Paul Reed Smith Guitars CE Bolt-On 24

This review is for the PRS CE Bolt-on 24.
It bares a carved maple top, in a immaculate translucent emerald green finish, with a mahogany back finished in black. What a beaut!. An elegant wide-thin rock maple neck, rosewood fretboard, moon inlays (birds are a tad too hippy for me), black painted headstock with phase1 locking tuners. I'm not 100% sure on whether its dragon pup set or bass/treb pup set, I believe it's the bass/treb pup set. 1 volume knob, 1 tone knob, and 5-way pup selector switch. This guitar is dated June 12th 1996, which is my birth date, but different year, funny enough... The salesman had informed that this was handmade in the Maryland plant. I don't know the truth in that information, as I was led to believe that they went assembly line in late 95. So I dunno... regardless this guitar rocks!

This guitar is absolutely amazing, it can do anything. I have a unique style of play, I play ambient rock, metal, progressive, jazz, and rock. My path is> PRS, Boss DD5 Delay, Small Clone Chorus, Small Stone Phaser, Poly Chorus Reissue, Boss TR2 Tremolo, Boss OC2 Octave, Marshall Regenerator set permanently on Step Phase, into a Mesa Boogie RectoVerb 50. I have been playing for 11 years, and this guitar has seen a solid 10 of those years. This guitar has seen it's time gigging, rehearsing, and in studio and has not failed me once. If it's a metal riff session it has my back like a viking with a war axe, if it's a slow jazz jam, I just roll off the tone knob and it will sweep you off your feet. Two things I dislike about the guitar. One, the 5way pup selector function is something I've grown to hate. It pops, and the neck pup is not that desirable of tone to tolerate that pop. Second, and this was noticed after a "professional" setup =( there seems to be a gouge in the low-E string rest on the nut that creates a slight buzz. Guitar wails though... I could never complain about this guitar, nor could I praise it enough.

The guitar was on the floor for 3 months, I had to have it set up for 10s and get it properly adjusted. I disassembled the entire guitar and rebuilt it before the set up, this is something I've gotten very found of doing to guitars I buy. I would like to thank this company on it's craftsmanship, this is one of those "pick of the litter" guitars. Maple top is NOT AAA flamed, not even AA, but in all honestly I could careless. This trans green finish is breath taking, flashy, but not gawdy. With me, it's about comfort, and sound. And this guitar fires on both cylinders.

10 years and still trucking! Everything is superb, bridge pup poles and tuning key screws have developed a slight rust. I swapped out the stock strap buttons for straplocks, solely based on the fact that I don't like gambling with guitars. 90% of the horror stories I've heard, could have been prevented with straplocks. =) I've rehearsed, gigged, recorded, and even friends have requested my guitar when they went to record. It's a beast with a decade under it's belt and I wouldn't be surprised if there's another 20 years left.

This is funny, I actually did a report on Paul Reed Smith Guitars in senior year of high school. It was one of those contact an employer and go through a fake career. Well I wanted to be a luthier at PRS, and they were so helpful... They sent out a fairly personalized letter, with pamphlets on luthier schools across the country, and the coveted PRS Product Catalog.

This is the bench mark on which I compared every guitar to. I had actually won a local promotional contest and the grand prize was a Custom 22, Amber finish, Bird inlays, and sold it after a month or so. It couldn't live up to the CE. I've owned a Gibson SG Standard, in which the A string would snap randomly at the bridge. A Fender Strat Deluxe Plus that just wasn't up to snuff for recording. This guitar does it for me. If it were stolen I would I stop playing guitar, plain and simple.

1998 PRS CE-24. 24 frets, with the HFS and Vintage Bass pickups. Has those original 'winged' tuning keys instead of the new phaseII tuning keys used now, and I have to say I prefer them. Combining them with the awsome PRS tremelo design, and I've never had a tuning problem, even with heavy trem usage. I love the pickup combination. I used to not care so much more the Vintage bass pickup, but now I catch myself usign it a lot more. Maybe it's the amp I'm playing through, but I can actually get a pretty good 60's era sound with them when playing clean.

Great sounds. I can get a pretty wide range of sounds with it. A lot of people say a PRS is somewhat of a mix between a Strat and a Les Paul, and true enough I can get a pretty good sound similar to both of those based on which pickups I'm using. If you want a true strat or les paul sound however, get a real strat and les paul, as your not going to fool anyone if you play a recording and tell them it's the real thing. Live however, it can be a great tool if you can only have one guitar but need a strat or paul sound, of course all along it will have it's own PRS flavour to the tone. In the end, if you play a PRS, take advantage of it, the round smooth tone that a PRS naturally has, as it absolutely shines then when you focus on that, rather than trying to imitate.

Right off the wall this guitar played great. The neck pickup was(still is actually) a little high, and you can actually see where the strings have made contact and small gouges, but that can always be easily remedied. The only adjustment I've ever needed was a slight change to the truss rod for the heavier guage strings I use. The tremelo was set up perfectly(after reading the PRS website, they're set up exactly at the factory to prevent the knife edge from getting damaged if trying to adjust later. Hey, saves me some time at least).

Now for the finish, well, we all know how great the PRS finish. My guitar is not a 10 top, and you'll never find a 10 top CE model, but I have to say I actually find my guitar has the nicest top I've ever seen. I've noticed that a lot recently, that the CE models can often have nicer tops than even the customs....but maybe that's just my own taste. Still, when I got this guitar, I was young, and didn't know the differences between the customs and CE's and standards, and so forth, so I couldn't judge before hand, and right whan I walked in the store I thought this was the best looking one, before I even knew what model it was. Maybe I just got lucky, but no complaints here at all.

