About to take the plunge with a SE Custom 24 - Need some info/opinion

[wiiNinja]

Nub here. Just want to say hello and to ask the existing SE Custom 24 owners a few questions. From Googling around, I found so many good things said about this guitar, but have not found info related to the following features:
1. PRS doesn't specify the fret size, and some posts have indicated that this may be thin. My question is what exactly is the fret size? (jumbo, medium jumbo?), and is this fret size affecting your playing?
2. From the pictures of this guitar, it looks like the higher frets are very accessible. Is this the case? (The Guitar Center near me does not have one in stock, so I cannot play around with it).
3. How's the sound of the coil split? (I love the single coil sound of a Fender)

Thanks in advance for any info/opinion.

 

[tomsamuels]

Can't help you with the first, but it's definitely an easy playing guitar that sounds great. The coil split is very nice. I installed a Tusq XL nut and Grover mini locking tuners on mine and the thing holds rock solid tuning now, even with crazy dive bombs.

 

[andy474x]

The frets I believe are medium jumbo, and the upper fret access is excellent. In addition to only the last couple frets being positioned on the guitar body, the neck heel is also much smaller than most of the 22 fret models. The split coil sounds are very nice - they don't nail Fender tones spot on, but they definitely do the job well if you want to have that flexibility. Keep in mind, it's a different blend of woods and construction from a Strat, so the tones will differ a bit too.

 

[sleary]

I'd say medium frets, very comfortable to play. Accessibility is very good to the higher frets. Coil splits will give you close to fender but keep in mind it's not a fender. I put grover 406c locking tuners on mine and held great tuning wise . I didn't put them on for tuning though, put them on because I hate wrapping strings. I loved the tone of that guitar but had to trade it in on my dgt, kinda miss it now.

 

[wiiNinja]

Thanks everyone. I'm sold. Placed my order and should receive my vintage sunburst in a few days. Seems that the common mod is to replace the tuners with locking tuners. Are the stock tuners even half way decent? If my style is not to dive bomb, need these be replaced?

The S2 Custom 24 looks to be very similar to the SE, but made in Maryland instead of South Korea. Is that upgrade worth the $700 difference?

 

[gball]

Thanks everyone. I'm sold. Placed my order and should receive my vintage sunburst in a few days. Seems that the common mod is to replace the tuners with locking tuners. Are the stock tuners even half way decent? If my style is not to dive bomb, need these be replaced?

The S2 Custom 24 looks to be very similar to the SE, but made in Maryland instead of South Korea. Is that upgrade worth the $700 difference?

I like the stock tuners on my SE-245 just fine. I'd thought about changing them but can't really figure out why - they are excellent quality, feel great and I have no tuning stability issues at all. I hate wrapping strings too, but not so much that I feel a need to toss the tuners.

As for the S2's, that is a personal question for sure - only you can answer whether or not it is worth it. As an owner of an SE and an S2 (Mira) I can say that, absolutely, the price difference is worth it to me. My S2 Mira has become my favorite guitar that I have ever owned for a number of reasons, and while the SE is reallu fantastic in so many ways, it just doesn't quite have the character of the Mira. I may be comparing apples to oranges to some extent since the SE is a singlecut with a maple cap and the Mira a slab body doublecut but it extends far beyond just the outward construction differences. I'm sure others who have experience with the Custom 24 models can give you more insight on those specifically.

 

[sleary]

I'm sure the stock tuners would be good enough if you're not doing any dive bombs. They are still a nice tuner.

The s2 is subjective. I just got a cu24 and absolutely am in love with it. Feels very close to my dgt ......

 

[Bob Sherwood]

Having owned a c24 S2, a SE 24 and a Core model custom 24, I think i can truthfully say the S2 is not worth the $700 added cost. I traded my S2 in for a Core Custom 24. Big difference.
I still have a SE Santana and a SE Custom 24. I play the SE's as much as the core. They both play and sound great, although the workmanship is superior on the Core model.