PRS Custom 24 Core VS Fender American Strat

Unlike a lot of electric guitar comparisons we do, this one is pretty clear. The PRS Custom 24 and Fender American Strat are just about as different as you can get, partly in price, but also in style. The PRS is heavy, thick, and percussive, while the American Strat is bright, bluesy, and not much for power chords.

There's also a big price difference, which doesn't mean the American Strats are bad, but they don't compete with the quality of the Custom 24 Core models.

Make sure you don't get the Custom 24 Core confused with the SE Custom 24.

The SE version is under $1000 in most markets, and not the subject of this comparison.

Make sure you don't get the Custom 24 Core confused with the SE Custom 24.

PRS guitars are also known for their flexibility. They can do what Strats do, but they can also handle much heavier playing styles. You can make the argument that the Custom 24 loses value for being so expensive, and that's somewhat true. But it still gives you enough at that price to get our vote over the Strat.

The PRS is heavy, thick, and percussive, while the American Strat is bright, bluesy, and not much for power chords.

Again, it's very important to keep in mind that this is an issue of style, as much as quality.

If you're into blues and lead, the American Strat is a valid option for you.

But if you want to get into heavier playing styles, perhaps with higher gain levels (distortion), the PRS Custom 24 might be worth the additional cost. We'll get into the details below.

PRS Custom 24 (core) VS Fender American Ultra Strat (pro 2) Comparison Table

This is our standard comparison table that lets you see both guitars side by side. It includes pricing and basic specs. We have a more detailed comparison table below.

Detailed Spec Table for Both Guitars

Most dual humbucker guitars, like the Custom 24, are all Mahogany which is going to be heavier and warmer than the Alder and Maple combination in the Stratocaster. Obviously the pickup system and bridge hardware are also significantly different. Often times the spec sheet doesn't tell the whole story, but in this case the differences are clearly reflected.

Price Comparison

We have some more detailed tables below that let you compare prices for the American Ultra Strat and Custom 24. Notice that this does not include any used versions of either guitar, which are going to fluctuate a lot more. 

Price updated Wed, December 06th, 2023.

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Which one is better for hard rock metal?

The PRS is a much better option for modern styles and new wave metal. With the dual humbucker setup and the Mahogany body, you're going to get a much thicker and heavier tone that can push out a saturated distortion sound. People often pair this guitar with upper-tier solid state amps, or tube amps from brands like Mesa Boogie, Diezel, or Blackstar.

Read more: Best Mesa Boogie amps

What about classic rock?

The Stratocaster has been used a lot more for classic rock, especially by lead guitar pros. Because of this we'd recommend it for more vintage styles, but that doesn't exclude the PRS from being able to handle classic rock as well. The Custom 24 is a very versatile instrument.

Rhythm or lead?

Which one is better for rhythm and which one for lead? We've eluded to this quite a bit but the answer is fairly clear and we'll spell it out.

• The PRS Custom 24: Better for rhythm
• The American Ultra Strat: Better for lead

Which guitar is brighter?

The Stratocaster is going to give you the brighter and more chime-focused tone because of the single coil pickups. The Alder body and Maple neck help promote this sound as well.

PRS Custom 24 Pros and Cons

Here's a list of basic pros and cons for the PRS Custom 24 Core model.

Pros

1. Very versatile
2. Carved top piece of Maple looks fantastic and is a huge quality bump
3. Tone is warm and percussive
4. In-house humbucker sound great
5. Handles high levels of distortion really well

Cons:

1. Very expensive

Fender Stratocaster Ultra

There are plenty of bright spots in the Stratocaster Ultra (and Pro) as well. Here's a list of pros and cons.

Pros

1. Legacy
2. Great for blues and lead styles
3. Comes with Noiseless Fender pickups
4. Neck feels and plays fast
5. More affordable than the Custom 24
6. Several versions to pick from (American Pro, Ultra, Ultra Luxe, etc.)

Cons

1. Not as versatile as the PRS
2. Not great with rhythm and heavier styles
3. Can be a little lackluster with higher gain duties

Conclusion

Remember, there can be some deviation depending on which American Strat you're thinking of buying. Here are the main ones:

• American Pro 2
• American Luxe
• American Ultra Luxe
• American Vintage 2
• American Performer

The specs we listed were pulled from the American Ultra version, but the rest of the American series is going to be similar. 

So you have options there.

Again, try not to think of this comparison as an issue of quality, but as a distinct style difference between the two guitars. For lead, blues, and classic rock exclusively, I think you may actually be happier with the Stratocaster. 

But for distortion, heavier styles, and versatility, the PRS Custom 24 is definitely our top pick.

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