Having dabbled with guitars for a long time, I can attest that a new CE24 with 85/15 pickups is a guaranteed keeper-guitar purchase. I recently snagged one from a Reverb seller, and the pickups are amazing. I have a 96 CE24 to compare it to, and I may now upgrade the pickups in the 96 to 85/15s. These pickups are uncanny, in that they are very clear, with great midrange, but can do metal and non-metal quite well. Your amp is of course a huge part of your sound, along with pups, strings, pots, cable, and other things, but having quality pickups can help you to craft your tone is essential. Most 'stock' pickups do NOT sound this good. This guitar has a coil tap with the tone knob, so you get two HH (neck, bridge) and thus two SS and their respective mixes to work with (3 way selector, but w/coil tapping). Guitar aficionados usually have several or more guitars, but if you only could have a few, this would be one to keep in the core mix, and if you could only afford one guitar, this guitar would unquestionably, absolutely fit the need for creation, gigging, performing, et. The CE24 is just that amazing and flexible. 24 frets is always great for not just for tonal range but for physical reach on the fretboard, and the tremolo stays in tune better than any other non-Floyd. The PRS website videos are very accurate with their audio sample, but this guitar can take on any challenge. While a hard shell case would be nice to have, the gig bag is well made, and I'll compromise in the grand scheme of life a generic hard shell case downstream for a better guitar purchased upstream.
The workmanship on this guitar beats any in that price range. You can feel why guitars made in the USA (and of course, at present, select Japan models as well) have that 'feel'. The tuning keys are exceptional (I don't know the ration, but it is holding well with weeks of intense breaking in), and the trem is responsive to the wrist. There are many great guitars now to be had for an extremely low cost that are made in many places, but ultimately one finds that they will need to upgrade the pickups, the tuning keys, or something else in order to be more satisfied. Mexican-made Strats are always a truly great deal for the money, and I've got several, but they don't have 24 frets, two HH that are coil tapped, and thus they only fit a portion of the perceived need. You can't easily find the mix of amazing top finish, workmanship, capability, and tone all in one guitar. With the CE24, you absolutely can. I've done a few factory tours there, and in meeting some of the folks that make these guitars, it helps with the appreciation that they are just absolutely worth it. I love the guitars I have, and more than one are made in other places in the USA, but when a USA made guitar hits the mark in so many ways, I can't help but to acknowledge it, and pass along that sentiment.
In buying guitars in general, there are now more options than ever. Thoughts to consider:
-Would the 'fakes' be worth it? No. One attempt at that will show you that the upgrades needed to be functional are not worth the hassle, let alone considering the economic/sociological impact of buying crap that erodes our own economy. Don't be blinded by the eye candy on eBay. There are many interesting things to view, and maybe even tinker with, but at this time of writing, most are still more problems than they are satisfactory purchases that can be effectively used. Can the people in other countries build something of value? Of course. All humans are capable of amazing things. But the current reality of economics, politics, societal norms, and many other variables mean that the 'fakes' are probably going to disappoint you. Clearly, their market erodes so much of our home environment, but even then, they yield more effort than they do satisfaction. This is a volatile topic, but I'll just say from experience, 'fakes' are not worth it. Get a used, beat up original before a fake, if you want to practice with resetting necks, trems, knobs, intonation, frets, etc. Without delving too deep into that area, the fakes are like sugar; easily burned, with no nutritional value. Your well used, beat up originals are more like complex carbs; longer lasting, with more nutritional value.
-Would the lower end 'beaters' be worth it? Well, as a functional tool, maybe, but probably not in the long run. Again, guitar fans will dabble with many things, but we all can attest that fixing up crappy guitars can be fun, but it still costs money. Crappy guitars are worth the experience of failure-learning, but stay aware of the psychological value of enjoyment and increasing your capability. If a guitar is always fighting you, then at some point, you either need to make it a clock or get another guitar.
-Would it be possible to buy one guitar outright in the hopes of it being capable of hitting the mark for gigging, practice, coveting (yes, we do love some guitars more than others), and otherwise using for creating something worthy? Yes, and the CE24 hits that mark and then some. If you are experienced enough to debate set neck vs bolt on and countless other details, even then, you would probably agree that the CE24 is worth the money.
-Would I buy one for my kid as their first guitar? Maybe. I might start with a Mexican or USA Strat, but the next one would be a CE24 (based in part on years of drooling over the PRS finish and look, along with the tone and feel and my personal bias with what I like and what I've played over the years. Working at a guitar shop does open up your perspective...).
-Would a CE24 hold it's value for someone who is a beginner but then looses interest? Yes, you would not lose much money at all, as long as the conditions as well-kept.
-Does a CE24 react well with solid state amps? Yes. Tube amps? Absolutely. I have a Mexican body mutt-Strat with a Warmoth neck, and Jeff Beck hot noiseless pickups in a 920D loaded pick guard and Gotoh tuners that is beyond scary good in sounding; everyone who hears it acknowledges that it is exceptional and far beyond the norm in tone and capability. Take note of that combination. OMFG. I did combo again with a Chinese Strat body, and while it does sound 'brighter' due to the cheaper body, that Warmoth neck and pickup combination makes it hard to put down.
-Does the CE24 hold its own with other guitars? Yes, because of the coil tap, and the magic of the 85/15 pickups. I'll state that a CE24 will hold it's own with any Les Paul, any Fender, any Jackson, any Charvel, etc. Your life experience impacts what you reach for when in a store, and I have my favorites of probably every brand out there. My dream collection would have a variety of brands made in other countries, and that would mean Japanese, Mexican, German, Ireland, along with USA and possibly others. It's not unlike debating over who is the best guitar player, the best singer, the best actor, etc. There is a point where you can't compare apples and oranges, and experience with doing so educates you on the apples and oranges of things. You may have a bias towards what is your favorite, but there IS a point where it means nothing. Tom Petty did not have an extensive range, but his music is phenomenally enjoyable and thus core to many of our listening libraries. His song writing and use of tones and expression are what make him so endearing, and missed. Really, the more you 'do', then more you 'know', and the more you 'realize you don't know but need to know'.
So, there you go. Everyone has an opinion on guitars, tone, and their endless combinations. Will the CE24 meet your expectations? Yes, and probably far beyond. Are their tops just killer to look at? Absolutely. PRS is hard to beat for a flamey-flamey or quilt, or solid color, top to look at. Where else do you get such a mix of literally visual appeal and actual quantitatively/qualitatively justified results? Only with a CE24. If Fender ever did something beyond their stock, traditional colors, 21 or maybe 22 fret creation, they would sell more guitars (again, I've got many Strats and Teles that I love and will not part with). But as of this review, I've got numerous amazing Fender creations, and now a few PRS creations, with more PRS creations lining up to be the core mix. For their MSRP (try to negotiate when buying ...), this guitar's value can't be beat. Even then, using Amazon to buy at MSRP is still a win/win. I'd rather have 5 CE24's in the stable than 20 of anything else. For those with GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome), they will understand that sentiment.
I hope this subjective opinion helps you with your consideration. Keep playing, and keep enabling others. :O)
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