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PRS SE Custom 24 VS Standard 24 (Comparison)Our pick: The PRS SE Standard 24Despite a significant difference in price, there is very little that distinguishes the PRS SE Custom 24 and the SE Standard 24. Outside of top material and body carving which - to be fair - can make a difference in price, the two guitars are essentially the same.
To the naked eye, there isn't much to distinguish between the PRS Custom 24 and the PRS Standard 24. In this article, we're putting the two guitars side by side, lining up their specs sheet, and highlighting exactly where they differ. This isn't as much an issue of which one is better, because they're both great guitars and quite similar. However, it will give you an idea of where one might be cutting costs, or which features are more prominent. This will help you out a lot, if you're trying to decide between the two. For those interested in just the Custom, you can checkout our SE Custom 24 review here. Is there a quality difference?In short, yes. Of the two guitars, the Custom 24 SE is a far nicer option and higher-quality option, which shows clearly in the pricing difference. In most cases, it's roughly a $200-$300 difference, if you're comparing new pricing for each guitar:
You might also notice the PRS Custom 24 SE "Anniversary" edition which is even more expensive, retailing at $1000. We're not considering that particular model in this comparison. Biggest Feature DifferencesWith this price difference, is it worth it to make the jump in price to get the Custom SE as opposed to the Standard SE? For those wanting a quicker answer, here are the three features where quality differs most between the two guitars:
Compare to Similar Electric GuitarsIn this section, we've put links to the PRS SE Custom 24, the Standard, and a couple other guitars at a similar price point. Some of them we've reviewed individually, and some we haven't, but you can access the product pages - which help support Guitar Chalk at no extra cost to you - to get a feel for similar options and/or the two guitars we're comparing in this article. PRS SE Custom 24 Pricing from Additional Vendors
$849.00 in stock 2 new from $849.00 as of September 2, 2022 9:41 am
PRS SE Custom 24 Price Alert and Price History (based on Sweetwater retail)Create an alert and we'll let you know when the price drops. Set price alert for PRS SE Custom 24 Electric Guitar - Quilt Black Gold Sunburst, Sweetwater Exclusive - $929.00 Price History for PRS SE Custom 24 Electric Guitar - Quilt Black Gold Sunburst, Sweetwater ExclusiveStatistics
Since July 6, 2022 Last price changesPRS SE Standard 24 Pricing from Additional Vendors
$649.00 in stock 2 new from $649.00 as of September 2, 2022 9:41 am
PRS SE Standard 24 Price Alert and Price History (based on Sweetwater retail)Create an alert and we'll let you know when the price drops. Set price alert for PRS SE Standard 24 - Translucent Blue - $649.00 Price History for PRS SE Standard 24 - Translucent BlueStatistics
Since June 15, 2022 Last price changesThis is the most significant category when it comes to spec-sheet differences between the Custom 24 and the Standard. While the Custom 24's top material is listed as Flamed Maple (a decent offering), the Standard does not list any kind of top material, either on Sweetwater's entry or the actual PRS product page. I would assume that the top piece is Mahogany, like the rest of the body, but I honestly don't know for sure. The second difference is the most notable, and perhaps accounts for most of the difference in cost. Carving on the Custom 24 - while not as intricate as that of the mainline PRS models - gives you a nice contour around the edge of the guitar's top. On the Standard 24, there's no carving, in favor of a completely flat top. This might also explain the difference in the top material.
Now, a logical question to ask: How much does the difference in body design impact the sound quality of the two guitars? I would argue that the difference isn't tremendously significant, especially given the increase in price going from the Standard to the Custom. Yes, the Custom 24 is probably a better-constructed instrument, but will you truly hear that when playing in a noticeable way? Probably not.
The carving on the Custom 24's top gives you a nice contour around the edges.
By contrast, the Standard 24's body has a flat top In the stock pictures, you'll notice that the lighting makes the Standard 24 look like is has some carving, but other photos (and closer examination) will show a flat top. Comparing Neck & FretboardAs we get into the neck and fretboard, these two guitars are nearly identical. Aside from some bronze mixed into the nut material in the Custom 24, there's no difference in fretboard or neck construction. Both are wide and thin neck designs with Rosewood fingerboards and the iconic PRS Bird fret inlays.
However, we did notice that on the Standard 24, the binding around the neck is far more pronounced and a different color than the binding used on the Custom 24. This small but noticeable difference doesn't have a significant impact on the feel or playability of the neck. Since they're both the same radius and the same wide/thin design, they feel and play exactly the same.
Closeup look at the neck (with bird inlays) on the PRS Custom 24 SE model.
Similar shot of the Standard 24 SE model with a notably different binding material around the fretboard. Hardware and Basic Parts ComparisonGetting into hardware we expected to see a few more differences, but it's a straight draw all the way down the board. Both guitars use the PRS tremolo bridge and the PRS stock tuning machines. It's pretty straightforward for both and not surprising.
Pickups and ControlsAgain, I expected to see at least some minor differences here, but the pickups and controls schemes are an exact mirror of one another, right down to the coil-splitting setup. The pickups for both guitars are the PRS 85/15, which aren't bad, but aren't the same thing you typically see on the nicer PRS models (the non-SE versions).
The Custom 24 uses the PRS-branded 85/15 humbuckers at both positions.
Same goes for the Standard 24, though you often see it with the "Zebra" version. To justify the expense of the SE Custom 24, it would be really nice to see some kind of a pickup upgrade, perhaps with the new TCI-tuned "S" pickups that are on the 35th anniversary edition of the SE Custom 24. But with the exact electronic setup on each guitar, we don't expect to see much of a tone quality upgrade in the Custom 24, at least not without some kind of a pickup swap. Concluding our PRS ComparisonIt's not that the SE Custom 24 isn't a fantastic guitar, because it is a great choice for those wanting a reliable electric in the sub-$1000 price range. However, the SE Standard 24 just isn't dramatically different, and can often be had for less than $500. Perhaps it isn't so much an issue of the SE Custom 24 underperforming, but one of the SE Standard 24 overperforming. You be the judge. My opinion is that those trying to decide between the two would get more value opting for the SE Standard 24. Questions about these two GuitarsDo you have questions about either guitars in this comparison? If so, feel free to drop me a line in the comments section below and, as always, I'll be happy to help out. See you there. Related ArticlesWritten by Bobby onPickups and
Roundups Written by Bobby onElectrics and Roundups
What is the difference between standard and and custom PRS?The main difference between PRS Custom vs Standard models is that PRS Customs have a mahogany body with a maple top while PRS Standards have a completely mahogany body. This results in a more “scooped” tone for the custom, where the low and high end is more prominent, while the Standard's tone has more mids.
What is the difference between standard and custom guitar?As we get into the neck and fretboard, these two guitars are nearly identical. Aside from some bronze mixed into the nut material in the Custom 24, there's no difference in fretboard or neck construction.
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Comparing Neck & Fretboard.. Is the PRS SE standard 24 versatile?The PRS SE Custom 24 is, for the money, one of the most versatile, classy and well-made electric guitars on the market. From its distinctive bird inlays on the fingerboard, to that now-classic PRS body shape, this is a guitar which oozes style.
Is the PRS Custom 24 SE good for metal?Every part of the Custom 24 is top of the line
The PRS "M" humbucker is a high-output pickup design that's ideal for metal and percussive playing styles.
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Prs se standard 24 vs se custom 24
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