Best 24 Fret Guitar (2024 Update)

So this is my first PRS and I took a gamble on getting an import SE model. Normally I prefer US made Gibsons and have got used to the fit and finish on those. So with that said that should put you into my mindset. So the finish is spectacular no blemishes, runs, or bubbles. So if you’re looking for a wall hangar yes! Now into the playability, the frets are finished and smoothed out perfectly. The fretboard is channel bound and rolled, so it feels really good. The tuners feel like real tuners, meaning not wiggly and they all have consistent turn pressure (not too loose, not too tight) hopefully they’ll stay that way, but since they are to standard PRS specs, easy replacement with an upgraded tuner if need be. The bridge is solid with brass saddles, feels great against the palm with no sharp edges. Wood under transparent finish has a little bit of movement and a nice grain. Electronics leave something to be desired. The push pull tone pot rolls like a skateboard wheel while the volume has a nice resistance with consistent roll. The selector switch is middle of the road, not great, but not “I have to replace this now”. However with electronics easily swappable this is not a negative mark at this price point. So to summarize everything wood that can’t be fixed doesn’t need to be, electronics are going to get you down the road but are candidates for full upgrade. For $699 this is a solid guitar and I have no regrets. It will stay in my rack.Clay

I have owned many many guitars and am a Guitar Tech and Professional Musician by trade. So a well built, reliable, extremely versatile, easy to play guitar is essential! This guitar fits that bill and the some! Outstanding value for an American made guitar! This guitar is what I love: simple, solid build, can play literally everything, is very easy to play and setup, and sounds ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I literally play every genre: Metal, Classic Rock, Country, R&B, Worship, Funk, Blues, Jazz, Pop, etc. This guitar handles all those flawlessly! I love how the pickups are very full, chunky, and warm sounding, but also have the extreme clarity and dynamics that I love. Definitely worth the money for American made! This is my first PRS and it won't be my last.Alex

I've played guitar for 56 years and I have to confess that I'm not the player who hangs on to any guitar forever. I still have my first guitar, but I even sold it as a kid, but got it back later. Early in 2020 I decided to sell all my electric gear to buy the best acoustic I've ever owned, because as this stage in life – that is what I perform with. Toward the end of this summer I was getting close to the last payment on the acoustic and felt a tug to get another electric, but not one that would break the bank. Since 2004 my electric guitars were typically PRS core models (some 10 tops) or Don Grosh custom models (and Grosh guitars will always be my all time favorite). At this time I couldn't afford the Grosh I wanted, and though I could have pulled off a more high end PRS, I knew that I've always felt that the gorgeous flame tops were too flashy for me. The PRS S2 Standard 22 offered the pickup combo I wanted and the coil tap option. I wanted a trem and I wanted a simple finish. On top of that "made in America" was a must. Having enjoyed PRS necks and quality build, the S2 was a good sound choice for a guitar I could pay off in a few months. The pickups can sing, and I can dial in many tone options. I'll admit that I hoped the split coil feature would be bolder, but I'll be using the full humbucker mode 99% of the time. The pickups can rock, do jazz, country-fry your licks and even though others say they won't – I've dialed in some serious metal. Playing around the other day with a new pre-amp, I found myself with that amazing feedback you hear on many Larry Carlton tunes. I also need to mention that the trem and locking tuners wrok great and you won't find this combo on many USA guitars in this price range. Sustain, resonance, comfort, great frets and a ba-zillion other things that make this a wonderful guitar. These compliments come from a player who has owned many guitars now selling for $3500 to $4800 dollars.Jon

This is my second CE and my third PRS. I also own a Custom 22 core model from 2019 and I previously owned a late 90's CE. Upon first inspection I was disappointed by the newer CE changes. The previous CE models were very similar to the core models (IE: Arch top, hardware, electronics) only with a bolt on neck. The new CE model felt like it was lower cost with the slimmer body, SE hardware but still gave you the 85/15 set. However!! once you sit down with one you'll see they were going for a different player experience not a lower production cost. The Slimmer body means less weight. The core models are amazing but kind of uncomfortable to sit down with because of the body weight. The CE melds with your body. It is hands down the most comfortable PRS I have played. Now the sound does change a little between the two because of the lower mass but it is by no means bad. I am a Metal player by trade but when I plugged this into my Mesa Triple Rect. I found myself zoning out on blues riffs for hours. This guitar is a dream to play, buttery mids, tight lows and sweet highs. The neck just melts to your hands without any issues. I will certainly be holding on to this one for many, many, years.J

