[SOLVED!] The Duel Between Powerhouses: CE24 Vs. Custom 24

All in all, high-end guitars of Paul Reed Smith (PRS) usually have excellent reputations but not many match the popularity of CE24 and Custom 24. From the finish to the features, everything on the PRS guitars is designed to satisfy guitarists of diverse preferences. Still, it’s not uncommon for novices to be overwhelmed by positive reviews of the PRS guitars and make a less than ideal investment. If you seek a non-biased PRS CE24 vs. Custom 24 comparison, our article may be of use to you. 

What They Have In Store 

	CE24	Custom 24
Neck joint	Bolt-on	Set
Neck wood	Maple	Mahogany
Switch positions	3	5
Pickup mods	Coil split	None
Year of release	2016	2011
Price	$2,300	$4,000

How They Fare Against Each Other 

Material

In terms of material, while CE24 makes use of maple, Custom 24 opts to utilize mahogany. Both types of wood not only look good but also hold together well as timeless passes by in most of the cases. The lightweight nature of maple and mahogany also improves the handling characteristics of the PRS guitars. All in all, if you have concerns about material, you can rest assured knowing that either CE24 or Custom 24 will suit you. 

Sound

Known for its clear and clean tone, CE24 excels at playing a wide range of vintage songs. In play, the upper-mid and percussion attacks of CE24 prove subtle but it lacks a midrange hump. About Custom 24, it allows a high degree of control over the tone so the sound will get neither too thin nor too muddy. If you have Custom 24, you should be able to take advantage of its tune-in vibration to achieve optimal resonance.

Playability

CE24 and Custom 24 share a lot of similarities once it comes to design: they feature the same neck shape, scale length, fretboard radius…. In addition to that, the PRS guitars have a large body that facilitates swift movements. Because of that, regarding playability, there is no clear winner in PRS CE24 vs. Custom 24. When you get used to them, both PRS guitars will let you play all sorts of genres with relative ease. 

Customization

You can customize aspects of CE24 and Custom 24, such as the strings, to your liking in times of need.  That being said, various guitarists around the world regard CE24 as the superior guitar for in-depth customization.  For example, the neck joint of CE24 is bolt-on which means it’s possible to swap out the neck at a moment’s notice. Of course, you may also remove the neck of CE24 during transport to save storage space. 

Price

It’s not uncommon for the price of guitars to increase/decrease on occasions and the same applies to CE24 and Custom 24. However, there is a significant difference between the price of CE24 and the price of Custom 24. The fact that CE24 cost $1,700 less than Custom 24 makes it the more affordable choice between the two. If you want to save money to purchase other equipment, it’s strongly recommended that you go for CE24.

Conclusion 

To put it plainly, both CE24 and Custom 24 give a good account of themselves in use for most of the time. Nonetheless, if you have money to spend and desire complete control over the tone, you should consider picking up Custom 24. On the other hand, if you cannot drop big bucks on your guitar and want something customizable, CE24 is for you. Nowadays, you may buy guitars from whatever source you like but for good measure, stick to reputable retailers. 

An Overview Of PRS

Founded in 1985, PRS is an American company that is specialized in manufacturing guitars and amplifiers. While PRS is kind of young compared to many of its competitors on the market, PRS products have achieved remarkable success. In fact, at the moment, quite a few guitarists regard PRS to be one of the best guitar brands. If you decide to get your guitar from PRS, you can rest assured knowing that you have made a wise decision.

PRS Lines Of Guitars: Compilation

For your information, PRS currently offers a total of five guitar lines that consist of SE, S2, Bolt-On, Core and Private Stock. Down below is a summary of the characteristics of the lines:

• SE: Designed to provide solid performance at affordable prices, models in the SE line prove popular among budget-minded guitarists. Looking for a new guitar but don’t want to scale back your spendings? Then you should add SE guitars into your shortlist. 
• S2: Boasting a combination of innovative production techniques and traditional quality control practices, S2 guitars receive a shower of praise from the community. While models in the S2 line cost more than their SE counterparts, the improved performance justifies the increases in price.  
• Bolt-On: As the name suggests, the Bolt-On line contains guitars that have a bolt-on neck. Needless to say, those who put customization above all else rank models in the  Bolt-On line highly.  
• Core: Owing to the long history of the Core line, all sorts of Core guitars exist ranging from vintage to modern and it includes some specially designed models too. Regardless of your preferences, you should be able to find a Core model that fits you. 
• Private Stock: In layman’s terms, the Private Stock line is tailored from the ground up to deliver personalized experiences. The price of Private Stock guitars varies between models but they all have solid quality.