Its not just about the sound, it about the feel of the guitar, the shape of the body. The Core feels more high end and I just feel better playing it over the lower version of the same guitar.
I have an SE and a Core Custom 24. I got my Core used for a ridiculous price and wish I’d gotten the Core first. The SE is a good guitar for the price… but not the same, at all.
Actually, You're wrong on behalf of the SE "not having the tone of the Core because they only have a maple veneer" at 12:50. This will hardly be the reason, for underneath the flame maple veneer, there's still a solid plain maple top of conceivable thickness. So in the wood department, the NECK being maple is the biggest difference, and probably the specific mahogany used will contribute a little, the name being used for a number of different species in music industry.
I would never consider resell value when buying a guitar. Unless you have something rare or highly sought after, guitars are depreciating assets. Unless your only intention is to flip a guitar, figure you will never sell it for what you paid for it. Buy a guitar because you love it and want to play it!
Not all SE models are created equally. The McCarty .594 singlecut specifically, I believe gets closer to the Core models than any. If you go for the Standard version, your saving another hundo. With a few mods I'm really dig'n my vintage cherry one. It's great for what I've got into it.
I purchased a new SE Custom 24 made in Korea in 2018 for just over$700.00, I took it back to where I bought it to see what it was worth for a trade in and they told me they would give me $200.00 for it. Needless to say I still have it and Love it. So PRS can say what they want, but they don’t hold value at all.
Tim, I didn't realize PRS was saying that. If you're looking to get full value for anything, cars, guitars, amps etc, you should sell them in the marketplace, not trade them in. $200 is ridiculous price for that guitar.
Just so everyone know, it wasn’t PRS who low balled the value instead it was the guitar shop where I originally purchased the guitar. Trust me I do Like PRS, they make amazing guitars and I’m not selling the one I have, I just wanted to know what it was worth after a year and I was shocked.
The Core Custom 24 is the pinnacle of design for a guitar. It plays amazing, sounds amazing and looks amazing. It is a guitar that you buy when you want the best that money can buy and, watch this, you plan to play it. That’s the key. For me, the core model isn’t just another guitar to add to an already ridiculous collection of guitars. It is designed to take the place of many guitars including a les Paul, strat and Ibanez. It covers a lot of sonic territory and is supposed to be a # 1 guitar. If you’re buying it to throw into a collection of say 10 - 20 guitars then, yes, you should probably get the SE version. That will sound okay but it will never be the core model. I bought my Core 24 to supplement my 335 and telecaster. Those are the only guitars I own and the core fits perfectly with the other 2 guitars.
this comment is spot on; the voice and tone of two core prs CU 24s is so perfect to me and i love them so much i deep down want to sleep with them; if i had never seen either of those guitars but had heard and played them, i would still love them just as much because the voice is what i am after in a guitar; no other guitar i have owned came near that voice; and they are always in tune; i have never felt that way about any other guitar;
Im not 100% sure about the taking place of any of the guitars you mention. Yes, the sound could be approximate, but never the same. Also the les paul is a different beast, its like a vintage car, while the PRS is definitely a modern one. About the Ibanez, its all about the neck, its super thin and fast (depending on the model but ibanez is for superstrats). I dont own a fender strat, but I do own some off brands and its the most approximate in feeling to a PRS, kind of the same weight and similar neck carve, but the finish in the neck is different. About tones, well its very versatile, but so is my HSH ibanez. I own some core PRS and an S2 and they are excellent, but the finishes and overall quality is what I value the most.
@@rosewoodsteel6656 it depends on the model, the top and the market. I would say they are overall over valued new and used. If you live in the USA i'd say the drop is 20 to 50% for a normal top standard. A great top will retain most of its value or even valuate over time. If you live overseas they kind of retain value, but that is just my observation, you could go on reverb and check how it has behaved over time for different runs.