Is it a good live guitar? Yes, but with some reservations. I used this for every show before my band split up, and was a great guitar. Still, not something your necassarily going to want to play live a lot, due to not wanting it to get damaged. I'm right now in the process of getting a new band together, and with that am seriously considering buying a replacement for live shows, as I don't want this one to get dinged up anymore.It has a few select dents and scrathes. I've owned it for over 5 years, and it has not been a closet intrument. I've played it almost everyday, and ever show/rehersal, and it was nothing but pefect every time to the point where I never even used another guitar. As such, if you can afford it, this is a great guitar to use live, wonderfull tone, playability, and rather durable. But if you don't have the money, I'd seriously think about if I want to risk something happening to it before taking it to a show.

The strap buttons are great. Unlike my previous guitar, I've never had the guitar come loose from it's strap, and actually never even had to think about it. If you can't get a PRS, at the very least I recomend getting a set of their strap pins.

Only complaint is that the silver/nickle finish on the bridge saddles seem to rub off quickly. The brass is completely exposed where I palm mute. After an email to PRS where I quickly asked about it, they said the finish is very thin and will come off easily. Not sure if I like that. They said it was due to tone. Again, don't know if I agree with it, but not much you can do about it. At least my hand covers that area when playing so it's not noticable to anyone but myself.

Never had to deal with them, except for a few quick email questions. Answered rather quickly, and did have a rather friendly tone to their email as well, which I liked(I hate when compainies give you simple, generic answers which don't sound like a normal person wrote).

Never had to deal with any warrenty issues, or need to get it repaired, so I can't comment on that, so I'll settle for an 8 on this.

Overall, a 10. I know the CE was at one time considered their entry level guitar, before the days of the SE series, but this guitar is worth so much more. In the end, it's a PRS custom that has a bolt on neck instead of set(Oh, and no birds, but that's a small thing which doesn't effect playability or tone). Still, the CE's are actually my favourites somewhat, and if I had the money for any PRS, I would probably buy another CE before a standard or custom(ok, if I had the money, I'd go for the private stock, but either way). I was somewhat lucky. Like I said, I was young when I bought mine, and so I had no idea on the different models and so forth, and while this is usually a bad thing, it ended up great for me. A lot of the cost for this was being paid by my parents as a gift, so cost wasn't an issue, so I basically went in, and just tried out every PRS model they had(except the hollowbody. Cost was an issue with that, as it was about 3 grand more than any other PRS they had). In that time, I must have tried out standards, customs, and a few other ce's, I also tried a swamp ash. In the end, I just I chose this guitar. It felt the best out of all of them, looked the best in my opinion, and just had a certain "buy me" quality to it. In other words, I got the guitar that was best for me. As such, I'd say the CE is a great guitar, far better than most give it credit, and it can easily hold its own when compared to a custom or standard. After 5 years of playing, the guitar just sounds better and better, and the neck, after being worn in over the years, just has the best feel. While I'm looking to buy another guitar to play live, as to not wreck this one, as far as I'm concerned, this is my guitar for life.

PRS ce 24 bolt on neck made in usa in 1996 with the 5 way selector.

This guitar is Okay in my opinion and I only bought it cuz I was looking for more versatility then my les paul studio. After 2 years of owning it and realizing that this guitar is kind of cold and doesnt have its own Really unique personality, I sold it !!! I played a Santana 3 in 2001 and realized that the Santana guitar was Way Better then my Mediocre Ce 24 bolt on guitar :( the thing I hated most about the ce 24 bolt on was that it Only had 2 good settings on the selector switch w/ my Marshall Amp, they were the tele caster single coil sounds and the High treble neck humbucker sounds that had the Clarity and definition of single notes Over the Les Paul but still Didnt have the Balls or Aggresive Punch in the face of the Les Paul !!! Only the prs Santana 3 had some of the Les Pauls Big Bold Attitude w/ an even longer Sustain !!!

The Action and finish were Pretty Nice I Must Confess !!!!

This guitar had good large strap buttons.

Never used them.

THIS IS A VERY COMFORTABLE GUITAR TO HOLD AN PLAY FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME BUT IT JUST DIDNT REALLY DO IT FOR ME AND AFTER 2 YEARS OF OWNING IT I NEEDED A DIVORCE FROM ITS COLD AND UN UNIQUE PERSONALITY. A GIBSON LES PAUL IS HEAVY AND NOT THAT COMFORTABLE TO PLAY FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME BUT AT LEAST IT HAS GOT BALLS AND ITS OWN AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDE !!! ONLY A SANTANA 3 WOULD I CONSIDER PURCHASING FROM PRS CUZ AT LEAST THAT GUITAR HAS A UNIQUE PERSONALITY :)

Ok 24 tasti bolt-on
top AA fiammato la mia e cherry flame veramente molto bella
volume tono push-pull per splittare gli humb selettore 3 posizioni
configurata H-H HFS al bridge Vintage Bass al neck ovviamente passivi.
corpo in mogano,tastiera in palissandro segnatasti in abalone
meccaniche autobloccanti,tasti jumbo radius da 12.
Tutto assemblato e rifinito in maniera superba.....
Ragazzi sta chitarra e un capolavoro.

Boh!!! Suono un po di tutto piano bar serate estive ,quindi cover di ogni genere,e ovvio che mi piace l'hard rock ma a me basta che suono e mi diverto,e naturalmente guadagnare qualche spicciolo eh eh.....
La utilizzo con una testata RoadKing Mesa Boogie con davanti un chorus delay Visual-sound h2o e un Wha bad horsie piu l'immancabile ts9 che ce l'hanno tutti e me lo sono comprato anche io.
Il suono di questa bambina e bellissimo ricco di armoniche pieno e con molto sustain,anche con poco gain si tira fuori un bellissimo lead.I 2 pu splittati hanno un suono tipo emulazione strato che pero non e assolutamente un suono strato e solo un clean abbastanza buono
per arpeggi e strumming...eee va beee chi compra una prs sta cercando un lp sound..se vuoi una strato devi comperare una strato.
La chitarra a grandi linee e quindi abbastanza versatile si puo definire un les paul piu raffinato.
Cmq in definitiva suono bellissimo cazzutissimo solo leggermente impastato sul neck difetto che gli fa perdere un punticino nel cmplesso.

