Review: PRS SE CE24 Electric Guitar

PRS SE CE 24 – Overview

The PRS SE CE 24 combines elements of PRS’s USA-made CE line (notably the bolt-on neck) with the affordable SE series made in Korea (by World Musical Instruments). It’s a modern take on a classic PRS workhorse — versatile, playable, and elegant without the Custom 24 price tag.

Key Specs

• FeatureDetailsBody Mahogany (back) with Maple top, Flame Maple veneer
• Neck Maple (bolt-on)
• Fingerboard Rosewood, 24 frets
• Scale Length 25"
• Neck Profile Wide Thin
• Pickups PRS 85/15 “S” humbuckers
• Bridge PRS Molded Tremolo
• Tuners PRS-designed
• Controls 1 Volume, 1 Push-Pull Tone (for coil split), 3-way switch
• Finish Multiple gloss finishes (e.g., Black Cherry, Blue Matteo)

Pros

Versatile Tone

The 85/15 "S" pickups provide a modern PRS tone with good clarity and output.

Coil-split offers a surprising single-coil chime, making this guitar suitable for clean funk, blues, alt rock, and metal.

 
Playability

The wide-thin neck is fast and comfortable for most players.

25” scale balances tension and playability (great for bending, great sustain).

Smooth fretwork and well-set nut out of the box.

Bolt-On Design

The bolt-on neck (rare in PRS’s SE line) gives it a snappier, more Fender-like attack with PRS warmth and sustain.

Adds some upper-end sparkle and articulation not typically found in set-neck PRS models.

Value

You're getting high-quality craftsmanship, solid hardware, and great tonewoods at a fraction of the cost of a US-made PRS.

Excellent gigging guitar or serious upgrade for intermediate players.

Cons

Pickups Could Be Better

While the 85/15 "S" pickups are solid, they can sound a bit compressed or sterile compared to their USA counterparts.

Many players upgrade them (e.g., to Seymour Duncans or PRS Core pickups).

Weight

Slightly heavier than some might expect (~8 lbs), depending on the piece of mahogany.

Not extreme, but worth noting if you prefer lightweight guitars.

PRS Molded Trem

Stable and usable, but not as refined as a high-end PRS trem or something like a Gotoh 510.

The pull-up range is limited, and some players feel stiff.

Ordering

I ordered the PRS SE CE24 from Sweetwater.com, along with the Fender Mustang LT25 amplifier (mostly for use with headphones).

• Fender Mustang LT 25 25-watt 1 x 8-inch Combo Amplifier
• PRS SE CE 24 Standard Satin Electric Guitar - Vintage Cherry Satin S/N: CTIG105367
• Pro Co Excellines Instrument Cable - 10 feet

Setup

On receiving the guitar and plugging it into the Fender Mustang LT25 amp, I initially got no sound. Eventually, I diagnosed the issue to the defective Instrument Cable.

After tuning the guitar, I played a few chords, and it sounded clean. The string tension is much lighter than on my Yamaha FG830 acoustic.