Know Your Gear Podcast with Phillip McKnight

Episode: Why PRS Is Changing The SE Guitars Again

Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Phillip McKnight

Episode Overview

In this episode, Phillip McKnight dives deep into guitar gear questions, recent updates in guitar manufacturing—especially PRS SE series changes—and highlights Black Friday deals relevant to guitarists. The show combines gear recommendations, thoughtful reflections on the state of the guitar industry, and practical advice for musicians at all levels.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reverb Policy Update and Viewer Engagement

• Follows up on Reverb.com’s new policies, referencing a prior week’s critique.
  • “They understand my criticisms. They’d like to come on the show ... After the holidays.” (02:00)
• Promises a future episode delving into Reverb’s response and policy changes.

2. Favorite Guitar Cables & Recent Purchases

• Phillip shares his process when buying cables, favoring functionality, and durability:
  • Recent purchase: Proco EV LG C SLN 1010-foot cables.
  • Prefers Neutrik noiseless ends for reliability.
  • “I really like this Neutrik noiseless end. And I’ve tried a bunch of other noiseless ends and this is the one I keep coming back to.” (04:00)

3. Travel Guitar Recommendations

• Travel Guitar Dilemma:
  • Responds to a listener’s struggle with their EG1 traveler guitar.
  • Shares his approach: After experimenting with various travel guitars, he now travels with a Kiesel Delos headless model that exactly replicates his main guitar.
  • “Over the years, I just learned something about myself: I’m not a person of compromise when it comes to my guitar.” (09:00)
  • Suggests looking for used Kiesel or Hill Guitars as an affordable, robust, and real-guitar-feeling alternative ($549+).
  • Recommends checking for blemished deals and praises their quality, fit, and travel convenience.
  • “These guitars are made in Indonesia. They’re made really well and there is as good as anything else, especially with the new upgrades…” (14:00)

4. Gear of the Week & New Releases

• Joe Bonamassa Limited Edition Fuchs Amp:

  • Highlights the overdrive-special based amp, noting Bonamassa’s humor about Dumble prices.
    • “Unlike a Dumble amp, this is not $175,000. It’s $3,999... And signed by Andy Fuchs and myself.” (16:15)
  • Appreciates the amp’s value and design choices for 2025’s market.

• Line 6 Stadium XL & Fractal Axe Fx AM4:

  • Stadium XL: Premium modeler around $2300.
  • Axe FX AM4: New budget option, $799, appealing for first-time users and portability.
    • “This is going to be interesting...If you’re getting into the Axe Effects universe, this would probably be by far the easiest way.” (19:30)

• Fender Mustang Series Revamp:

  • Fender leans into retro styling for new Mustang amps.
  • “I like the retro look...for $330, you put yourself a Neo Creamback Celestion in it, now you have an amp under $500 that might sound pretty cool and ultra-light.” (21:00)

5. Black Friday Deals: Navigating Real and Fake Discounts

• Emphasizes that true deals often come from reputable brands clearing out excess inventory, not the usual “perma-sale” items.

  • Example deals:
    • Friedman BE Mini for $99 at Sweetwater: “If you still see one, grab it!” (22:00)
    • Ernie Ball 5-pack strings, M-Audio monitors, Hello Kitty guitars, J Rockett Melody Overdrive pedal, Squier & Fender sales.

• Recommendations:

  • Prioritize gear you already want; avoid being lured by constant sales on less desirable products.
  • Real deals often come from overstock/clearance rather than manufacturer discounts.

6. PRS SE Series Changes: What’s Happening?

• Why PRS Is Changing the SEs:
  • SE models are being cleared out due to upgrades and changes coming to the lineup.
  • Changes include:
    • New “lampshade” knobs, rounded pickup rings, and Byrd tuning keys.
    • Switch from brown to black gig bags with improved headstock support.
    • “Now it’s carved, just like the USA core version—not bent...And it went from being made in China to now being made in Indonesia.” (01:06:00)
  • Prices increasing (e.g., SE Hollowbody 2 up $300) to reflect these improvements.
  • Transition driven by aligning closer to the aesthetics and build quality of US-made PRS models.
  • Clearance sales offer legit discounts before price hikes in January.

7. Community Q&A & Practical Advice

• Buffers & Pedalboard Talk:

  • Suggests using Boss pedals as buffers for most modest rigs; doesn’t use dedicated buffer pedals.
  • Touches on the “pedal community drama” and why he’s selective in what pedal brands he features.
    • “The pedal communities are very... intense. Pedal communities seem to get a little bit more intense than other groups.” (01:25:00)

• Mini-Heads & Bedroom Amps:

  • Discusses rationale behind mini-head popularity, use cases, and price competitiveness.
  • Affirms Friedman BE Mini’s clean tones and pedal compatibility at $99 is rare value.