Qui sfioriamo l'inverosimile.................
non gli do 11 perche non c'e ,ma se lo meriterebbe.
La chitarra e un burro i bending vanno su da soli e con molta precisione,le meccaniche tengono bene l'accordatura...ASSOLUTAMENTE PRIVA DI BUZZ pur avendo un'action piuttosto bassa, ogni nota schizza fuori con pulizia assoluta,manico super veloce ,raggiungimento facilissimo dei tasti alti,insomma penso sia la chitarra che si avvicina di piu alla perfezione tra quelle che ho avuto...e ne ho avute parecchie, tra cui custom shop fender,Jackson sl1 usa,2 strato,Jem 7w wh,in generale le chitarre sotto i 2000 euro mi fanno allergia ,quindi se parlo so quello che dico mi puoi credere.
Ah un piccolo neo c'e ,le meccaniche hanno una regolazione poco fine si,e un po fastidiosa da accordare ma per il resto...................

E' costruita in modo ultrasolido
non penso di avere problemi per i prossimi anni a venire.
Questa e una delle mie chitarre definitive l'altra la sto cercando.

E chi li conosce?????

In definitiva suono da piu o meno 15 anni oltre alla chitarra suono il pianoforte,ho avuto parecchie asce come ho gia detto ma questa scherzi a parte e veramente una ascia da guerra, assolutamente consigliata sia per il valore nel tempo che per la qualita eccelsa dello strumento,ovviamente ti deve piacere il lp sound e anche la tastiera un po piu stretta (scala ibrida tra fender e gibson)che alcuni chitarristi possono trovare "strana" al primo impatto.
In definitiva se puoi permettertela comprala!!! male che vada se non ti piace la rivendi subito.

I bought it in 1997, and it was actually made in 1996. It is a 24 frets, maple neck with rosewood fretboard, mahogany body with maple top, in a nice Cherry Sunburst finish. When i bought it, i did not like the original pick ups very much (a vintage bass at neck position and a HFS for the bridge) so i changed them with a pair of Seth Lover. I also changed the pickup selector with a classic 3 - way selector, and also replaced the tone with a push pull potentiomer, for switching pickups to single coil. At the time i was seeking for a more vintage tone, but the truth is that the Seth Lover are a little bit harsh on a bolt on, IMHO. So i decided to go back to the original p/ups. This baby has greatly improved its tone with the years.

I play rock/jazz rock and sometimes i like to explore more hard territories. I use a vintage strat and the CE 24. I plug my guitar into a Marshall 6100 with an old, 20 W greeback equipped, Marshall 4x12 cabinet. I also use a Fender Twin from the 70s. The guitar goes into a Dunlop JH crybaby, a Keeley DS1 ultra, a Voodo Labs Sparkle Drive, some echoes and modulations, and finally into the amp. With this guitar you can easily go from classic 70s rock to modern metal, depending on the touch and on the overdirve/amp you use. And, most imnportant, with the right amp and good hand you can dare to explore Robben Ford-like neighboroughs! The bridge pick up lacks a little high end bite, but, despite its high power, it is not muddy. The neck pickup is a good balance of warmth and high end softness. It does not sound muddy, as someone said in a previous review. Obviously, if you use a marshall stack with the bass control set to 3 o clock, then you have to expect that neck humbucker pickups will suffer in delivering high end tones! Even with an antiquity, it would jsut be the same!

Nothing to say. It is perfect in any detail. I just changed the strings and fitted a .10 set in place of the original .9.
Finish is superb, but probably the paint used could be a little less thick.

when i gig with this guitar, i have nothing to worry about.

I never neede it.

Almost perfect. As most quality products, you can't jsut 'plug and play'. Youo have to found its 'sweet spot'. It has its own personality, you have to deal with it! But once you and this baby become friends, she will do almost anything yo ask her (a dream, isn't it? such a pity it's just a guitar! :-)

This piece of furniture was born in 1995 out of a solid piece of Mahogany, with "no" Maple cap. So it has a semi Les Paul thing going on. The Mahogany gives it a warm dark sound which I really prefer, rather than that of a strat, which has the single coil action happening. I have grown to love the 5 position switch, since it gives a plethora of colors that range from dark and jazzy to Nile Rogers Chic. So, right, Les Paul to Strat, uhg, yeah! The finish is a Blackburst, really different, just like its stablemate, the PRS Blackburst McCarty Archtop II. The neck is Mahogany with an Brazillian Rosewood fretboard. Yeah, that is what they said at Stevensville. It is documented! Maybe a mistake, but I am the winner, since a woodworker said it was Brazillian as well. Ok, enough of this, more to follow.....

As for sound style, I can think of a few things that I would prefer to see, like a coil-splitter on the tone switch. But, the colors, five positions means Jazz, Funk, R&B, Snap crackle pop, and Blues... What more can this one player ask for. The pickups are HFS (bridge) and Vintage Bass (neck) and they are well balanced. I have wondered what the Dragons sound like, but I am not willing to mess up what is already perfect. The colors are rich chocolate cream to screaming sustaining carmel cream! But I feel that any one owning one knows what these baby's will do and those looking to buy should try one for yourself. You will not be dissapointed. BUT, a word to the unwise...try several...having worked in production, no one cow taste the same, only McDonalds and they aren't real...are they?

I bought this from a Guitar Shop in North, Al. If he read's this I want him to know it was one of the better guitars that I have owned, Thanks! The action is flawless, the fit is perfect(for a big man) and the finish...use Meguires car wax to finish and the polish to get out fine scratches. If you do not believe me, call Stevensville! Ever smell any of that so-called ghetahr polish? Smells like the stuff you clean toilets with, ammonia. Do you really want that on your expensive guitar??? I have a 71 Goldtop LP that at the time, Johnson's Floor wax only touched. Guess what? After 34 years, it still looks brand new, has virtually NO surface checking and NO green stuff growing where the underarm warmed and has been used in every season for every reason.

