Any instrument that inspires you to become a better player is worth every penny! Congrats on your custom 24. I also have a custom 24 in yellow tiger, and I love mine too!
I noticed the NF3 has virtually every hardware spec upgraded over the Silversky. The tuners are even the regular die cast prs import units. That are much better than those gaudy bright plastic vintage style they've been putting on most SE models. I got a package deal with one of the new cases, and I couldn't be happier. Its one of the only guitars I'm not upgrading major parts on. It's really great straight away. The action I've got so damn low its ridiculous. No buzzing or any bad frets. Plays like butter.
@@idontgrillonwed Fingers crossed! I’ve tried to find my Number One many times over the years: Suhrs, Vigiers, Ibanez, and loads more. Maybe the key is not to force it.
Great that you found a guitar that just speaks to you so much! What year is that PRS you bought?? Seems there is something special about earlier PRS's. I had a 1999 McCarty that was amazing.
I know exactly what you mean. A few months ago I wanted a SE DGT but theSE word most everywhere was backordered. I went shopping anyway. And yes, I bought a used Limited Quilt 10 CU24/08 etc... It was from the store owner's horde and I could not find a mark on it. I have a new working opinion of the word, sublime. I am very happy with it. And yes, a few months later, I got a new Goldtop SE DGT. They are both keepers.
Congrats on the purchase! I've got a couple of S2 McCarty guitars that I love, HAD (2) USA Silver Sky guitars, and HAD a $5.5K USA 10-Top McCarty. I just couldn't justify the 10-Top. It was beautiful, and it was so fragile...lived in a case. I already had an SE Silver Sky, and when I was thinning the herd one day, the USA Silver Sky just didn't make the cut. I've since picked up a Quilted SE Custom 24, an SE NF3, another SE Silver Sky, a Satin SE CE24, an SE Swamp Ash, and both SE DTG models. The SE lineup is just great. Since I don't have a history of buying USED, I'm going to find it hard to justify buying another USA PRS above S2, unless my financial profile climbs another couple of notches. Time to put more money away for retirement.
Truthfully, if the USA Custom 24 hadn’t been there to directly compare it with then I might well have bought the SE 24-08. It was a really great guitar, but having that instant comparison available just highlighted how excellent the core model really is.
Having played and owned SEs, an S2 a Core and 2 Bolt-On (CE) PRSs, the SEs feel superior to your typical import guitar, but you really can't compare the feel between the SEs and any of the USA made ones. How much the feel difference is worth to you? That is a question you have to ask yourself. Great and similar sounds can be achieved with any of them.
@@mannymejia7972 I think I agree with you there. I couldn’t in good conscience recommend that everybody buy USA PRS instead of SEs (otherwise I would have in the video), for most players out there I believe that the SE is probably the correct choice. But for me, the difference between the two guitars I played on that day was more than enough to convince me that the USA was worth the amount extra I paid. I still think it was one of my best ever guitar related purchases.
@@DGSessions I mean when you vibe with a specific guitar it can’t be helped. I’m sure that’s what happened with your purchase. I’ve vibed with $5k guitars and vibed with a used $50 squier.
There’s nothing wrong with an SE. It’s kind of like comparing a Toyota to a Lexus. Toyota is a great vehicle…fantastic in a lot of ways. But a high-end Lexus is a masterpiece. A core Custom 24 is a flagship PRS. If you are a musician and really enjoy playing guitar, and play often, and you can afford it, it makes more sense to buy a core model. They are a just a pleasure to play…great feel, great sound, easy to play, reliability and beautiful craftsmanship. It’s a great investment in your own craft and personal life-enrichment; plus if you buy a used one they hold their value. Yours is a beautiful color. Congratulations!
@@smflyboy Thank you! What really surprised me in this instance was just how much of a difference there was between the two. Much more than I was expecting based on my experience of other brands.
I’m a novice bass player and discovered the exact same thing. I now have a USA G&L L2000. If the bass doesn’t sound good, I know it’s not the instrument.
