I went to buy a PRS DGT SE...and this is what happened! 

I noticed the NF3 has virtually every hardware spec upgraded over the Silversky. The tuners are even the regular die cast prs import units. That are much better than those gaudy bright plastic vintage style they've been putting on most SE models. I got a package deal with one of the new cases, and I couldn't be happier. Its one of the only guitars I'm not upgrading major parts on. It's really great straight away. The action I've got so damn low its ridiculous. No buzzing or any bad frets. Plays like butter.

Congrats on the purchase! I've got a couple of S2 McCarty guitars that I love, HAD (2) USA Silver Sky guitars, and HAD a $5.5K USA 10-Top McCarty. I just couldn't justify the 10-Top. It was beautiful, and it was so fragile...lived in a case. I already had an SE Silver Sky, and when I was thinning the herd one day, the USA Silver Sky just didn't make the cut. I've since picked up a Quilted SE Custom 24, an SE NF3, another SE Silver Sky, a Satin SE CE24, an SE Swamp Ash, and both SE DTG models. The SE lineup is just great. Since I don't have a history of buying USED, I'm going to find it hard to justify buying another USA PRS above S2, unless my financial profile climbs another couple of notches. Time to put more money away for retirement.

I know exactly what you mean. A few months ago I wanted a SE DGT but theSE word most everywhere was backordered. I went shopping anyway. And yes, I bought a used Limited Quilt 10 CU24/08 etc... It was from the store owner's horde and I could not find a mark on it. I have a new working opinion of the word, sublime. I am very happy with it. And yes, a few months later, I got a new Goldtop SE DGT. They are both keepers.

The Cores and CE are just another level, that I didn’t feel with the S2.

Thats how I "accidentally" bought a core santana. I went to buy an se silversky...

I’ve got 4 SEs and 3 USA PRSes, and I freely admit there is a difference, I just don’t believe there is a 3k difference. The playability is better

Some notes: the core you have there is from 2012 to 2015. They put 85/15 pickups on the core custom 24s around 2015 or 2016. The pickups you have are probably dragon pickups. Totally different sound. Plus the 85/15s interact with different amps in different ways.

I’m a novice bass player and discovered the exact same thing. I now have a USA G&L L2000. If the bass doesn’t sound good, I know it’s not the instrument.

Man... I totally get it.. PRS core is like custom shop for everyone else. If you get past the stigma they are insanely good

Having played and owned SEs, an S2 a Core and 2 Bolt-On (CE) PRSs, the SEs feel superior to your typical import guitar, but you really can't compare the feel between the SEs and any of the USA made ones. How much the feel difference is worth to you? That is a question you have to ask yourself. Great and similar sounds can be achieved with any of them.

Really enjoyed your video ! Thank you for sharing !

You remind me of me. I have gone to music store with the aim of testing certain guitars and walked out considerable poorer having chosen a guitar I wasn't even thinking about. Just like anyone addicted to any substance. So, no, it's not about the quality, sound or "wood". It's about psychology. Of course it sounds and play better! it costs many times as much! Yeah. I know the feeling.

Core PRS guitars are indeed better and have nicer woods than the SE's. And they should be 😊 How much better and if you want to pay the extra cash, depends individually... Used core PRS's though, from the early 2000 can be found at a good price. I bought a 2003 CE 22 core for a little bit more than the cost for an SE Custom and less than half the current US CE24 price. And it is a way nicer guitar with a US trem and a violin carved top, you find nowadays only on the Core Customs...

yeah bonding to a guitar is a very personal matter. but I think you should be able to tell us what aspects of the guitar you evaluate being so much better from the SE! you didn't tell... I can't believe it's a "I don't know why but I preferred this one" 🤔

I was about to buy and on the lookout for a SE DGT, same as you... - I got a chance to test one recently in a shop .. - and boy was I disappointed ...; the built quality was subpar to everything I know from PRS, neck and fret finish was really bad.. plus a really bad setup which made it overly hard to play. (and I have some - Core USA, 2 S2 and really good SE's to compare - which are from the Korea Built period) - of course in the shop I could not start doing adjustments to see how much can be fixed to make it more playable.. - my gut feeling is, all the YT reviewers that hype especially this model "DGT SE" receive and extra carefully checked one... - don't get me wrong, I have 2 Korean made SE's which are outstanding - but right now I am rethinking if I should go for the SE DGT....

Same happened to me, I already had a custom order made Suhr Modern and an USA Jackson SL2, however one day I’ve tried and bought a PRS P22 with a rosewood neck. At home I realized that I only started playing the PRS and I sold the Suhr and the Jackson and bougt two more core PRS’s. So I understand you :). SE’s are good guitars especially for the price but Core PRS’s are work of art. And it is not about the hardware difference, it is about the difference in amount of time spent on each instrument perfecting it.

What pickups are in your new baby?

3500 Pounds for a new Custom 24? Around 2010, I bought a 1990 Custom 24 for $1800 CAD. That converts to about $1020 British Pounds. This was from PRS’s arguably even higher quality, early period, when they still had the “sweet switch” and the now illegal Brazilian rosewood board, and before they began implementing full CNC construction. I don’t know where used prices are at nowadays, but I’d argue that maybe instead of settling for an SE OR paying out the a** for a new US model, people should be directed to looking at used US examples. -EDIT: Yeah, never mind. I just looked at going prices for 1990 models. Utterly ridiculous. I should have kept that guitar for another 10 years before selling it. Apparently I could have at least quadrupled my money off of some sucker today.

I am still not a fan of SEs. It’s the electronics that just don’t feel or sound like the Core models.

bla bla bla, why not play the guitars. ?

Waaaaaaaaaaay too much preamble babbling.