Best PRS SE Angelus Electro Acoustic Guitars: Which One Will You Love?

The PRS SE Angelus Electro Acoustic, part of the PRS SE series, was developed after Mr Paul Reed Smith got his hands on an extraordinary-sounding Torres nylon-string acoustic. Smith couldn't believe the sound, the exceptional volume and bass it produced, and the subtle nuances coming from the mids and highs. He decided to study the instrument, including X-raying it, to learn why such a small-bodied acoustic guitar had so much power.

After carefully studying the Torres acoustic guitar, Smith deduced that Torres used a speaker cabinet blueprint to inspire the body design. The top was the speaker, and the back and sides were the cabinet parts. In general, most acoustics have the back vibrating as well as the top. In this Torres acoustic, the back was designed so that more emphasis was put on the top for vibrating and producing sound. This design gave the acoustic energy and volume.

With that in mind, Smith developed his acoustics, including the PRS Angelus guitar series with a hybrid X/Classical bracing pattern and a thinner top. This match-made-in-heaven allowed the Angelus acoustic top to vibrate freely, delivering their authentic and unique voice.

How to Choose a PRS SE Angelus Electro Acoustic?

There are four different variations and various price points of the PRS Angelus acoustic. The PRS SE Angelus A20E, A40E, A50E, and A60E, plus one A60E left-hand model for south paw players. Each one is slightly different from the other, and this article is to help you navigate which one is for you. Whether it simply comes down to price or something more detailed, like wood choice and sound. The model numbers and letters actually mean something. The 'A' stands for Angelus, the number is the wood code, and the 'E' stands for electronics.

Core Features of the PRS SE Angelus Electro Acoustic Range

There are many similarities between the four electro acoustic designs, shape being the most obvious, but when it comes down to personal choice in voice, aesthetics, and wood choice, each PRS SE Angelus is different.

Each PRS SE Angelus has the same distinctive shape, the Angelus Cutaway, which is similar in design to a Grand Auditorium. It is mid-sized, slimmer than a dreadnought, and features a cutaway. This design gives you the perfect balance between sound and tone-matching playability. All come with the PRS Hybrid "X"/Classical Bracing, which gives the volume and projection we discussed earlier in the article.

They all feature a 20-fret, 25.3" scale length mahogany neck and an ebony fingerboard; there is a cosmetic difference on the fingerboard of the A60E, but we'll come to that later. Each one has a bone nut and saddle, plus an ebony fingerboard. They're all electro-acoustic, ready for the stage and performance, thanks to a PRS-Voiced Fishman Presys VT acoustic pickup, which perfectly projects each Angelus model's particular voices and tones. Most PRS SE Angelus guitars come with a hardshell case, except for the A20E, with obvious reasons to keep that one a sub-£500 PRS acoustic.

The Warm One: PRS SE Angelus A20E Electro Acoustic

Starting with the lower-priced entry is the PRS SE Angelus A20E, which features a solid mahogany top and mahogany back and sides. The solid mahogany top generates a mellow-sounding instrument, with full-range mids and gentle highs that tend to hang more into the background.

The mahogany back and sides give it a distinctive character that isn't as big on volume as, say, Indian rosewood but has a more twangy, less brilliant sound. The combination of an all-mahogany PRS acoustic offers up a warm-sounding instrument that is perfect for traditional blues, folk, and roots players, with its punchy outcome.

The A20E also has simpler detailing, with cream body binding and an unfussy Herringbone Crème rosette. It lands in one colour: a black gloss top with vintage mahogany satin back and sides. And it's the only one to come with a padded gig bag rather than a hardshell case.

• For: If you want an unfussy workhorse PRS acoustic for playing blues and roots styles

• Against: If you love bells and whistles with fancy woods and intricate designs

Could the PRS SE Angelus A20E be your next go-to electro acoustic? Discover yours here.

The Unfussy Fussy One: PRS SE Angelus A40E Electro Acoustic

As we jump to the next level in the PRS SE Angelus, we find the PRS SE Angelus A40E lying in wait. It features a more traditional tonewood pairing of a solid Sitka spruce top and ovangkol back and sides. Firstly, the solid Sitka top on this PRS SE Angelus A40E delivers a broad dynamic range that is perfect for lots of different styles of playing, from hardcore strumming to delicate fingerpicking and stylish flatpicking. It's crisp and gives you bell-like mids and highs.