This guitar would win the War on Iraq! That is if a C-130 would transport it! Or was that the Les Paul? Either way they are both solid Mahogany.

The PRS company has always been helpful to me when I have called them. Really nice folks. Now, they have grown, since the last time I had to call them, maybe 5 years ago. You know how grown folks are...

I lucked out, I think it was the pick of the litter!

two octave rosewood bolt on neck, dragon pups (aftermarket), floating trem, 5 way rotary knob, sweet switch, volume and tone, standard PRS body style, non fancy top.

when I first got the guitar I was playing in a metal band, but starting to branch out musically. It covered any sound I wanted it to, although I didn't much care for the clean tone on the neck, muddier than a LP Custom.

I had some problems with the bridge at first, replaced the springs with some fender parts and it was all fine. Factory setup was for nines, that had to change immediately, I use the skinny top heavy bottom strings, 10-54. This string set of course really whacks out a bridge (and sometimes a neck) but the PRS handled it just fine. One of my frets started to pull after about three years. Finish was less than what I expected for a $1,500 guitar. It melted away pretty quickly.

I played this guitar so much it isn't even funny. It was my first "good" guitar. I eventually learned otherwise. The hardware was all good (other than the afforementioned fret) but I had to change the strap buttons to schaller locking buttons right away. I do this with all of my guitars though.
I depended on it, and I played with a few guitars to cover tunings and possible string breakage. This one was tuned to Eb most of its life.

Never used it. I took care of the fret myself.

I've been playing guitar and bass for going on 15 years now, my bass is a handmade 5 string by Sukop. My other guitars include a Custom Shop Fender Strat, a Charvel Model 5, a custom shop Jackson, LP Custom, Guild D-40NT, etc... all in all there are about 20 of them lying around here. The PRS was played through a Laney VH100R head and Peavey 5150 cab (most underrated cab in the world), a Blues Jr, a Twin, and a POD for awhile before I came to my senses.

I bought this guitar with the "PRS is the greatest guitar in the world" blanket pulled over my eyes. The truth is, $1,500 is a LOT of money for a bolt on neck. I realize that now. The stock pickups lacked enough meat for me, the dragons helped but weren't enough either. I wish I would have asked myself what I was thinking back when I bought it.
If stolen or lost I wouldn't care anymore, I sold my PRS quite sometime ago. Perhaps one of you bought it from me on eBay?
The only thing I loved about this guitar was the attention I got from it. I was the "first kid on the block" to have one. The thing I hated was the bolt on neck after about a year (I mean really, can't the "best guitar maker in the USA" make a neck-thru guitar?), the price (way too high) and the fact that eventually everyone else had a PRS

Sadly I didn't compare it with other guitars. I made up my mind on the whole PRS greatness thing before I even entered the store.

I wish I would have gone for the setneck model, or just held out and bought a better guitar with a neck-thru setup (the custom shop jackson became that guitar).

Anything else that I would like to share? Don't buy the hype, actually pay attention to the guitar. PRS aren't the great instruments that the sales people who get high comissions on them say they are. Features wise (especially now that they aren't even handmade anymore) they are no better than your average Fender or Gibson. Do yourself a favour and check out guitars by Heritage, Suhr, Baker, or G&L before you get suckered into a PRS.

At least they hold their resale value pretty nicely. It's really only a slightly better than average guitar. Although the PRSes of the early 90's did seem to be the best mass market guitar you could buy, they're just too expensive for what they are.

'93 CE24 bolt-on. Whale Blue(more of a blue-grey hue to the finish than what is on a new model). Top has more figure than flame, which is kind of unique. For features.....well, if you're here, you know em'.

Absolutely the best sound I've ever heard. Whatever you want, it's all here. I'm plugging straight into a new Marshall MG50DFX as we speak, and this thing is a monster(the amp, too). Lots of high end, but GOOD high end. It has good sustain....it's loud unplugged.

Bought it used, but it still looks really good and it's 10 years old. Action's ok...the frets are small(not worn!) for my tastes. As I said before, it's not a perfect 10 top by any means, but it sure is purty. I can fit a med. guage pick between the neck and body joint....why? I dunno... Age? Probably, knowing their high standards. Besides, it sounds incredible...

Built like a tank....

These kinds of guitars are for your local luthiers people.Got problems with an older model like mine(can't really imagine any), find 'em, and they'll help you.

I've owned 13 guitars(5 currently). If it was stolen, I'd track down the thief and smash him upside the head and proceed to play hellacious blues licks over his bloated, rotting corpse...seriously, It'd be gone and I probably couldn't afford another one. Not the easiest guitar to play, but its tone and durable build make up for everything.

1997 PRS CE 24..Natural finish..flamed maple top..mahogany back..maple neck..rosewood fretboard..Typical PRS 5 way switch, vol, tone, trem. This is a very playable but thin sounding guitar. I find this true with all PRS solidbodies even the McCarty's and
single cuts. PRS makes nice guitars that for the most part are better
hanging on a wall than playing. Very pricey for what you get...someone said they are mass produced guitars at boutique prices
and I have to agree...

trying to do the Les Paul /Strat thing but doesnt do either well.Has its own voice..tends to be thin

First Class..

