Push it past 9 when using some gain and it all falls apart. Overall, MUCH better than I expected. I am a fan of Sheptone handwound pickups so, on day two- In they went. Now this thing is a sonic terror! Feature: I am used to my Gibson Les Paul with dual vol/tone. I love to cut one and use the pickup selector as a kill switch. But then again- when the tone/volume controls work so good- Who needs two? I did have trouble with tuning after the slightest use of the trem- Sprinkled some pencil lead in the nut and WOW- This thing stays in tune as good as my American Strat. I did not like how the SE models had no arch to the tops of the guitar. Well, the Santana does, although minimal it adds a great touch. Old school birds on the neck really set the guitar off! Many compliments already. Ease of Use: The neck is awesome! The quality is on par with many American made necks. No sharp fret edges, very nice piece of rosewood, and they say it's a one piece neck (On a guitar for $709???? Wow!) It is very smooth, great fit, and feel- PRS does have a unique feel and it is quite nice. Quality: Everything was superb except the chip in the front edge of the guitar. PRS sends a nice gig bag but packed it like crap. However- Zzounds gave me a NICE discount and it sounds, feels, and still looks soooo good - It's a keeper! The paint job does not make it look like a toy like some Korean, Chinese, or Mexican made guitars. I do believe this thing will hold up to doing some gigs- The trem seems solid, the tuners are decent, the vol/tone controls work well, and are smooth. Value: I was VERY skeptical when it came to buying a korean made PRS- This guitar is a FABULOUS import! Epiphone should be ashamed in comparison to this thing! I don't want an American made PRS- This thing is a very nice guitar.....Then again, if I did get one it would not be because this does not satisfy my PRS need. Manufacturer Support: No need to deal with PRS yet- Zzounds is great though! Top notch service over the phone and e-mail. The Wow Factor: This is a HOT guitar. Looks, sound, and feel- HOT! I saw Santana back in August 2010 and never really was a fan of PRS guitars. After that I almost spent $3000 on a PRS Santana. The SE models did nothing for me until this one came out. Even though I have 10 other guitars (Mostly American)- I just can't put this thing down! Overall: Like I said above- Why spend $3000- This thing is killer for Under $800! I did swap pickups so, I have a grand in it- I know this, if it was stolen I would buy another one. Just in case, I hope PRS does not read this cuz I will be keeping $2000 in my pocket! Unless they drop the SE Santana model and force me to buy the American Model. It's that nice! Thanks for making it look similar to his version also- Well done PRS.
15 of 17 people (88.24%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Great buy on a PRS Santana SE" submitted May 3, 2012

By Mustang Mike in Scottsdale, AZ
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Musical Background: 40+ years as a hobbyist
Music Style: Classic R&R
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Overall: This is one great guitar. I bought a black/blemished one from ZZounds a few weeks ago. Everything about is is first class; the action, neck, sound, finish, etc. AND I saved a bunch of $$$ by getting a blemished one (and I still can't find the blemish). I would recommend this guitar to any player.
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"Don't let this one get away BUY IT!!!" submitted May 3, 2012

By Steve G in Rochester, NY
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Musical Background: I have 4 PRS guitars (and this is by far the BEST and an American Deluxe Strat
Music Style: Classic Rock, smooth Jazz and anything by Santana
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Overall: The nicest guitar you'll ever own if you want the Carlos Santana sound THIS is the guitar to get dripping sweet harmonics with incredible sustain.The most flawless finish on any guitar made and incredible play ability and an absolutely amazing neck. Anyone who complains about the finish doesn't own this guitar and is just a wanna be who's squire is all they have. This guitar is flawless in finish, action, tone feel and play ability. 10 stars on the WOW factory. It will blow you away and you will NEVER regret this purchase. I have a 20011 american Deluxe Strat that is gathering dust. I can not put this guitar down. Just make sure you have a decent tube amp because a 15w solid state will never give you anything that sounds like what this guitar can do. Don't blame the guitar if all you have is a cheap solid state amp. You need a decent tube amp to really get the true dripping Santana Tone and sustain.
6 of 7 people (85.71%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Black Santana SE" submitted April 19, 2012

By Mustang Mike in Scottsdale, AZ
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Musical Background: I'm a hobbyist and have been playing over 40 years
Music Style: Classic Rock
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Overall: What a great guitar. Look, plays and sounds excellent. I bought a blemished black one and as usual I can't find the blemish! And I saved $170. Thanks Zzounds.
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"I was excited to get it..." submitted December 3, 2011