Hey man I'm a die hard PRS fan boy but facts are facts lol. Just comes down to whatever floats your boat. Awesome video and refreshing to hear a honest opinion 🙌
Interesting! I would have liked the comparison to have been with an SE loaded with the original pickups.. And yep, if you're planning on the possibility of selling your PRS, later on, a used core model is a better option. Or, if your wallet is looking a little thin, perhaps the SE is the way to go. Have you done a depreciation calculation for high end Gibson's, or for any of the more boutique builders? I'm happy that Paul has provided options for players at all economic levels. He is able to keep US workers building incredible guitars, as well as providing great high value guitars for those of us with limited resources.
Both lovely guitars. PRS make worlds of art. Not sure how you can say the hardware is the best available & score it an 8. Surely if it’s the best you can get then it has to be a 10 or the scale goes from 0 to 8.
I sanded that super thick neck finish off my C24 SE, took like 5 hours lol, literally it was like several mm’s thick. Refinished the neck in a couple coats of True Oil and Gun Stock Wax, super smooth and fast playing neck now.
Very good review! I like watching guitar reviews just for fun. I agree with a lot of what you said. I'm a guitar collector and have everything from Gibson Les Paul's... Gibson 61 SG...to American fender strat and teles to PRS, etc. I've owned two core custom 24s... still have one, a CE 24, PRS Chris Robertson, SE 245, etc. There is really no comparison between the core 24 and the SE 24... They don't really look, feel, or play like the same guitar. I do actually think the se 24 is a good sounding guitar but the difference is extreme between the se and core. They almost shouldn't call the se 24 a 24 and call it sometime else because they are so different other than a similar look. I think the 245 and Chris Robertson are much closer to their core counterparts...at least when they were still made in Korea. Note they just look and feel cheaper... but still sound good. If I played my Chris Robertson next to a core you would be hard pressed to notice any difference whatsoever except for the veneer top vs solid cap. My ce 24 was extremely close to my core... and was a thousand times better in every way to a SE 24... but again the se sounds good. PRS really should almost duplicate the exact guitar as the core but make it for half of the price in Asia vs making such watered down versions. Fame Forum guitars for example made in the UK look much closer to the real thing... I would take one of those any day over just se guitars and just change the pickups and other hardware. Again I like the way the SE's sound but they could be better for the price.... I love my se Chris Robertson... best se that PRS has ever made hands down but discontinued... you have to find them used....
I have a s2 standard 22. It’s got the same bridge as the SE the block is steel. At least magnetic. The core’s obviously higher quality but can’t knock the SE materials used.
I believe we’ve reached a point with PRS guitars that the import models are the best value. The CORE models are superior in materials, workmanship and attention to detail but it doesn’t devalue the quality of their import models from a design perspective. If I could afford a CORE I would own one, but because I can’t I’m more than happy with Paul’s SE offerings. Why would I spend $5k on one CORE when I could own several SE models and sample everything PRS has to offer? 🎸
Great demo, v good point re used prices, but , its the same for fender and Gibson. Buy new and get fleeced on resale ! Why I buy 2nd hand . Looking at a custom 24 core line at the minute, half price on new ! Might be worth getting! Thanks for the demo.
It's true a PRS Core loses a lot of value the minute after buying, but a lot of expensive guitars tend to do that. PRS doesn't make aged and Relic guitars, the majority of CS Gibson and Fender guitars. Those probably hold their value better because they never looked new anyway, while PRS users like 'em as shiny looking as possible. As soon as you look beyond the Standard CS models, Gibson and Fender CS lose much more value, too. Another factor is that model features in PRSi change a lot more, and many consider the newer models constantly improved over older ones. Which may be the reason, too, that some PRS models seem to hold their value better than a Custom 24, especially the DGT, Tremonti and other signature models. They remained largely unchanged for a long time.
I own a PRS Core custom 24. And seeing those great SE custom 24 stings me every time they get better. I'd say my personal value for owning a Core custom 24 dropped a lot. Although, Core custom 24 still gives a different vibe, the gap has gotten too small for me - casual hobbyist, no sponsor, no artist - to appreciate it fully.
