***TIMESTAMPS BELOW*** 00:10- Intro Licks 00:27- Welcome Back! 00:52- What drew me to the PRS SE Swamp Ash Special 01:41- Guitar Specs 03:11- Minor Modifications 03:54- Holding Paul's hands to the fire 04:54- Electronics Explanation 05:59- Clean Sound Examples 06:08- Clean Bridge Pickup 07:38- Bridge/Neck Pickups Clean 09:16- Neck Pickup Clean 10:47- Bridge/Middle Pickup Clean 12:36- All 3 Pickups Clean 13:53- Middle/Neck Pickups Clean 15:07- Drive Sound Examples 15:23- Bridge Pickup Mid Gain 17:10- Both Pickups Low Gain 18:37- Neck Pickup Low Gain 20:04- Bridge/Middle Pickups Low Gain 22:16- All 3 Pickups Low Gain 23:21- Middle/Neck Pickups Low Gain 24:41- Does It Do High Gain? 25:33- Metal Riffs With Bridge Pickup 28:14- Lead Tones With Multiple Pickup Settings 30:51- Pros And Cons 33:40- Final Thoughts And Rating

BEST REVIEW OF THIS GUITAR ON KZread!!! Dude….you knocked it out of the park. This is how you do a review. Your playing and singing is great. I was like “whoahhh” when you did “Working Man”. Love the live clips showing the different tones in live use. Thank you for a great review!

@kiethlewis4657

4 ай бұрын

Took the words outa my mouth. Great review I have the charcoal one I love it.

Swamp ash is one of my favorite tone woods. It's balanced, not too bright or too dark, not too heavy either.

@Anjohl

18 күн бұрын

The best looking too!

You can get the same string speed change of locking tuners with regular tuners and the Roadie Trick: Bring the string up from the bridge, wrap the post three-four times from below the tuner post eye to the eye, thread the eye and tug tight. Then you are only as many tuner knob turns from pitch as locking tuners are. No string measuring, no winding tool wrench, simple.

I am in a cover band and we play on average 44 songs per night. I usually take 3 guitars. We cover pop, rock and country. 2 weeks ago I played my swamp ash special all night. Never took the others out of the rack all night other than to tune. Only changes i made, locking tuners, strap locks and of course new strings. I have been searching for a guitar I can play all night and I have found it.

I would rather have a PRS SE Paul’s guitar than a brand new Les Paul, SG, Strat, Telecaster. Playability, and quality speaks for itself. PRS has Gibsons number. They have for quite awhile. Great video brother

The real world gig playing adds a dimension to the review that I really don't see on any other channels. Very well done, as usual. 🤘

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

I'm trying to find some ways to be more useful as well as entertaining with my videos. Thanks for the feedback!

Thank U! Very in4mative and entertaining review witj sum Great playing, 2.

Fantastic job at showing the versatility!!! Great video!

What a nice demo of this guitar and its various tonal applications in the way you went from the basic explanation to using at a gig. Thumbs up! Thanks. I have one on order and should arrive next month.

Beautiful guitar sounds! Great playing! Thank you so much for this!!

Outstanding review of the new PRS. .. love the live performance clips too.

Def the best review of this guitar on KZread. Nice job!

Fantastic video. Besides your killer playing, man you can sing

Welcome back! I was trying to remember "Legend" amps yesterday. Thanks for the reminder :) Also, sweet playing and guitar. Definitely on the radar now. Dang it!

Great demo. I had been wondering about this guitar for a while. I may have to check one out. I’m not a wide thin guy, but good to hear this is more chunky. Great to see Working Man! Great playing and singing there. Some really lovely tones. Thank you.

Great review, thanks. Mine has been just great for worship playing. The full Neck is so rich and lush I can live there.

Nice demonstration of the tones! Havent' heard Badfish in a while!

