Help identifying this PRS.

[MedMan]

Hello everyone,

First let me start by saying I have used just about every avenue I can think of to figure this out but am now turning to the good folks here in hope that someone can help. I have a friend at work who is interested in selling this PRS (pictured) but he has no idea what to ask or even what model or year it is. I am gathering from the table on the PRS website that it's about a 1993 or 2003 year but am not very familiar with their body style or designs.

The number off the neck plate is 378525.

Thanks in advance for any help.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/goi8b1ek603ph19/AACO3C4KQA3sD__ROEPZKVeEa

(Please let me know if the link does not take you to a beauty of a guitar. Thanks)

 

[rugerpc]

It appears that this my not be a real PRS.

Bolt on PRS guitars do have their serial number in the neck plate, but this one is missing the actual year identifier.
CE models either start with "7" or "CE".
EG models start with "5".
Swamp Ash models start with "8" or "SA".

Nice try, but not a real cigar I'm thinking...

Edit:
SN 378525 would be in the right range for a set neck PRS, but this is obviously not a set neck guitar. You can also see that the neck plate is not straight.
The carve on the lowest cutaway looks wonky to me.
The term back plate doesn't fit.
There may be other problems that members with sharper eyes and better memories might see.

Any particular reason your friend couldn't start a membership here and ask for themselves?

reedit: pay no attention to this post - I got it totally wrong, and I'm not too proud to eat crow when it is clearly my turn.

 

[shinksma]

The dots don't seem to be moons, either...but maybe I just can't see them clearly enough...

(Are dots always moons?)

EDIT: and winged tuners? That would make it pre-2002, right?

 

[MedMan]

Thanks for the input so far.
He saw I was looking at guitar bodies to build a home made guitar and he mentioned he has a PRS that he never plays. (I know he is a classical guitarist and can guess he mainly sticks to acoustics) I can not give a reason why he can't get on here and ask except for he is a physician and really doesn't have the time. I told him I would take the lead and try to figure this out.

I can also only guess and hope that someone gave him the guitar who thought he might like it but in the end they didn't know what they were buying. I don't know how he came about ownership of the guitar.

I do know that the images I have seen of most PRS guitars there is hand written someplace the model number other facts about that particular guitar but cannot find anything here. Perhaps there maybe something in the controls cover?(just hypothesizing)

Thanks again for your input.

It appears that this my not be a real PRS.

Bolt on PRS guitars do have their serial number in the neck plate, but this on is missing the actual year identifier.
CE modeled either start with "7" or "CE".
EG models start with "5".
Swamp Ash models start with "8" or "SA".

Nice try, but not a real cigar I'm thinking...

Edit:
SN 378525 would be in the right range for a set neck PRS, but this is obviously not a set neck guitar. You can also see that the neck plate is not straight.
The carve on the lowest cutaway looks wonky to me.
The term back plate doesn't fit.
There may be other problems that members with sharper eyes and better memories might see.

Any particular reason your friend couldn't start a membership here and ask for themselves?

 

[Faded]

There is more information located in the bridge pickup cavity...if its legit.

 

[Shawn@PRS]

Looks like a legit 1993 CE24 to me

 

[shinksma]

Looks like a legit 1993 CE24 to me

Really? The PRS website support page says this about the CE serial numbers:

[TABLE="class: year, width: 292"]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]7 7091 – 8820
[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1993
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Can a "3" be added in front of that for the year prefix? i.e. 37 8525? I wasn't sure if the year prefix was for set-neck only...

If so, then yeah, the serial number is valid.

 

[rugerpc]

Looks like a legit 1993 CE24 to me

Hey, you would know better than I would, but...

Shouldn't the SN have a 7 or CE in front of it??? What's up with the 3?

from the PRS info page:

CE Models
Approximate Serial Numbers Year
7 0001 – 0270 1988
7 0271 – 1830 1989
7 1831 – 3200 1990
7 3201 – 4540 1991
7 4541 – 7090 1992
7 7091 – 8820 1993
7 8821 – 10700 1994
7 10701 – 13000 1995
7 13001 – 14680 1996
7 14681 – 17130 1997
7 or CE 17131 – 19580 1998
CE 19581 – 20749 1999
CE 20750 – 21599 2000
CE 21600 – 23199 2001
CE 23200 – 25389 2002
CE 25390 – 26399 2003
CE 26400 – 27900 2004
CE 27901 – 29377 2005
CE 29378 - 31800 2006
CE 31801 - 32783 2007
CE 32784 - 33881 2008

edit: you can ignore the top part of this post too....

 

[shinksma]

rugerpc, I think the year prefix is first ("3"), then the 7 (or CE), then the 4 digit serial number.

I found this thread about a 1994 CE24, which may have been started in 1993, looking at the serial number:

http://prsguitars.com/forum/showthread.php?3941-NGD-project-ugly-duckling-1993-ce24&highlight=ce24

Note that the serial number is continuous digits (no spacing), 378922. Just like the one in the OP.

So the guitar looks legit to me, serial number wise. The crooked neck plate may just be a crooked neck plate...

 

[rugerpc]

poop - looks like I messed up.

my apologies for any inconvenience I may have caused....

 

[MedMan]

Many Thanks to you guys.
Rugerpc no worries, thanks for responding and helping out.

 

[rugerpc]

Many Thanks to you guys.
Rugerpc no worries, thanks for responding and helping out.

Thanks, dude. Welcome to the forum. Don't let my faux pas scare you off....

 

[DISTORT6]

The dots don't seem to be moons, either...but maybe I just can't see them clearly enough...

(Are dots always moons?)

EDIT: and winged tuners? That would make it pre-2002, right?

CE's have DOTS. No moons.

 

[TFC]

Looks like a legit 1993 CE24 to me

Not that Shawn needs anyone to back him up, but I agree. I've got 2 CE24s and they are great guitars. Lots of fans of them on this site. Not sure where you are located, but they go for anywhere from around $800 - $1200 used, depending on condition, etc. You can check out eBay as well for a general idea of their value.

One thing I noticed is that this has the 2-piece tremolo (i.e. the trem block is a separate piece that is screwed into the bridge), not the old 1-piece. I don't know that either is better. Can anyone comment on when the switch between the two was made? Mine has the 1-piece, but has a serial # about 1000 less than the one in the OP. Just curious.

In any case, good luck, and if you buy it, let us know and post some more pics.

For comparison, here's a photo of the serial # on my '93 CE24:

 

[MedMan]

TFC, THANKS!

That drives home the knowledge of finding out what he has got and can legitimately ask a fair price for.
I will keep you all posted regarding the sale.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

One thing I noticed is that this has the 2-piece tremolo (i.e. the trem block is a separate piece that is screwed into the bridge), not the old 1-piece. I don't know that either is better. Can anyone comment on when the switch between the two was made? Mine has the 1-piece, but has a serial # about 1000 less than the one in the OP. Just curious.

Maybe '91-92? I believe the transition period took a while and they used up the old MilComs on some lucky CE's... like mine:big grin: which is also a '93.

 

[TFC]

You're welcome MedMan.

Sergio, care to share the serial of your '93? Maybe it will help narrow down when they ran out of the MilComs.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

377590