Bass Lab – PRS SE Kestral 4-string

Paul Reed Smith has built great instruments since day one. Their bass line has never had the sales the guitar line has had, and it’s a shame, because they build their basses with the same care as their guitars. Although they didn’t build this instrument in the USA, this Korean-made Kestral 4-stringer is another shot at making a dent in the bass market that has alluded them. This one is aiming at just above entry level. It can be bought for around $800, and is a lot of bass at that price point.

Like any good Jazz Bass, the body is made from alder, but as a departure from traditional Fender standard, the neck is a sandwich of maple and walnut in neck-through construction, rather than bolted-on maple. The rosewood fingerboard is traditional, but the inlayed PRS birds are a fantastic departure, and surprising at this price point.

The bass comes loaded with a traditional J-bass style single-coil pair wired in traditional passive fashion. Sounds great. The shielding is a painted cavity that isn’t completely sealed; it stops short of the top and has empty spaces in it. Usually, it’s common practice to shield the instrument completely on all sides. Placement of the coils is in the traditional ’70s spots. The tuners and bridge are Hipshot designs. The bridge seems pointlessly overdone, but adjusts well. The finish is black poly on this bass, from edge to edge, so if there are any construction issues, you can’t see them.

This bass looks vaguely PRS-ish, if there is such a thing. The pickguard fits the style, but doesn’t add much to the overall aesthetic of the bass. They missed an opportunity for “wow” factor, there. I think the knobs are too close together, too.

Bottom line, the bass sounds great, plays great and is adjustable to any setup you’d like. Bang for the buck in this price is amazing. Other makers in this price range need to pay attention, ’cause you are getting it handed to you by the PRS Kestrel.