Very reliable and durable

Sometimes good, sometimes not so good..usualy helpfull..

playing way too long and have bee through most guitars...currently have a PRS Hollowbody (this is their best model), a Gibson Byrdland (main guitar), a 1950 Brodcaster (yep its real and beat to %&$&),
Amp is either a Matchless Chieftan or Bad Cat Cub 15R. got this guitar in a trade and it will be gone quick in a trade

i have a beautuful 1998 opaque white prs ce24 with bird inlays,gold hardware,locking tuners,and the wonderful prs tremolo system.it also features a regular neck carve which has a nice fat feel to it. its not too fat and definately not too thin. its juuuust right!also the guitar has hfs and vintage bass pickups. what a nice tone. this guitar was made for the 1998 summer namm show and has stunning abalone bird inlays. i was lucky enough to find this guitar at a music store in georgia while surfing the net and fortunately for me they had no clue it was made for the namm show so i got a steal of a deal on it. the color has been discontinued on this model and so have the bird inlays and regular neck carve. the body is mahogany and has a nice weight to it so do yourself a favor and get some strap locks.

the sound is definately the best i have heard from any guitar that i have played. i have had just about every make of guitar there is and trust me none have come even close to the sound and beauty of this particular prs. i do play mostly hard rock/metal and like i said it just flat out has killer tone. not only does it have a great metal sound but it is so flexible for any musical style. i really have not found anything to dislike about the sound at this time. it is just so darn versatile. i have had this guitar since september of 2000 and it aint going anywhere either!!!

look i purchased this guitar in mint condition and i had it sent to me from georgia to the eastern shore of maryland which by the way i am only 25 minutes from the prs factory, and let me tell you it was set up beautifully. near flawless finish and the playability is second to none that i have tried and again i have tried almost everything!! the finish is just something i still marvel at every day! i have never seen such shine and beauty. when they paint and finish a guitar at prs they do not play around. by the way just for all of the people that always down the prs guitars made after 95 please play mine and look at it and compare it to the older models and i think you will find out that the guitars made now still stand right up to those from the annapolis shop. trust me i have played older ones and yes they are nice but i have to tell you that my cousin has a 92 whale blue prs and mine blows it out of the water! no comparison. he will even tell you that. anyway i wont go on about that but i wanted to point that out for all of the negative people out there downing the present craftsmanship at prs. all i can say is keep up the good work prs!!!

i firmly believe this guitar will last a long long time. i play out every week now but i also take great care of my instrument by polishing and keeping it in its case is a great help of course. the hardware is gold and is very nice but i do worry about gold tarnishing after time but oh well i guess that is just something that happens with most gold hardware. i did put strap locks on the thing. the buttons do a great job from what i hear but i do not want to take any chances on damaging such a collectible. the white finish should last and last. as i said earlier they do such a great finishing job at prs that you really do not have to worry about that too much.

i have emailed prs guitars and they were very quick and helpful. fortunately i live close to the prs factory and also to a few major prs dealers so i hope if i do have any problems with my guitar in the future they can be resolved relatively easily. i have no warranty since i purchased it used.

overall i have to say this is the best guitar i have played,heard and owned and would love to give it a 10 but nothing is perfect right. i guess i will have to settle for a 9.8 which is damn close!! if it were lost or stolen i would be highly pissed off what can i say. i would love to buy another one but would never be able to find one just like it and couldnt afford another on for quite some time anyway. i have been playing for 16 years now and i highly reccomend a prs guitar if you can afford one. whether you buy an older model prs or newer model i firmly believe most guitarists will be totally satisfied!! thanks for your time............

2001 Model, bolt-on, 24-frets (I love having the extra 2 frets), string-thru body, tone, volume, 5-way rotary switch, PRS high-gain ceramic bridge humbucker & alnico vintage neck humbucker pickups with split coil configurations and no covers, locking tuners, wide-thin neck. PRS floating whammy bridge. Hardware is excellent quality, tuners work great, the plastic nut ALMOST doesn't grab (but it still does a little, especially when using the whammy bar. I use 11-14-18-32-42-52 gauges, and I don't know if the nut grabs lighter gauge strings as much). I love everything except the 5-way rotary switch because it's hard to tell where you are, and not as fast as a slider for live playing (which I don't do, BTW).

I bought it to add a modern, clear, well-balanced, high-gain sound to my arsenal, which it does very well. I mainly play classic rock and funk-style originals, dabble in a multitude of others, and share my guitars with clients who record in more contemporary styles. The pickups are susceptible to electro-magnetic fields (such as computer monitors), so they can be noisy when recording around such equipment. I considered getting a guitar with EMGs (which are less susceptible to interference), and I really liked a Music Man Luke and a Fender Custom Shop strat which had EMGs. But ultimately the PRS pickups were more responsive to nuances in my playing. They don't have the characteristic mid-range bite of Seth Lovers, or the girth of Rio Grandes, nor do they have an authentic single-coil quack. But the guitar has a pleasing, "audiophile" quality of its own. I tried several PRS's of the same and different models in the store, and found that no two sounded alike. Some were muddy, and others were thin sounding by comparison. I wouldn't buy one over the Internet or whatever without playing and listening to it extensively. I use it with a Mesa Triaxis, Mark IV, or a Lexicon Signature 284, and only for recording.

It was set up really well, though when I put on heavier gauge strings I had to reset the floating bridge, action, and neck relief, of course. It's really easy to adjust the PRS neck with it's double-action truss rod. Note that it requires less tweaking than most truss rods and can be damaged easily, too.

It seems to be solidly built.

No experience.

This is an overall great, smooth-playing guitar with clarity (even when distorted), character, and versatility for contemporary rock and other styles. I would certainly consider buying one again if it were lost.

1991 Annapolis made Alder body w/ mildly flamed maple top 1 volume 1 tone 5 way rotary control vintage bass at the neck HFS at the bridge PRS locking tuners wide thin rock maple neck w/ rosewood board and REAL abalone inlays...yea very shiney..

Ive owned 10 guitars...5 Strats, a Les Paul, 2 Hamers, a Cali and an Archtop Custom, an Ibanez Steve Vai original 777LNG and this CE24..This PRS blows them all away. The sound is unique at each pickup setting and will suit any musical style. I using a '69 Fender Silverface Twin Reverb w/ Jensen C12N reissues and I can't believe the tone Im getting out of this guitar. Toss in a Russian Big Muff and a Boss Flanger and Im in Hendrix Heaven.

Absolutely plays like butter..I bought this guitar used so I don't know the out of the factory condition but 11 years later this thing is one of the finest examples of quality workmanship Ive seen... along w/ the Hamers Ive owned of course. This is my first PRS so I don't know anything of the new ones, but Ive heard horror stories of over production and not paying close attention to detail on their production models.