Most people who say they don’t care about locking tuners are using them wrong. Which is why they don’t see a difference. Even without a trem system a guitar with locking tuners stays in tune better. You don’t want your guitars to stay in tune better? 0 winds folks. Your locking tuners should have 0 winds around the post. Not saying OP does this- just from my experience 80% of the guitars that come to me with locking tuners are being used wrong and have winds around the post
Lots of a variation in PRS Core. Yeah you can get one for 2000 even less but it will be a older model. Eg pre 2010 (rotary) or fulll poly (pre 2020). Also used PRS 2012 ish to about 2017 is tricky. During that time there are many with finish defects that PRS had to correct. (PRSs dirty secret try to find a violet that is still violet or a natural back early 10s that hasnt fogged up or delaminated). over the last 15 years PRS has made many improvements/correction. My advice do a lot of research and carefully insepct any used PRS.
I can't find any reason to sell PRS Core line guitars. Each is such a piece of art that people who bought one should be ready to keep it for the rest of their lives. If this high level of craftsmanship, versatility, and incredible flame tops still can't stop you from selling it, then you deserve that 51% loss, it's just an instant karma, for you not to cherish such a gorgeous guitar. Stop crying when you try to sell them. You asked for it, and then you got it.
We all get you can take the cheap one and upgrade the pickups or locking nuts etc............... the point of the ranges are that PRS does that for you.... you may save $500 yourself ...... but ask yourself the resale of a bastardized SE is the same as an SE. if you use it and never trade then kudos... nice review, just being objective.. take care and ty for the review
Just buy one used for half the price and you can always sell it for what you paid for it... unless it's an ugly color or older model. I've had two core 24 guitars... first one I bought used for $1,760 mint condition and sold it for $2,650. Second one I still have. They are epic guitars perfect in every way. I still have a Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG, American fender strat, America fender tele... and out of all of my guitars my PRS core guitars are the most perfect. They have zero buzz anywhere and stay in tune perfectly... I've had six PRS guitars and only one... the SE 245 had intonation issues that needed to be fixed...all others perfect. Only one of my six plus Gibson didn't have fret buzz... but you do pay a lot for core PRS
From 5 feet away no one can tell the difference. The tone differences are just an EQ away on the amp. For a hundred bux or so, change the switch and the output jack, if you really feel like it.
I’ve owned a Core, an S2 and FIVE SE’s. Best way to lose money is buy a NEW Core and then try to unload it. PRS does not hold value like Gibson or Fender does. Luckily I bought my Core DGT super cheap. $2,200 and sold it a year later for $2,700
You’re not wrong but you don’t really have enough data points on your custom 24 graph to really know used price. Dishonest to say $2250. Also you’re looking at 2011 model. So much wrong with your price comparison here
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Its not just about the sound, it about the feel of the guitar, the shape of the body. The Core feels more high end and I just feel better playing it over the lower version of the same guitar.
I’ve got two core Custom 24s and tbh I don’t care if they lose value cos I’ll never sell them, they’re amazing.
Yep
Yeah, that's what all PRS owners should do: keep loyal. It's such a great honour to own one. Core PRS guitars are designed to be lifetime instruments.
I have an SE and a Core Custom 24. I got my Core used for a ridiculous price and wish I’d gotten the Core first. The SE is a good guitar for the price… but not the same, at all.
when I play my Core PRS, it plays its self. It is such a better feeling guitar then my Fender, Gibsons, Suhr, and PRS SE . My opinion.
Uncontrollable nerd reflex: the wings on the headstock are always glued on separately, whether it’s a core or SE. 🤓
Actually, You're wrong on behalf of the SE "not having the tone of the Core because they only have a maple veneer" at 12:50. This will hardly be the reason, for underneath the flame maple veneer, there's still a solid plain maple top of conceivable thickness. So in the wood department, the NECK being maple is the biggest difference, and probably the specific mahogany used will contribute a little, the name being used for a number of different species in music industry.
I would never consider resell value when buying a guitar. Unless you have something rare or highly sought after, guitars are depreciating assets. Unless your only intention is to flip a guitar, figure you will never sell it for what you paid for it. Buy a guitar because you love it and want to play it!
