Paul Reed Smith Guitars CE 24

Made in the USA but don't know the year. The top is solid Maple quilted in very dark blue. The body I assume is Mahogany and the 24 fret neck is Maple. It has the 5-way PU selector which works pretty well but I intend to change to a 3-way toggle and pull pots for more usefull combinations.
The PU's are labeled Bass and HFS. It has a Fender like vibrato that works as well as any of that type I suppose and a black slippery nut (Delrin?) and locking tuners.
The 25' scale neck is like a nice Strat neck with jumbo frets and a dark stained Rosewood fretboard.
It came with a fairly generic but good quality case. I rate it a 9 because it has all I need but some might need more bells and whistles.

I play Classic Rock, Fusion, Blues, and sometimes Country. It covers all those pretty well. I must say that I don't use my Strat or Gibsons on stage very much since I've gotten this ax the way I like it.
I mostly use custom built amps and T.C. Electronic or Lexicon processors mostly just for reverb and a little delay. I have to say I didn't like the PRS pickups They weren't horrible but they were kind of muddy and dull IMHO. The neck PU is now a Duncan Jazz and the bridge is a Duncan Distortion screwed solidly into the wood ( no little springs and screws ). This ax is now AMAZING. It would now hold its own against anything IMO. I compared it to a new Custom 24 set neck and I'm convinced the bolt neck CE sounds noticably better. I can nail many classic humbucker tones and get very good strat tones.This is a very versatile instrument. My rating is with the Duncan PU's.

I bought it used but after a thorough set up and some fret work it plays as well as anything out there. The finish is excellent overall, no flaws but the rosewood seems a bit more grainy than I would expect for a quality guitar. The Maple top isn't a "10" but it looks nice. The Blue is so dark you really can't see the quilt from more than 10 feet anyway.

This guitar is very solid and made to be played hard. It should hold up like an old Strat. The hardware is nickle plated and seems fine and the finish doesn't seem to be overly delicate. It does have a few chips but what are you gonna do? I don't usually feel a need for a backup when I play. It seems very dependable.

I do all my own work on my guitars so I can't say. Since I bought it used there was obviously no warranty.

I've been playing for 30 years. I own a Strat Ultra, a Les Paul Standard, an ES355, an ES347, an ES330, an Ampeg, a Stienberger, 2 Martins and a few other guitars. Amps; 2 BF Super Reverbs, 1965 Vibroverb, 1965 Vibrolux Reverb, 1965 Showman, 1971 Marshall Superlead, 3 custom built amps and several other odd amps.
If the CE24 was lost or stoled I would be heartbroken and immediately look for another. This guitar just fits me and it does exactly what I want it to do. Other players (even singers) always comment on the great tone. If you wan't a complaint, the tuners don't have a high enough ratio, should be 16:1. It isn't the most beautiful guitar in the world but I like understated anyway. The 5 way selecter is a bit clumsy and limited, and again, I didn't care for the original PU's but that's taste. After my mods I would give it a 10 but in fairness to everyone else who keeps it stock I have to say 9.

1993 ltd edition artist spec ce24.no 11 of 25.alder with quilted maple top.flamed maple neck/Indian rosewood fretboard.Wide/thin profile. 2 zebra coil Dragon humbucker pickups.volume control,tone control,5 way rotary switch.Tone control has pull switch to activate "sweet switch" as found on older PRS guitars.PRS trem & locking tuners.Came with nice plush case,a couple of allen keys for adjustment,small booklet explaining trem,tuners,rotary switch & certificate of authenticity for ltd ed guitar,signed by Mr Reed himself.

This is an amazing rock guitar,bridge p/u has a ceramic magnet which nails those crunchy hard rock sounds.Try your version of Satch Boogie on this.Very even sounding,lots of mids.neck p/u is alnico,quite mellow & very sweet.middle setting has too much middle for me (probably cos I like a fat bridge sound),other 2 settings do decent impressions of a strat.Has its own sounds,not really stratty,not really Les Paul,more like a strat with a pair of humbuckers thrown in.
For me it does'nt do a good blues sound,brigbe p/u sounds so creamy but neck p/u does'nt have the sound.I think it's cos the p/u isn't over the octave spot like a Les Paul(extra two frets),can't get that "albatross" sound.I'm using a Mesa/boogie studio 22 & a Trace Elliot trident so I can't blame my amp.Apart from that this is a very versatile sounding guitar.