Built like a brick ****house

never had to deal with them

If it was lost or stolen I'd, without any doubts, find another alder body CE24... beautiful tone, or should I say tones and playability...

This is a 1990, Scarlet Red beauty. 24 Frets, USA made. Carved solid maple ( I'd rate this one a definite "7" top- a fair amount of flame is evident), over an alder body. Two humbuckers, maple neck (wide/thin), rosewood board.
Finish is nitro-cellulose, as opposed to the thick polyurathane used now. GO BACK TO THE N-C, PAUL!!!!!!!
Locking tuners, easy to use and very accurate. This has the old small heel, which is superior to the large uncomfortable one now used.

I play rock/pop/blues, and it sounds great . It also sounds great unplugged. Sounds are very versitile, from almost a Les Paul, to almost a Tele/Strat, but with "an all its own" sound as well. Strangely, the rotary pickup dial doesn't give you the option of turning on both picks, full blast , at the same time. Wish I could hear that, it would probably sound very good.

The guitar is a Mercedes-set up great, rock solid, with top grade wood and hardware all around. The finish is deep and clear. I love the unstained maple, in place of body binding. Everything was , and is still, perfect.

Holds up like a tank. Its got a few dings and scratches, but to me, this adds character. A mint instrument has not been played very much, and therefore doesn't get the use that makes the guitar sound better and better over the years. I'll never sell this, (I hope someone younger then me in my family takes up guitar, as I'll only give this away when I'm too feeble to pick it up)
I would gig w/o a backup. However, I do have to have it set up 2-3 times per year, but I don't consider that a problem. When you own a Ferrari, you expect higher then average maintainence costs.

Amazing. Never been contacted by PRS. You'd think they would market to their customer base, but nothing!!!!!
I also feel an instrument as costly as this ($1150.00, in 1990!)should have a lifetime guaranty, but maybe that's a sign of the times. Never contacted them about a repair, all my work is done by Joe Pichkur's, Of Floral Park, NY ( Thanks, Joe)

Playing since 1963. Own a 1979 Guild D-50 NT, 1966 Gibson ES-125TC, the PRS, 1990 Larivee bass( great ,underappreciated instrument), 2000 Danelectro 12 string, 2001 American Series Telecaster (I love it!). Also a POD2/with the floorboard (I'm addicted to it), and a 1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb, with a factory JBL speaker (sounds from heaven are generated within). I would try to replace it, if stolen. I wouldn't try to track the thief down, as their punishment would be a long unhappy life with severly shrunken genitals.
I've just ordered a Heritage 535, with a bunch of options, to be delivered in 4-5 months. Will post a review afterwards.
This review is dedicated to Mike, who inspired me to write it. Thanks, brother.

Features:made on 8.31.01 in Maryland, about 45 minutes away from where I live. It has a bolt on rock maple neck, 24 frets, locking tuners, purple flamed maple top, 1 tone and 1 volume with a rotary pickup selector. Dual uncovered humbuckers, 1 HFS and one vintage. It has a tele style bridge. The neck is wide/thin. I believe the neck scale is around 25". Came with case and tools.I'm giving it an 8 because I don't like trems and this one has one, but I chose it because you have more control than just the PRS stoptail. I like tuno O matics with string through body. The locking tuners were a bit tricky, because I'm a no frills kinda player. I have some buzz on the E string when I replaced it, but that was because I did not have a full understanding of how the locking tuners worked.

This sounds absolutely great. I am used to a toggle switch, and would probably prefer one, but the rotary selector just offers more options. I run it through and 80 watt Marshall with a variety of affects. If I have full gain and all treble up there is some buzz but that is simply unavoidable. You can get just about any sound, from blues to jazz to metal to clean acoustic. It sounds like a Les Paul with out the bass end, but with all the sustain and more.

The action seemed high to me, but I play really low action guitars, usually about 1/32" on all strings at the 12th fret, and of course there would be some(try a lot of) fret buzz with action this low. While the action seemed high, it played wonderfully. It has a better feel than my Les Paul and SG. The finish was a purple flamed maple top. I have always wanted a purple guitar. There are some faint lines runing perpendicular to the flamed top, almost like "stretch marks". I am not picky about tops though, and I think they add more character. The finish has a thick clear coat which really captures the light. Pickups were adjusted perfectly.

It seems solid to me, I have only had it a week. The hardware is somewhat difficult for me to say, because the locking tuners are just something I can't get the hang of. I like winding four or five winds of string around the tuners (normal tuners, non locking) so I will live with it. The finish is nice and thick, the way I like it. Seems very scrath resistand. The strap buttons are big, and I play without strap locks, as opposed to my SG which got strap locks before it was even home. If I was gigging I would carry my SG and Les Paul with me, because if I was in the mood to dance around I could not risk damaging this guitar. Other than the tuners, this gets a 10.

Never dealt with them, but the guitar shop I bought it from said they would send it to PRS if there was a problem. The factory is about 45 minutes away from my house, so what would stop me from driving there myself?

I have been playing five months. I play blues, metal, jazz, classical, and emo. I own a Les Paul, Gibson Gothic SG, and an LTD MC 300. I should have asked how to use the locking tuners...those things are gonna haunt me. If it was stolen I would file police reports, get my insurance, and then find the sucka. I love the look and feel of the guitar, but I am not a fan of trems. I'll learn to live with that. The tones this guitar produces are supurb. I am a Gibson kinda guy, but I feel the company should redesign their models to make them more playable and user friendly. Shaving the neck, making the SG more balanced, etc. I chose it because it was obviously designed with the player in mind, not and answer to Fenders first electrics(for those of you who know Gibson's history, you know what I mean!) I do with the trem was fixed, but I chose the trem over the stop tail because it offered more adjustability.