• Handle Customization Tip:

  • Explains how YouTube “handles” work and how listeners can change them for better online identity.

• Shopping for Acoustics and Recording on a Budget:

  • Suggests Yamaha/Orangewood over Ibanez for affordable, quality acoustics.
  • Apartment recording? Invest in a good interface, headphones, and amp software over hardware amps/pedals.

• Dummy Coil for Strat Hum:

  • Outlines the dummy coil mod for single-coil hum reduction, noting its effectiveness varies and has little impact on original tone, especially with a switch for flexibility.

• Amplifier & Pedal Community Insights:

  • Discusses various amp brands (Phil Jones, Bad Cat, Katana, Stage Right), their features, and value.
  • Expresses preference for direct solutions—interface and software—for apartment/home recording needs.

8. Bonus: Featured Gear Playthrough & Final Thoughts

• Demos his Tone King Imperial preamp pedal; praises its real amp feel over other preamp pedals.

  • “I absolutely love this...On my monitors right now, it just sounds like I’m playing through a little tube amp. It sounds fantastic.” (01:44:00)

• Shares insight into actual value and scarcity of certain deals:

  • Cautions listeners about the temporary nature of Black Friday pricing, especially when new model cycles and price increases are looming.

Notable Quotes (Speaker Attribution & Timestamps)

• “Over the years, I just learned something about myself: I’m not a person of compromise when it comes to my guitar.” — Phillip (09:00)
• “I really like this Neutrik noiseless end. And I’ve tried a bunch of other noiseless ends and this is the one I keep coming back to.” — Phillip (04:00)
• “Unlike a Dumble amp, this is not $175,000. It’s $3,999... And signed by Andy Fuchs and myself.” — Quoting Joe Bonamassa (16:15)
• “If you’re getting into the Axe Effects universe, this would probably be by far the easiest way.” — Phillip (19:30)
• “If you still see one, grab it!” (re: Friedman BE Mini) — Phillip (22:00)
• “Now it’s carved, just like the USA core version—not bent...And it went from being made in China to now being made in Indonesia.” — Phillip (01:06:00)
• “The pedal communities are very... intense. Pedal communities seem to get a little bit more intense than other groups.” — Phillip (01:25:00)
• “On my monitors right now, it just sounds like I’m playing through a little tube amp. It sounds fantastic.” — Phillip (01:44:00)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:01 – Show intro, Reverb policy update
• 04:00 – Guitar cable recommendations
• 09:00 – Travel guitar discussion and Kiesel/Hill recommendation
• 16:15 – Gear segment: Joe Bonamassa/Fuchs, Line6/Axe FX, Fender Mustang
• 22:00 – Friedman BE Mini head & Black Friday deal talk
• 53:00 – Exploring “real” vs. fake Black Friday deals; what’s worth grabbing
• 01:04:30 – Why PRS is changing the SE guitars
• 01:15:00 – Community Q&A (buffer pedals, pedal community drama)
• 01:25:00 – Mini-heads, value, amp/brand comparisons
• 01:44:00 – Tone King Imperial pedal demo
• 01:50:00+ – Recording and acoustic guitar buying advice, more Q&A
• 2:08:00 – Outro and patron community note

Memorable Moments

• Phillip’s tongue-in-cheek intro about “pumpkin pie vs. apple pie” before immediately pivoting: “I’m just kidding. We’re not talking about guitars.” (00:30)
• Humorous digression about the price of “work mats” for guitar repairs: “80 bucks is ridiculous… but how cool is that?” (31:30)
• The on-air notification and shared excitement as the Friedman BE Mini heads sell out live during the show. (01:57:00)
• Phillip’s candid take on the difference between pedal and pickup communities: “I just stay away from it. If it brings drama, it bums you out.” (01:25:30)
• Advice on not getting high on your own supply when running a guitar store—a rare behind-the-scenes look at the business. (01:50:00)

Summary

For listeners who missed the episode:
This edition of the Know Your Gear Podcast is an essential listen for anyone interested in PRS SE changes, navigating Black Friday guitar deals, and learning from Phillip’s hard-won gear wisdom and community interactions. The episode balances current gear news, practical buying advice, and philosophical takeaways about making your playing—and your purchases—count.