PRS SE Standard 24
The PRS SE Standard 24 electric guitar is an affordable and quality-made instrument. It is designed and produced by a brand, that is known for making exceptional guitars. If you haven’t played one, it’s worth trying.
This model comes with classic PRS specs. It has a 24-fret, set-neck design, bird inlays, and a PRS-designed tremolo system. All of the PRS guitars have Paul Reed Smith’s signature on the headstock. This guitar has all the qualities of the core Custom 24, at a slightly, lower price.
PRS S2 Standard 24 Black
PRS S2 Standard 24 Vintage Cherry
This is a great guitar for players, of any skill level. Its perfect for beginners, who want a well-made, reliable guitar. It’s important, to learn on an instrument that has good performance qualities. For an entry-level price, you can have a guitar, that is similar to the PRS flagship model.
They made their debut in 2001. Paul Reed Smith introduced the SE model, meaning Student Edition. These guitars are made in Korea. They are well made re-creations of the popular, and sought after USA or Core models.
PRS S2 Standard 24 Tobacco Sunburst
These guitars have become popular, as well. At a much lower cost, the PRS SE line still has all the necessary features that define the PRS brand. They now have the same body design, with slightly carved tops, and the same PRS signature that the USA models have.
High quality solid mahogany makes up the body of this guitar, and the “wide thin” set neck is made out of quality maple with a rosewood fretboard and Pearloid PRS signature bird inlays.
The body and fingerboard is bound with a cream binding, giving it a vintage aesthetic look. They are reminiscent of golden-age single-cut guitars.
SE Hollowbody Standard Fire Red Burst
SE Hollowbody Standard McCarty Tobacco Sunburst
The main difference of the PRS SE Standard 24, is the custom finish. This model does not have a maple cap o a maple veneer. It doesn’t have the eye-catching, fancy, flamed tops, like those found on custom models. As a result, the guitar is much lighter, and easier to hold.
The SE Hollowbody Standard features an all-mahogany body with hollow construction for a warm, resonant tone. The 22 fret wide fat neck, PRS adjustable stoptail bridge, and 58/15 “S” pickups further promote the SE Hollowbody Standard’s big, clear, balanced voice. This vintage-inspired instrument combines the power and stability of a solid-body electric guitar with the captivating, resonance of a hollowbody instrument, making the SE Hollowbody Standard at home with players of all styles.
Hardware and Electronics
Starting at the headstock, the PRS SE Standard 24 is equipped with PRS-designed standard chrome tuners. It has a 1.69” synthetic bone nut which provides superior tuning stability. There are 24 medium-size, nickel frets, on the rosewood fretboard. The bridge is equipped with a chrome, PRS-designed, tremolo system, that is smooth and easy to use.
The guitar has an arsenal of PRS’s own 85/15 “S” humbucking pickups. They are modeled after the 30th Anniversary 85/15 pickups that Paul Reed Smith originally designed. The pickups are wired to a three-way pickup selector, and one master volume knob. There is a push-pull tone knob to split the humbuckers.
The Standard 24 comes with standard-sized 500k potentiometers and a 0.022uf capacitor giving the humbuckers the sonic emphasis they need.
This model has an average weight of around 7 lbs. Which makes it about 2 pounds lighter than the USA-made Custom 24s. The body and neck are covered in gloss poly finishes which makes it easy to maintain without compromising the vibrant tonal qualities of the wood.
Sound and Feel
Acoustically, the guitar resonates a balanced tone because of the warm solid all-mahogany body, the bright and snappy maple neck, and the smooth, rich rosewood. Having a set-in construction rather than a bolt-on, this guitar is able to transfer vibrations well along its neck and body. Partnering that with a pair of 85/15 “S” humbuckers and a coil split function and this guitar delivers a wide range of sounds in the sonic spectrum.
Paul Reed Smith and his team are known for using humbuckers in most of their guitars, but the Paul Reed Smith humbuckers have a unique chimey character that makes single-coil users love them. From sparkly single-coils to fat and punchy humbuckers with lots of sustain, the 85/15 “S” pickups do not disappoint in delivering medium to high output, full sounding tones.
Pair this with a nice tube amp, this guitar can equally get you the golden age tones that Fenders and Gibsons are known for.
SE Standard 24 Trans Blue
The modern but classic custom body shape makes this guitar sit equally well on your lap as against your body when standing. With the lower horn scoop and the custom double-cutaway body shape, you’d find it effortless to play on the higher frets. Pair that with the ergonomic contours, this guitar will surely get you playing for extended hours.
Maintenance and Suggested Upgrades
Like ebony, pau ferro, and other unfinished fingerboards, rosewood requires conditioning from time to time. An application of lemon oil at least twice a year will keep the rosewood conditioned all throughout the instrument’s lifetime.
Paul Reed Smith and his team are known for using humbuckers in most of their guitars, but the Paul Reed Smith humbuckers have a unique chimey character that makes single-coil users love them. From sparkly single-coils to fat and punchy humbuckers with lots of sustain, the 85/15 “S” pickups do not disappoint in delivering medium to high output, full sounding tones.
Pair this with a nice tube amp, this guitar can equally get you the golden age tones that Fenders and Gibsons are known for.
SE Standard 24-08 Tobacco Sunburst
PRS S2 Standard 24 Tobacco Sunburst
The modern but classic custom body shape makes this guitar sit equally well on your lap as against your body when standing. With the lower horn scoop and the custom double-cutaway body shape, you’d find it effortless to play on the higher frets. Pair that with the ergonomic contours, this guitar will surely get you playing for extended hours.
This guitar also has a feel that is somewhere between a Gibson and a Fender. With a scale length of 25” (more on scale length here), a wide thin neck shape, and a 10” fingerboard radius, this guitar a sweet spot for every hand size. The guitar also has 24 well-rounded nickel frets which give access to two octaves, something Ibanez super strats are known for.
The gloss finish on the neck may be a turn off for some but after playing for an hour or two, the guitar will feel like an extension of your arm. The gloss finish also contributes to the durability of the guitar making it perfect for the road, or even regular local gigs.
If you feel the need to upgrade on pickups, there are countless brands to choose from. PRS core pickups would be the ideal upgrades to these guitars but Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio, Tonerider, Bare Knuckle Pickups, as well as boutique pickup makers offer humbuckers or humbucker-sized P90s that suit any taste.
