PRS SE Custom 24-08 Review: Is It A Good Choice?

Searching for a guitar that can meet all of your musical needs and be versatile? Look no further than the SE Custom 24-08! PRS has revamped this already amazing guitar. By upgrading the electronics and introducing some stunning new finishes.

But what makes this guitar truly special are the new toggle switches. They give you a whopping 8 different pickup combinations! That means you can create a vast range of tones to suit any style of music you play.

But that’s not all! The Custom 24-08 is the excellent instrument for both beginners and experts because it’s so simple to play. It’s a fantastic guitar and a work of beauty thanks to its lovely finishing.

Features

Let’s take a look at some key features of the SE Custom 24-08.

• Beautiful mahogany body.
• Shallow violin carve top.
• Same great wide thin neck.
• New beautiful finishes.
• PRS TCI “S” pickups.
• 8 Pickup combinations.
• Intuitive control layout.

Who Is This Guitar For?

First, you can’t help but fall in love with the beautiful finishes that are available with this guitar. For anyone who likes beautiful things, this is for you.

The Custom 24-08 is designed for the beginner, student, or intermediate player. Those who are looking for a very versatile and well-made guitar.

The switching options unlock many different sounds. It allows this guitar to do blues, rock, metal and so much more.

It also helps to know that PRS is trusted by some well known player. Mark Tremonti, and even John Mayer, use them regularly. If they trust PRS guitars, then you can too.

Sound Performance

I’m sure you have realized by now that the 08 in the name is there for a reason. This is due to the fact that we now have 8 pickup combinations. This is where this guitar has now become amazingly versatile in tone.

There is so much available here. From split coil to full humbucker and bridge and neck positions, it’s incredible. And each position sounds great! The upgraded pick-ups are well-balanced and lush. There is no muddy low end from the humbuckers and the top end is silk.

The choice of pick-ups has taken the sound of the guitar to a new level. The neck pickup position is great for lead tones. Then with the mini toggle, you’re into single coil mode if you desire. Just some really cool sounds that are bright with some spank.

High-gain tones are awesome, and the bridge pickup in the humbucker setting is perfect. Real tight with an incredible mid-tone bark. The rhythm sounds are right on point. Here again, the mini-toggle coil split is a great feature and provides a wonderful clean tone as well.

Absolutely wonderful sounds out of the new pickup and electronic layout. Especially through the Revv Generator MK3 that I used for the demo. Check out the video below to hear it for yourself.

Construction

PRS has made some changes to this guitar, but the body is not one of them. They kept the mahogany body, knowing full well that it is part of the magic. The way this body resonates with the neck is part of the great playing experience.

The design remains true to the Shallow Violin Carve. Just like the last model with a beautiful maple veneer top. The top is a bit thin, which really is not any different from before, but at this price point, it’s no surprise.

If I had to find an issue with the guitar at all, that would be it, really. And even that is not an issue at all! The guitar still has that great mid-range that I have come to love about it. Plus sustain to die for, thanks to the construction.

The finish on the guitar is still rock solid and really screams quality. It’s very durable and will last a long time.

Body Finishes

The PRS SE Custom 24-08 comes in a few awesome looking colors:

• Eriza Verde.
• Vintage sunburst.
• Faded blue burst (Sweetwater exclusive).

These are some amazing looking finishes that make this guitar seem like it’s worth far more. These are things players were hoping to see. Nice work PRS!

Comfort And Balance

The 24-08 is still just as light and well-balanced as other SE customs. Because the body itself has not changed outside the finishes. You can still expect the same comfort and ergonomics.

This is great news too because this was one of the things I love about the guitar.

Wide Thin Neck

Another nice thing to see make it over to this revision is the neck shape. The Wide-Thin neck is one of the things that players rave about with this guitar, and rightfully so.

The comfort and speed possible from this rigid piece of maple make it easy to do pretty much anything on it. The 24 frets are all still very easy to get to in a fluid kind of way.