I bought this because I was in the market for a US guitar and I already had a US Strat. I was thinking about a Gibson Les Paul Classic and then PRS showed up on my radar. I did some research and decided to play both. I have an Epiphone Les Paul so I thought I would prefer the Gibson. I played this guitar first and the Les Paul just didn't feel right after that. I bought this one a couple weeks later. After having it for an extended period (12 hours) I started thinking about selling my Strat and buying a Silver Sky. This guitar just felt so good I didn't want anything else. The neck feel is fantastic. The tone options are amazing The color is sooooooo much more vibrant in person than in pictures It is sitting in the rack in the other room while I type this and I wish I was playing it right now. It was totally worth every penny and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a true quality instrument.Jay P

I've always wanted a PRS and now I have one it was worth the wait. The range of tones, the sensitivity of the controls, the playability are all top notch. Not to mention it looks stunning. Out of the box it was all nicely set up, low action and very very playable. I've switched from the stock 9s to 10s and it sounds perfect. I've never been one for coil taps…all the others I have stay firmly in humbucker territory but there's something about these which really work for me – putting one in coil tap and then switching to the middle position is a tone I've not had on any other guitar and one I shall be using a lot. Top work, PRS…top work…Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This is the first prs I’ve ever owned and I have to say if this is the quality prs puts out for their SE line, I can only imagine how good the core models are! I mostly play heavier stuff (djent, deathcore, death metal, etc.) and with the right eq settings these pickups do just fine. But they really shine with lower gain and crunch scenarios. I love playing jazz or doing some chicken pickin with the multiple sounds you can get out of the wiring setup. Superrrr versatile, very well built for an Indo guitar. My only complaint is the glossy neck, since I mostly play leads. But that can be solved fairly easily. It’s an easy guitar to play and it plays like butter. Stays in good tune even with whammy abuse. No sharp fret ends, fret buzz, high action, bad intonation etc. played great out of the box with a tuning. Now the only thing I would “upgrade” on this guitar are the tuners to locking tuners. Other than that for it’s price point it’s amazing!Sixstringfury

If you are looking for a guitar that can be used on all occasions, if you are undecided and do not know which guitar to choose, if you do not know which way to go, whether a strat, super strat or a Les Paul. Well, here you have the indicated guitar. I did not know what to choose, I tried many guitars, at the guitar center in Lynnwood WA, they were patient with me when I arrived and tried several guitars repeatedly, they are very kind. But in the end I was looking for a guitar that would be useful for everything, I wanted quality, comfort, good sound and versatility. Well I found it, after a long search, I called the call center and Sarah Hance attended me, she is the best salesperson, she is not only a saleswoman, she is the best advisor, she takes the time to explain, she is a professional, she always has a solution at hand, there is simply no better advisor than her, this girl should be given an award for the enormous work she does, Guitar Center should have more people like Sarah; After Sarah helped me, she sent the guitar to my doorstep. the guitar came in good condition, without a single scratch, it shone a lot, I tried it and fell in love with it, it can touch the sky with sweet notes but it can also put pure evil in notes with this guitar, it can do whatever you want, its neck very comfortable, its excellent frets, none sharp, unique details. Do not miss the opportunity to take one of these and I assure you that you will not regret itRicardo

This is a beautiful guitar and if it were 1000$ it would be well worth it. For 2300$ though I would like to have some inlays that don't look like cheap plastic and not have fret buzz. The buzz could be fixed with a set up but for 2300$ I feel like it should come set up. On the back the slots for the cover plates are not routed so they just sit on top. Not a deal breaker but this does make it look a little incomplete. Overall it sounds great minus the fret buzz. I'd say no better than a se model and not worth the extra money unless you just want a bolt on neck. I prefer bolt on or through necks which is why I bought the ce but I plan to return it and either get an ernie ball music man or an American strat.Not satisfied with AMS quality c

I bought this because I was in the market for a US guitar and I already had a US Strat. I was thinking about a Gibson Les Paul Classic and then PRS showed up on my radar. I did some research and decided to play both. I have an Epiphone Les Paul so I thought I would prefer the Gibson. I played this guitar first and the Les Paul just didn't feel right after that. I bought this one a couple weeks later. After having it for an extended period (12 hours) I started thinking about selling my Strat and buying a Silver Sky. This guitar just felt so good I didn't want anything else. The neck feel is fantastic. The tone options are amazing The color is sooooooo much more vibrant in person than in pictures It is sitting in the rack in the other room while I type this and I wish I was playing it right now. It was totally worth every penny and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a true quality instrument.Jay P