Very thorough and fair review. I have the SE SAS in Iri Blue, over 9lbs, had 6 months to play it. Once had a PRS EG-2 HSH with HFD/Vintage Bass/Fralin single and more conventional pickup switching with 8 tones. Was stolen and I still miss it. I've been waiting for almost 30 years for PRS to come out with a budget HSH that came close. This SE SAS switching is odd. Sure there's some great tones but misses some that I want. I find I'm not in love with this as pretty as it is and I'm looking for an excuse to keep it which is why I'm here watching your great review. I've modded SEs before but I think this will be better resale as stock since it's back ordered still everywhere.

Brilliant review, awesome guitaring & a great band ❤

You are a very musical person. Singing and playing are top notch. And the guitar is really something.

Great review! I almost pulled the trigger on one of these. The DGT SE I pre-ordered several moths back finally showed up. Doing the same exact mods. Strictly because they’re what I do to all my SEs. Love it! But the Swamp Ash is killer as well. You may have just pushed me over the edge in one of these. PRS is really killing it with these SEs. 🤘🏻

Loved the Rush cover man! Great review. Also, you had me at diabolical metal.

By far the best SAS review on KZread! I bought the vintage burst just like yours in early December. It was a backorder purchase and i should receive it soon. Ive been exclusively playing Fender strats for the last 30 years and was a little apprehensive about this guitar, especially since none of the music stores around me had one to test drive. But dude, this video totally cleared up all my concerns. Well done and great playing.

Great review. I enjoyed the gig footage and think it’s useful to hear the guitar in a live band mix. I’m also a PRS fanboy and have gone all in on the SE line. Right now the DGT is my number 1, but this one (in blue) is on the way (hopefully in February?). Can’t wait to play it!

Great video and loved the gig footage. I have purposely avoided playing one of these as I do not need more guitars (right now) 😂 I have a feeling this would quickly become a favorite or the DGT. Looking forward to your studio tour. The new space looks killer from what I can see. God bless and rock on 👍😎🎸

Very impressed with the rush cover! awesome guitar for sure making me think about getting one

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

Thank you! Definitely a purchase I'm happy with, I really like having something in this price point that performs well but I don't feel hesitant about taking to gigs at dive bars because it's not one of my expensive or sentimental "core" guitars.

Great vocals Lucas!❤

@LucasFowler

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Great Demo Lucas and a great version of the Rush song Working Man .

Damn you are a good guitarist! I liked my SAS so much, I ordered a 2nd one in another color.

Love the new space! Great vid, as usual. I’ve never listened to one of your demos and NOT walked away feeling like I should really go get one, lol. The gig footage was cool; I especially enjoyed the solo on “Lights.”

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

One of my favorite lead lines, particularly when I play it correctly!

Amazing review, probably the best of any guitar i have ever seen. I have several PRS might be getting another. Bravo

Fantastic review in studio and live settings just sick ,working man ,man in a box . I agree with the weight that’s why I got the charcoal grey because it was at my local shop and it was actually lighter than most . I wanted the Iris blue but this was in December when the sale was on and local shop took a little more off as well got with tax and all about $700 and at about 7.8 lbs. So I had to get it . Anyway love the review and this guitar is just more than you pay for . I have an s2 Vela as well and I may get a custom 24 at some point. O locking tuners I’m going to get for this and I changed strings to 10-46 but I do have some 48s though. Best review of this guitar yet .👍👍👍

Just followed, great review. I love that you catch the secret of PRS guitars with the volume knob. My Santana Se seemed too simple until I discovered that trick. Now I absolutely love it. This guitar seems super versatile, I think I like the Paul’s Guitar more but the swamp ash look might win me over for this. Thanks for the review

I want this guitar - or at least a simular - right now! - Love the finish, the HSH, the verstatilities it offers.... Just love it!! 🤘😃

Great to have you back! Have the same guitar and opinion. The new space is awesome! Congrats!!!

@B-DueceTre

5 ай бұрын

I was thinking of getting your signature pups for the bridge and neck. Now that you have the guitar, what are your thoughts, as far as how it would do with the A/S-01 middle pup?