Ovangkol is the African brother of Indian rosewood. It shares some of rosewood's tones and voicings, including a wide range of low-end and mid-range. Rosewood's differences are its bigger midrange and more responsive treble. The ovangkol paired with a solid Sitka top gives you a fantastic all-around sounding instrument. It's great for those of you who don't want to shell out too much for an acoustic but need that extra flexibility.

The PRS SE Angelus A40E adds more nuances over the A20E with tiger acrylic body purfling, cream body binding, and a cream and black tiger acrylic rosette. It also arrives in two different top colours: a classic natural gloss and tobacco sunburst finish, both with deep red ovangkol back and sides to match. It also arrives with a hardshell case for extra protection.

• For: Traditional sounding all-rounder acoustic for strummers, finger pickers, and flat pickers

• Against: If you want something a little different with the tone

To learn more about buying the PRS SE Angelus A40E, click here for acoustic greatness.

Flaming-Good One: PRS SE Angelus A50E Electro Acoustic

If you want something a bit brighter-sounding, then the PRS SE Angelus A50E should be your focus. Let's talk about sound first. Maple back and side give you an acoustic that sits higher in the register, offering more bell-like bright tones, fullness in the lower register, and a shorter decay, perfect for cutting through on the studio floor.

Its matching solid Sitka top allows a wider range of dynamics, with further projection and volume of the maple construction's crisp voicings. This particular maple design is flamed, finished with a delicate and eye-catching black-gold burst finish. It is certainly one to turn heads. The flamed maple matches its solid Sitka spruce top, blending quite well.

It arrives with abalone body purfling, white and black body binding, and matching abalone white and black rosette detailing to match its flamed maple aesthetics. It also has a hardshell case, protecting your guitar while travelling.

• For: For a brighter-toned acoustic with jaw-dropping aesthetics for crisper fingerpicking and strumming

• Against: If you prefer a warmer, traditional-sounding acoustic

If the PRS SE Angelus A50E floats your boat, click on this link to maple heaven.

The Fancy One: PRS SE Angelus A60E Electro Acoustic

The Angelus A60E at the top of the series features a ziricote back and sides—the Rolls Royce of Guitar Tonewoods. Visually, it resembles rosewood, with darker black lines and ghost-like greys. Tonally, it raises the bar, offering a rich low-end with bell-like highs and plenty of harmonics; almost vintage-sounding.

You have a balanced-sounding acoustic guitar paired with a solid Sitka spruce top. It's perfect for a range of tasks, including strumming and fingerpicking, where you'll hear every nuance and detail of the notes played. It arrives in two colours, a traditional-looking natural finish, and a more unique cobalt blue burst finish. This is the only one in the PRS SE Angelus series you can get as a left-handed model.

Unique details are abalone body purfling, curly maple body binding, and a black/abalone rosette. Other appointments on this Angelus include ebony fretboard wood with curly maple binding and inlays featuring classic PRS birds in abalone. The other models still have the PRS birds but are not finished with abalone.

• For: If you love outstanding tone matched with intricate design details and premium finishes

• Against: If you're after an electro-acoustic that you don't mind getting a bit 'weathered'

Want a fancy-pants PRS SE Angelus A60E? Grab yours here and play in style.

PRS SE Angelus Series: Which One Should You Choose?

The main thing regarding all four PRS SE Angelus Electro Acoustics is that they're all fantastic-looking and playing guitars with different personalities. Each SE Angelus is tailored to guitar players' specific needs. Whether that's a fancy piece of playable furniture or a workhorse, you don't mind taking to even the murkiest dives. Or something in between with the Angelus A40E and A50E. There is something here for everyone.

It doesn't always come down to price; some may prefer the vintage warmth of the mahogany top and back and sides you get with the lower-priced Angelus A20E. Or the all-rounder you get with the A40E.

In conclusion, all of these guitars offer something unique. All are extremely playable and can be hooked up to a PA system or acoustic amp for performance. The cutaway shape and neck design on each one makes it easy to navigate the fretboard, allowing comfortable and precise playing. PRS has created them all to be slightly different to appeal to different players.

Whichever model speaks to you, the PRS SE Angelus range delivers quality, character, and playability. Explore the lineup and find your perfect match.