Updated by Bobby
Updated on June 2nd, 2023
Updated links to both the Standard and Custom SEs. Also made some fixes to the live pricing section.
PRS SE Custom 24 VS Standard 24 (Comparison)
Our pick: The PRS SE Standard 24
Despite a significant difference in price, there is very little that distinguishes the PRS SE Custom 24 and the SE Standard 24. Outside of top material and body carving which - to be fair - can make a difference in price, the two guitars are essentially the same.
To the naked eye, there isn't much to distinguish between the PRS Custom 24 and the PRS Standard 24. In this article, we're putting the two guitars side by side, lining up their specs sheet, and highlighting exactly where they differ. This isn't as much an issue of which one is better, because they're both great guitars and quite similar.
However, it will give you an idea of where one might be cutting costs, or which features are more prominent.
This will help you out a lot, if you're trying to decide between the two.
For those interested in just the Custom, you can checkout our SE Custom 24 review here.
Is there a quality difference?
In short, yes.
Of the two guitars, the Custom 24 SE is a far nicer option and higher-quality option, which shows clearly in the pricing difference.
In most cases, it's roughly a $200-$300 difference, if you're comparing new pricing for each guitar:
- PRS Custom 24 SE: $800-$900
- PRS Standard 24 SE: $600-$700
You might also notice the PRS Custom 24 SE "Anniversary" edition which is even more expensive. We're not considering that particular model in this comparison.
Note that pricing is subject to change and can do so quickly. Please check the live pricing tables below for accurate and updated numbers.
Biggest Feature Differences
With this price difference, is it worth it to make the jump in price to get the Custom SE as opposed to the Standard SE? For those wanting a quicker answer, here are the three features where quality differs most between the two guitars:
- Top material/construction
- Body carving and design
- Nut material used
- Included strings
Compare to Similar Electric Guitars
In this section, we've put links to the PRS SE Custom 24, the Standard, and a couple other guitars at a similar price point. Some of them we've reviewed individually, and some we haven't, but you can access the product pages - which help support Guitar Chalk at no extra cost to you - to get a feel for similar options and/or the two guitars we're comparing in this article.
Guitar | Name | RATe | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRS SE Standard 24 | n/a | |
 | Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s | 86.6 | |
 | Fender Player Stratocaster | n/a | |
 | PRS SE Custom 24 | 89.8 |
Compare More Guitars
If you want to add more electric guitars to the comparison bar at the bottom of this page, you can search for them and add them here. We don't have everything, yet, but we have a lot.
To support this site, we link to retailers we use and trust, like Sweetwater. If you click through our orange buttons and make a purchase, we might receive a commission at no extra cost to you. We're so grateful for the generous and consistent support from all our readers. Thank you! - Bobby and Danielle
Our disclosure↬
PRS SE Custom 24 Pricing from Major Retailers
Price Alert (Custom 24)
PRS SE Standard 24 Pricing from Major Retailers
Price Alert (Standard 24)
Custom 24 VS Standard 24: The Body
This is the most significant category when it comes to spec-sheet differences between the Custom 24 and the Standard. While the Custom 24's top material is listed as Flamed Maple (a decent offering), the Standard does not list any kind of top material, either on Sweetwater's entry or the actual PRS product page.
I would assume that the top piece is Mahogany, like the rest of the body, but I honestly don't know for sure.
The second difference is the most notable, and perhaps accounts for most of the difference in cost. Carving on the Custom 24 - while not as intricate as that of the mainline PRS models - gives you a nice contour around the edge of the guitar's top. On the Standard 24, there's no carving, in favor of a completely flat top. This might also explain the difference in the top material.
Custom 24 | Standard 24 | |
|---|---|---|
Body Type/Shape | PRS Solidbody | PRS Solidbody |
Body Tonewood Material | Mahogany | Mahogany |
Top Material | Flamed Maple | Not listed |
Finish | Gloss | Gloss Acrylic Urethane |
Carving | Contoured edges | None |
Binding | Cream | Cream |
Now, a logical question to ask:
How much does the difference in body design impact the sound quality of the two guitars? I would argue that the difference isn't tremendously significant, especially given the increase in price going from the Standard to the Custom.
Yes, the Custom 24 is probably a better-constructed instrument, but will you truly hear that when playing in a noticeable way?
Probably not.
The carving on the Custom 24's top gives you a nice contour around the edges.
By contrast, the Standard 24's body has a flat top
In the stock pictures, you'll notice that the lighting makes the Standard 24 look like is has some carving, but other photos (and closer examination) will show a flat top.
