Why you should trust this review
I purchased the PRS SE Custom 24 in Faded Blue Burst at retail in November 2025 to evaluate as a versatile workhorse alongside my Fender Player Stratocaster and Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s. PRS did not provide a sample. Across 5 months it saw roughly 60 minutes of daily play, two band rehearsals at full volume through a Marshall DSL40CR, and one short studio session for a friend’s recording.
This review reflects PRS’s published SE Custom 24 specifications, Amazon’s aggregate of 2,140 owner reviews (averaging 4.8 of 5), and 5 months of direct comparison against the Strat and LP in my collection.
How we tested the PRS SE Custom 24
See /methodology for the standardized electric guitar evaluation protocol.
- Out-of-box setup: Action, neck relief, intonation, pickup height, tremolo float angle.
- Tone evaluation: Recorded clean, edge-of-breakup, and high-gain passages through a Marshall DSL40CR, A/B compared against the Strat and LP.
- Coil-split A/B: Same passages played in both humbucker and split single-coil modes for direct comparison.
- Tremolo stability: Multiple full bar dives followed by tuning checks across 5 months.
- Live test: Two band rehearsals at full stage volume.
- Long-term play: Daily play for 5 months with two string changes.
Who should buy the PRS SE Custom 24?
Buy this if:
- You want one electric guitar that covers many styles.
- You play live and value tuning stability through tremolo use.
- You appreciate refined hardware and visual aesthetics at a mid-range price.
- You prefer a 25-inch scale length over Fender’s 25.5 or Gibson’s 24.75.
Skip this if:
- You want classic vintage Strat or LP tone specifically. A dedicated guitar is more idiomatic.
- You hate bird inlays and want a more traditional dot-inlay look.
- You are a true beginner. This is more guitar than a starter player needs.
Tone: humbucker rich, single-coil convincing, no compromise
The 85/15 S humbuckers are the most flexible stock pickups under $1000. In humbucker mode they have a balanced output, articulate attack, and enough character that they hold their own against a Les Paul through high-gain rhythm work. The neck pickup voices warm without becoming muddy, the bridge pickup is bright without being thin.
The push-pull coil-split is the killer feature. Splitting both pickups simultaneously delivers a credible single-coil voice that works for funk chord stabs, country chicken-pickin’, and clean rhythm work. It is not a Strat, but it is closer than any humbucker-only guitar gets.
A/B against the Player Strat in single-coil mode, the PRS is slightly fuller and less bell-like in the high end. Against the Epiphone LP in humbucker mode, the PRS is brighter and more articulate. Different voices, both useful from one instrument.
Playability: wide thin is the right call
The wide thin neck profile is the PRS signature: flatter back than a Gibson 50s, wider nut than a Fender, with enough depth that it does not feel like a slab. For shredders coming from a Strat, it feels familiar. For players coming from a Les Paul, it feels faster.
The 10-inch fingerboard radius is the modern middle ground between Fender 9.5 and Gibson 12. Bends are clean across the neck and chord shapes are comfortable. The 24 frets give upper-fret access for lead playing.
Hardware: the PRS-designed trem is the surprise
The PRS-designed tremolo is the best stock trem I have used at any price under $1500. With the stock locking tuners (yes, locking tuners are stock on the SE Custom 24 in 2026) and PRS bridge geometry, return-to-pitch through a full bar dive is consistently within a few cents. After 5 months of aggressive vibrato use I have not had a single mid-song tuning collapse.
The Indonesian QC on this unit is excellent. Pickup heights were within a hair of optimal from the factory. Action was set comfortably for medium playing. The frets needed no cleanup. The fit and finish on this SE Custom 24 punch into Core PRS territory.
Long-term and value
After 5 months including two rehearsals and one humidity cycle, the SE Custom 24 shows no body or neck movement, no fret wear beyond normal, and no finish issues. The maple top with flame veneer looks identical to day one.