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

@@B-DueceTre I'm actually kind of in the process of designing a set specifically for _this_ guitar kind of based off my Statera 5 Mod that's in my S2 HSS guitar, but I can tell you this is the right kind of guitar to take advantage of what my pickups do well :)

Great review-watching/listening to the live clips was brilliant. I wrote off this guitar because so many reviews sounded ice picky bright. This sounded way more balanced.

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

I think it's actually rather warm-toned as guitars go, particularly for a bolt-on neck with single coil sounds. I do tend to dial my amps on the darker side though!

GRAND FUNK HELL YEAH !! Best demo of the SAS I've heard so far !! Good to see you man ! Congrats on your Studio space !

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

Grand Funk for life!

@toddflowers8052

5 ай бұрын

@@LucasFowler ABSOFRICKINLUTELY !!!

Really nice guitar and great demo, thanks. I owned numerous PRS and SE guitars of the years, but for me I never really connected with them for my tone preferences. I decided to try the DGT SE, and wow what a guitar. To me, it's the best PRS tone I've heard to date from a PRS or a PRE SE. Again, great demo and keep up the outstanding work!!

@scottrussell9504

4 ай бұрын

Same here! Just got my DGT last week and they absolutely killed it!

While I'm normally a strat cat, my next favorite guitar of all time is the PRS, and I'm thrilled they've brought back the bolt-ons to the SE line. I always wanted an affordable PRS bolt-on. But even when the original PRS bolt-ons hit the market back in the late 80s they were still out of my price point as I've either built my own strats or bought used Fenders and modded them with better pickups, etc. The locking tuners are a good mod for this guitar. Lucas plays a mean rendition of Working Man. Good video.

I got mine a while ago changed the tuners as well the knobs and pickup rings it’s just an amazing guitar

Thanks for the video, bud...You Rock! Keep up the classics! they must live On! Thanks again...Your band sounds really good! I have the very same Guitar... One of my Favorites! Has an All Around useful tone and a lot of Great character!

Best Review Ever! ❤

Back in the early 2000's a friend of mine had a Swamp Ash Special, I used to play it as much as he'd let me. I fell in love with it. IF you learn to set up your rig for this guitar it can out strat a strat and still be enough Gibson type tone for days. It is a very unique instrument. I'm looking to buy one but already committed to a Gretsch at this time I totally suggest checking out the Swamp Ash Special if you are looking for a different type of guitar or something based on strat tones, but still different.

Glad I'm not the only one that put locking tuners and core knows on it immediately. I replaced the pups with 5815 LT and now has a jazzy strat feel. Great guitar.

Great guitar got myself one for Christmas. Love versatility and tone. Got a bb king Lucille with varitone for same reason. Swamp ash pickups noticablely more powerful when I keep the same amp settings. Can't put it down

Great review. I have one in that same color on the way.

Great review!

@LucasFowler

2 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Looking slim good sir! Keep up the good work.

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

Thanks, I just hit my 20 pounds lost milestone so I'm feeling encouraged!

@Randomly_Ruli

5 ай бұрын

@@LucasFowler that’s awesome man!!! Keep it up! Consistency and discipline goes a long way.

Great review

It is obvious that you really enjoy this guitar, and it sounds great in your hands😀

Stellar review and killer playing! I love mine! Went with the charcoal one. Mine happened to have a super flamy back of the neck. It really gives it that core look and I'm a sucker for flamy necks. I also love the neck size and satin finish it's perfect. I now want all my other necks that smooth. With the sale price of $679 it was a no brainer. I'm going to drop a set of 85/15 tci's in it and see what that does. Also contemplating adding the Paul's guitar wiring into the mix on top of what's already there. I'm glad I stumbled on your channel. Subscribed!

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the compliment and the sub! Is your SAS a little heavy as well? I'm curious if that's a common thing with these.

@OneMoreGrave

5 ай бұрын

Yeah it's about 8.5 lbs. The 85/15 tci's have really been a great addition as well. It has become my favorite guitar to play as of late.