This is by far the best guitar I’ve ever owed! The craftsmanship is perfectly flawless! The sounds are amazing! It even comes with a sturdy case. Everything about it is perfect!SMClark

I have used this guitar with my band, live and in rehearsals… Plays fantastically once I set it up to my desired specs (Std D tuning, 10-52 strings, FU Tone brass block), but these PRS stock pickups have no grunt and snarl to them, so I plan to add an SD Black Winter set like in my EC Black Metal FR (dropped C). I have reverted back to using my Kramer Assault Plus which came loaded with the SD Alternative 8 set. Will likely use Custom 24 as primary D guitar again after replacing pickups. For this pickup issue alone, I'm giving it 3 stars, otherwise, it would be 5, as spending over 200 bucks more is a bit off putting after spending over $1100 for this plus a hard shell case for an import.Steve

The PRS is much easier to play than my ancient Strat. I need all the help I can get! It looks gorgeous, but not flashy or garish. PRS does make some pretty vivid guitars if you like turquoise, yellow, green, purple etc but I don't really want that kind of attention. The Custom 24 is superbly made, EXCEPT two of the tuning keys were loose and rattling, and the pickups are MUCH more powerful than the single-coils on the Strat, even in position 4 (two single-coils out of phase). I rate it as great value, but PRS also makes CE and SE models much cheaper. I am rating it against high-end LP's and custom shop Fenders. This is only my second ever electric guitar, so it needs to be good!Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: I just Bought this guitar from zZounds Feb 2020. I ordered it one afternoon it was here early the next afternoon. I took it out of the box, unlocked the nut, tuned the guitar, locked the tuners, fine tuned, and did a 4 hr gig covering multiple styles! It was perfectly set up and ready to go 🙂 The 12 inch radius is exactly what I need. I can’t play 14 or 16 inch radius necks. The more I play it the more I love it! The neck and middle position are strat like and the bridge position Rips! Great clarity in the pickups. The ONLY problem is the fret edges. They don’t roll/file the fret edges so you’ll have to have that done like I am. It’s a machine otherwiseMichael

Dean guitars are excellent. I've owned 2. Anyway, i would like to shred on this one for 6 hours minimum. But seriously, even though the guitar is beautiful and hopefully easily playable, coming with a CASE or not would be a decision breaker.. Thank you.. TomKThomas

Absolutely a great guitar the width of the fretboard and radius is amazing especially paired with the satin finish neck' the A 500 coil pot is amazing and the pickups are on the money. Shouldering and playing the guitar is a charm and it finds you as an instrument verses you having to continually set up and never being satisfied. Easy to upgrade although I don't see why it would be necessary unless you want a coil splitter. The pickups are good enough to get any chime you want with EQ, and peddle adjustment's. Ebony fretboard is very solid' as I just can't say enough about the neck size as it's perfectly on the money' and last but not least,you can leave your old TUNING issues in their cases because your dean will straight up stay in tune' I run d addario 120 9/42's and play for hours and stay in perfect tune. That's hard to find in an budget super strat. You want be disappointed with this guitar' wether your an living room picker or an actively gigging musician this guitar is money well spent.Henry

Plays like Butter! Excellent finish, Excellent Tone! Very versatile with pick up splitting feature. Nothing not to like about this guitar.Paul Suits

My husband had wanted one of these for a long time and I surprised him with this one. He loves everything about it and couldn’t be happier. I don’t play guitar but he said it plays like a dream. I can say that it probably has the best sound of all the guitars he has.B.Farley903

Overall: OK folks, so I've owned this guitar for about 6 weeks now and wanted to wait that long before I reviewed it, for you people that are on the fence on this one, here ya go. Now is this a perfect guitar..no, However I think there is a direct comparison to a LP Studio, ….Is it better that a LP Studio?…Answer… YES it is, it nudges out the studio on pickups and locking tuners..everyone knows that 490 series pickups like on the LP Studio are just bad feed back monsters, while the pickups on the S2 Custom are OK..they are best suited for clean tones, the highs become harsh with boost or gain, I had a set of Seymour duncan JB and 59s installed on my S2 and WOW guys and gals..that's the way to go, sounds amazing now, I also replaced the saddles on the S2..the factory saddles were not bad but the graphtechs I installed also made a huge difference in tonality for the better. Now the fit and finish of my S2 was flawless, I couldn't find a single flaw anywhere on the guitar, the neck and fret work where outstanding, I was able to lower the action to .30 on the 1st string and .40 on the 6th under the 12th fret with no fret buzz after I set the guitar up properly, on that note,… the setup from the factory was horrible, really embarrassing that PRS let this go out of the factory this way, if I didn't know how to set the guitar up properly I probably would have sent it back…it was that bad, really no one should have to do a trust rod adjustment right out of the box…but I was able to get it set up and it plays like butter now, so if you order a S2 and the setup is not good, don't worry ..it can be done with a little patience, now my biggest complaint on this guitar and I knew this before I ordered one and it didn't sway my decision on ordering but still is BS..A GIG BAG…Really!! come on PRS …for $1600 dollars it should have come with a hard shell case…cheap, cheap cheap, there cost for a HSC is probably 30 dollars.. Anyway folks this is a really nice guitar and is quickly becoming one of my favorites after I gave it the ole personal touch with pickups, saddles, and a proper setupRick

