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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

Nobody can question PRS's quality & true passion for guitar building. However, I personally never found a PRS (USA) that I could fall in love with...either in the physical styling, or in the play. That is, until now!! Right out of the gate, I was drawn by the look of this guitar. So , on a whim I contacted zZounds and "Zack" set me up with a killer deal on a brand new SE NF-53 in striking Doghair White. When I opened the gig bag, my wife said I let out an audible gasp. Gorgeous with zero flaws anywhere. I'm stunned that this is an overseas model. As I first held it in my hand, and twirled it around slowly, I was stunned at the attention to detail & sheer craftsmanship. But I still hadn't played it, ha ha! Well, it took me two 2-hour sessions to "understand" and revere this fine instrument. There's a snap, crackle, pop to the clean tones, & a seriously warm upper midrange. And yes, it definitely twangs. To get that plucky sound, I use the middle toggle position & just tweaked the volume down to nine. Twang city baby!! The NF 53's Narrowfield "S" pickups are a lil' higher output than traditional Telecaster pickups, and with a little more bite than standard full sized Humbuckers. There's a serious P90 vibe here, but zero hum. The body is semi contour, and the neck is a beautifully sanded, satin finished maple slab. It plays like a guitar you've owned for 13 years. I love it in that way it feels familiar and that I've only owned it for nine days. I'm still experimenting, but the most important thing is, that the PRS-NS 53 SE inspired me to just keep playing & playing. It forced me to reimagined all the material I was used to playing and writing, and I mean thatin the best way!! besides, I don't know that there's a more important component than supreme inspiration to play a guitar. And this model has that ingredient in abundance.Not to mention, it's crazy affordable. Get one! Do it now. You will be happy.

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That's right! This is one of those Guitars that deserves five extra stars!One for sublime playability. One for exquisite construction. One for its beautiful design/layout. And two for its outstanding tone! What an amazing sound machine this NF-53 is. This is where I must apologize to all of my other guitars for never picking them up again. This one does it all!

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I waited a couple months before reviewing this instrument, because (like the other reviewer), until I owned THIS guitar, I wasn't really a PRS guy. Don't get me wrong - I know it's an amazing company, but I've really never adored any neck that they've put out. And their overall design just might be a tad too modern or whimsical for my tastes. But...forget all that nonsense, coz after several months of playing and looking hard for a downside, all I could come up with was a mild annoyance with the bird inlays. Otherwise this guitar literally flipped my entire view of PRS, (and to a certain degree), my approach to guitar playing in general. I am stunned that an instrument of this caliber is this affordable. In fact, it still sounds sweeter than models 5 times its price! But the value isn't the best part about the SE NF 53. It's these dang narrow field pups. They do everything, but not in a way that the typical humbucker does. There's plenty of crunch, twang, grind, & clean. It's all just more articulate and tight somehow, without sounding shrill or hollow. I now realize I was unprepared for how EXCELLENT they sound, (& even better with pedals). Then of course there's this wonderful sanded maple neck that feels like they carved it just for me. Hey...I know all of this is subjective, but no one can argue good quality. And PRS does not disappoint here! This fine SE guitar was perfectly constructed with real attention to detail and playability. It's just a fantastic sound machine .Look, I could go on & on about the feel, the tone, the build, etc, etc...But the only way to find out if it's for you, is to pick one up and see if it inspires you to never wanna put it down.

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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

Great playability and setup out of the box. I have been wanting a T style PRS for awhile but didnt want to spend $3k. Great value and amazing guitar.

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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

This was a total impulse buy. I got caught up in the whirlwind of influencers praising this guitar to no end and when it popped up on sale, I bit. It's not a bad guitar at all. As a matter of fact it's a great guitar. The SE build quality is top notch and the reputation they've earned is well deserved. The fretwork is superb, the fit and finish is exceptional for an instrument in this price range, and the pickups sound good, especially the neck position IMHO. The two things that I am not a fan of are the weight and the neck shape. I know every guitar is different but mine is 9 pounds. I'm old and it's just not comfortable to hang around my neck for a 4 hour gig. The neck is one of the thickest I've ever played. I can deal with it because it plays so well, but it's much thicker than I anticipated. I don't like returning gear so I will probably keep it for a while, but I can foresee it being sent off to a new good home in the next couple of months. I'm still giving it a 5 star rating because it's an awesome guitar, just not the right one for me.

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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.

This is a fine guitar I've own a ton of guitars this is 5 star guitar sound and craftsmanship end of story. Blues,blues rock, country, country rock,and everything in between south side Dave guitar player

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Gotta Say...this one is a WINNER! You get that immediate "wowwww" feeling right when you open the box, and then it just keeps getting better! Stunning yet subtle when you see it in person, with a perfect satin neck, dead-on intonation, excellent action, and undeniable QUALITY! From the headstock to the bottom strap button...not a flaw to be found. But, howzabout that tone??!? Don't worry, this one does it ALL! Everything from 1950's classic country to 2025 modern metal. A deceptively simple layout provides a surprising amount of soundscapes and tonal options. I've had this for 2 months and I'm still finding new "sweet spots"! It's a superb electric guitar. I wouldn't change a thing. In fact...this PRS NF 53 is easily the finest example of how to do it PROPERLY, when designing/constructing an import instrument. A++++++

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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

Affordable excellence! Beautiful and well designed. Outstanding tone & playability across the board. You've never heard pick ups like these narrow field deep dish versions. They are a beast all their own, with perfect articulation and juicy big sound! I'm stunned these are under $1k. Wow. Easily the finest guitar available in this price bracket.

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Wow, what a stellar achievement by PRS (SE)! The pick ups on this guitar are nothing short than a revelation. Crazy articulate, whether you're playing highly distorted, clean and smooth, or pushing a lot of gain. Wonderfully full on the back end, too. Not to mention, I couldn't find a single flaw in the workmanship. A flawless neck with extra easy playing, & super clean fretwork. Fantastic stuff all around!!!

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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

The deep dish pickups in this guitar are groundbreaking. They are smooth & thick but also super articulate. Notes sing & chords ring beautifully. The neck is a little beefy, but in the best way possible, and the hand rubbed satin finish makes fretwork easy. Every day I pick this one up, and every day it's ahoy! I'm inspired to play in a way I haven't before, and that's the best thing a player can say about an instrument

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