The PRS S2 Series: A Buyer's Guide to Performance-Built Maryland Guitars

*A pdf of this Buyer's Guide is available for download at the bottom of this page

Built in Stevensville, Maryland, the S2 Series combines PRS design, tone, and reliability into a curated lineup built for real-world players. Whether you’re drawn to the versatile Custom 24, the vintage-inspired McCarty 594, or the power of an all-mahogany Standard model, this guide will help you find the PRS S2 guitar that fits your style.

Craftsmanship: Built in the PRS Maryland, USA factory alongside our Core instruments, S2 models are crafted by the same skilled builders and within the same culture of quality and innovation that shapes every PRS.

PRS DNA: The S2 Series features high quality woods, an all-nitro finish, trademark bird inlays, Maryland-made pickups and electronics, and many of the same hardware specifications as our Core instruments (unplated shafts on tuners, brass inserts on stoptail bridges, proprietary nut materials, and more).

Streamlined Appointments: S2 models feature simplified finishes and construction methods (like the scarf neck joint and bevel top carve) which allow us to offer USA-made PRS guitars at a more accessible price point.

Performance-Driven Design: S2 guitars are designed to deliver exceptional tone, tuning stability, and playability in a “no-frills” package. These are workhorse instruments engineered to be played.

• Gigging musicians who need reliability and versatility.
• PRS SE Series players looking to step into a Maryland-made PRS.
• New-to-PRS players who want quality in a more straightforward package.
• Players looking for a workhorse guitar that strikes the perfect balance between performance and value.
• DIY hobbyists who prefer the modifiability of pickguard guitar models.

S2 Custom 24 & Custom 24-08

• 24 Frets
• 25" Scale length
• PRS Patented Tremolo Bridge
• 85/15 and TCI Model Pickups
  • Remarkable clarity, extended high and low end, versatile tones
• Phase III Locking Tuners

S2 McCarty 594

• 22 Frets
• 24.594" Scale Length
• 2-Piece Bridges
• Vintage-Inspired Tone and Feel
• Classic Control Layout
• Maple and Mahogany Options

Specialty Models

22 Frets

• 25" Scale Length
• PRS Patented Tremolo
• Three-Pickup Designs Featuring PRS Proprietary Narrowfield and TCI Pickup Models
• Hum/Single/Hum & Single/Single/Hum Configurations
• Phase III Locking Tuners
• Coil-Taps and EQ Mini-Toggle Switches Provide Added Versatility

Standard Models

• 22 & 24 Fret Models
• 24.594" & 25" Scale Length
• All-Mahogany Workhorse Guitars
• Various Body Shapes, Bridges, and Pickup Designs
• Find Your Personal Sound and Style!

Explore our entire lineup of S2 Models

Are all PRS S2 Series guitars made in the USA?

Yes, all S2 guitars are built entirely in our Stevensville, MD facility by the same team as our Core and Bolt-On models.

Which PRS guitar is best for the working musician?

All PRS S2 guitars are designed to provide a professional level of tone and playability, so which one is “best” depends on the needs of the player. All S2 models provide a high level of versatility, so the best way to find out which one fits you is to try them for yourself! (you can also use the previous section of this guide as a starting point to finding your PRS!)

Why should I buy an S2 instead of an SE instrument? Is S2 “worth it”? Although S2 and SE models share similar DNA, the S2 Series features several important upgrades. S2 guitars feature American craftsmanship, an all-nitro finish, Phase III tuners, and MD-made pickups, leading to a high-quality instrument with outstanding tone and playability at an exceptional value. For anyone looking for a guitar with the tone and playability of an American-made PRS at a more attainable price point, the S2 series is DEFINITELY worth it!

What is the difference between Core, S2 Series, and SE Series?

Although all PRS guitars share similar DNA, each series has its own defining features and characteristics. Every PRS guitar made in the USA features MD-made pickups, an all-nitrocellulose finish, and proprietary PRS tuners and hardware.

The Core Series, made in Stevensville, MD, USA, is the foundation of PRS Guitars: the “core” of our lineup if you will. Core guitars showcase the premium features and appointments that PRS has developed over the past 40 years and stand as the benchmark for quality and tone that has come to define the brand. Core guitars all feature violin-carve tops, one-piece necks and backs, figured maple tops (the all-mahogany Standard 24 and the mango-top Mark Holcomb being the only current exceptions), and proprietary electronics and hardware. Trem-equipped models utilize the patented PRS Gen III tremolo, which features compound radius saddles, unplated brass contact points (block, intonation screws, height adjustment screws, and string slots), and a milled brass block for tonal fidelity and sustain. Find out more about our Core models in the Buyer's Guide here.

The S2 series (shorthand for “Stevensville 2”) is the second line of PRS Maryland, USA-made guitars, reimagining the now-classic design and tonality of the Core series with a stripped-down feature set and aesthetic. This approach allows for a streamlined build process, resulting in a more economical guitar that still maintains a high standard of quality and tone. As of 2025 all S2 models ship with MD-made pickups and Phase III tuners, previously only available in the Core series. S2 guitars feature an all-nitrocellulose finish, bevel-carve tops, and scarf-joint neck construction. Trem-equipped models utilize the molded steel PRS Patented tremolo.

The SE Series is our overseas lineup, bringing PRS design and visual appeal to a more affordable price point. SE guitars feature a polyurethane finish, PRS-designed pickups, solid maple tops with figured veneers, and a shallow violin carve. Tremolo-equipped models utilize the molded steel PRS Patented tremolo.