I want to start by saying I did not get it from GC. I got it from another site where they had a charcoal option. This is a review on the guitar and not the supplier. They say a good guitar isn't necessary how it looks. I also read a lot about "a PRS sounds somewhere between a Les Paul and a Strat." For some reason people hold these sounds as the "gold standard" for musical guitar tone. Now I don't know about that either. What I can tell you is that what makes this a good guitar is how inspiring it is and how creative it's making me play. I don't know how to describe it- maybe a more experience person can weigh in (I've been playing on and off for a few years) but I seem so much more creative in my playing when I'm jamming with this as compared to my Gibson SG standard or Fender Player. At the end of the day, you want a guitar that not only sounds great (which this absolutely does) but also feels great and inspires you to play out of your norm. It does not have as much rock power when distorted when compared to my SG, so if you're looking for a rock heavy guitar, I don't know if this is for you. But it sounds incredible clean (which is how I mostly play). My Player sounds great clean too, but I love the wider and thicker neck profile it has compared to my strat (I got big gorilla hands so I like a chunkier neck). I've only had this for 2 weeks but it's become my grab guitar.Robbie A

I was looking for an entry level guitar that was priced right and built well. First of all, how can you go wrong with this beautiful style. It is also very light and wont leave you with back pain after a couple hours of riffing. Tuning keys are solid without any dead spots and dont slip. The guitar stays in tune very well with only slight adjustment needed due to temperature changes. Pick up selector is smooth and not notchy. Havent used the whammy bar and have been playing with studio headphones, so sound is subjective, but as someone that has been playing several instruments for 30 years, I like to think I have a good ear. All in all a great purchase decision.oxouk

On paper, a pink strat style guitar with humbuckers would be the last guitar I'd want to play. However seeing this Charvel Pro-Mod Dk24 on the wall in it's sort of darker pink (burgundy mist) just caught my eye so I played it. I knew I found a real player's guitar. The color grew on me even more and the functionality was great. Humbuckers you can run as single coils with the 5 way switch is very practical. I didn't want to put it down. Super strats have always been very versatile but I've never dreamed of buying one just because I always found the styling to be extreme. However the color is kind of soothing. The neck didn't leave much of an impression but I think that there's something nice about not having to think about the neck. If it works and I don't have to think about it, so be it. Played rock through a little orange amp well yet it also sounded beautiful with a lush clean sound through a Fender Princeton. I think super strat type guitars are starting to come around to the market. Between the Silver Sky the PRS Fiore I think the more mellow color/designs with the versatility they've always had are making super strats more desirable to new guitarists. This one's a great one.G

On paper, a pink strat style guitar with humbuckers would be the last guitar I'd want to play. However seeing this Charvel Pro-Mod Dk24 on the wall in it's sort of darker pink (burgundy mist) just caught my eye so I played it. I knew I found a real player's guitar. The color grew on me even more and the functionality was great. Humbuckers you can run as single coils with the 5 way switch is very practical. I didn't want to put it down. Super strats have always been very versatile but I've never dreamed of buying one just because I always found the styling to be extreme. However the color is kind of soothing. The neck didn't leave much of an impression but I think that there's something nice about not having to think about the neck. If it works and I don't have to think about it, so be it. Played rock through a little orange amp well yet it also sounded beautiful with a lush clean sound through a Fender Princeton. I think super strat type guitars are starting to come around to the market. Between the Silver Sky the PRS Fiore I think the more mellow color/designs with the versatility they've always had are making super strats more desirable to new guitarists. This one's a great one.G