I have a '91 CE-24, rock maple neck, abalone "moon" (fancy way of saying dot?) inlays, rosewood fretboard, 14-to-1 locking tuners, ash body with a lightly figured maple cap, five-position rotary switch, I'd say medium frets, in a cherry sunburst. It came to me stock, with a Vintage Bass pickup at the neck position and an HFS on the bridge. I'll get to that later. It's American-made (I saw somebody said OF COURSE, which used to be true before the Santana SE, which is Korean, but you're pretty safe in assuming American on any other model) I paid $1,525.00 for it on eBay, in a bidding war with another guy who I can only assume agreed totally with me that this is a damned fine guitar.

I'm more of a rocky-bluesy kinda guy, and I think it really works for that--works for me, anyway. I play through a Line 6 Flextone and a Marshall VS-265. Noisy? I don't think so. Not so's you'd notice. The five-position switch gives you a great variety of sounds, but I completely agree with the reviewer who wants to convert his to a three-position LP-style switch and a push-pull pot for coil splitting. That sounds more user-friendly to me. I thought, althought the HFS pickup sounded beautiful, it was just a little wimpy alongside the Vintage Bass, and I really like my bridge pickup to be as punchy and full as the neck, which means you need more chutzpah. [NOTE: This is only my OPINION] So I bought a Gibson Dirty Fingers pickup, which I've used before and really liked--I think they only made them a couple of years so I had to keep an eyeball peeled till I ran across one--rewired it in the same configuration for coil splitting as the HFS so as not to disturb any other aspect of the CE's wiring scheme, and installed that. I also added chrome covers--because I like the look--to both pickups. The HFS did have as much general output as the VB, but was a little thin when I'd switch back and forth. I like to set things and leave 'em and that is easier for me if I have a good balance to begin with. But it would have still been a highly superior instrument just as it was. That's just me being me, the guy who has to tinker all the time. Other than that I replaced the strap buttons (and kept them in the event I sell the guitar) because I use Schaller straplocks on all my guitars so I can use my trusty old favorite double thick/wide cowhide strap with conchos bought at Heck Music in Ventura, Ca in '78--the only thing I still have from that time--on all the guitars I have. Interchangeability, not dissatisfaction in that case.

Hooey! Flaws? I'd say not. There is literally nothing to bitch about on this guitar. The trem is unbelievably sensitive yet easy to use (for me) and you can thrash and bend and crank on the bar, stays right in tune. The action is just obscenely low, but doesn't fret out when you bend and doesn't feel uncomfortable. I've had Les Pauls that you could get low like that and they'd feel great, but like one of the other reviewers said, the PRS is much lighter--and, I think, has an edge in the looks department. Not that I'm slamming Pauls. I love 'em, think they're beautiful and play great and sound wonderful. I just think I slightly prefer the PRS guitars.

Well, look, I don't beat on my cheap guitars, much less my more valuable ones, so this would last probably three or four of my lifetimes. It's very solid and the craftsmanship is impeccable.

I've never had to deal with them. I wouldn't know Paul Reed Smith from Wally on Leave It To Beaver, but I certainly do appreciate his sense of style and the care his people take in their work.

I've been playing for 32 years. I've owned Gretsches, Gibsons, Guilds, Fenders, Ibanezes, Hamers, Hagstroms, Corts (well, in the name of honesty), Harmonys, Kramers (the great ones with the aluminum necks from the '70s), Deans, Fernandezes, Epiphones and, of course, a nice PRS. I have now a '64 Gibson ES-330TD, the PRS, a '93 American Strat, a 2000 (I think) Hamer Echotone, a '76 Fender P-Bass and an '84 Fender Balboa. The CE-24 is the best-playing guitar I've ever owned and one of the best-sounding, definitely one of the most beautiful.

Made in 1997 in on the eastern shore of MD. 24 frets, maple top, maple neck with rosewood fretboard. Volume, Tone, and 5-way selector knobs. 2 humbucker configuration: HFS in the bridge and Vintage Bass in the neck. Both are passive pickups. The body is mahogany with a maple top. PRS patented tremolo (that works GREAT). PRS tuners. 24 fret neck with a normal neck carve. Case included.

I play alt-metal in my band but i also enjoy to play punk and progressive in my spare time. It works very well. It gets that great hot thick but searing bridge pickup sound. I use it through a fender rocpro 1000 head and 4 x 12 cabinet. The guitar has a wide variety of sounds from full on humbucking in the bridge and neck to single coil in the bridge and neck, and a combination of both thats got a p-90ish sound to it. Very versatile.

The action is pretty normal, but thats how i like it... not to low, not to high. The pickups are adjusted well. Everything was routed fine, all electronics worked as described, and the maple top has a good light flame to it. Mahogony and Maple... a great combination of woods!

the finish is pretty tuff...but its glossy, so small scratches might show up just a little. The hardware seems solid. The finish will NOT wear off for a LONG time, as its really thick. I LOVE the strap buttons cuz theyre like straplocks but you dont have to staple a lock thru your strap to get it to work. I gig with it without a backup.

havent dealt directly with them

Overall a great guitar! It is my only guitar that sounds GREAT when CRANKED! It really shines when plugged into an amp and turned up high. Id highly recommend buying one. I won't leave my contact information for people to ask me questions because the last time when i did, a nutcase guy sent me an email slamming my opinion and telling me i played crap gear and stuff. so yeah.

1998 usa 24 frets solid top volume tone and 5 way selector h/h dragon 2 pickups active electronics maple neck mapke top and mahogany boddy flamed top strat string through boddy locking tuners prs fat-thin neck case gig bag tools

it is a great guitar with great soudn icoulnt be happier with it it isnt noisy and it has a rich deep fat sound and very many varietys of sound

the action is very good the pickups needed slight adjustments yes they were properly bookamtched top no flaws in the guitar

yes yes no yes yes yes

yes very helpful and freidnly 1 year wsarranty

1991 CE 24 Bolt-on
Flame top maple, sort of a honey burst (never saw another like it)
Volume, tone and 5 way pickup selector knobs
Standard PRS pickups
Maple neck w/ locking tuners

This guitar can suit anybodys sound or style. I play everything from country to blues to Ted Nugent style rock. I play it through a Marshall JCM 800 and 1960 4x12 cabinet. I play it straight with no effects just for the tone! I can get anything from a creamy blues, twangy country to a full blown screaming beast sound from this bad boy. It is the the ultimate versatile guitar. I own a few more but seem to only play this one because it will do all and more of what my strats and pauls will do. I can't think of a single "negative" about it.