I see your Bassest is playing a SE Bass, I own a red Kingfisher and a black Kestrel . I believe I like the Kestrel model a fraction better. I found Dave's Guitar has excellent pricing on SE Basses when in stock. OK and again I am SO DIGGING THE NEW band material. Keep it coming dude. Yall should be signed...

Mate the Man in the box singing sounded really good 👍

Just when I thought I wouldn’t try another SE 🤓 the tonal pallets sounds so good

Agree i have the black one and it plays and sounds great.

Great video!

You've got a SUPER SOLID BAND!! Wow

@LucasFowler

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Nice job on the Geddy Lee…a lot of us wouldn’t even try to sing it 🤩

@LucasFowler

4 ай бұрын

I was blessed with a tenor voice, when it cooperates :P

Love your Video! I by today a PRS SE Swamp Ash, color as your. The weight is 3.300 gr. so I have to buy it! 🙂

So good! Nicely done sir! #WeMakePRS

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Jeanne!

I have guitars, but I really want one. Such a perfect funk guitar.

Excellent and super thorough review!!! Seems like a ton of guitar for a decent price! Btw: on your live footage, probably be a good idea to not have the camera pointed in a direction that shows the ladies room.

@LucasFowler

3 ай бұрын

Whoops, I didn’t even notice that! I’ll definitely remember to check that and crop that stuff out next time 😂

Man, great job on Working Man, that's a hard one to sing! The guitar is great too!

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

Thank you!

I really like some of the tracks you guys play. Some classic 90s faves. When you see him, remind Paul the lefties need some love. Oh, and you better get the lady at 29:47 to sign a talent release form.

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

She gets a small percentage every time she's on my channel :P

Killer string holder!

Great playing. I purchased one for $699 at 7.4lbs.👍

I'd like to see a comparison between this and something a bit more traditional with similar ideaologies like a Guthrie Govan signature or a Player Series HSH. Give it price point comparisons and versatility comparisons and see how things are.

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

That would be cool! If I knew anyone around me that had a Guthrie model I would love to do that. Maybe an opportunity will present itself in the future.

Great demo. If I was a gigging musician I would absolutely check one out.

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

Thank you! That's a really good point you make there, this is really an excellent guitar for the gigging musician who needs a workhorse to cover all the bases!

@TheDrunkenScoundrel

5 ай бұрын

@@LucasFowler …but even though I am merely an attic tinkerer, the quest for the “One Weapon” is eternal…..

PRS makes the best pickups in the game. Great review, demo, and playing!

Great video! I bought one and the back of the bridge is on the guitar. Is the bridge supposed to float?

Would love to hear/get your input on the DGT SE. Much respect! 🤘✌️

@LucasFowler

3 ай бұрын

I would like to check one out for sure, as my core DGT is undisputedly my favorite guitar. If someone I know gets one I’ll bring it on!

Already put locking tuners and lampshade knobs on it! Keeper!

Nice!!!

Can I ask how much noise have you heard after the split coil humbucker + distortion pedal? Is it like a traditional single coil?

The OG Swamp Ash Special is the guitar that put PRS on the map for me. I'll get one, but probably change out the pickups for PT Poundcakes.

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

I've been talking with Jose about a set designed specifically for this guitar :)

@BenjaminRoethig

5 ай бұрын

@@LucasFowler that would definitely interest me.

Hey Lucas, The other day I was looking through some Alter Bridge cover videos, and I remembered your channel from over 10 years ago. Searched everywhere but couldn't find it and today it randomly showed on my feed. Did you delete all of your old cover videos? I remember you having awesome cover videos? Hope you're good!

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

I did a few cover videos, maybe 3-4 I think? That was back when I was in college, about 15 years ago. To answer your question, yes I took them down. When KZread monetized my channel I immediately got hit with a lot of copyright claims so I have to be very careful about what I post. Even in this video I got a copyright claim for the _melody_ of "Man In The Box" and so my ad revenue for this video goes to a major record label.