This is my second fiddle purchase from AMS in less than a year. And let me say they don't disapoint. This PRS SE Custom 24 is one nice guitar. I have wanted a PRS for many years but didn't want to spend core money. After reading many reviews and watching the factory tour in Indonesia I was sold. The quality of this guitar is on point with a MIM guitar I bought last year. As to quality I am very impressed. The tone and clarity are ery nice. Not quite the same as the US made but very close. The only thing I did change per some of the other reviews were the tuners. I also highly recommend the PRS ones AMS sells. Literally drop in replacements. I do plan on upgrading the trem to some brass parts like the American made model. But all very simple upgrades bring this so called poor man's PRS that is already way above average to better. Oh yeah I also ordered the lampshade knobs. Very nice design as well.Oger

Having played just strats for many years (I'm a blues guy) I fancied a bit of a change in sound. Watching videos on andertons TV introduced me to PRS (Both the man and the brand). I went for this model as I loved the look. It arrived in one day and has totally reinvigorated my love of playing, the bright high gain sound has made me look at new music styles and sounds, getting me out of a rut of the playing the same artists. This thing doesn't have squeal when you want it to.. my runs sound cleaner as the wide thin neck actually is a better fit for my hand than the strats i own. I've started exploring the trem for the first time too. The core tap is great for my style, giving single coil for SRV type stuff then humbucker for Gary Moore and beyond.. just by pushing the tone control, very versatile instrument. It is very bright, so takes some taming but worth it. My only minor niggle is the tuning is not quite as stable as my strats, which have locking pegs. So I plan on investing in some PRS locking tuners. Overall I love it… sounds and looks amazing. If this is how good the SEs are then the cores must be out of this world. Would I sell the strats – no, but this is a great addition and a much needed push in totally a new direction for me. Another PRS convertee……Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

If you are looking for a guitar that can be used on all occasions, if you are undecided and do not know which guitar to choose, if you do not know which way to go, whether a strat, super strat or a Les Paul. Well, here you have the indicated guitar. I did not know what to choose, I tried many guitars, at the guitar center in Lynnwood WA, they were patient with me when I arrived and tried several guitars repeatedly, they are very kind. But in the end I was looking for a guitar that would be useful for everything, I wanted quality, comfort, good sound and versatility. Well I found it, after a long search, I called the call center and Sarah Hance attended me, she is the best salesperson, she is not only a saleswoman, she is the best advisor, she takes the time to explain, she is a professional, she always has a solution at hand, there is simply no better advisor than her, this girl should be given an award for the enormous work she does, Guitar Center should have more people like Sarah; After Sarah helped me, she sent the guitar to my doorstep. the guitar came in good condition, without a single scratch, it shone a lot, I tried it and fell in love with it, it can touch the sky with sweet notes but it can also put pure evil in notes with this guitar, it can do whatever you want, its neck very comfortable, its excellent frets, none sharp, unique details. Do not miss the opportunity to take one of these and I assure you that you will not regret itRicardo

I have used this guitar with my band, live and in rehearsals… Plays fantastically once I set it up to my desired specs (Std D tuning, 10-52 strings, FU Tone brass block), but these PRS stock pickups have no grunt and snarl to them, so I plan to add an SD Black Winter set like in my EC Black Metal FR (dropped C). I have reverted back to using my Kramer Assault Plus which came loaded with the SD Alternative 8 set. Will likely use Custom 24 as primary D guitar again after replacing pickups. For this pickup issue alone, I'm giving it 3 stars, otherwise, it would be 5, as spending over 200 bucks more is a bit off putting after spending over $1100 for this plus a hard shell case for an import.Steve

From the moment you pull the case from the shipping box, to that incredible moment you set you’re eyes on this thing and pick it up. You experience a whole new level of quality craftsmanship, choice parts and select materials. Small innovative ideas that make you think, “now that's a better way to do that, why didn’t anyone else think of that?” The guitar was set up perfectly, fret work is incredible and is such a joy to play. Not to mention that it’s so beautiful. I’m sure whatever finish you select, it will look incredible. But it’s not just a pretty face. This instruments excels at what it’s suppose to do. Be a tool for your music. Nothing is perfect so here is what I found. And I’m being VERY picky The pickups are fantastic. Quality tones and I’m impressed with the clean tones and split combinations (truly great tones). I’m not as impressed with the drive tones. Purely personal opinion but I find they have too much “bite”. THAT’S ALL! Haha! Seriously! Buy it!Grumpy Guitar Player USA

My husband had wanted one of these for a long time and I surprised him with this one. He loves everything about it and couldn’t be happier. I don’t play guitar but he said it plays like a dream. I can say that it probably has the best sound of all the guitars he has.B.Farley903