Comparing Neck & Fretboard
As we get into the neck and fretboard, these two guitars are nearly identical. Aside from some bronze mixed into the nut material in the Custom 24, there's no difference in fretboard or neck construction. Both are wide and thin neck designs with Rosewood fingerboards and the iconic PRS Bird fret inlays.
Custom 24 | Standard 24 | |
|---|---|---|
Material | Maple | Maple |
Profile | Wide, thin | Pattern wide, thin |
Scale Length | 25" | 25" |
Fingerboard Material | Rosewood | Rosewood |
Fingerboard Radius | 10" | 10" |
Number of Frets | 24 | 24 |
Frets | Medium Jumbo | Medium Jumbo |
Nut Material | Synthetic/Bronze powder blend | Synthetic |
Nut Width | 1.6875" | 1.6875" |
Inlays | PRS Birds | PRS Birds |
However, we did notice that on the Standard 24, the binding around the neck is far more pronounced and a different color than the binding used on the Custom 24. This small but noticeable difference doesn't have a significant impact on the feel or playability of the neck. Since they're both the same radius and the same wide/thin design, they feel and play exactly the same.
Closeup look at the neck (with bird inlays) on the PRS Custom 24 SE model.
Similar shot of the Standard 24 SE model with a notably different binding material around the fretboard.
Hardware and Basic Parts Comparison
Getting into hardware we expected to see a few more differences, but it's a straight draw all the way down the board. Both guitars use the PRS tremolo bridge and the PRS stock tuning machines. It's pretty straightforward for both and not surprising.
Custom 24 | Standard 24 | |
|---|---|---|
Finish Material | Nickel | Nickel |
Bridge/Tailpiece | PRS Molded Tremolo | PRS Molded Tremolo |
Tuning Machines | PRS Stock | PRS Stock |
Pickguard | None | None |
Control Knobs | Black | Black |
Pickups and Controls
Again, I expected to see at least some minor differences here, but the pickups and controls schemes are an exact mirror of one another, right down to the coil-splitting setup. The pickups for both guitars are the PRS 85/15, which aren't bad, but aren't the same thing you typically see on the nicer PRS models (the non-SE versions).
Custom 24 | Standard 24 | |
|---|---|---|
Neck Pickup | PRS 85/15 S Humbucker | PRS 85/15 S Humbucker |
Bridge Pickup | PRS 85/15 S Humbucker | PRS 85/15 S Humbucker |
Controls | 1 x master volume, 1 x master tone (push/pull coil-split), 3-way blade pickup switch | 1 x master volume, 1 x master tone (push/pull coil-split), 3-way blade pickup switch |
The Custom 24 uses the PRS-branded 85/15 humbuckers at both positions.
Same goes for the Standard 24, though you often see it with the "Zebra" version.
To justify the expense of the SE Custom 24, it would be really nice to see some kind of a pickup upgrade, perhaps with the new TCI-tuned "S" pickups that are on the 35th anniversary edition of the SE Custom 24. But with the exact electronic setup on each guitar, we don't expect to see much of a tone quality upgrade in the Custom 24, at least not without some kind of a pickup swap.
Concluding our PRS Comparison
It's not that the SE Custom 24 isn't a fantastic guitar, because it is a great choice for those wanting a reliable electric in the sub-$1000 price range. However, the SE Standard 24 just isn't dramatically different, and can often be had for less than $500. Perhaps it isn't so much an issue of the SE Custom 24 underperforming, but one of the SE Standard 24 overperforming.
You be the judge.
My opinion is that those trying to decide between the two would get more value opting for the SE Standard 24.
Questions about these two Guitars
Do you have questions about either guitars in this comparison?
If so, feel free to drop me a line in the comments section below and, as always, I'll be happy to help out.
See you there.
Related Articles
Written by Bobby on Pickups and Roundups
Written by Bobby on Electrics and Roundups
I have a SE custom 24 and a Standard 24. While I know in my head how similar they are, for some reason they just feel different to me. I really love my custom 24 and the standard is growing on me. (it’s new to me ). I can find a place in my rig for both of them, but if I couldonly keep one it would be the custom for sure!
Yeah sometimes the differences are really subtle. The spec sheet just doesn’t tell the whole story. Thanks for sharing your experience on this!
The main difference is the maple top and binding. You sure are paying a lot extra for the flamed maple top.
And the blue standard looks beautiful in the flesh.
Yep – good call. With the amount of work that goes into PRS tops and carvings, they can always pair that down to cut cost. Both guitars still look great.
Great post!
