So, tell me about 80’s Custom 24’s

[andy474x]

There’s an ‘89 Custom 24 available locally that I gazed upon the other day… it’s in pretty darn good shape. Sweet switch, Milcom trem, wing tuners, short heel… all the OG stuff. The shop owner had already been very generous allowing me to play anything I wanted, so I didn’t make him drag it down from the top rack - especially since I’m not really in the market at the moment. But, if it hangs around a while…

So, in light of this not being a super serious inquiry, feel free to be brief: What do you like or dislike about that era? How do they compare to new Custom 24’s?

 

[dogrocketp]

I have a 92 custom 24. The older ones have a stronger mid range to my ears. The necks were mostly hand finished, so there is quite a bit of variation there. There is the shorter heel, and the unbelievably good sunbursts, especially tobacco. They were intended to be played with 9’s, that’s what they came with. Go play it, they’re very special. Then there’s the winged tuners……..

 

[PRSAK]

I have a 1990 CU24 bought new and was my first PRS. The '89 probably has a W/T neck and a Brazillian board. Both things that I really like. The sweet switch is it's own thing and looks pretty cool. I love the vibe of the old Customs - especially if they happen to be vintage yellow or emerald green!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I’ll add they have a reduced headstock angle and softer curves and divots.

I dunno… the Annapolis made guitars are just cool. Could just be nostalgia, but I still get excited about ‘em.

 

[Monahan]

I had a few PRS guitars in the early 90s…

Only thing I didn’t like was the locking-wing tuners… mainly because I wasn’t accustomed to them. Sold them when the Eddie Van Halen Music Man/Ernie Ball guitars were released… it was a different time for me back then LOL!

You should go back and give it a test drive— then at least buy a few sets of strings

 

[gush]

I had a incredibly beautiful 89 but own a mint 86.

That 89 should have different pole pieces on B and E string treble pickup only. That's how you can know the treble pickup is still stock.

Both of the 80s cu24s I owned resonated differently than my newer prs stuff. Maybe braz board or maybe short heel??? Who knows?

I noticed it more listening to recordings I had done.

My 86 stays in tune better that any other prs I've had my hands on bar none. It still has the setup it left the factory with.

It will have sweet switch and blue wafer style rotary that offers slightly different combinations than circuit board rotary or 5 way blade.

I regret letting that 89cu24 go every day. I sold it to a local guy who sold it then bought it back so it's still local.

The top on my 89 was outstanding, even more than my 86 which always led me to think it was something special from the factory. I really couldn't find any proof of that.

I believe that 89 was part of a collection that belonged to a fella close to where I live. He was a pawn shop owner and spent years collecting special guitars but never selling.

I had mentioned that collection for sale on here a couple years ago.

This guys meth head grandson broke in and swipped approximately one half of that collection only to sell them for pennies on the dollar locally. He refused to file charges knowing his grandson would go to prison.

Many 80s prs and 50s and 60s Les Pauls were stolen......very sad.

I'm certain the 89 I had was part of that collection but no way to know 100% for sure, that's kind of why I suspect it could have been something special.

I had traded a sc 594 i got from Bodia straight across for the 89. Incredible top, VY and birds. This guy bought it from GC in davenport which is another reason I think it was from that collection.

This collector has passed away and one of my buddies that knew him very well was in charge of selling the remainder of that collection. That's how I came to know the story.

Anyway.......my recommendation is buy the 89 if it's stock. They are very sweet guitars.

 

[gush]

I forgot to add, my 86 has stamped T and B but 89 has stickered treble and bass.

Both versions are very good in my opinion.

Like ii said it should have the different B and E poles on treble pickup, that would be the stickered treble and bass set.

Always look that bridge pickup over closely. If it has no screw poles it will be a chainsaw bridge pickup, kinda rare.

I scored a chainsaw pickup and it showed up yesterday so I'm dying to try it in something.

If you go back, snap some pics for us. I never get tired of looking at 80s prs guitars.

Good luck!

 

[RobRiggs]

Although I’ve described it as an 86 on the forum before (getting old) I have an 87 custom. Starting from the headstock down: I like the small logo, I think it looks clean. Back when I didn’t need glasses to see I liked the wing tuners better. The Brazilian rosewood fretboard is beautiful as are the MOP birds. The pickups sound amazing to me. The rotary pickup selector gets sounds you can’t typically get from a twin humbucker guitar. I’ve always thought of the sweet switch as equivalent to a tone knob all the way on or all the way off. The guitar has amazing sustain for a guitar with a trem. I’ve always attributed that to the one piece bridge, might not be true but it works for me. I think these early guitars were made with extra care by a tiny company that wasn’t sure how long it would be around if it didn’t turn out an excellent product and it shows. They’re getting expensive now, but I’d highly recommend one.

 

[jkornel]

I can't speak to the 80's, but I do have a 1992 Custom 24 that is in every way perfect. I love the WF neck, the short heal and the 5 way rotary. It was at the end of the line for the old shop builds and it just has some serious special mojo. It is all original and has barely even needed and set up over the years, even in Edmonton where we have temps ranging from -40 to +40 through the year.