I bought this one used but in mint condition. I think I paid 900.00 bucks for it which was a steal. There was not a scratch on it and the case was in new condition. I bought it in like 1993. I haven't had to make any adjustments yet. The playability is awesome and the intonation is damn near perfect still. It still looks and performs like brand new.

While I like to jam as hard as anyone I treat this baby with the respect that it deserves so I don't know how durable it really is. It has held up through gigs in bars, outdoor venues and garage jam sessions. Since I don't drink I have never trashed it in a drunken rage! LOL. After I started playing this guitar I quit carrying a backup. Mostly due to being able to cover a wide variety of sounds.

What limited dealings that I have had with PRS (the factory ) has mostly been for information and I got a quick response with all the info that I needed.

I have been playing for about 22 years and have never owned a guitar as good as this one. If it were stolen I would probabaly be in jail for seriously assaulting the perp.

1991 PRS - American made, obviously. 24 frets, solid alder body, nice, charcoal-colored carved maple top - solid as a rock. dual humbucker, Vintage Bass at neck, HFS at bridge, (both passive), volume and tone knobs, pick-up selector is a knob; (like the others, this is my only complaint: I'd prefer a switch). PRS tremolo, PRS locking tuners. Neck is wide/thin, of maple and brazillion rosewood, (great for shredding).

The sound is damned near as good as it gets... it can really howl and growl, or purr or whatever. I play from classical to blues to pop to hard rock to heavy metal. The sound is just right. I have one other guitar with hotter pickups, and the pickups on that guitar are TOO hot... these ones are just right. The Vintage Bass pickup gives a real ballsy bluesy sound... the HFS, as its name implies - is hot, fat, and it really screams: I can easily hit artificial harmonics anywhere on any string with this guitar. And, in case it isn't clear: the alder body combined withthe perfect action and the screaming HFS pickup and the easy-playing neck: all that combined make this guitar the ultimate shredder guitar with the ultimate shredder tone.

It's a 1991 that I got used... so I'm putting 'no opinion' here. However, I do know that new PRS guitars are always set up and right and ready to rock.

Indestructible. 'Nuf said. Why do you think everybody and their dog plays these things these days?

Not quite McInturff, but they'll take real good care of you.

I've been at it for 12 years... I have a McInturff Polaris Pro that's sweet as can be; this PRS is just as sweet if not sweeter. If it were lost, I would definitely replace it. I love MOST: the playability... hot damn, that maple/brazillion rosewood/wide/thin neck is God's gift to guitar necks! I have NEVER even touched, much less owned, an easier playing guitar. Before owning this guitar, I was rather 'ho-hum' about PRS... I didn't like the high/thin frets that many of his guitars sport... these CE's from around 89-91 are perfect, though: the ultimate player/shredder guitars.

Bought new in 1995. Royal blue flamed maple top, with a mahogany body. Maple wide-thin neck with a rosewood fretboard. Three knobs: one volume, one tone and one 5-way pick up selector. Made in USA, locking tuners made in Germany. Two humbucking pick-ups, a vintage bass in the neck position, and a HFS in the bridge. It also has a srting through body tremelo system that is great. I believe the neck scale is 25" but not 100% positive. It has 24 frets that are easily accessable

I p[lay blues, jazz and funk all whiped up into one big stew. This guitar suits all of my needs. I play through a mesa dc-5 head and a 4x10 cab, and a closed back 1x12" celestion equiped cab. I also play through a mesa subway blues. Both of these set ups are great. The 4x10 cab adds a crisp bite to the mix and the 1x12 adds the low end. Over all this guitar is on the bright side, but with the proper amp(s) and settings, you can really get the tone you want. The 5 way selector gives you five great, usable tones. The neck setting is warm and full that is useful for jazz and blues. There are two out-of phase settings, a mid setting that is warm and "fenderish" and a very bright neck pick up. I am having trouble using the neck PU because it really brightens up the sound, but with the proper EQ setting, it can sound great, almost Albert Collins-ish. My favorite is the neck PU with the tone knob rolled to one, combined with sweet tube overdrive. It produces a convincing Santana lead tone.

Guitar was factory set up with 9-42. I use 11-49 and 10-46, so I tweaked the action some, but the set up was flawless. I am having a hard time getting the action perfect, but that is because I suck at it! The pick-ups were adjusted great, but you can adjust them with a small philips-head screwdriver easily. This guitar was flawless when I bought it, and I treat it well, so it is close to pristine still, even though I have gigged with it hard, without a back up for eight years straight.

This guitar is a beast when it comes to durability. It is heavy enough to "feel" but not a back killer. It just feels solid. I am not afraid to play it hard, because it will respond to how hard you play. It is as tough as a strat, if not tougher. Then strap buttons are solid, and the screws are nice and long. I put a strap lock on them, and the guitar is nice and secure on my body.

I e-mailed them once asking about pick-ups, and it took two days for a reply, but that is still good. This guitar is built like they dont want you calling for support! I am confident I wont have to contact them about problems.

Been playing ten years. This is my only guitar. If it were stolen, I would end up in jail because the thief would be dead! But seriously, I would get another. Les Pauls are too expensive, and strats are too run of the mill these days. PRS is what I play.

1994 PRS CE with a bolt-on maple neck, tobacco sunburst flamed maple top, alder body, HFS and Vintage Bass pickups, PRS's locking tuners, 5 way rotary pickup selector, 1 volume, and 1 tone control. My complaint on the features is with the pickup