I also own a G&L L2000. Best bass ever! I also bought an SE Custom 24 that have literally swapped out EVERYTHING to core specs. Upgraded pickups to 85/15 TCIs, MannMade bridge and trem upgrade, nut, locking tuners and finally swapped and upgraded the wring harness to a 5-way blade (getting rid of the push/pulls) and finished with core style speed knobs. Sounds and plays every bit as good (to me anyway) as all the USA cores I played it head to head with after the upgrades and only spent half as much. Pleased with the results!
Some notes: the core you have there is from 2012 to 2015. They put 85/15 pickups on the core custom 24s around 2015 or 2016. The pickups you have are probably dragon pickups. Totally different sound. Plus the 85/15s interact with different amps in different ways.
@@DGSessions Oh, right on. Were you able to a/b the 85/15s with the HFS pickups. I don't know why, but I'm not digging the tone on the 2 and 4 positions with the 85/15s.
@@inthewild5776 I’m not sure where the 85/15s have come from, in the store I was able to directly A/B an SE CU24-08 (which has TCI “s” pickups) with the Core Custom 24. Neither of them have a position 2/4, they’re both 3 way toggles.
yeah bonding to a guitar is a very personal matter. but I think you should be able to tell us what aspects of the guitar you evaluate being so much better from the SE! you didn't tell... I can't believe it's a "I don't know why but I preferred this one" 🤔
@@gulfmarine8857 Can’t argue with that! The whole idea behind the video was that I was so surprised that the core managed to be noticeably better, despite the SE being amazing to begin with!
@@DGSessions I got my mint condition Santana model along with an Ovation 12 string (also immaculate) for 300 bucks! Both with hard cases. Package deal!! I didn't know exactly what I had 'till I got home! I can't say I never got a lucky break now.
@DGSessions and how do you find them? Been reading mixed reviews about them. Actually getting a set of those installed on my SE Custom 24 Floyd model this weekend.
@@francoislouw181 They suit me. I find a lot of pickups are voiced with a bit too much harshness and bite so that they don’t turn to mush when they’re run through mega gain. These are a bit warmer and work well with my usual mid-ish Marshall gain levels.
@DGSessions great. I'm a old school blues/rock and rock player. We cover a lot of ground from Bad Company to Pink Floyd to Gary Moore, the latter being my main influence too. I use a Bluguitar Amp1. So should work?
You remind me of me. I have gone to music store with the aim of testing certain guitars and walked out considerable poorer having chosen a guitar I wasn't even thinking about. Just like anyone addicted to any substance. So, no, it's not about the quality, sound or "wood". It's about psychology. Of course it sounds and play better! it costs many times as much! Yeah. I know the feeling.
@@olestef Truthfully, I’m usually the other way around. I sold a very expensive Suhr T-style after I a/b tested it with my Shijie, and I still have my Martin Kidd designed Jet City Amelia but my Victory counterparts went ages ago.
Core PRS guitars are indeed better and have nicer woods than the SE's. And they should be 😊 How much better and if you want to pay the extra cash, depends individually... Used core PRS's though, from the early 2000 can be found at a good price. I bought a 2003 CE 22 core for a little bit more than the cost for an SE Custom and less than half the current US CE24 price. And it is a way nicer guitar with a US trem and a violin carved top, you find nowadays only on the Core Customs...
@@bobdelair02 I’ve owned 3x USA CE PRSes through the years (one early 22, one early 24, and a modern 24) and the early CE24 is a guitar I wish I never sold. The 22 was excellent too but the neck on the 24 suited me better. I think the main point is that the SE range is so good that it’s very easy to forget that the USA range isn’t just more expensive…it’s supposed to be noticeably better.
@@DGSessions Personally I prefer the CE22 over the 24, because the warmer neck pu sound. Wide fat necks are fine with me, though I would have preferred a more rounded edge. May sand the neck a bit rounder some day... 🙃
I was about to buy and on the lookout for a SE DGT, same as you... - I got a chance to test one recently in a shop .. - and boy was I disappointed ...; the built quality was subpar to everything I know from PRS, neck and fret finish was really bad.. plus a really bad setup which made it overly hard to play. (and I have some - Core USA, 2 S2 and really good SE's to compare - which are from the Korea Built period) - of course in the shop I could not start doing adjustments to see how much can be fixed to make it more playable.. - my gut feeling is, all the YT reviewers that hype especially this model "DGT SE" receive and extra carefully checked one... - don't get me wrong, I have 2 Korean made SE's which are outstanding - but right now I am rethinking if I should go for the SE DGT....
