Rabea Massad is now streaming his in-depth look at the brand new PRS SE Chleo Herman Li, of which he’s generally pretty pleased with.
“My initial thoughts on this guitar are that it is designed with lead playing in mind for sure,” said Massaad. “The neck is super flat, the radius is super flat, and that really lends itself to technical, fast guitar playing, which I need to practice more.
“What I would say is that it took me a minute to get used to the neck profile, but if you are used to these kinds of guitar styles, whether it be Ibanez stuff or any kind of shreddy-style guitar, you are going to feel right at home on something like this.”
From its sculpted Mahogany body and Flame Maple top to its carbon-reinforced Roasted Maple neck, every design choice prioritizes stability, responsiveness and expressive control. The lightweight, contoured body balances comfort with resonance, producing a focused, articulate voice that stays defined under high gain while remaining lively enough for clean and hybrid tones.
The neck is where the SE Chleo truly separates itself. Reinforced with carbon fiber rods and paired with a super-flat 20-inch-radius Ebony fingerboard, it offers exceptional consistency for sweeping arpeggios, rapid-fire legato and wide, controlled vibrato. Eclipse Dragon inlays signal the instrument’s virtuosic intent, while refined fretwork and a slick roasted finish make high-velocity playing feel effortless.
A set of Fishman Fluence Signature Series Herman Li Omniforce pickups provides three core voices and up to 13 tonal variations via intuitive push/pull controls, delivering everything from glassy single-coil clarity to authoritative humbucker drive.
Anchored by a Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo and PRS locking nut, the SE Chleo maintains rock-solid tuning through extreme pitch manipulation, making it a performance-built instrument for players who push both technique and tone to the edge.
Get the PRS SE Chleo Herman Li here for $1,999 and keep up with all our PRS coverage right here!
