Review: PRS USA Custom 24 vs PRS SE Mark Holcomb vs Fame Forum IV Classic

[Massive Sound Productions]

Things you do when the weather doesnt feel like spring!? Writing a new song and do a new Youtube video comparing three of your beloved PRS guitars...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWv2ZlX_a20

Was super interested into how my three PRS(-style) guitars, which all have an ebony fretboard, compare to each other and was surprised how close they were soundwise if you play Metal music (all tuned down to dropped C). Obviously there were some differences in build quality, from the look and the overall feeling and playability, but not universe away from each other. What do you think? Can you hear the difference between e.g. the 4000.- EUR PRS USA Custom compared to the 1000.- EUR PRS SE Mark Holcomb? Is the better build quality worth the higher price?

Hope you like the video and looking forward to your views and comments

 

[Kdogg788]

It was a great video and I liked the full intro to all the guitars. Like I said on your channel, you should post more often since you have a pretty sick setup and the video editing quality was really good. Just a couple observations...

1. I know the sound was through a youtube video but the sound of each guitar was almost identical to me and to make it more fair, I listened to the audio without seeing the video and which guitars you were playing at first.
2. Those Fame guitars look really nice. I wish they were available in the US because I really like the green one and to get a guitar like that from PRS means spending like 3 times as much, minimum. Is there any way to get them here?
3. For me the biggest difference is the feel of the neck. I've tried out pretty much every guitar in the PRS line from top to bottom and there are high end ones that I like a little better feel wise than the SE Custom 24 that I have, and some that I don't. For example, there was an old CE that felt awesome (but I don't have the cash for that right now) but also some more expensive ones that I didn't like as much.

Anyways, awesome video, great sounds and tones. You should post more!

-k

 

[Massive Sound Productions]

Thanks allot for your fantastic feedback! Means allot to me, as I spend allot of my sparetime to do these videos!! I wished I could do more of these videos and I have thousand of ideas what I could do next, the only problem is that I’m super busy in my job and my family/friends. This is something I’m not earning money with but comments like yours definitely motivate me to continue with my work here !!


1. I was also surprised how close the guitars were sounding! It probably also has to do with the amp sims, but still they are also not night and days different when playing through an amp

2. As far as I know they are sold exclusively via a big German and an UK music store but potential you could contact them if there is a possibility to ship one to the US.

3. The main question here is if you either prefer a painted or unpainted (e.g. like on the CE) neck and more slim (e.g. wide thin PRS) or thicker (e.g. Pattern) necks, if you can answer these questions to your liking you can blindly order a high end PRS and will be super happy. To be fair, the US PRS models feel a bit more organic in your hands and you can feel that the additional work they spend in doing them compared to e.g. a SE, is a plus there. In the end we can be so happy these days about the fantastic choices independent from the personal budget


Thanks again for your great feedback!

 

[Kdogg788]

Anytime, the video was very good.

IMO the US guitars seem more consistent if anything than the SEs which you have to play a few to find the ones that are "right" feeling. Personally I prefer the unpainted necks that some SEs and CEs seem to have more often, but the finish on some painted necks is better than others is better to me than other painted necks. With some my hand and thumb seem to stick to them a bit which makes it a little uncomfortable. I found the Fame guitar website but it's all in German. The specs seem to translate over between languages and of course the prices are in Euros but I wonder if they ship to the US. I really love the SE that I recently got so when it comes time to choose another guitar I can really take my time since there's no real rush.

-k

 

[Kdogg788]

I have one more question, the neck profile on the Fame is listed as a "Sapelli neck with "D"-profile." How does this compare with the PRS neck profiles? Which would you say it most closely resembles?

-k

 

[Massive Sound Productions]

You are absolutely right, an US PRS is a guitar you could blindly buy and you would get a super nice, well build and fantastic sounding instrument. My SE Mark Holcomb I selected out of three and this one was by far the best sounding. How this is also true for the Fame guitars I cant say, the one I have is the only one I have played and this is a fantastic guitar in every point

 

[Massive Sound Productions]

I personally like the more thicker necks of PRS, e.g. the Regular Pattern and not a big fan of the wide thin neck. The D auf the newer Fame Forums feels a bit different than the different PRS necks, but from its thickness it compares closest to the Pattern regular.

 

[Utkarsh]

Nice video man. As a hobbyist video maker myself, appreciate the hard work you would have put in. Very informative as well.

 

[Great Gazoo]

Danke OP. I really appreciate well-organized video content and you did so admirably both with the commentary and the video itself.

My MiK SE Custom 24 arrived in great shape as far as my limited ability to discriminate could tell. The wide-thin neck feels very comfortable to this new player with small hands, but I also have a rebuilt Epiphone Les Paul Studio whose neck is different, but not off-putting.

I really love the SE that I recently got so when it comes time to choose another guitar I can really take my time since there's no real rush.

Not to derail, but Kdogg, where o' where did you get the vaccine for this?! I know the SE Custom 24 should be a life-guitar for me, more than enough for my skill level, but, but ...

 

[Massive Sound Productions]

Thanks allot for your both great feedback Utkarsh and Gazoo! I’m still learning in doing these videos, it still takes ridiculous much time to record and cut but the learning curve is quite steep