early version CE24 10 tops?

[rnodern]

FYI if anyone's interested, there's a 1988 CE24 on Reverb for a really good price. I'm really surprised, actually.
The top doesn't appear to be as nice as the '89 i posted a few days ago, but it's in great condition.
Alder body
https://reverb.com/item/11265883-paul-reed-smith-ce24-alder-cherry-sunburst-1988

Edit:
Apparently, it's also an alder top!? looks pretty nice.

 

[shinksma]

FYI if anyone's interested, there's a 1988 CE24 on Reverb for a really good price. I'm really surprised, actually.
The top doesn't appear to be as nice as the '89 i posted a few days ago, but it's in great condition.
Alder body
https://reverb.com/item/11265883-paul-reed-smith-ce24-alder-cherry-sunburst-1988

Edit:
Apparently, it's also an alder top!? looks pretty nice.

Unfortunately, that's in Australia (Tasmania, in fact!). Because of CITES, that would be a true pain to ship anywhere but within Australia, now.

Also, the "SN lost due to neck re-finish" at first alarmed me somewhat, but I see from an old forum post hat early 1988s did have the SN stamped on the back of the neck. Oh, I found this old Reverb listing of the exact same guitar from almost a year ago, also in Australia (Queensland), which also states that the SN would have been on the back of the headstock:

https://reverb.com/item/5523067-paul-reed-smith-ce-1988-sunburst

There are some statements made in that listing that show that perhaps PRS was not super consistent in how they managed parts, such as:

"All research shows that only the very first 1988 run had this very rare headstock logo"

except the 1990 I just bought has that exact same logo. The logo lasted until 1989 (not 1990!) according to PRS's own Model History:

http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/models.html

"Black headstock face and 5-way rotary switch by mid-’89."

Not sure how the 1990 I have inbound has the old logo/headstock if they were indeed cut-and-dried. I do get the feeling that perhaps things weren't as sharply delineated as described, and perhaps there was some "blending" across the model year transition. This thread describes some of the muddling-of-year-features, including old logo on post-1989 CEs:

https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/1988-ce24-help.16505/

I need to have a copy of the Burrluck PRS book here at work for these types of things...

However, for anyone in the US, there are a couple other older CEs on Reverb still (I know because I bought one on the weekend, a 1990), including this 1989:

https://reverb.com/item/5681131-1989-paul-reed-smith-ce-24-cherry-sunburst

 

[Paladin]

I did!

https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/ngd-this-copper’s-on-fire.30301/

And I must say, I’m really liking the raw maple neck feel. So smooth. I might not even put any wax or tung oil finish in it. Just a very fine Scotch-Brite every string change or two to keep any gunk down. Wishing my other guitars were this smooth.

Well, you gambled and WON on this one! I couldn't pull the trigger due to my concerns about that neck, but glad you did. Sounds like you're pretty happy with it ~

 

[Matte82]

I did!

https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/ngd-this-copper’s-on-fire.30301/

And I must say, I’m really liking the raw maple neck feel. So smooth. I might not even put any wax or tung oil finish in it. Just a very fine Scotch-Brite every string change or two to keep any gunk down. Wishing my other guitars were this smooth.

Not to be an enabler, but have you played a rosewood neck? Man they’re sweet too. I have two guitars with them. I also have most of the parts for another “s-type” guitar, and am considering a roasted maple neck for it. It shouldn’t require any finish either. There’s just something about raw wood.

 

[JJJ]

forgive me but wouldn't the 24 fret neck simply not function on a 22 body without serious modification?

Also, those are all some nice old CEs. any excuse to show off my CE - it's a 2002 though so a bit later than all of yours

All in all the old models seem to be the goods. I don't think I could buy one of the new ones with the old models still floating around being traded

 

[gush]

Does a '98 count? DSCF0910-2 by cxcxsx, on Flickr

Litte bit of OCD there? Lol

 

[gush]

forgive me but wouldn't the 24 fret neck simply not function on a 22 body without serious modification?

Also, those are all some nice old CEs. any excuse to show off my CE - it's a 2002 though so a bit later than all of yours

All in all the old models seem to be the goods. I don't think I could buy one of the new ones with the old models still floating around being traded

Twin to mine. I love emerald! !!

 

[cshallcross]

Litte bit of OCD there? Lol

Haha I think I just noticed what you were talking about (the poles all being lined up?)

That just happened to be how it was when I traded into it, but nice catch if so.

 

[CE#37]

I have a 1988 CE-24 early artists relations model and is has the serial number in black ink stamped on the back of the headstock (see profile picture).