The PRS S2 Vela has all the time occupied an attention-grabbing place within the PRS catalogue. Its offset silhouette and stripped-back aesthetic give it a personality fairly completely different from the acquainted Customized and McCarty households, whereas its building and a focus to element stay unmistakably PRS. For 2026, the S2 Vela HHT takes that idea in a extra muscular and expressive route, including two DS-01 humbuckers and PRS’s patented tremolo system to the Vela platform.

The result’s a guitar that retains the individuality of the Vela whereas considerably increasing its enchantment. With a stable mahogany physique, set mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, 25-inch scale size and 22 frets, the basics are reassuringly conventional. Nonetheless, the offset physique, versatile electronics and tremolo give the HHT a persona all of its personal.

Physique Form and Building

Visually, the Vela stays one in all PRS’s most distinctive designs. Relatively than following the corporate’s extra symmetrical double-cutaway define, the Vela makes use of an offset solidbody form with an uneven bevel. The physique itself is mahogany, giving the instrument a powerful resonant basis whereas sustaining the nice and cozy midrange response historically related to the timber.

The uneven physique is greater than merely a visible assertion. Sitting down, the offset proportions place the guitar naturally, whereas standing up there’s a barely extra various, virtually vintage-inspired character to the best way the instrument hangs. It feels acquainted sufficient that there’s nearly no adjustment interval, however completely different sufficient to separate the Vela from the more and more crowded world of standard double-cut guitars.

The bevelled high edges additionally make a significant distinction to consolation. There’s not one of the cumbersome sensation that may typically accompany an all-mahogany solidbody, and the contouring permits the choosing arm to take a seat naturally towards the instrument.

There’s a pleasing simplicity to the Vela’s total look too. It has sufficient recognisable PRS DNA to determine its pedigree instantly, however the offset proportions give it a barely rebellious edge. For gamers who admire PRS building however have historically gravitated in direction of much less standard physique designs, this may very well be one of the interesting fashions within the S2 vary.

Neck and Playability

The Vela HHT makes use of a set mahogany neck with PRS’s Sample Common profile, paired with a rosewood fingerboard and 22 PRS Commonplace frets. Official measurements put the neck depth at 27/32″ across the first fret and 59/64″ across the twelfth, with a nut width of 1 21/32″.

Numbers solely inform a part of the story, although. The Sample Common profile supplies a cushty center floor between a slim fashionable neck and a considerably chunkier classic carve. There’s sufficient materials behind the fretting hand to make chords and rhythm components really feel substantial, with out changing into cumbersome when transferring into quicker lead passages.

It is the form of neck that encourages you to cease serious about neck profiles altogether and easily play.

The set-neck building additionally contributes to the cohesive really feel of the instrument. Higher-fret entry is snug, whereas bends, legato phrases and wider vibrato can all be executed with out the participant having to combat the guitar.

PRS has constructed a lot of its repute on consistency and playability, and the S2 Vela HHT follows that philosophy intently. Regardless of the unconventional physique define, the taking part in expertise stays unmistakably PRS.

25-Inch Scale Size

One of many defining specs is PRS’s acquainted 25-inch scale size.

That measurement sits neatly between two of the electrical guitar world’s most established scale lengths, and in sensible phrases it produces a helpful stability between string rigidity and suppleness. There’s sufficient resistance for rhythm taking part in to stay exact and articulate, whereas bends do not require extreme effort.

That stability fits the Vela HHT notably nicely. The guitar is able to producing articulate clear sounds and tight rhythm tones, however it’s equally snug when used for expressive blues-rock bends, melodic lead work and extra aggressive fashionable taking part in.

With the manufacturing facility PRS Signature .010-.046 strings, the strain feels substantial with out changing into stiff. Gamers accustomed to different PRS fashions ought to instantly really feel at dwelling, whereas these coming from both shorter- or longer-scale devices ought to adapt in a short time.

10-Inch Fretboard Radius

The rosewood fingerboard has a 10-inch radius, one other specification that contributes considerably to the guitar’s versatility.

Once more, PRS has chosen an efficient compromise. The radius is curved sufficient that open chords and barre chords stay snug, however flat sufficient to accommodate a relatively low motion and substantial string bends.

