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The CE-24's are my favorite performing PRS guitar.  While I favor the pre-factory pieces because they are made of Alder, this guitar is not too far removed from the tradition of the original pre-factory CE's.  Wide/Thin neck carve, five-way rotary and all original core electronics and original hard case.  The newest CE-24's, which PRS still refers to as a "core" model, now have a lot of second-tier appointments and come with a gig bag for $1,000 more than the cost of this seasoned core guitar with its original hard case.   

 

The over-all condition of this guitar is a solid 9.0/10.  It has clearly been well cared for and the cosmetic condition is near 10/10.  There are no dings, dents scratches, buckle marks or button worming or corner chips at all.  The finish on the back of the neck is glossy and fast.  The headstock tips are perfect as well.  The guitar has been played a lot over the years because it is a great player, but I don't think it ever left the house of the original owner.  The wood is naturally aged for over 20 years and the tone is excellent.  It still plays beautifully, though the frets show notable playwear up the neck, which leads me to the over-all rating of 9.0.  I've included many high-res pictures for you to enlarge and consider.  There is no need to do anything to play it just the way it is, though a good fret dressing at some point in the future would make the guitar virtually new again.  One of the case latches is missing a tongue but the other two are strong and work effectively.  If you’re looking for your sixth SE or your third S2, consider moving up to this rock solid, played and playable, vintage core instead.

 

Equipped with HFS and Vintage Bass pickups, which have been the standard issue in Custom 24’s since they were first developed for the late 1980’s guitars.  The CE 24's used them too up until 2009.  When production on the CE-24 model resumed in 2016, these core pickups were among the first casualties of cost cutting measures.  Additional second-tier downgrades to the model's core appointments were implemented through every year since, though PRS continues to the CE-24 a "core" model.  This guitar comes with the original truss wrench, Allen wrench, tremolo bar and three-fold accessories pamphlet in the pocket of the original hard case. 

 

I’m a working (weekend) musician who has bought, owned, gigged and sold over 300 different PRS guitars of all models since 2001.  This is a highly playable core CE-24 in a rare color that has become increasingly difficult to find.     

 

 

A Word About Core PRS Guitars:

 

PRS has always made great guitars and they still do today.  From 1985 until 2002, all PRS guitars were core PRS guitars.  The 2001 Santana III was their first model created as a second-tier instrument.  Basically, a financial decision to explore a lower price point in the market.  A thinner body blank with no inlays, lesser parts, cheaper pickups and under-whelming neck inlays.  Through the mid 2000’s PRS also jumped heavily into the development of the S2 (second tier) and SE (third tier) builds, which have since been off-shored and represent the largest part of their business.  These guitars are essentially made by two different companies creating two different families of instruments.  There are the cores in one family and everything else in the other, not to mention the Wood Library pieces or of course Private Stock, both in a league of their own.  I’ve played some rather impressive SE’s that were pleasantly above my expectation for their price point.  I’ve encountered some planks too.  In the Forums I see a lot of SE’s with problems right off the rack or that have been so modified by their owner, they could have just bought a core PRS to begin with. PRS still regards the new CE-24 as a core model, but they are less than one-half the guitar that core CE’s were from 1995 to 2016 and one-quarter the guitar that the pre-factory alder body CE-24’s are.  The (mahogany) body blank is thinner (less mass, easier to build and to finish), loaded with second tier parts and come with a gig bag for $2,500 bucks.  The internet is full of rock-solid core customs like this one in that same price range (with a hard case).  Used CE’s, even pre-factory CE’s which I consider to be among the best guitars PRS ever built, can be found for under two grand with a hard case.  The SE and S2 guitars lose what value they had quickly.  The new core guitars are fabulous instruments, but sticker north of five grand and will be worth far less in 4-5 years.  If you’re casually looking here out of curiosity, while thinking more seriously about buying your sixth SE in a different color, your third S2 or a new CE-24, give some thought to finally stepping up into a true core PRS instead.  Just the opinion of a PRS enthusiast that has bought, sold, owned and gigged over 300 PRS guitars across the last 25 years.

 

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Please be sure to take a moment and click here to look at my ABOUT page. or access it from the top menu bar.  I encourage even the smallest of questions so always feel free to e-mail me any time.  Over 140 of my online feedback ratings are from PRS guitar sales.

 

This guitar is also listed on sites with a starting price of $350 more than I'm asking here on my site, just to put a dent in the seller fees they would charge me for a transaction there. 

 

Why pay more than you have to?  Check my feedback and buy it here.  It may be gone soon.  Send me an e-mail and we'll talk.  

 

If you've come to this page directly through an organic Google search,

click this link to see a list of all the guitars I currently have for sale before leaving this page.

 

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 $1,950.00 includes shipping anywhere in the lower 48.  

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​I recently heard someone a lot smarter than I am say: 

"Life is short..... Buy the guitar"