These wonderful acoustic guitars are part of PRS’s SE range. These are made out in China to exacting standards by a carefully chosen factory. Paul Reed Smith and his team have taken decades to build up their reputation for quality, so instruments bearing his initials, even those made outside the USA ( especially those, to be fair), need to come up to scratch. At the base of the T40E, just below the strap button, is the housing for the nine-volt battery, which will need changing every 100 hours or so. Should that moment arrive while on stage, the battery compartment’s location means changing can take place while standing with a strap. It’s a pet hate of ours when guitars need to be taken off, and the strap removed, just to change a battery.

Earlier this year, Acoustic Review reviewed one of PRS’s well received new(ish) electro-acoustics, the SE T50. It was good – very good, especially so for the money. Word in the guitar business is that PRS has decided to make a redoubled bid for the affordable mid-market acoustic scene and the result, this new generation Korean built SEs launched for 2018 bears that out. Certainly, both the earlier T50 we reviewed and the SEA40e we were sent for our second recently bear witness to that – this was also another very well built and set-up instrument.PRS Hybrid 'X'/Classical Bracing - Utilizing an innovative design that allows the top to vibrate freely, this hybrid bracing system ensures detailed clarity and acoustic projection. The SE A20E is noticeably resonant, with a strong midrange and clear highs. And although the low end is slightly less audible, you can still sense its presence underneath the more impressive mid-to-high frequency ranges. As would be expected for an instrument of its size, the guitar has good projection and volume. It rings out enthusiastically when strummed; the notes are clear and pronounced, with good string separation in chords, giving way to satisfying overtones. This may seem an odd statement about a guitar as nice looking as the SE A40E Angelus, especially from a brand with the bona fides of PRS Guitars, but it took me a week or so to realize that my generally favorable first impression of this Chinese-built acoustic-electric was actually giving it short shrift. Probably more than any instrument I’ve tested in years, the SE A40E revealed its true potential gradually. The Angelus is PRS’s more modern style cutaway acoustic guitar body that has been part of the SE line for a few years now. Refined over years of making these guitars this is the best the Angelus has ever looked or sounded for this price. These are all highly satisfying instruments with firm, resonant voices and plenty of charm. Despite being broadly similar, they do all hold their own tonal surprises, so it is worth having a play on a few before totally making your mind up.

In the early 1990s, Paul Reed Smith teamed up with luthier Dana Bourgeois to work on acoustic guitar designs. The effort resulted in a handful of new steel-strings, but these instruments apparently didn’t satisfy what Smith wanted from an acoustic guitar, and they never went into production. The perfect all-rounder electro-acoustic - meticulously designed and crafted by the experienced luthiers at PRS Guitars, the SE A40E offers a sublime playing experience thanks to a select offering of tonewoods and innovative construction methods - delivering breathtaking volume without sacrificing any delicate details. The Flame Maple adds lots of presence to the slightly larger Tonare Grand style, making the T50E model a wonderfully percussive, satisfying instrument to write songs on. A55E & T55EIf you follow Paul Reed Smith at all you know his philosophy for building acoustic guitars. That it is a ‘subtractive’ instrument meaning that everything on the guitar isn’t adding more tone, or sustain, it is just subtracting less. The A55E and T55E have abalone purfing, birds and rosette detailing, making this the most obviously eye-catching of the range. Having said that, it is still reasonably low-key and tasteful: after all, most of the surfaces here are Spruce, Ebony, Mahogany or Maple! Today we are going to have a little look at PRS’s wonderful SE acoustics, in particular, the Angelus and Tonare Grand models...

Credit subject to status and affordability. Terms & Conditions Apply. Guitar Guitar Limited is a credit broker and is AuthorisedThe A40E has this bracing, and is made with a layered Ovangkol body. Ovangkol is similar to Rosewood but with slightly more in the mids and a brighter top end. As a result, this guitar really sparkles and cuts through a mix!

The SE AE40E’s top features PRS’ hybrid X/classical bracing. According to the company, this design uses a traditional X at the soundhole “with classical fan bracing across the belly.” The goal is to let the top vibrate more freely for enhanced sound projection and a warmer tone. Without thinking about why at the time, I found the part quite easy to execute on the PRS. Same goes for arpeggios with fingers surrounding open drone strings. It’s a subtle thing and may be very particular to both the part and my weaknesses as a player, but it’s a good illustration of how small design choices can make a big difference when you’re trying to get the job done. Judging from the two PRS SE models Ben has looked at so far, the company has certainly pulled out all the stops with its acoustics. Watch the video and hear for yourself what must be one of the best guitars you can currently get for this sort of money. This results in a really versatile sound with a strong midrange and some bright overtones that you may not get with a wood like Mahogany.The PRS SE AX20E has a layered Mahogany body to go along with the solid Spruce top, as does the TX20E. The bracing inside is traditional ‘X’ style, designed to let the timber vibrate and resonate in a controlled way for great, punchy tone.