My CE 24 does the job for me. (Bought new 5 years ago for £1500).
Not all SE models are created equally. The McCarty .594 singlecut specifically, I believe gets closer to the Core models than any. If you go for the Standard version, your saving another hundo. With a few mods I'm really dig'n my vintage cherry one. It's great for what I've got into it.
I purchased a new SE Custom 24 made in Korea in 2018 for just over$700.00, I took it back to where I bought it to see what it was worth for a trade in and they told me they would give me $200.00 for it. Needless to say I still have it and Love it. So PRS can say what they want, but they don’t hold value at all.
Tim, I didn't realize PRS was saying that. If you're looking to get full value for anything, cars, guitars, amps etc, you should sell them in the marketplace, not trade them in. $200 is ridiculous price for that guitar.
Just so everyone know, it wasn’t PRS who low balled the value instead it was the guitar shop where I originally purchased the guitar. Trust me I do Like PRS, they make amazing guitars and I’m not selling the one I have, I just wanted to know what it was worth after a year and I was shocked.
The Core Custom 24 is the pinnacle of design for a guitar. It plays amazing, sounds amazing and looks amazing. It is a guitar that you buy when you want the best that money can buy and, watch this, you plan to play it. That’s the key. For me, the core model isn’t just another guitar to add to an already ridiculous collection of guitars. It is designed to take the place of many guitars including a les Paul, strat and Ibanez. It covers a lot of sonic territory and is supposed to be a # 1 guitar. If you’re buying it to throw into a collection of say 10 - 20 guitars then, yes, you should probably get the SE version. That will sound okay but it will never be the core model. I bought my Core 24 to supplement my 335 and telecaster. Those are the only guitars I own and the core fits perfectly with the other 2 guitars.
this comment is spot on; the voice and tone of two core prs CU 24s is so perfect to me and i love them so much i deep down want to sleep with them; if i had never seen either of those guitars but had heard and played them, i would still love them just as much because the voice is what i am after in a guitar; no other guitar i have owned came near that voice; and they are always in tune; i have never felt that way about any other guitar;
And I'm wondering what the depreciation is on a Les Paul.. I frankly wouldn't trust buying a LP used with Gibson's quality control issues..
Im not 100% sure about the taking place of any of the guitars you mention. Yes, the sound could be approximate, but never the same. Also the les paul is a different beast, its like a vintage car, while the PRS is definitely a modern one. About the Ibanez, its all about the neck, its super thin and fast (depending on the model but ibanez is for superstrats). I dont own a fender strat, but I do own some off brands and its the most approximate in feeling to a PRS, kind of the same weight and similar neck carve, but the finish in the neck is different. About tones, well its very versatile, but so is my HSH ibanez. I own some core PRS and an S2 and they are excellent, but the finishes and overall quality is what I value the most.
@@rosewoodsteel6656 it depends on the model, the top and the market. I would say they are overall over valued new and used. If you live in the USA i'd say the drop is 20 to 50% for a normal top standard. A great top will retain most of its value or even valuate over time. If you live overseas they kind of retain value, but that is just my observation, you could go on reverb and check how it has behaved over time for different runs.
Hey man I'm a die hard PRS fan boy but facts are facts lol. Just comes down to whatever floats your boat. Awesome video and refreshing to hear a honest opinion 🙌
Hey dude I have a question. Im looking at a prs custom 24. With floyd rose. With something called library wood. Have you played one ?
Great video, what song are you playing at 3:33? Sounds like death cab
lack of colour by deathcab
You're right! It's Lack of Color by Deathcab
To my ears the core sounds better in the directly comparison.
Intro song??
Interesting! I would have liked the comparison to have been with an SE loaded with the original pickups.. And yep, if you're planning on the possibility of selling your PRS, later on, a used core model is a better option. Or, if your wallet is looking a little thin, perhaps the SE is the way to go. Have you done a depreciation calculation for high end Gibson's, or for any of the more boutique builders? I'm happy that Paul has provided options for players at all economic levels. He is able to keep US workers building incredible guitars, as well as providing great high value guitars for those of us with limited resources.