Apparently, the Custom 24 doesn’t have any biding on neck. I think it’s just the wood (rosewood) without paint, contrasting with the black paint on the neck’s back. Very strange and unjustifiable price when comparing to Standard 24.
The custom definitely has binding…my spalted maple has what looks like red tortoise shell and it’s beautifully done!
Very Helpful review with real description of differences. It has been difficult to find the differences between the two in some other resources. Thanks!
Hi. Is the whammy bar itself interchangeable? I think the black tip looks cheap.
Yeah those can pretty easily be swapped out.
Very useful information between the two prs guitars i have opted for the custom.
Good call, Raymond. Glad you found it helpful.
sorry….thats…..I have worn my Frets out……..not my fetus.? LOL
Thank for doing the comparison. I just bought a 6 month old PRSse24 Standard for $400. I feel like I got a really good price as they are in the stores for $649. I bought it as the overall feel of the neck and frets are really playable. Very similar feel to a 1975 Les Paul Custom I once owned. It played like butter. So does this Standard Model PRSse24. The bindings are really nicely done. I actually like the binding on my Standard better than the custom. So after reading your article….Both models are going to have pretty much the same playability as far as the neck and frets. The sound will be very similar due to the same pickups. If you were to play sitting down for hours on end each day then the Custom model may be the better choice as the contoured body may be more comfortable on your lower arm? I have worn my fetus out on a telecaster and a start after playing them both for 4 to 5 hours a day for 1.5 years. This PRS standard will allow me to Bend an awful lot of notes with out distorting or being dead sounding in the flat spots of my current guitars. Thanks again for the fantastic article you wrote. I appreciate it…….John
Hey, thanks for sharing, John. The $400 is a fantastic deal for that guitar and it sounds like it’s playing well for you. Enjoy it!
Heyi Brother I am From India 🇮🇳
actually m Confused which guitar i choose prs se custom 24 or se standard 24 bcoz both are same both hardware are same like pickups tuning muchine nobes thy all are same so bro can u just tell me which one i Take actually one of ky friend have a prs custom se 24 2016 model its a midnight blue color its really awesome sound so tell me which one i take n both hardware are same and custome is expensive to standard model so pls tell me brother which one i take 🤷
Hey Ravi – of the two, we’d recommend the SE Custom 24.
Bobby, I recently traded for a SE Standard 24. Solid mahogany, no cap, it does have top carving and a contoured back. It has become my do-it-all workhorse very quickly.
I’ve been playing since 1964 and love this guitar!
“Workhorse” is a good descriptor for these. Heard other people use the same terminology. Glad it’s working for you, Richard!
How about 24 vs 22 standard? Besides the obvious number of frets. Do you have a preference? Thanks. Keep up the good work.
I did the Custom 24 VS the Custom 22 here: https://www.guitarchalk.com/prs-custom-24-vs-22/
Not the standard though. Thanks for the kinds words!
How about when you bring the SE Custom 24-08 into the mix? Is that a big enough upgrade to justify the cost?
I would honestly just stick with the SE Custom 24 (non-08) version.
What is the difference with the SE Custom 24 (08) vs. (non 08)?
Thanks
Main difference is the pickups. The 08 models have the TCI-tuned “S” humbuckers.
Also the 408 coil split switching adapted from the older core PRS models.
Good call. Thanks for adding.
Hey Booby I am very happy that I saw this post after countless no. of websites which did not have the guts enough to tell staright forward that its mostly just the looks.
I am getting a 15% discount in my Country on PRSes right now but then the company has newly launched the new se standard 24-08. Should I wait for them to arrive in India as it would take like more couple of months plus the prices will be higher or should I buy a 2021 PRS se standard 24. I mean is TCI-s pickups that big of upgarde or 85/15 S are as good as they are?
Hey Bobby,
What are the different levels of PRS (in order) above the SE model? Any Plans on doing similar articles to this one? I’d love similar deep dives on Epiphone vs Gibson Les Pauls and Fender vs Squire Strats or Telecasters….thanks!
Hey Tyler – the next step up is the S2. Then you get the CEs, McCartys, and Custom 22/24.
I’ve actually done quite a few of these vs posts. Here are some that cover a few of what you mentioned:
– https://www.guitarchalk.com/epiphone-vs-gibson/
– https://www.guitarchalk.com/strat-vs-tele/
– https://www.guitarchalk.com/fender-strat-vs-prs-silver-sky/
I love my PRS SE Standard. Sound is very nice with my Monoprice tube amp or my Blackstar. Perfect beginner setup for me.
Thanks for sharing, Matt. Sounds like a great setup.
Thanks
Sure, Russ. You’re welcome.