Let’s face it, the extra 2 frets are really only a benefit if you can access them, and that is no issue with the 24-08!

Neck Overview

• 24 frets.
• 25″ scale length.
• Wide-Thin neck.
• Fingerboard: rose wood.
• Vintage birds inlays.
• Maple tone wood.

Set Neck

The construction of the guitar still included a set neck for great resonance. Rigidity too. The SE 24-08 is also pretty rock solid when it comes to holding tune. 

While the tuners play a role here, so does the set neck! And the way the guitar projects acoustically still speaks volumes about the construction!

Hardware

Most of the changes on the 24-08 are in the hardware. In fact, the electronic hardware is pretty much completely different. This version has a pickup style called TCI “S” as found in the PRS SE Paul’s guitar. They are a large upgrade for sure!

The clarity and tighter low end that these pick-ups have in all modes are quite surprising. Players who have used them have pretty much agreed that they are very good.

The 24-08 also has a couple of new mini toggle switches and a 3-way like Paul’s guitar. These switches allow you to run the 8 pickup combinations and are intuitively laid out. The push-pull on the last revision was not well received by most players.

The addition of the new switching scheme makes this feel like a better instrument. And it works really well. Simply use the 3 way you would any other guitar, but coil tap with the mini switches should you desire.

TCI “S” Pick-Ups

The TCI stands for Tuned Capacitance and Inductance. These pick-ups are well-balanced and are being added to most of the core PRS guitars. According to Paul himself, these are some of the best pick-ups they have made to date. They have a resistance of 11K.

These pick-ups have landed in US made PRS guitars. To see them in the SE 24-08 is great value for sure.

Hardware Details

• 500K Alpha potentiometers.
• .022uF capacitor.
• Custom PRS tremolo system.
• PRS tuners.
• Synthetic guitar nut.

Playability

The PRS Custom 24-08 is a total breeze to play! The Wide-Thin neck is one of the features that contribute to its simplicity. In your hands, this profile feels wonderfully comfortable. You’ll discover that you can easily and quickly move around the neck.

And thanks to the guitar’s set neck, it resonates wonderfully! Providing a touch sensitivity that’s truly inspiring. This translates to an overall play experience that’s hard to beat.

And if you’re worried about having to press down too hard on the strings, don’t be! The PRS Custom 24-08 has fantastic action. This makes it exceedingly simple to press the strings. You won’t have to be concerned about a sluggish experience.

Cost and Value

This guitar is loaded with value! Priced at $949.00, it’s very hard to top this guitar when it comes to sound and even aesthetics. It’s one of my favorite guitars and is capable of so much, as you have now learned.

And because it’s a PRS, it will hold its market value for years to come. This way, you can be confident that your investment was a good one!

Final Thoughts

I have enjoyed the SE Custom 24 for a while now, with the pick-ups and push-pull knob for coil tap. But this new revision takes the guitar and experience to another level.

It’s great to see that PRS continues to listen to its fans. They are always striving to provide more from their instruments. This is one stellar guitar and I can’t recommend it enough!

And for the money, it just cannot be beat. If you are a fan of PRS guitars, this one may knock your socks off.

Notable Alternative To Consider

The SE Custom 24-08 is a newer version of an already well known guitar. You might consider if this one is a bit too versatile.

PRS SE Custom 24

The PRS SE Custom 24 original design has a great tone and sound that is slightly different from the 08. It plays fabulous and performs well, but doesn’t have the same switching options. Which many people might appreciate if you are looking for only a few different sounds.

FAQs

Is the PRS SE Custom 24-08 good for metal?

The SE Custom 24-08 is a great guitar for metal. This guitar is so versatile that it can also do blues and Jazz too. The switches provide so many pickup configurations that you can pretty much play all music styles!

What does SE stand for in PRS?

The SE stands for Student Edition. This line of guitars are made overseas as a way for beginners and students to get into PRS models. They are very affordable when compared to the PRS guitars made in the USA.