I don't have dozens of guitars to compare to my CU24's, but I do have two CU24's that are significantly different along with my HBII. Here is my take.
First PRS was
McCarty 594 HBII and it is to this day my favorite guitar to play because of the low weight, but the one thing I wish it had was 24 frets. Not because I need those extra two frets, but because those two frets push the 12th fret further away from my body, which allows me to access the 12th (and up) more comfortably! I also like the easy math of being able to count down from the 24th fret when necessary!!
As for the shape of the neck, I have a slight preference for the Pattern Thin, but all 3 I have are fine for me. Then again, the only 3 PRS I have ever played are the 3 I own! The neck shapes I have are Pattern Thin (PS CU24), Pattern Vintage (594 HBII) and Pattern Regular (Core CU24).
One of my CU24's is a core, the other is a PS ;~)) They were both "born" on Jan 28, 2021 (core according to hang tag date, PS via back of headstock). The major differences are:
PS
58/15 LT TCI
Fat back body (Singlecut thickness)
Hormigo fret board
2 piece stop tail
Flame maple 10 top
African Ribbon Mahogany body
Fiddleback Mahogany neck - Pattern Thin
Core
85/15
Ebony fret board
PRS Gen III Trem
Quilted maple 10 top
Mahogany body
Mahogany neck - Pattern Regular
What all this translates to for me, and in referring to the original concept of what we think of CU24's, is:
PS 8762 CU24
Fatter tone. Part is due to the pups, part is due to the body thickness, part is due to the 2 piece stoptail. Other factors in play as well, but I think those are the majors. The fretboard feels PS better than the Core board. Don't get me wrong, the fret board on the Core is awesome, and I like it better than my HBII board, but that Hormigo wood and the PS frets adds up to a slip and slide like ease of motion. I pretty much stay with the 5 way blade in the center, but that is a whole nutha' story!
Core CU24 (2021)
Snappier tone! I don't use trem at this point (have a little in the past on my strat), but I believe like others have said, that the PRS trem gives a CU24 a snappier sound than a stoptail does. I don't have any problems with it staying in tune either, so no need to block it or anything IMO, especially considering I live having that snap touch feel and tone at my disposal. The thinner body in part creates a weight savings of about 5 ounces so I like that it is a bit lighter. I also find the rest area for my right arm to be more comfortable on the standard thickness body. The Fatback is not bad, but I like the Core a bit better in comfort sense.
I wish all of my git fiddles had satin necks (or BRW ;~))! I know, I can make mine satin real easy!! Hard part is finding the balls to alter these treasures!!!
Most of what I am playing right now is covered better by my HBII. That fiddle is also about 2lbs lighter than either CU24, and that lets me play pretty much as long as I want without getting any neck or shoulder discomfort. With the 7.x lb CU24's, I start feeling it after 2-3 hours, not so with the 5.6 lb HBII. I can play that one all day! It also has tones that are more along the lines of what I need for my current focus. But I do love the CU24's and I hope to be crossing a bridge soon into some music where they will stand tall and get more casting calls! Definitely looking forward to kicking them into high gear hopefully by the end of this year!!
I never even touched a CU24 before 2021 (simply lusted for those beautiful guitars I had seen for decades) but I am now a huge fan of that guitar! It is a quintessential rock and roll machine!! I will own more!!!
Beautiful example Les, thanks for sharing!!!