I really don't have anything bad to say about this guitar. I own mostly all premium guitars and I wanted a floyd rose guitar..I picked this guitar in the shop and was very impressed. I tried a few other guitars but this guitar was just too excellent for the price. I brought it home and did a set up with 10s because that is what I like. The hardware seemed to be of good quality while working with it to set the guitar up. The pickups are pretty good too, I had a set of Bareknuckle Rebel Yells laying around…but I didn't feel the need to swap them at all. The roasted neck also feels good in the hand, it's chunky, it is NOT a wizard type neck, but it is definitely a great neck that I personally like! Overall this is a great buy! Playability, Stability and Tone….I mean that's what we want.Ernie

I tried this out at guitar center riverdale utah and holy smokes it reminded me of the Korean dean dime guitars! I own two of them so I know what I'm talking about. Tone is warm and the midrange is amazing . The floyd rose stays in tune . I did dive bombs and I had 0 problems . The only thing I noticed was the neck kind of clicked when I dived down on the bar but that's not uncommon. That happens when the nut very slightly moves and can be fixed. The action was fluid amazing. The color is neon . A very very good dean guitar .Kade

This guitar surprised me with the playability. The tone was bright and edgy in a good way for high gain. The pickups bring a lot to the table as well. There were two to choose from in the store and both were great. First off I picked up the guitar because the neck and the neck pickup….looked out of alignment…this made me take it off the rack and play it…I played it for 2 hours in store and another 2 at home….Tuning and setup stability was perfect….so I don't know what that is about….but the Guitar plays great and stays great. Don't know if they will all have this though. All in All I can say to give this guitar a try if you are looking for a Floyd Rose guitar. I'm glad I did.Ernie

2 disclaimers: I got this 5 days ago. I've had an Jackson RR tattoo for years. She's a looker… never thought I'd get a purple guitar but the purple quilt w/ gold hardware and white binding is gorgeous and I love how the reverse headstock has the color and quilting too. It plays fast as F. You'll wanna shred on it. It makes me wanna play Crazy Train, Holy Wars and the like but it may make you wanna play stuff that's way above my skill level and you can! Never had a Floyd Rose before but tuning it up wasn't too bad out the box (and it's super fun!); we'll see what happens when a string snaps. The frets and unlacquered back are smooth so it's easy to do fun slides and bendy things! The sustain is pretty good thanks to the mahogany body and the thru neck and it just feels solid. I've read this is heavy compared to other V's but it's the lightest of my 3 electrics and it feels quality and well balanced – there's no neck dive. I love that it comes installed with Dunlop button strap locks which I've had to purchase & install previously on my other 2 electrics. The pickups sound great with distortion and I haven't/am never going to play this w/o distortion so who cares about clean but I will say comparatively it doesn't sound as good as the EMG's on my EC-1000. There are some QC issues: There's fret buzz on the low E, some purple paint smudges on a small part of the white binding and the blending of the paint in some areas (which you generally never look at) could be better. I didn't have any of these issues on my (similarly priced) LTD EC-1000 and (my much cheaper) Ibanez AR-325 so these are pretty disappointing. Bottom line: I haven't put it down yet. It's fun to play and my other guitars currently feel unloved. If you like metal or you've always wanted a V this shape you should get it. I'm going 4/5 stars for the QC issues which are super disappointing but well reported on Indonesian Jacksons. Let's be honest – this purchase is mostly about speed and style. It sounds great and it delivers both of those in spades.Rishav

Paint job is just ok, but not great. It has a cheap quality to it, but looks good from a little distance. Matte is a hard paint job to be fair, and this is entry level, but still, this is a review. Pickup colors don't match at all. I bought black plastic pickup covers, which made it look a lot better fairly affordably. The plastics of the backplate, the humbucker rings, and the pick guard are super cheap and kinda bent, maybe from heat? Once again, entry level, but still, I've bought guitars at this price point without these kinds of issues. The Jackson version of Floyd Rose seems pretty ok considering. I've never had a Floyd rose that stayed in tune for very long, so this seems to be about right. The pickups sound very aggressive and bright, which was surprising. There is a loose wire that I had to tape down because of it hits the right spot, it cuts off the pickups (maybe a ground wire? Everything works still) The high string is a little too close to the edge of the edge of the neck for my liking, but I think that's just a personal preference. The body and neck seem solid, the neck is left unfinished, which I usually prefer, though this neck is like completely unfinished, so I'll probably need to get some sort of wood treatment for it. The fret inlays are great at this price point (not dots) and the frets don't have any burrs, which is a good thing for your fingers. The outline of the neck in white is also a classy touch, and the headstock is beautiful. Overall, it's an ok guitar. I would maybe get a different finish, and wouldn't expect it to be the greatest guitar ever, but it has a personality to it and is still a Randy Rhodes. Plays fairly well, definitely shredable. Accessing the 24th fret is a little bit of a reach, but that's ok. If I were Jackson (fender), I'd raise the price $20 and put decent plastics on it because it really does cheapen the guitar overall. I'll probably replace those parts myself over time, but I really shouldn't have to.Zachary

