PRS SE Construction: Weight Relief?

[SausageofPower]

So, I've got two PRS SE's (Tremonti SE and Torero SE). Both great guitars, especially with little modifications (such as pickups for the Tremonti).

Here's my question though:

The Tremonti is all mahogany, but it's light. Resonant, well built, and with new pickups sounds great...but it's just light for all mahogany. My Torero is heavy as hell, being maple neckthrough with mahogany wings. So, does PRS use weight relief holes like the Les Paul? I know the Tremonti (and PRS Singlecuts in general) is thinner than an LP, but the weight really throws me off.

Anyone dealt with this or know the answer?

[j2379]

i don't know about PRS but mahogany varies in weight a lot.

[SausageofPower]

True, this just kinda shocked me. I've felt weight variances of course, but this guitar seemed a lot lighter than expected. Was just curious if this was the reason.

[Flatpicker]

Not that they have ever mentioned on the SE's.

[straycat]

The 05 SE standard I had was light and all mahogany.
My 09 SE single cut soap bar model is really heavy.

[Nightbat]

I'm guessing with the imports, woodselection isn't as critical

[xenophobe]

I'm guessing with the imports, woodselection isn't as critical

When you're cutting logs for wood blanks for regular production, it doesn't really matter where the trees are from. The only thing that's really important is that they were dried to the right percentage before being milled into bodies and necks, IMO.

[SausageofPower]

The 05 SE standard I had was light and all mahogany.
My 09 SE single cut soap bar model is really heavy.

What do you think of the soap bar model? I was considering grabbing one at some point, if the price is right.

[84sups]

My Tremonti is very light too. Maybe because the Torero has a maple neck through and maple cap? I'd think the weight difference could be negligable but who knows?

[SausageofPower]

I haven't thrown the two on a scale, but the Torero definitely weights a hefty bit more.

In other news, it seems PRS is doing a "Tremonti SE Custom" in the UK that more closely mirrors the specs of his actual guitar (not that I'm a huge Tremonti fan, I just like the guitar):

[ulijdavid]

I have noticed huge differences in weights between different mahogany. The Honduran mahogany is becoming harder to get and the cost has gone way up. Most of the mahogany being used is referred to as "Genuine" mahogany which is a generic mahogany that has many different countries of origin. Africa is the most common. I have built guitars with both and my experience has found that the Honduran feels about twice as heavy. So if you have an old guitar that was probably made from Honduran Mahogany, you will definitely feel that the newer (most likely Genuine Mahogany) guitar feels very light.

[data187]

I prefer the heavier mahogany myself...it sounds and sustains much better.
I tried a couple of the PRS SE's and they are hit or miss, especially with the quality of the wood (sound, not looks).

[j2379]

I have heard rumors that honduran mahogany may become protected species pretty soon. watch the price of gibsons go thru the roof when that happens.

I have noticed huge differences in weights between different mahogany. The Honduran mahogany is becoming harder to get and the cost has gone way up. Most of the mahogany being used is referred to as "Genuine" mahogany which is a generic mahogany that has many different countries of origin. Africa is the most common. I have built guitars with both and my experience has found that the Honduran feels about twice as heavy. So if you have an old guitar that was probably made from Honduran Mahogany, you will definitely feel that the newer (most likely Genuine Mahogany) guitar feels very light.

[Snoogans]

I have heard rumors that honduran mahogany may become protected species pretty soon. watch the price of gibsons go thru the roof when that happens.

Watch Gibson take a cheap wood like Agathis, call it something exotic, and charge top dollar...

[SausageofPower]

[/richlite] ;p