PRS Paul Reed Smith S2 Vela Semi-Hollow Guitar, Rosewood Fingerboard, USA Pickups, Scarlet Sunburst

Player's Perspective

Along with the McCarty 594 Thinline, the PRS S2 Vela Semi-Hollow is one of our absolute favorite PRS models. It's unique in that there's no real Core equivalent, and we love that because it truly is a special beast in more ways than one! Featuring a unique offset body, the S2 Vela Semi-Hollow is a dark horse and a true gem hidden in the PRS lineup. At the time of this guitar's introduction, the offset body was a first for PRS, but from the perfected comfort of the design, you'd think they had been at it for some time.

It borrows a few elements from guitars from days gone by, featuring a semi-hollow construction that rings out beautifully along with lightening the weight on your shoulders, as well as a USA Narrowfield neck pickup reminiscent of a single-coil pickup on steroids, but without the hum. The amazing DS-01 humbucker is in the bridge, which draws some similarities with a Filtertron-style pickup. The sound is bright, punchy, and clear, with a hint of jangle and plenty of body.

Check out the cool bridge on this axe. If you're a vintage T-style guitar enthusiast, the design of the saddles may look familiar to you. The aesthetic of this bridge imparts a truly vibey look to this axe. But it's not just for looks - those big brass saddles provide gobs of resonance and sustain!

This guitar is perfect for anyone who's looking for classic PRS quality on something a little different.

Details

The S2 Vela Semi-Hollow is a vintage-inspired guitar with loads of personality and tonal textures. Its offset body shape is at once elegant and edgy, and the addition of a semi-hollow body and f-hole gives the Vela added attitude and resonance.

The pickguard-loaded electronics feature a PRS DS-01 pickup in the treble pickup position, providing a bright, chimey tone, and the PRS Narrowfield in the bass pickup position gives the Vela some noteworthy bite. The coil-tap on the tone control allows the treble pickup to split to singlecoils, providing a balanced tone that will cut through the mix with style. Anchoring this guitar is the PRS plate-style bridge with two saddles that were designed to compensate for intonation. This bridge harkens back to Paul’s early designs and traditional bass plate-style bridges, but is top-loading for easy restringing. Like the bridge found on Paul’s Guitar and some Private Stock models, PRS’s plate-style bridge features brass saddles and a steel plate for maximum tonal sustain.

After ten years, the PRS S2 Series is being updated with USA-made pickup and electronics for 2024 (and beyond). We are proud to bring this added value to what has become a fully integrated part of our manufacturing line and product offering.

Plate-Style Bridge

Our steel plate-style bridge is easy to string, comfortable, fully-intonating and it sounds great. 

Low-Mass Locking Tuners

Our lightweight, locking tuners make stringing a snap and keep your guitar in tune. 

PRS DS-01 & Narrowfield

A lively pickup combination that provides full midrange and articulate, chimey high-end.