Both lovely guitars. PRS make worlds of art.
Not sure how you can say the hardware is the best available & score it an 8. Surely if it’s the best you can get then it has to be a 10 or the scale goes from 0 to 8.
I recently purchased a 2006 PRS Custom 22 with Artist package for $1,800. I felt like that was a solid buy.
What a steal! I'd buy that!
Good move!
Need to check the Australian reverb market then. Majority are going for same prices as brand new ones.
Does anything actually sell on Australian reverb? I swear I check in every so often and the same guitars are still there
@@joevalle9317 agreed. I have tried to sell guitars on there and only had spam interest. Seems very different to the American reverb market.
I sanded that super thick neck finish off my C24 SE, took like 5 hours lol, literally it was like several mm’s thick. Refinished the neck in a couple coats of True Oil and Gun Stock Wax, super smooth and fast playing neck now.
While the new modelos loose valué the 80's prs custom and standard models go Up everytime you go on reverb
You are correct, sir!
What’s the song playing in the intro?
Lack of color and Your Love is Strong in the same video? You’re really speaking to college me (and current me).
Very good review! I like watching guitar reviews just for fun. I agree with a lot of what you said. I'm a guitar collector and have everything from Gibson Les Paul's... Gibson 61 SG...to American fender strat and teles to PRS, etc. I've owned two core custom 24s... still have one, a CE 24, PRS Chris Robertson, SE 245, etc. There is really no comparison between the core 24 and the SE 24... They don't really look, feel, or play like the same guitar. I do actually think the se 24 is a good sounding guitar but the difference is extreme between the se and core. They almost shouldn't call the se 24 a 24 and call it sometime else because they are so different other than a similar look. I think the 245 and Chris Robertson are much closer to their core counterparts...at least when they were still made in Korea. Note they just look and feel cheaper... but still sound good. If I played my Chris Robertson next to a core you would be hard pressed to notice any difference whatsoever except for the veneer top vs solid cap. My ce 24 was extremely close to my core... and was a thousand times better in every way to a SE 24... but again the se sounds good. PRS really should almost duplicate the exact guitar as the core but make it for half of the price in Asia vs making such watered down versions. Fame Forum guitars for example made in the UK look much closer to the real thing... I would take one of those any day over just se guitars and just change the pickups and other hardware. Again I like the way the SE's sound but they could be better for the price.... I love my se Chris Robertson... best se that PRS has ever made hands down but discontinued... you have to find them used....
I have a s2 standard 22. It’s got the same bridge as the SE the block is steel. At least magnetic. The core’s obviously higher quality but can’t knock the SE materials used.
I can’t tell much difference and I own a Core 24 but I won’t gig with it. Might get an SE to gig with
So true it’s better to own few different upgraded SE’s than one core
disagreed
I believe we’ve reached a point with PRS guitars that the import models are the best value. The CORE models are superior in materials, workmanship and attention to detail but it doesn’t devalue the quality of their import models from a design perspective. If I could afford a CORE I would own one, but because I can’t I’m more than happy with Paul’s SE offerings. Why would I spend $5k on one CORE when I could own several SE models and sample everything PRS has to offer? 🎸
Great demo, v good point re used prices, but , its the same for fender and Gibson. Buy new and get fleeced on resale ! Why I buy 2nd hand . Looking at a custom 24 core line at the minute, half price on new ! Might be worth getting! Thanks for the demo.
So why does is loose half?
It's true a PRS Core loses a lot of value the minute after buying, but a lot of expensive guitars tend to do that. PRS doesn't make aged and Relic guitars, the majority of CS Gibson and Fender guitars. Those probably hold their value better because they never looked new anyway, while PRS users like 'em as shiny looking as possible. As soon as you look beyond the Standard CS models, Gibson and Fender CS lose much more value, too. Another factor is that model features in PRSi change a lot more, and many consider the newer models constantly improved over older ones. Which may be the reason, too, that some PRS models seem to hold their value better than a Custom 24, especially the DGT, Tremonti and other signature models. They remained largely unchanged for a long time.
