PRS S2- The Working Musician's Guitar

The PRS S2 Series: The Guide to the Working Musician’s American PRS

At Tone Tailors, we’ve always had a "bench-first" philosophy. Before we look at how a guitar looks under the stage lights, we look at how it’s built, how it’s wired, and how it’s going to hold up after a hundred gigs.

When customers walk into our shop here in Lancaster and ask about the PRS S2 Series, they often wonder where it fits. Is it just a "fancy SE"? Or a "stripped-down Core"?

The answer is actually much more interesting. S2 stands for Stevensville 2, and it represents a specific engineering approach to building a professional-grade, American-made guitar. Here is the deep dive into what sets the S2 line apart and why the 2024/2025 updates have changed the game.

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1. The Maryland Pedigree: Same Factory, Different Design

The S2 series isn't built in a separate facility; it is fully integrated into the PRS factory in Stevensville, Maryland. It shares the same American tonewoods and the same expert craftspeople as the $5,000 Core models.

The Difference in Construction:

• The Top Carve: This is the most visible difference. While Core models feature a deep, hand-sanded "violin" carve, S2 models use an Asymmetrical Bevel. This design allows PRS to use a thinner maple top and significantly reduces the labor hours required for carving and sanding.
• The Neck: S2 necks utilize a Scarf Joint. Instead of carving the neck and headstock from one massive, expensive block of mahogany, PRS uses a high-strength angled joint. From a tech perspective, this is incredibly stable and significantly reduces wood waste, allowing that cost saving to be passed on to you without sacrificing structural integrity.

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2. The 2024 Revolution: USA Electronics & Pickups

If you haven’t checked out an S2 lately, you’re looking at an old spec. As of April 2024, the S2 line received its biggest upgrade in a decade.

For the first time ever, the S2 series now features the exact same USA-made pickups found in Core instruments.

• S2 Custom 24: Now comes with the Maryland-made 85/15 pickups.
• S2 McCarty 594: Now features the legendary 58/15 LT (Low Turn) pickups.
• Full USA Electronics: It’s not just the pickups. The pots, switches, and jacks are now the high-spec USA components with extreme audio tapers. At Tone Tailors, we love this because it means the "heart" of your guitar is identical to the most expensive models PRS makes.

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3. The Finish: Nitrocellulose (VOC)

Another major differentiator from the SE line is the finish. Every Maryland-made PRS, including the S2, features a Nitrocellulose (VOC) finish.

• Tone: Nitro is thinner than the polyurethane used on many import guitars. It allows the wood to "breathe" and resonate more freely.
• Aging: Unlike poly, which stays like a plastic shell, Nitro will sink into the grain and age naturally over time, giving the guitar a vintage character that only gets better the more you play it.

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4. Hardware: Built for the Stage

We often get asked about the hardware. While the bridges on the S2 line use a cast steel block (versus the machined brass on the Core), the stability is world-class.

• Phase III Locking Tuners: Recent S2 models have been updated to include Phase III Locking Tuners with the "wing" buttons. These are lighter than previous versions, which improves the balance of the guitar and makes string changes lightning-fast during a set.

The Tone Tailors Verdict

The S2 line is the "Goldilocks" of the PRS world. You get the American craftsmanship, the premium USA electronics, and the resonance of a Nitro finish, but in a package designed to be used, gigged, and lived-with.

Stop by the shop, grab an S2 off the wall, and feel the difference that "Made in Maryland" makes. We always love talking gear and, as you know, we love trades.