This guitar was a surprise. Great playability, the fret finish and rounded edges on the neck are super smooth making are very comfortable neck to hold and play. Fret access all the way to the 24th fret is very impressive. Many 24 fret guitars aren't very accessible and don't play clearly up high. but it's effortless and still feels like you can go further if added more frets. Versatile guitar with a wide array of tones available, from coil tap Stratocaster like tones to the rich deep bark you'd come to expect from a Les Paul. Absolutely love this guitar. Best Paul Reed Smith guitar for the money and craftsmanship available.virtuosodan

This was my first PRS guitar purchase. I purchased it based on the reputation of the company and reviews I found online. I ordered the violin finish. When I received the guitar and laid my eyes on it I was seriously disappointed. The flame maple top was horrible. The upper half had a much less noticeable flame to it and the lower half while partially nicely flamed it was completely missing flame and was bare grain around the switches. I showed it to a couple of friends who own PRS s2 guitars and they were shocked it was allowed to leave the factory like that. The only reason I rated it a 2 star and not 1 was because it only needed a light setup to be playable but even then the sharp fret ends will need some attention. I would not recommend this guitar to a friend, especially with the price tag.Derek

I purchased this S2 Custom 24 from American Music Supply a music dealer in my personal opinion is outstanding to deal with! I have made many purchases from AMS they are fantastic. As a Tele player who was in need of a humbucking guitar, do to a working cover band. I purchased this PRS because I didn't want a bottom line made in China guitar for $699 but felt someplace in the middle would get me something decent. This guitar is WAY over priced for what it is! The neck, for me was extremely uncomfortable, wide thin. The hardware is all made over seas and extremely cheap. I received the guitar, played it for about 30 minutes. The action was high and there was a buzz coming from the bridge. After 40 years of playing I know a poorly made guitar when I put it in my hands. The pick-ups sounded ok but lack clarity. PRS can do better! The color and finish was gorgeous! PRS is great at that. But C'mon Paul, give us something better for $1699! That's a lot of money for some people! I can see these S2's flooding the re-sale market for about $750 in one or two years, just like the MIM Fenders. Which re-sale value just stinks! I had two high end PRS's the P22 for $3600 brand new I sold it for $1600. I had a 10 Top 594 semi Hollow body for $4100 which I sold for $2000. I lost my shirt on those guitar because the market is flooded with PRS's that wont sell. I was lucky enough to send this one back and NOT have to re-sell it. Thank-God! At $1699 buy a used core PRS model or a USA Fender its still the best bang for your buck. Or a Studio USA Gibson Les Paul. I believe PRS makes great guitars and now they are trying to get a little above the K-Mart guitar market. It needs better pickups and better hardware. Oh…the locking tuners were good! Good-LuckLiving Proof

I bought this guitar because I wanted a new toy and because of the price – I figured I didn't have much to lose. I have three other guitars, two of them Jackson, that I play frequently, and I always wanted a guitar of this style. The natural finish is attractive and unusual. I like that. The pickups are ok, but the electronics leave a lot to be desired. The fingerboard craftsmanship is lacking attention, at least on the one I received. There are unfinished areas and one of the inlays is missing a small section. I don't know what strings they send over to China to put on this thing, but they are complete garbage. Putting some new strings on improved things a lot. This also suffers from some fret buzz. The guitar comes setup pretty well. The intonation seems to be spot on and the truss rod is adjusted properly. Action is set surprisingly well, considering the price of the guitar. However, as I mentioned above, this results in some fret buzz. I'll work with that a bit later. The neck has the same feel and playability as my higher-end Jacksons, so that's a plus. Overall, I don't think you could go wrong with this in the low price range. I'd recommend inspecting the guitar closely upon receipt to double check quality control. I wouldn't recommend this as a first guitar, unless an experienced guitarist is available to inspect. It's also not a guitar that's easy to sit and play, which is something to consider. If you get a good one and it's setup properly, this is an excellent guitar for ripping out some metal riffs or just having fun. Just don't take it too seriously.Matt