For lead gamers, which means huge bends could be carried out confidently with out the notes choking out prematurely, assuming the guitar is appropriately arrange. For rhythm gamers, the fingerboard nonetheless has sufficient curvature to really feel pure when taking part in prolonged chord passages.

Mixed with the Sample Common neck and 25-inch scale, the 10-inch radius helps make the Vela HHT a real all-rounder reasonably than a guitar optimised round one specific taking part in type.

DS-01 Humbuckers

The most important tonal departure from the usual Vela is undoubtedly the pickup configuration. The HHT is fitted with two PRS DS-01 humbuckers, changing the blended pickup association related to the common Vela. PRS describes these as full-range humbuckers able to delivering glowing cleans, a beefier low finish and a pointy assault.

That description interprets nicely into the taking part in expertise. The bridge place has sufficient output and low-end authority for pushed rhythm work, however retains definition when taking part in extra advanced chord voicings. There’s a direct assault to the notes that forestalls heavier achieve settings from changing into overly comfortable or congested.

Transfer to the neck pickup and there’s significantly extra heat, making it a pure alternative for fluid lead sounds. Importantly, nevertheless, the response does not turn out to be excessively darkish. There’s sufficient articulation for particular person notes to stay clear when including achieve, delay or modulation.

The center place is especially helpful for cleaner rhythm sounds, the place the 2 pickups mix to ship a broad frequency response with loads of element.

A push/pull tone management permits the humbuckers to be tapped, significantly widening the out there tonal palette. Pulling the management introduces leaner, brighter textures that work notably nicely for clear rhythm components and effect-heavy sounds.

Relatively than merely making the Vela louder or heavier, the dual DS-01 configuration offers the guitar a broader working vary.

Tremolo Efficiency

The opposite main change is the transfer from the usual Vela’s distinctive plate-style mounted bridge to the PRS Patented Tremolo, partnered right here with Part III locking tuners.

This essentially adjustments what the Vela can do.

The tremolo has the sleek, managed response we anticipate from PRS {hardware}. Mild motion can add refined shimmer to chords, whereas deeper dips can deliver a much more dramatic high quality to guide traces. Importantly, it does not really feel like an addition that has been grafted onto an present design; it feels utterly built-in into the guitar.

For expressive gamers, that opens significantly extra territory. Clear chords could be given mild motion, sustained notes could be manipulated virtually like a vocalist shaping a phrase, and extra aggressive tremolo work is obtainable when required.

Tuning stability is equally essential with any tremolo-equipped guitar, and the mixture of the PRS bridge, nut and Part III locking tuners supplies a reassuringly secure platform. PRS itself highlights the tremolo’s tuning stability, and the locking tuners additionally make restringing simple.

Maybe most significantly, the tremolo encourages musical use reasonably than merely excessive results. Small actions really feel controllable, making it simple to include the arm into on a regular basis phrasing.

Total

The PRS S2 Vela HHT succeeds as a result of it does not merely really feel like a Vela with a few specification adjustments. The dual DS-01 humbuckers and tremolo remodel the persona of the instrument whereas preserving every thing that made the unique design attention-grabbing.

The offset mahogany physique offers it a particular visible id, whereas the Sample Common mahogany neck, 25-inch scale and 10-inch rosewood fingerboard present the snug, refined taking part in expertise related to PRS. Add the dual humbuckers, push/pull electronics, Part III locking tuners and patented tremolo and the result’s an exceptionally adaptable instrument.

It may deal with articulate cleans, punchy rhythm tones and heat lead sounds earlier than transferring convincingly into higher-gain territory. The pickup tapping expands these choices additional, whereas the tremolo introduces an expressive dimension that was beforehand absent from the Vela system.

There’s additionally one thing refreshing about seeing PRS proceed to develop one in all its much less conventional designs. The Vela has all the time appealed to gamers searching for PRS high quality with out essentially wanting the corporate’s most recognisable silhouette. The HHT pushes that concept additional.

For gamers who need the refinement and consistency related to a USA-made PRS however desire an offset aesthetic, dual-humbucker versatility and a genuinely usable tremolo system, the S2 Vela HHT makes a really compelling case for itself.

For extra data, please go to PRS Guitars’ web site.