PRS SE P20E

review
PRS SE P20E & TAYLOR GTE URBAN ASH
104
GUITARIST JANUARY 2021
PRS SE P20E
PRICE: £499 (inc gigbag)
ORIGIN: China
TYPE: Tonare parlour-sized
electro-acoustic
TOP: Mahogany
BACK/SIDES: Mahogany
MAX RIM DEPTH: 98.4mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 355mm
NECK: Mahogany
SCALE LENGTH: 628mm (24.75”)
TUNERS: Vintage-style with
butterbean buttons
NUT/WIDTH: Bone/43mm
FINGERBOARD: Ebony
FRETS: 20
BRIDGE/SPACING: Ebony/51mm
ELECTRICS: Fishman GT1
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 1.76/3.9
OPTIONS: The SE P20 without pickup
costs £399 and both models are
available in three colours: Black Top
(as reviewed), Charcoal and Vintage
Mahogany
RANGE OPTIONS: PRS SE acoustic
models have 3 basic body shapes:
the Tonare Parlour (2 models), Tonare
Grand (4 models) and Angelus Cutaway
(5 models). See website for details
LEFT-HANDERS: No
FINISH: Black Top (as reviewed),
Charcoal, Vintage Mahogany – satin
TAYLOR GTE
URBAN ASH
PRICE: £1,835 (inc AeroCase)
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Grand Theater sized
electro-acoustic
TOP: Sitka spruce
BACK/SIDES: Urban Ash
MAX RIM DEPTH: 108mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 380mm
NECK: Tropical mahogany
SCALE LENGTH: 638mm (25.1”)
TUNERS: Taylor nickel mini
NUT/WIDTH: Graph Tech Tusq/44mm
FINGERBOARD: Eucalyptus
FRETS: 20
BRIDGE/SPACING:
Eucalyptus/51mm
ELECTRICS: Expression System 2
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 1.71/3.7
OPTIONS: None
RANGE OPTIONS: The GT model
without pickup costs £1,619
LEFT-HANDERS: No
FINISH: Natural Matte
PROS Sophisticated sounds from
an ecological thoroughbred
CONS The price might put off those
who want a smaller-bodied guitar
for home-use only
8
PROS A well-made, good-looking
and great-sounding guitar at a
bargain basement price
CONS Practically nothing for this
very modest price
9
8. Taylor’s renowned
Expression System 2,
with its trio of subtle
side-mounted controls,
offers the prospect of
great live sound
with very good separation, the basses rich
without being in any way overpowering.
Both fingerstyle and strumming are well
catered for, meaning that this is another
all-rounder that will be a happy companion
for virtually any stylistic persuasion you
could name.
The GTe’s acoustic voice is aided and
abetted for the live stage by Taylor’s
renowned Expression System 2. Suddenly
size doesn’t matter and the sound from the
guitar can get as big and boisterous as you
want, while retaining its sonic integrity to
the full. It’s a serious instrument, to be sure.
Verdict
Two very different instruments, each with
a well-considered set of features and a
sonic portfolio to match. The PRS parlour
is amazingly priced, considering the build
quality and general sound capabilities –
and you have to consider the fact that the
non-pickup version is even cheaper still.
It represents very good value that would be
equally at home as an erstwhile songwriting
companion or performance ally.
Onto the Taylor and it is in line with the
company’s reputation for acoustic luxury,
with a great build-quality and a seductive
and sophisticated sound palette. It’s a fun
instrument with serious ambitions, as it
could stand tall among the big hitters in
the acoustic world, despite its diminutive
appearance. And let’s not forget those green
credentials, as well.
Overall, a dynamic duo that were both
very difficult for us to put down.
8
GIT467.rev_taylor_prs.indd 104 26/11/2020 20:44