PRS SE Standard 24 Review – Introduction
As a guitarist who’s been lucky enough to play many incredible instruments, I recently took the time to dive deep into the PRS SE Standard 24, my personal guitar. Known for its versatility and exceptional quality, the SE Standard 24 promises a top-notch playing experience without reaching into the higher-end price ranges of its American-made counterparts. Here’s my comprehensive take on this fantastic instrument, covering all the ins and outs from my perspective as an owner.
First Impressions
The moment I laid eyes on the PRS SE Standard 24, I was taken by its sleek and elegant design. My guitar sports a Tobacco Sunburst finish that highlights the mahogany body’s natural grain beautifully. The double-cutaway body shape, with its iconic PRS curves, immediately catches your eye and invites you to pick it up.
Holding it for the first time, the guitar feels solid and well-balanced. The build quality is evident in the smooth finish, the perfectly placed controls, and the comfortable contours. The SE Standard 24 gives off an air of sophistication and readiness, looking every bit the part of a guitar that’s meant to be played hard and often.
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Playability
Playability is where the PRS SE Standard 24 truly excels. The neck is made of maple and has a wide-thin profile, which I find to be a perfect fit for my hands. This shape provides an excellent balance between comfort and speed, making it ideal for both rhythm and lead playing.
The fingerboard is rosewood, with 24 frets that are meticulously finished. There are no sharp edges, and each fret is polished to perfection, allowing for smooth slides and bends. The bird inlays are not only a signature PRS aesthetic but also add a touch of class to the overall look.
The action was set up beautifully out of the box, low enough for fast playing but high enough to avoid any fret buzz. The SE Standard 24 feels like an extension of my hands, making long playing sessions a pleasure rather than a chore.
Sound Quality
The PRS SE Standard 24 is equipped with a pair of PRS-designed 85/15 “S” pickups, which are incredibly versatile and deliver a wide range of tones.
Clean Tones
On the clean channel, the SE Standard 24 offers a rich and warm tone. The neck pickup provides smooth, jazzy sounds perfect for clean chord progressions and fingerpicking. It has a full-bodied character that resonates beautifully, adding depth to any clean passage. The bridge pickup, on the other hand, offers a brighter, more articulate clean tone that’s excellent for funk and pop rhythms.
The 3-way pickup selector switch, combined with the push/pull coil-tap feature, allows for an impressive variety of clean tones. Whether you’re after a smooth, mellow sound or a bright, jangly tone, the SE Standard 24 can deliver.
Distorted Tones
When it’s time to crank up the gain, the SE Standard 24 truly shines. The bridge pickup delivers a powerful, punchy distortion with excellent note clarity. It handles high-gain settings with ease, making it perfect for rock and metal riffs. The neck pickup offers a creamy, smooth distortion that’s ideal for soloing. It cuts through the mix beautifully, providing a rich, full tone that’s great for lead lines.
The coil-tap feature adds even more versatility, allowing you to switch between humbucker and single-coil sounds on the fly. This makes the SE Standard 24 a highly adaptable guitar, capable of covering a wide range of genres from blues and jazz to hard rock and metal.
Hardware and Features
The hardware on the PRS SE Standard 24 is reliable and of high quality. The guitar features a PRS-patented molded tremolo bridge, which provides excellent tuning stability and sustain. The tremolo system is smooth and responsive, allowing for expressive vibrato effects without compromising tuning stability.
The tuners are PRS-designed and hold tuning well, even during heavy playing sessions. For those who frequently use the tremolo, the stock tuners perform adequately, though upgrading to locking tuners could provide even greater tuning stability.
The push/pull coil-tap feature on the tone knob is a standout feature, providing additional tonal flexibility. This allows you to switch between humbucker and single-coil sounds, making the SE Standard 24 suitable for a wide range of musical styles.
Build Quality and Durability
The build quality of the PRS SE Standard 24 is exceptional. The mahogany body is solid and well-crafted, providing a resonant foundation for the guitar’s tone. The maple neck is securely attached, and the finish is flawless, with no visible imperfections.
The hardware is robust and feels built to last. The tremolo system, tuners, and electronics are all high-quality components that should withstand the rigors of regular use. The overall construction is solid, making the SE Standard 24 a reliable choice for both studio and stage use.
Ergonomics and Comfort
The PRS SE Standard 24 is designed with player comfort in mind. The body contours fit comfortably against the body, and the guitar’s weight is well-balanced, preventing fatigue during long playing sessions. The wide-thin neck profile and smooth rosewood fingerboard make it easy to navigate the fretboard, providing a comfortable playing experience.
The double-cutaway design provides excellent access to the upper frets, which is essential for lead playing. The guitar balances well when sitting or standing, making it suitable for a variety of playing styles.
Versatility
One of the most remarkable aspects of the PRS SE Standard 24 is its versatility. The combination of the 85/15 “S” pickups, coil-tap feature, and high-quality hardware allows for a wide range of tones, making this guitar suitable for nearly any musical genre. Whether you’re playing clean jazz chords, crunchy rock riffs, or soaring metal solos, the SE Standard 24 can handle it all with ease.
The ability to switch between humbucker and single-coil sounds on the fly adds to the guitar’s adaptability. This makes it an excellent choice for gigging musicians who need a versatile instrument that can cover a variety of styles in one set.
Value for Money
Considering its high-end features and exceptional build quality, the PRS SE Standard 24 offers excellent value for money. It’s priced competitively compared to other guitars in its class, and it delivers performance and versatility that rival more expensive instruments.
For both beginners and intermediate players, the SE Standard 24 represents a solid investment. It’s a guitar that can handle the demands of live performance and studio recording, making it a versatile and reliable addition to any guitarist’s arsenal.
Areas for Improvement
While the PRS SE Standard 24 is an outstanding guitar, there are a few areas where it could be improved. First, upgrading the stock tuners to locking tuners would provide even better tuning stability, especially for players who frequently use the tremolo system.
Secondly, while the pickups deliver excellent tones, players looking for more specific tonal qualities might consider upgrading to higher-end pickups. This could further enhance the guitar’s performance, particularly for more advanced players seeking a specific sound.
Lastly, offering more finish options could cater to a broader audience. While the Tobacco Sunburst finish is stunning, additional color options would allow players to choose a look that best suits their personal style.
Conclusion – PRS SE Standard 24 Review
In conclusion, the PRS SE Standard 24 electric guitar is a remarkable instrument that combines stunning aesthetics, exceptional playability, and versatile sound quality. Its 85/15 “S” pickups and solid construction make it a powerhouse for a variety of musical styles, while its clean tones and comfortable design make it suitable for everything from jazz to metal. The build quality and hardware are top-notch, ensuring durability and reliability.
Despite a few minor areas for improvement, the SE Standard 24 offers excellent value for money. As my personal guitar, it has proven to be a versatile and high-performance instrument that I can rely on for both practice and performance. I highly recommend the PRS SE Standard 24 to anyone seeking a quality electric guitar that can handle a wide range of musical styles.
