PRS SE 277 Semi-Hollow Soapbar review

A true beauty

  • £795
  • €999
  • $749
Reviews
By
( )
published

MusicRadar Verdict

The PRS SE 277 is a classy proposition, fantastically playable and looks superb.

Pros

  • +

    Looks fantastic. Well constructed bridge.

Cons

  • -

    Not as versatile as some.

MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.

PRS has a history with baritones.

Its SE model for Staind man Mike Mushok became a cult classic, and has become much sought-after since its discontinuation. This semi is the tamer of the two new SE 277 models, the other of which is a twin-humbucker solidbody.

The 277 semi is a handsome beast, featuring that classic PRS silhouette with a flame maple veneer. ThePRS bridge is a tidy string-through construction that's not only comfortable on the palm but anchors the guitar with a sense of stability.

The 277 refers to its 27.7-inch scale length, and in terms of playability, it's easy to get to grips with, as a provider of low-end grunt and rhythm that also waves you on to the top of the fretboard.

While the PRS SE Soapbar P-90s mean the 277 isn't as tonally versatile as, say, a Danelectro, there's still a dynamism to it. The bridge pickup has plenty of pugnacious snap with clean tones, and harmonic response when the gain is dialled in.

Though the neck pickup takes a little of that trebly edge off, there's still plenty of chime, in what is a classically voiced baritone that's great fun to play.

If a Danelectro '56 is the guitar you might lend to your mate in that weird Ramones cover band, and a Hagstrom Viking Deluxe confounds expectations of what a sedate, semi-hollow can sound like, then this PRS SE 277 Semi-Hollow Soapbar is the one you'd take home to meet the parents...

Jonathan Horsley
Jonathan Horsley

Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars and guitar culture since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitar World. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.