No complaints here.arrived perfectly set up,lovely bookmatched top,10 years later almost as good as new,bridge saddles not as shiny as they were,1 small ding in top,but hey,thats my fault.the finish looks great,no sinking into the wood.

as above,guitar now 10 yrs old,still looks almost mint.I've used this guitar on numerous gigs,only problem i've had is the front p/u being a bit microphonic at high volume levels with alot of gain.

never dealt with them.........is that a good thing?

Great rock guitar,wide neck does'nt suit my thumb over top style,but the tone makes up for this.I play mostly blues/rock,other gear Les Paul standard & Schecter custom with p90 p/u through Boogie or Trace Elliot amps,Rat distortion for those feedback frenzies and nothing else.If it were stolen i'd find it hard to replace,possibly not get another cos they are so expensive in UK(but then again what US gear is'nt?)Been playing for 18 years,I think I've grown out of the sound ,I prefer p90 p'u now,more bluesy and nasty.Overall a lovely guitar,maybe does'nt quite suit me anymore.

This is a 1993 CE 24 Maple top (w/alder back), in cherry sunburst finish (top is VERY flamey - almost identical to the guitar on the right on page 57 in "The PRS Guitar Book"). Has HFS and Vintage Bass pickups and 5-way rotary pickup selector (chooses either pickup separately and 3 combinations of split pickups). PRS tremolo, maple neck w/rosewood fingerboard, 24 frets, abalone dot inlays and PRS locking tuners. I don't know if it has the "wide-thin" neck or not, I bought it used and the seller didn't know anything about this guitar.

This guitar sounds like a sports car - it has lots of power and is very responsive to touch. Takes hairpin turns at 90 mph with ease! It has a very full, smooth, classy tone that works great for jazz (clean) or screaming blues (w/overdrive). Can also do Led Zeppelin, Santana, funk - really sounds good for any style of music. The bridge pickup even sounds "rich", not thin. I run my guitars through an old Vox Wah, 80's Electro-Harmonix Hot Tubes (solid state), into an early 70's Fender Deluxe Reverb.

This catagory gets a "1" becasue I bought this guitar from a pawn shop for $175 in need of some major TLC: the tremolo arm was missing as were some pickup height adjustment screws and one string intonation screw, the bridge was about a half inch off the body, and the body was cracked in two places behind the neck. The finish is in great shape (for a ten year old guitar) and the frets are worn but not badly. I ordered a new trem arm and screws from PRS, lowered the bridge and took the guitar to a repair shop to have the cracks glued (turned out the neck heel was also cracked where it went under the neck pickup - got that glued as well). Now it's a perfect "10". Still has battle scars but they just add character.

The previous owner must have been a Pete Townsend wanabe to have cracked the body at the neck joint. But even with a cracked body and neck heel, the guitar was still playable and sounded wonderful. It can really take a beating and keep on singing!

I called the company and ordered replacement parts from them - they were very helpful and the parts arrived very quickly. I wasn't even charged for the set of pickup adjust screws or string intonation screws (only for the trem arm). Very good service.

I've been playing for 35 years and this is the best guitar I've ever played (really!). It looks great, sounds great and feels great (the neck feels like it's part of my hand!). I was not in the market for a new guitar when I found this in a pawn shop two blocks from my house, but I am SO happy that I found it. It's a classic, already perfect, and I will not change anything on this guitar - it's staying stock. If it were lost or stolen I would definitely replace it - but I doubt I'd find another deal like this!

It's got crazy features. It has a 5-way selector. So, it can give you the humbucker sound, strat sound, tele sound, and the sound in between, It's nice. I have a wide/thin neck. I believe I have #7 treble pickups on this guitar, and the bass pickups rule. It came with tremolo, but it's not like I use it. But it's nice. Overall, a crazy guitar. I don't see why people are complaining about it. Probably because they don't even know how to play guitar. I read all these reviews saying it's overpriced. It actually isn't overpriced at all!

This guitar goes great with my musical style which is basically heavy metal, rock, anything that's mean and loud. I use a 100Watt combo amp with a POD 2.0, they go great with my guitar. I tried my guitar w/ a Peavey XXX, it sounded killer on it. I'm buying that soon, so all you PRS owners, check it out w/ ur PRS. I love everything about this guitar, it's got full distortion and it could hit very high bright notes which rules. The only thing is it gets noisy a bit, probably bc I've got .9's on them and I play w/ a very low tuning. It'll go away once I change to my .11's.

The guitar's set-up was great, the action is good. Pickups are adjusted good, my guitar had NO flaws when I bought it brand new a week ago. The wood is great quality, I didn't find ANY flaws in this guitar. It rules, so go buy one soon bc ur missing out. This guitar is hot! Looks extremely good and plays as good as it looks.