My strat and my Mira are tools that do a great job ... but the '92 is far beyond that as an instrument.

 

[andy474x]

I forgot to add, my 86 has stamped T and B but 89 has stickered treble and bass.

Both versions are very good in my opinion.

Like ii said it should have the different B and E poles on treble pickup, that would be the stickered treble and bass set.

Always look that bridge pickup over closely. If it has no screw poles it will be a chainsaw bridge pickup, kinda rare.

I scored a chainsaw pickup and it showed up yesterday so I'm dying to try it in something.

If you go back, snap some pics for us. I never get tired of looking at 80s prs guitars.

Good luck!

Didn't know about the pole pieces, you taught me something! Looks like this one (probably) does have the original pickups.

I doubt these photos will help with the "Why haven't you?" questions! But here's the guitar:

Looks like a faded cherry sunburst to me, there are a couple spots where the color is still a little more vibrant, maybe from the trem arm blocking the light? Cool guitar though. I think I like the back as much as the front.

 

[bodia]

Didn't know about the pole pieces, you taught me something! Looks like this one (probably) does have the original pickups.

I doubt these photos will help with the "Why haven't you?" questions! But here's the guitar:

Looks like a faded cherry sunburst to me, there are a couple spots where the color is still a little more vibrant, maybe from the trem arm blocking the light? Cool guitar though. I think I like the back as much as the front.

Dude….you gotta snag that!

 

[DISTORT6]

I can't speak to the 80's, but I do have a 1992 Custom 24 that is in every way perfect. I love the WF neck, the short heal and the 5 way rotary. It was at the end of the line for the old shop builds and it just has some serious special mojo. It is all original and has barely even needed and set up over the years, even in Edmonton where we have temps ranging from -40 to +40 through the year.

My strat and my Mira are tools that do a great job ... but the '92 is far beyond that as an instrument.

WF neck on a Cu24?

 

[PRSAK]

Wow. That is a really sweet looking old school PRS. I vote buy for sure!

 

[Deft Tungsman]

I have but one thing to say to the OP: if you can afford it, don't let this guitar slip away. It is drop-dead gorgeous and has all the right specs/hardware.

Those who follow such things know that 1989 saw an unprecedented abundance of truly stunning tops on the Customs. My very early '88 Custom ('87 in the pickup cavity) is a 10-top, even though it's actually not that outstanding.

Yesterday, after years and years of procrastination, I finally made a presentation video of my guitar. I think you may find it informative.

 

[andy474x]

Dude….you gotta snag that!

Believe me, I want to!

I had to make some major software changes at work (the program that manages everything about our whole practice) which resulted in some temporary, but significant, delays in our cash flow. So, things are picking back up, but I'm not exactly flush with cash at the moment! That, and I'm quietly waiting to see if there might be an Experience event this year, which I would most definitely want to go to and snag a guitar, if it happens.

The only things I could stand to sell or trade that are worth a hoot would be my SSH, which I would still be reluctant to do, or a whole handful of S2's - if the guitar is right, it might be worth it, but my Satin 22 especially is really a ringer. I'm pondering.

 

[andy474x]

I have but one thing to say to the OP: if you can afford it, don't let this guitar slip away. It is drop-dead gorgeous and has all the right specs/hardware.

Those who follow such things know that 1989 saw an unprecedented abundance of truly stunning tops on the Customs. My very early '88 Custom ('87 in the pickup cavity) is a 10-top, even though it's actually not that outstanding.

Yesterday, after years and years of procrastination, I finally made a presentation video of my guitar. I think you may find it informative.

You're not making me want this any less!

 

[bodia]

Believe me, I want to!

I had to make some major software changes at work (the program that manages everything about our whole practice) which resulted in some temporary, but significant, delays in our cash flow. So, things are picking back up, but I'm not exactly flush with cash at the moment! That, and I'm quietly waiting to see if there might be an Experience event this year, which I would most definitely want to go to and snag a guitar, if it happens.

The only things I could stand to sell or trade that are worth a hoot would be my SSH, which I would still be reluctant to do, or a whole handful of S2's - if the guitar is right, it might be worth it, but my Satin 22 especially is really a ringer. I'm pondering.

You may not have to ponder any longer. I couldn’t find it on their website.

 

[andy474x]

You may not have to ponder any longer. I couldn’t find it on their website.

Ha! Watch someone pop up with it here in a few days!

That'd be ok with me - it's not the time for me to get it.

 

[scotticus]

Here's a question I've always had about the older PRS guitars with the sweet switch. If you wanted to modify the electronics to have the classic two knob/3 way toggle setup, is the divot on the body underneath the sweet switch deep enough to accommodate a knob, or would placing a knob there raise it higher than normal compared to the later bodies that were made without the sweet switch setup in mind?

 

[RC Mike]

Ha! Watch someone pop up with it here in a few days!

That'd be ok with me - it's not the time for me to get it.

There’s always another. I always feel both relieved and remorseful when someone buys a guitar that I keep thinking about.

Except for that local SC-J and whole bunch of others that I can vividly remember.