At $949 the SE Custom 24 is the most versatile electric I would recommend at any price under $1500. The Player Stratocaster at $849 is the better Strat. The Epiphone LP Standard 50s at $649 is the better LP. The PRS does both jobs at 80% of each, with build and hardware that punches above the price. For one guitar to cover the most ground, this is the answer.
PRS SE Custom 24 vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Pickups | Trem | Origin | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRS SE Custom 24 | ★★★★★ 4.7 | 85/15 S, coil-split | PRS-designed | Indonesia | $949 | Editor's Choice |
| Fender Player Stratocaster | ★★★★★ 4.6 | Player Alnico 5 | 2-point synchronized | Mexico | $849 | Top Pick Strat |
| Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s | ★★★★★ 4.6 | ProBucker 1 & 2 | Stoptail | Indonesia | $649 | Top Pick LP |
| Schecter Omen Extreme 6 | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | Diamond Plus | TOM stoptail | Indonesia | $449 | Skip if you want versatility |
Full specifications
| Body | Mahogany with maple top, flame maple veneer |
| Neck | Maple, wide thin profile |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood with bird inlays, 24 frets |
| Scale length | 25 in (635 mm) |
| Radius | 10 in (254 mm) |
| Pickups | 85/15 S humbuckers (neck and bridge) |
| Bridge | PRS-designed tremolo |
| Tuners | PRS-designed locking |
| Nut width | 1.6875 in (42.86 mm) |
| Controls | Vol, tone with push-pull coil-split, 3-way blade |
| Country of origin | Indonesia |
| Weight | 9.0 lb (4.1 kg) typical |
Should you buy the PRS SE Custom 24?
The PRS SE Custom 24 is the most versatile electric guitar at any price under $1000. The 85/15 S humbuckers with coil-split cover Strat, Les Paul, and modern hard rock in a single guitar. The 25-inch scale length splits the difference between Fender and Gibson, the bird inlays look like the price doubled, and the neck stability through climate swings is the closest a sub-$1000 guitar gets to a Core PRS.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PRS SE Custom 24 worth $949 in 2026?+
Yes, especially for players who want a single guitar that covers many styles. The 85/15 S humbuckers with coil-split give you genuine humbucker and useful single-coil territory in one instrument. The neck, trem, and overall build are at a level that previous SE Custom 24 generations did not match. For a working player who wants one guitar, this is the answer.
PRS SE Custom 24 vs Fender Player Stratocaster: which is more versatile?+
The PRS by a real margin. The Strat does Strat sounds beautifully but does not cover Les Paul or modern hard-rock territory. The PRS does Strat-adjacent sounds well via coil-split and covers the humbucker territory the Strat cannot. If you can only own one electric guitar, get the PRS. If you specifically want classic Strat tone, get the Fender.
How close is the SE Custom 24 to a Core PRS Custom 24?+
About 70% of the experience. The Core has Pattern Thin or Pattern Regular neck options, US-made TCI pickups, more refined fit, and the unmistakable Core PRS resonance. The SE Custom 24 captures the basic feel and sound at a third of the price. Working pros who own a Core often pick up an SE Custom 24 as a backup for travel.
Are the bird inlays really worth the extra cost?+
Cosmetic only. The birds are a PRS visual signature and they look stunning on the rosewood fingerboard. They do not affect tone or playability. If you would prefer dots, you would need to look at a different SE model. Most owners come around to liking the birds.
How is the tremolo stability?+
Excellent for the price. The PRS-designed tremolo with stock locking tuners holds tune through full bar dives within a few cents and recovers cleanly. After 5 months of normal vibrato use I see no creep that requires retuning mid-session. It is the best stock tremolo I have used under $1500.
📅 Update log
- May 9, 2026Added 5-month rehearsal and studio observations.
- Feb 19, 2026Re-strung with .010-.046 set, updated tone notes.
- Nov 26, 2025Initial review published.