I dig it. I have an S2 standard 22. What is your recommendation for making a PRS trem dive only? I don't have problems with mine, but want to use alternate tunings and apparently the PRS trem shouldn't be decked.

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

I have been a proponent of the Tremol-No for many years but those have gone up in price a bit. You might also consider this standard stop unit that I have installed in many guitars for people. I would recommend putting a small piece of felt where the screw contacts the tremolo block for noise! a.co/d/0b2Mviq

@MrSteney

5 ай бұрын

@@LucasFowler Thanks for the advice . I appreciate it.

I dunno about the *best*, but I found it the most interesting that's to be sure. No other PRS had more of its own unique voice to me.

Where did you get the lampshade knobs? What is the item number? Just got a PRS SE swamp ash today also ordered locking tuners

@PatrickGeneLeBlancHardy

14 күн бұрын

Sweetwater sell them. PRS Knobs for USA made PRS they will fit onto SE guitars.

Are u check out the prs se ce24 2024 $499??

Do you have a YT channel with more live band footage?

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

I don't run that page, but yes! www.youtube.com/@thecarolinashreds196

What size of string that you used in this video? is it 0,10?

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

Stringjoy makes me a custom set which is .010, .013, 017, .028, .038, .048. That's basically 10's on the unwound strings and 11's on the wound strings. I like it for this scale length and Eb tuning.

suck playing and very helpful review!

Ahhhhhh I’ve got the answers… to all of your questions… if you’ve got the money…… Nice man

Jaysus Lucas! You been practicing or what?

@LucasFowler

2 ай бұрын

I wish I had time to practice 😂

@deanmccaskill5495

2 ай бұрын

Well you’re making me jealous so there’s that. And I’ve never been a PRS guy I’m a total Gibson “ fanboy” as you say. But I think I need one of these

@LucasFowler

2 ай бұрын

@@deanmccaskill5495 This is a fantastic guitar for kind of covering all the "Gibson" and "Fender" bases.

@deanmccaskill5495

2 ай бұрын

I’ve had a couple SEs. A 24 and a Tremonte. Didn’t like either. But that one looks really interesting.

@deanmccaskill5495

2 ай бұрын

Oh yeah I have a Silver Sky. I forgot that. I never play it over my Strats but I’m not getting rid of it. Mostly I like to show it to guys that like Fenders and aren’t really aware of it to see what they think. It’s hard to believe those people are out there but they are. Mostly older cats.

bro is that concert online?

@LucasFowler

2 ай бұрын

No, but I’m going to do a full recording of the next one and pick the best 10-15 or so songs from that and post it 😁

Oh man, this guitar it’s so nice, but it would be perfect in tobacco sunburst to me 😢

Swamp Ash is a lightweight wood - Lighter than both alder and mahogany and one of the reasons it's desired by guitar makers - I have no idea why these guitars are so heavy. Ash perhaps, but not exactly Swamp Ash?

@LucasFowler

5 ай бұрын

I think the term "Swamp" gets thrown around in front of Ash a lot too. I've had several heavy Swamp Ash guitars and at least 2 light Ash guitars that I can remember. Of course the extra electronics don't help the weight but I do think it feels pretty dense.

@EnJoony

5 ай бұрын

@lucasfowler. Northern Ash is particularly heavy and I have no doubts that the guitar is Ash. Some may be actual Swamp Ash while others ... Either way it's a great guitar - I have one. 😊

Fuck, man... you really should play metal. Great Vid!

@LucasFowler

2 ай бұрын

You may like my original band then: kzread.info/dash/bejne/mq55yaisfKqYj9o.htmlsi=npCLDOPSco581Y1E

@JediCrackSmoke

2 ай бұрын

@@LucasFowler Holy Shit! Great track, and impressive vocals, Lucas! From a producer standpoint there's a few changes I'd make to take this to the next level, but it's not a bad song at all. Your band all seem like a group of very cool individuals as well, I bet a couple of them are real characters.

I wish this guitar had 24 frets 😢

This video just sold another SA Special.