I own a PRS Core custom 24. And seeing those great SE custom 24 stings me every time they get better.
I'd say my personal value for owning a Core custom 24 dropped a lot.
Although, Core custom 24 still gives a different vibe, the gap has gotten too small for me - casual hobbyist, no sponsor, no artist - to appreciate it fully.
You should try it with a Tube amp on the edge. The difference is huge. The tone master won't get you there.
I was like no way is he playing a lack of color by death cab for cutie
😂 keep em on their toes. Death cab is 💯 my moment.
Most people who say they don’t care about locking tuners are using them wrong. Which is why they don’t see a difference. Even without a trem system a guitar with locking tuners stays in tune better. You don’t want your guitars to stay in tune better?
0 winds folks. Your locking tuners should have 0 winds around the post.
Not saying OP does this- just from my experience 80% of the guitars that come to me with locking tuners are being used wrong and have winds around the post
Lots of a variation in PRS Core. Yeah you can get one for 2000 even less but it will be a older model. Eg pre 2010 (rotary) or fulll poly (pre 2020). Also used PRS 2012 ish to about 2017 is tricky. During that time there are many with finish defects that PRS had to correct. (PRSs dirty secret try to find a violet that is still violet or a natural back early 10s that hasnt fogged up or delaminated). over the last 15 years PRS has made many improvements/correction. My advice do a lot of research and carefully insepct any used PRS.
I can't find any reason to sell PRS Core line guitars. Each is such a piece of art that people who bought one should be ready to keep it for the rest of their lives. If this high level of craftsmanship, versatility, and incredible flame tops still can't stop you from selling it, then you deserve that 51% loss, it's just an instant karma, for you not to cherish such a gorgeous guitar. Stop crying when you try to sell them. You asked for it, and then you got it.
We all get you can take the cheap one and upgrade the pickups or locking nuts etc............... the point of the ranges are that PRS does that for you.... you may save $500 yourself ...... but ask yourself the resale of a bastardized SE is the same as an SE. if you use it and never trade then kudos... nice review, just being objective.. take care and ty for the review
So hello Reverb used lot...got it, always got it (usually buy all my babies used)
Wow, had no idea those Cores lose so much value. Ouch. Is it just the Custom 24 Core or all made in US PRS models. Yikes, why?!
Just buy one used for half the price and you can always sell it for what you paid for it... unless it's an ugly color or older model. I've had two core 24 guitars... first one I bought used for $1,760 mint condition and sold it for $2,650. Second one I still have. They are epic guitars perfect in every way. I still have a Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG, American fender strat, America fender tele... and out of all of my guitars my PRS core guitars are the most perfect. They have zero buzz anywhere and stay in tune perfectly... I've had six PRS guitars and only one... the SE 245 had intonation issues that needed to be fixed...all others perfect. Only one of my six plus Gibson didn't have fret buzz... but you do pay a lot for core PRS
From 5 feet away no one can tell the difference. The tone differences are just an EQ away on the amp. For a hundred bux or so, change the switch and the output jack, if you really feel like it.
I’ve owned a Core, an S2 and FIVE SE’s. Best way to lose money is buy a NEW Core and then try to unload it. PRS does not hold value like Gibson or Fender does. Luckily I bought my Core DGT super cheap. $2,200 and sold it a year later for $2,700
I loose nothing I dont sell them. I keep all my guitars.
You’re not wrong but you don’t really have enough data points on your custom 24 graph to really know used price. Dishonest to say $2250. Also you’re looking at 2011 model. So much wrong with your price comparison here
Half the value?? Lol I’m what world.
I gave screenshots. I also checked the vintage guitar price guide.
Easy fix: Buy used.
But don't expect your used PRS to be a 2024 model, at half price. :)
prs ? say what ?
Great comment, PRS might not be happy they sent you the guitar 😂
Jk
True story though Used PRS is absolutely the way to go