’88 Custom 24

One of the first batch of eight PRS guitars in the UK, courtesy of Doug Chandler, then of Chandler Guitars in Kew, later marketing director of PRS itself, and now of Guitar XS importing Groove Tubes and Collings guitars and the excellent Providence stompboxes to the UK.

This one has a tight ribbon flame under a grey stain, a medium-fat neck profile, a vintage pickup at the neck and an HFS at the bridge. One of the last with a genuine Brazilian rosewood fingerboard before this was outlawed and they turned to sourcing lesser woods from elsewhere. Also just predates the factory move that saw them upscale manufacturing and broaden appeal, so very much an earlyish PRS from a great time.

Contrary to received wisdom, I find it quite a temperamental instrument – it always plays well but some days it sounds good, others less so.  I realise this is an unpopular view, but I regard PRS more like pieces of furniture than top-quality guitars.

It’s in near-mint condition with original case and candy. The stupid stock plastic knobs are in the case, replaced by black dome-head metal knows that don’t fall apart each time you use the rotary pickup selector. The small toggle is the ‘sweet switch’ which brings a choke into the tone circuit and moves the guitar’s resonant peak down the frequency spectrum.

2 Responses to ’88 Custom 24

  1. Robin Farmer says:

    very interesting web site and super collection you have. I was directed to your web site by a chum who has never sold any guitar since he started in about the early 60’s. he now has about 102 of them!!! I have a mere paltry 32 in my collection. Amongst the lovelies I have an 87 PRS custom 24 top ten in Royal blue. Interestingly the colour has faded as per the old Les Paul’s. It is a stunning guitar that I took to Paul’s seminar in Guildford in November, organised by Anderton’s, who I had bought the guitar from in 1990 for £1000. He has signed it and seemed pleased to see one that was from his second year of proper manufacture and also the way it has faded. I have removed the whole electrics- Now Safely stored away) and fitted Lollar Peter Green Pick-ups. They are warmer and give me a completely different tones to play with. I find it amazingly stable in staying in tune. 3 gigs and it stayed in tune the whole time. I mainly use a mesa subway rocket now–it certainly sings going through that!
    i can send you pictures if you want to see how faded it no is.

  2. Rockbeare says:

    Thanks for your interesting comments, Robin, love to see some pix – send to [email protected]

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