This guitar will withstand live playing. But I'm scared to play roughly on it bc I don't want to scratch it. It's soooooo pretty and nice! But I was playing pretty rough yesterday and it stood my beating. No scratches even though I was playing pretty hard. The strap buttons are HUGE, there is no way your strap could slip off or anything. More secure than my Gibson Les Paul's strap button. I wouldn't use this guitar as a backup, bc I'll use it for my main axe. But my 2 main guitars are my Gibson Les Paul and my PRS CE 24.

I haven't dealth with the company so I don't know.

I've been playing for about 3 years. My gears are the following:
-Gibson Les Paul 59' 25/50th Anniverssary
-Fender American Telecaster
-Fender American Vintage 57' Stratocaster
-American (acoustic) Ovation
If someone stole my guitar or if it got lost, I'll buy it again bc i love this guitar. I can't compare this guitar with any of my other guitars bc I love all of them. They all have their own sound.

1998 CE 24, Bolt on Neck, PRS Locking Pegs, Black flame top, I believe its a wide fat neck, Dragon II humbuckers, tremelo bridge, 5-way rotary switch, volume and tone controls. H/H configuration. Came with a PRS HSC. It looks great, but has the same features as just about any guitar

I play alot of different styles, but mainly grunge, metal, and punk. The guitar sounds O.K., and some pretty good versitility, but the sound is not worth the price tag. I play through a boogie 100 watt Nomad 2x12 combo, and when the gain is up the pickups are noisy. The clean sound is very generic, and missing the pristine tone I'm looking for (this might be the amp)

I bought the guitar used from EBAY, and everythings in perfect working order. The action is a little higher than I like it, and I've tried to lower it, but the guitar will then buzz on the first fret. I've had two pros look at it, and nothing can be done about the action, so I make due. The finish is beautiful, and after a couple years looks just like they do brand new in the store.

I've owned it for about a year and beat the hell out of it, and it hasn't quit yet. I would never gig without a back up, because strings break. The finish is fine, and the hardware is holding up.

I've never had to deal with PRS

I've been playing for about 12 years and owned a variety of different guitars. I was hesitant to purchase a PRS because of the price, and am now i regret the purchase. I didn't buy the guitar for it's looks, but that seems to be all i got. Changing the pickups might help, but i haven't done anything about it yet. What i will say to anyone considering buying any PRS is make sure it's what you want, because they cost so damn much, and DO NOT buy one brand new. You can find some pretty good deals out there on a used one. Most people take very good care of these guitars and a used one will be pretty much in the same shape as it would be new. if something was to ever happen to this guitar i would not replace it; knowing what i do now, for about the same price i would have something privately built by a luthier. A PRS is way too much money for a mass produced guitar.

This is a 2002 model with 24 frets, maple top in cherry burst with a maple bolt in neck. It has two humbuckers and a floating trem bridge. I give the features a 10 for three reasons:
1. The electronics have outstanding versatility
2. The bridge design and funcionality is excellent
3. The maple neck with mahogany body gives it tonal versatility

I own a recording studio, and do most of my own session work, which forces me to play rock, country pop, alternative, metal, even rap/rap metal. The sound is this guitars greatest asset. The HFS pickup in the bridge mixed with the vintage bass in the neck allows amazing tonal possibilities. The bridge pickup is hot, thick, and bright on distortion settings, suitable for metal, yet it cleans up well. The "notch" tone positions are the best I've heard in a Hum-Hum configuration. The pickups coil tap extremely well, making it hands down an extremely versatile guitar. This guitar also has incredible sustain, and rich, complex harmonics ring out. It is very responsive to different styles of attack

The setup from the factory was decent, but the neck had to be adjusted right away. It could simply be a change in climate, and perhaps the store should have looked it over better, so it's hard to tell who's at fault. However, if tone was this guitars main feature, then playability takes a close second after it was setup properly. The fretwork was immaculate, with no choking on bends in the higher frets, and no rattling in the lower, just pure notes. The wide/thin neck feels like a dream, and my fingers just seem to float along the frets. Bending is also easy. in fact, this is one of the most "slinky" guitars I have ver played with relation to ease of bends in all areas of the fretboard.
As far as appearances go, PRS seems to be using their lower grade woods for tops, and there is almost no figuring. This apparently is common on the CE series, but I don't mind if they cut costs on cosmetics as long as they have high standards in tone and playability. The look is still pleasant, though. The grain on the back of the neck is flawless and straight, as is the grain of wood on the mahogany back.

This guitar is tough. The tuning is stable, and the construction of the neck/neck pocket is rock solid. The bridge has a great feel in bends and tremolo activity, yet is durable in it's construction.