By a customer from yahoo.com
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Musical Background: Play at church. Been playing a long time
Music Style: Christian (worship, gospel, rock)
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VERIFIED BUYER
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Sound: I bought this guitar and first off let me say that zzounds and their customer service personnel are awsome, top notch. I play mostly clean through and Fender Custom Vibrolux at church and it sounds good but a the lower notes get muddy when playing on the 5th and 6th strings. Distorted seemed to be even more muddy. Feature: I'm giving a 9 here for the simple fact that you can use the tremlo and it does not drop tuning. I have only owned one other guitar in my life (without a locking nut/bridge) that would do that and I paid three times what this guitar costs. The pickups were a little disapointing (getting muddy). The tone control was actually very good and cut tone without just getting that muffled sound. Ease of Use: What can you say? One volume, one tone and a three way switch for pickup selection. I like that the trem arm slides in instead of threading also. Quality: Here is where I was really disapointed with this guitar. I was so excited to get it and when I got it out of the box there was something that looked like dust on the lower edge of the body and I tried to wipe it off. To my amazement it was a discoloration in the wood. It looked like the wood had a dark greenish tint in spots and it was all throughout the back of the body (but not on the top cap). To be honest, it looked like mold in the grain. Overall I was pleased with this guitar's sound and debated on returning it. I finally decided to return it as they were out of the color I wanted (santana yellow)and could not exchange. This is where the zzounds people helped out (thanks!). This had to be a quality control mishap from the manufacturer in Korea. Stuff happens. The intonation was spot on and no fret buzz but the 22nd fret on the 1st string was a dead spot. Value: I have played guitar for almost 40 years now. I've owned expensive and cheap guitars and to me price and where the guitar was made are not always an issue. I've bought foreign made guitars for a couple hundred bucks that will outplay custom shop guitars. So, my opinion of this guitar is simply that it is a good, solid guitar. I am going to save up and get an american made PRS. Not just because it is made in the USA but the tone and finish are what I'm looking for. If you can't save up and spend that kind of dough, this is your guitar. Manufacturer Support: Haven't dealt with PRS. The Wow Factor: It is a beautiful guitar (aside from my finish problem). Well built and set up. Don't let my experience deter you, Get one and if there's a problem ZZounds will make it right, no worries. Overall: Like I said, I am returning it. If it were not for the finish flaw or the fact that the color I wanted was sold out I would still have a PRS Santan SE in Santana yellow. If I had kept it and it were lost or stolen, I would have saved up and gotten a US made PRS.
11 of 13 people (84.62%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Typical PRS" submitted May 18, 2012

By William B in Pleasanton, TX
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Musical Background: Been playing for over 40 years. Played professionally and now just a hobby.
Music Style: Country, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Classical.
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Overall: This is my 2nd PRS. I got low on money several years ago, and sold my Standard 22 CU model. Boy did I hate that. I saw some good reviews on this PRS Santana model, which I have wanted for a while now, but wait, there's some really great improvements with this "Santana" model, first, it's affordable compared to the U.S. made version. Second, it's a set neck not a bolt on, like so many less expensive models. I just got it a few minutes ago, and it plays just as good and stays in tune as good as my U.S. made Standard model did. This guitar is AMAZING. Great wood, great finish, fantastic tone. I am really glad I made this purchase. I can let my custom made strat rest some now!!!
4 of 5 people (80%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"PRS review tru ZZounds" submitted July 29, 2012

By Ira Johnson in Maquoketa, IA
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Musical Background: I am a 43 yr vet of the guitar, I have played Pro. for 40 yrs. this is how i make my livin!
Music Style: rock, metal, country,blues
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Overall: While I found the Carlos Santana Se to be the springboard to my next purchase of a PRS sig, the quality of my purchase was more determined by the AWESOME service i received from ZZounds!! This would be my 5th purchase from them and and I wont be buying from anyone else! they have made it way to easy for me to buy guitars so that is just what I am doin!!
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"If YOU'RE A PLAYER--BUY IT!" submitted July 5, 2011

By a customer from gmail.com
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Musical Background: Active Musician
Music Style: R&B, Rock, Top 40
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Sound: This guitar is one of the best sounding guitars I've ever played. Blows away the Les Paul. Feature: This guitar overall is great. My only knock; they could have placed the knobs and toggle in better positions.But, it's just a matter of getting used to it. Quality: I just purchased it, but, from what I can see, this guitar should last a long time. Great quality. Value: I probably would have purchased it for twice the price.
3 of 4 people (75%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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