PRS CE24
The workhorse PRS.
The CE24 is in a strange spot in the PRS lineup. Price-wise it sits between the Core Custom 24 (£3,500) and the more basic S2 Custom 24 (£1,800). The specs are also a mix of both. Like the S2, the CE24 has the older Phase-2 locking tuners, a 3-piece neck construction, plain white bird inlays, and the knobs and back-plates aren’t recessed in the body. The maple cap on the CE is thinner than that of the Core model, however, it is still a smoothly carved top, as opposed to the sawn-off edges on the S2. What it borrows from the Core guitar are the pickups and the flashy flame maple cap. The PRS 85/15 pickups are very highly regarded by session musicians for their clarity and versatility. Furthermore, these cannot be purchased aftermarket and only come in their high-end guitars.
The CE24 was created to suit the needs of working musicians. PRS cut costs by removing unnecessary features, such as the recessed controls and the one-piece neck. The thinner maple cap and simpler contouring of the body are cheaper to manufacture, but also result in a lighter instrument that is more comfortable to play. While I do prefer the 5-way blade switch on the Custom, the 3-way toggle selector on the CE model allows you to have both pickups together in single coil mode. Again - more options for the working musician. The bridge is another contentious topic. Instead of the machined bridge that’s on the Custom, the CE24 has a moulded bridge (same as the SE range). You can purchase the machined bridge separately from PRS for £310, but other than being less appealing visually, there really is nothing wrong with the stock bridge. The tremolo operates very smoothly and the guitar stays in tune as well as the Core model.
The 85/15 pickups on the CE24 are incredible. Paul claims they have a 99% satisfaction rate with musicians. I don’t know about that, but I can see why they are very popular. They are very clear, reasonably high output pickups. This means that they will cut through a mix very well. This isn’t always what you want in a recording, but, as guitarists, we always went to hear ourselves front and centre, especially when practising at home! If you want to blend in more, there is always the tone knob. The high output lends the 85/15s to have a very good coil-split mode as well. Furthermore, when I put the same strings on and set the same pickup height on the CE and my Core Custom 24 - they sounded identical!
The bolt-on neck is supposed to add some “snap and response”. As I said, it sounds the same as a Core Custom 24 to me. Though, I do like the PRS-branded backplate look. Also makes it safer to transport over long distances, as you can safely remove the neck from the body.
The playability of the CE24 is incredible. The Wide-Thin neck is very easy to play with the action and intonation perfect out of the box. The only thing to watch out for is that the wide neck has more spacing between the strings. It is a very noticeable difference from other guitars, including PRS’s own Pattern-Regular necks. This is particularly great if you have big hands.
The 25” scale length is a bit of a mix between a Strat (25.5”) and a Les Paul (24”). It should feel familiar to all players. Compared to a 25.5” scale length, this reduces the tension a bit, making strings easier to bend while improving tuning stability over a 24” scale. Is this middle ground the best of both worlds? I don’t know. You will need to try it and find out for yourself, but I like it. The body shape is also a mix. You get the double cutaway for easier upper fret access and a belly carve for playing comfort, combined with a figured maple cap.
The figuring and finishes of the maple tops are very flashy. Without close inspection, the CE24 looks just as sophisticated as the Core model, while the S2 line uses noticeably simpler tops. Of course, when you look closer, the joint lines on the neck of the CE, and the cheaper bridge become very apparent.
Bottom Line
The PRS CE24 is a workhorse of a guitar. It sounds, plays and looks great. You will get excellent tuning stability and all the modern conveniences, like locking tuners and the highly coveted 85/15 pickups. PRS made the right compromises with this guitar to get to a certain price point without sacrificing anything important. I do wish they included the machined bridge though, even if it had made the guitar a couple of hundred pounds more expensive.