Never had to deal with them

This last section really gives me an opportunity to speak my mind about this guitar, so here it is:
Don't let anyone fool you into thinking this is just a "budget" PRS, thus not pro grade. I also own a more expensive PRS, and I can tell you that PRS has come across something very unique in the CE series. I have owned almost 40 guitars, and this is the first one to truly be capable of the bluesy warmth of the les pauls, the quacky tones of strats, the vintage overdrive of the SG's, and the blazing rhythms and soaring leads of the high end Jacksons. I have seen many guitars that can do one or two of those, but never all four. Yet in all this, it has a drive and personality all it's own. I think this guitar has become more than it's makers intended, and they have stumbled onto something great.

Has a 3 way toggle rather than the rotary switch that is really nicely positioned. It is really easy to switch PUs quickly. It also has the new locking pegs (With Ernie Balls I have never had a problem with tuning). It is a post 95 model with the PRS "heal from hell" that I have never noticed. Other than that it is stock. I switch over from PRS 9s to Ernie ball 9s as after a week or so on the axe the PRS strings seamed to screw up the intonation, I think this is particular to the strings as it has never happened with the EBs ! Me Im sticking with the EBs, they are cheaper also...cool !

HFS humbuckers...yumm ! I play either through a Pod Pro or a GNX2. Both setups although very different sound superb. I just love the way this axe sounds. Previously I have played a lot of single coil and Humbucker Strats, some better than others and I just love this Axe. It is great for balls out Punk as well as very gentle Blues and will happily do metal with out breaking into a sweat.

I got this beast from a Mom and Pop store in Iowa, I had to tweak the intonation a bit but other than that is was top notch. I have no complaints.

No problems once I switched to Ernie Ball strings. I have had it 6 months now and I imagen it will last a lifetime.

Dont Know, hopefully never will

I love this Axe, I have played some lovely, lovely guitars in the 20 years I have been playing, and this is top of the pile ! It is probably the most expensive guitar I have ever owned, but no more than a LP. I will be very pleasantly surprised if I find a guitar that suites me better ! Im pleased I didn?t get the custom, as far as I can see, you are only paying for cosmetics, me I want playability and tone and this thing is loaded with both. Im very happy with this Axe !

1990 PRS CE24 in scarlet red with flametop. Alder body, maple top with a maple neck and roswood fingerboard. Handmade like all pre 95 PRS guitars and feels a lot more solid than the 95 to current ones. One tone, one volume and a 5 way selector. Tremolo and PRS locking tuners. Two PRS stock humbuckers that sound great. Mine has the wide thin neck with the smaller neck heel and comes with PRS case.

Perfect. I love the different sounds I can get with the 5 way rotary switch. Sweet warm blues tones to hard distortion sounds. This guitar is very versitale and has some decent single coil sounds too. I play through a bunch of boss and ibanez effect pedals which then go into a Mesa Heartbreaker combo amp and this guitar is awesome. I have played some new custom 24's but they don't compare. The finish is nicer but overall sound and playability, the older ce24's are a lot better. If you get a chance to pick one up over a new custom, do it!

I traded a 97 PRS McCarty for this guitar. I can't really comment on how it came set up but I am sure that it was perfect when the original owner got it. Since it is used it has some finish flaws, but those are from previous owners, not PRS.

This guitar is solid. Again, pre 95's are handmade and this guitar feels way more solid than the newer custom PRS guitars. PRS uses quality parts and this guitar is no exception. I have used this with no backup and have had no problems. I try bring a backup, just in case but have never needed it. The PRS locking tuners keep it in tune perfectly and I never break strings on it, but I do use 11-50 gauge strings, so that helps.

I have been playing for about 7 years. I have gone through a ton of guitars and this is the best one I've owned. Better than my Gibson Les Paul, better than my post 95 PRS McCarty. I love everything about this guitar. There is nothing I would change about this guitar except I would love to have the bird inlays. Other than that this guitar is incredible. The weight, feel and sound of this guitar is better than any other solid body guitar, other than another pre 95 PRS.

