PRS Custom 24 10-Top Electric Guitar Charcoal Burst
The guitar that launched PRS Guitars in 1985, still their flagship after four decades. This is the modern iteration with 85/15 pickups, Gen III tremolo, and a premium "10-Top" flame maple cap—basically, this is what Paul Reed Smith thinks an electric guitar should be if you don't care about vintage correctness.
Critics
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +85/15 pickups with 5-way switching deliver genuine tonal versatility from glassy cleans to saturated leads
- +10-Top flame maple grade is visually stunning—this looks like a custom shop instrument
- +Gen III tremolo design provides modern tuning stability with vintage fluidity—best of both worlds
- +Pattern Thin neck profile and 25" scale length split the difference between Gibson and Fender ergonomics perfectly
- +Phase III locking tuners and overall build quality justify the premium—this is a lifetime instrument
Cons
- −At $5,490, you're in used Les Paul Standard or American Ultra Strat territory—this is a serious investment
- −PRS house sound isn't for everyone—if you want aggressive PAF grit or Strat spank specifically, look elsewhere
- −Weight can vary with mahogany body—chambering options exist but aren't standard
- −Five-way switching is somewhat redundant—positions 2 and 4 are subtle variations, not dramatic shifts
The Verdict
That perfect 100 community score from Sweetwater (based on actual purchasers, not hype) tells the real story. The Custom 24 has been PRS’s flagship for 40 years because it works—not because of marketing. This is the “I want one guitar that does everything well and will outlive me” choice, and for players who connect with the PRS voice, it delivers completely. The 10-Top flame maple is legitimately gorgeous, the 85/15 pickups are versatile without being generic, and the build quality is obsessive. Is it worth $5,500? That’s personal—you’re paying for American craftsmanship, premium woods, and design refinement that’s been evolving since Reagan was president. If you want vintage vibe, buy vintage. If you want a modern tool that happens to be beautiful, this is the benchmark.