I received my guitar about three days ago, and overall I am very happy with my purchase. The guitar looks awesome – I love the wood finish with gold hardware, and have received many compliments on the instrument's overall appearance. It is incredibly light, weighing in at just about 7 pounds, making it the lightest guitar I have ever owned. I love the feel of Jackson necks, and this guitar is no exception. It has a fast action that makes speedy riffs a breeze to play. Access to the higher portion of the fret board is incredible, thanks to the V body shape. This is my first Flying V guitar, and I will definitely need to get used to handling the unique body shape as I play. Now for a couple cons that made me drop my rating from 5 to 4 stars: this guitar is top heavy. I have never owned a top-heavy guitar before, and it is super inconvenient to play standing up. You have to put in a constant effort to keep the guitar level as you play. I personally like to play with my guitar at a 45-degree upwards angle, which is much more difficult to do on this guitar then on any of my other well-balanced instruments. While the natural wood body looks awesome, it feels as if it would be easy to damage. But as long as you're careful you shouldn't run into any issues. I ordered this guitar online, and was not happy with the experience Guitar Center delivered. It said that the instrument was in stock and ready to ship, but after three days I still hadn't received a shipping confirmation in my email. I reached out to customer support and found out that the guitar was actually not in stock and I would have to wait three additional weeks before my guitar would ship. That was a bummer. All in all I would recommend this guitar, and am happy I added it to my collection!Darin

My fiance purchased this guitar for me as a early Christmas gift around october 2019. After the usual string change adjustments and tuning it sounded great and played great. Only real issue is neck dive but with this body shape you expect it and can be corrected by moving the strap button placement to the back plate or near by depending on your choice i left it and rest the top horn inside my leg like you see dimebag with his ml and many others with the v shape and non traditional shapes like the warriors king Vs and so on. I personally love the Rhoads shape and the natural finish. Other than some minor changes and upgrades knobs Tusq Nut Locking tuners and a Seymour Duncan bridge pickup upgrade and a good setup this guitar is my daily player out of the 6 i own its become my favorite im looking to buy another honestlychuck thomas

Overall: I read some of these negative reviews and can't understand what they're talking about. This guitar is probably the best guitar for $200 I ever played , right out of the box it was setup perfectly. All I did was tune it , I've even got the same strings it came with. Which I normally change whenever I get a new guitar. The tuners are unbelievably tight , this guitar barely goes out of tune even if it has been sitting for weeks. Also I never attached the whammy bar , so I can't speak on that throwing it out of tune. Since I have over a dozen guitars I don't usually play it daily , but when I do it always makes me glad I purchased it. This is a very versatile guitar , I play mostly metal and this thing shreds. But I also play blues and it sounds just as good as my custom strat. I bought an Epiphone SG special in the same price range and let's just say the setup is night and day , the tuners absolutely sucked , "already replaced them" and the intonation was off. It was a mess , I've already put it on Craig's list and bought a G400 Pro instead , 10x better quality and setup , but I digress. I've got many high priced guitars but always go back to the GRX , the playability and neck feels so comfortable to play. The only thing I'm going to do eventually is throw in a Seymour Duncan humbucker and I'm definitely keeping this guitar. I don't know how Ibanez can sell this for $200 and keep the quality , but I'm certainly not going to complain. Whether you're a beginner or experienced this guitar delivers. Definitely will be purchasing another Ibanez down the road.Mike

Sound: Does not have the cleanest sound due to the picks. Putting the right pedals and effects in line and cranking up the distortion makes it an awesome beginner / intermediate metal guitar. Features: For the price the materials feel great. Ease of Use: It sounds great on my Fender Champion 20 or Positive Grid Spark amp. Not the cleanest tone but a great metal sound and extremely easy to play. Quality: It feels made well, especially in the $200 range. I feel like this is one I'll have for years and once I get better definitely see this is a good platform for future mods. Value: This guitar is excellent value and at this price an amazing guitar. Manufacturer Support: I have not dealt with Ibanez. The Wow Factor: I must admit the aesthetic. It's extremely hard to find good looking purple color-based guitars. If I could dream up what I want a guitar to look like this is it. It helps that its quality is awesome. Overall: I love this guitar. Purple is my favorite color and a hard one to find good guitars in. It looks great. It feels great and I have yet to find any significant issues with it. No problems with the frets or fret buzz. Action is easy and low. It sounds great with my Positive Grid Spark amp. The pickups sound great. The HSH setup is very versatile. Not the greatest with clean tones like my Stratocaster, but amazing with the right effects.Josh