This is a 91' CE24. alder body with maple neck and rose wood finger board, the neck is thicker then a ibanez wizard ( DUH...) but the feel of the neck simply kills my RG580. The old vintage bass and HFS has been replaced by "Steven Kersting dualtones" which rock btw. the accident prone 5 way switch has been replaced with a 3way with coil tap. the neck single coil mode sounds so much like a real single coil it is scary. the prs trem is incredible the saddles are angled so your hands rest directly on the strings. giving you so much more control over your muting. restringing has never been easier with the tuners. bottom line. screw the mcartys or custom 24s. this has it all for a lower price. ofcourse the pre 95 models are handmade and have a smaller heel.

i am relatively starting out on this instrument with only few years experience and i play anything from rock to blues to neo classical-speed metal to alternative . the clean tone is fantastic . but the lead tone sings with its own voice. might be the custom pickups. but i'd say its the prs's voice. playing thru my line 6 pod2.0 preamp w/ F.B
i must say the bridge pickup sounds abit too bright clean. but compensates by providing me with the crunchiest rythm tone ever. the neck is round and full with singing sustain. roll the gain off a wee bit and you get that elusive shred tone you've been wishing for. bottom line once again. it sounds very very good. but pls pls dun buy a pre 95 ce24 to play linkin park or anything. you'll waste the guitar.

i bought this second hand . previous owner played so little . the finish has only a few dings and scratches that i had trouble spotting myself. bearing in mind this guitar is almost 12 yrs old. the top is averagely flamed looks kinda like flame with the maple wood grains circling behind the flames.. mesmerizing under the sun. i did some re positioning on the pickups my self , but i will send it in for a professional set up when i have the time. a 9 because i wish i bought it earlier

yes, just by holding it. you can tell. guitar is 12 yrs old and i am giving it a 10 . because this guitar will last me another ten yrs at least. strap buttons are a pain for stiff leather straps almost broke my fingers squeezing it into the pathetic hole of the strap. will invest in strap locks soon. yes i will depend on it. though i cant bear to put it thru much torture but it is rock solid and rocks like a beast. probably would gig without a back up but some times you just never know what will happen will you? . minus 1 cus the strap buttons caused me pain.

never dealt with em. but giving them a 1 cus thats what everyone does.

if it were stolen i'd find the dick and kill him. of course that is if he escapes death the moment he steps anywhere near my precious prs.i know for a fact i will never get this deal again. pre 95 . once in a life time. compared to my hand made ibanez rg580 prototype. this is naturally superior but i would play my metal stuff on the rg as it is powered by EMGs.

1989 PRS CE-24. Black w/ maple body stripe binding. 3-way toggle. Back routed vibrato. Wide-thin neck. Guitar was heavily used and came with a few dings and the finish nearly worn off the neck. I took the rest off with steel wool and it is the bitchenest slippery feel one can imagine. The guitar was originally (custom?) ordered by a girl who sold it to a hair band lead guitarist who sold it to me for that unbelievable price. The neck buzzed and we tracked it down to the truss rod vibrating in the channel. My tech removed one half-moon and added a screw to push the truss rod away from the wood.

It sounds rich and deep. With my secret floor processor it screams and swirls. It is incredible. Thru a bright amp like a JC120 or 77 I roll the treble off about 70% coz it gets up there. I was listening to a cut I transferred off our 8-track cassette onto ProTools and I was getting very Kevin Shield-ish banging ala "Soon". The sustain is present on every note and fits my "snakey" early Harvey Mandel lead work.

Well, I got this used. The shalloo that sold it to me actually delivered it in a crappy bag that smelled of cat piss. But he set it up flawlessly (except he didn't understand the neck buzzing, bet he thought he broke the neck) and almost 10 years later I have only gotten out the truss key once to go from 009s to 0095s. Satin smooth neck action, big frets, the fit of fingerboard to neck is flawless which is really important to me (also I won't but anything with binding). Fabulous after the cat piss bag went in the dumpster.

Things are aging and the parts and repair attitudes in most shops is the same you get when you want to get a tune-up on your BMW. A tuner lock down gizmo is broken so I have to buy 6. That would last me 4 lifetimes. And to replace the rubber grommet that holds the vibrato arm--sheesh, they make it sound like they have to fly over a Ferrari mechanic to do it and then of course they don't have the part. Otherwise, I use this as my main axe and to take down fences--I'd call it pretty durable.







bmw

I had one nice conversation with Annapolis about my red '86 #0565. Since then...PRS support is non-existent. They are worthless. They are so concerned with putting giant heels on the neck/body joint and trying to convince the public and dealers why they do it that they don't have time for owners.

I've played since 1964 I think. Own 17 guitars and basses. I chased this one guitar thru two different owners until I nabbed it for $525. Can you believe that? It's my number 1 axe and I would kill anyone trying to screw around with it. As the disposable income grows I'm buying more of the late 80's CE24s coz they are the perfect guitar. I will add some early model EGIIs to the arsenal. I guess the days of realistic prices for any PRS are temporarily over until all the suckers that bought the later models realize they paid 3grand for a $500 guitar and the market floods. I'll be there to catch the 89s and 88s.