@@mheyl180 That’s the first negative review I’ve seen on an SE DGT, and I’ll definitely bear it in mind. I was considering ordering one online, but this experience has firmly encouraged me to try instruments in store before buying.
Sometime with guitars you need to check out several of the same model because to me every guitar is unique. I was looking for a Gibson SG 61 reissue years ago and tried maybe 10 before I picked the one I bought. They were all noticeably different to me which doesn't say alot for quality control but never judge a model on just one sample. The same happened to me with a Gretsch 5622.
@@DGSessions I can honestly say, that with the move to have SE's built in Indonesia, the prices have gone up - and the built quality has become "inconsistent" to phrase it politely - but in all fairness the pickups have improved...; I have a Zach Meyers SE which is really good; for Korean built - my SE Bernie Marsden is fabulous, the now old Korina SE a killer...; I still fancy the SE DGT Gold Top as even the used Core DGT's here in Germany are rarely to be seen below 3.5k €...
3500 Pounds for a new Custom 24? Around 2010, I bought a 1990 Custom 24 for $1800 CAD. That converts to about $1020 British Pounds. This was from PRS’s arguably even higher quality, early period, when they still had the “sweet switch” and the now illegal Brazilian rosewood board, and before they began implementing full CNC construction. I don’t know where used prices are at nowadays, but I’d argue that maybe instead of settling for an SE OR paying out the a** for a new US model, people should be directed to looking at used US examples. -EDIT: Yeah, never mind. I just looked at going prices for 1990 models. Utterly ridiculous. I should have kept that guitar for another 10 years before selling it. Apparently I could have at least quadrupled my money off of some sucker today.
Ultimately, used prices are what they are. With new CU24s at 3500, a reasonable used price is probably north of 2k. Of course, bargains will be around from time to time but it is what it is. Compare any the used market today of anything with what was around 15 years ago and you’ll likely find similar results
Same happened to me, I already had a custom order made Suhr Modern and an USA Jackson SL2, however one day I’ve tried and bought a PRS P22 with a rosewood neck. At home I realized that I only started playing the PRS and I sold the Suhr and the Jackson and bougt two more core PRS’s. So I understand you :). SE’s are good guitars especially for the price but Core PRS’s are work of art. And it is not about the hardware difference, it is about the difference in amount of time spent on each instrument perfecting it.
That really surprises me, the only time I’ve ever noticed a real difference between SE and Core models is when I’ve been directly A/B testing them like in this instance. Other than that, the quality, sound, and playability have always been excellent. Considering the price difference is in the region of 2k, it’s amazing how well the SE range stands up.
@@DGSessions yup. Playability and feel are great. I just don’t like the feel of the knobs, the way they turn, and they don’t clean up nearly as good as the Core models. They play and sound exactly like sub $1000 guitars, as they should! Totally not knocking them at all, just some things that always push me to the Core models.
Any instrument that inspires you to become a better player is worth every penny! Congrats on your custom 24. I also have a custom 24 in yellow tiger, and I love mine too!
I noticed the NF3 has virtually every hardware spec upgraded over the Silversky. The tuners are even the regular die cast prs import units. That are much better than those gaudy bright plastic vintage style they've been putting on most SE models. I got a package deal with one of the new cases, and I couldn't be happier. Its one of the only guitars I'm not upgrading major parts on. It's really great straight away. The action I've got so damn low its ridiculous. No buzzing or any bad frets. Plays like butter.
Bro you found your Number One. This is how it happens. Glad you went for it and won’t regret it!
@@idontgrillonwed Fingers crossed! I’ve tried to find my Number One many times over the years: Suhrs, Vigiers, Ibanez, and loads more. Maybe the key is not to force it.
Great that you found a guitar that just speaks to you so much! What year is that PRS you bought??
Seems there is something special about earlier PRS's. I had a 1999 McCarty that was amazing.
@@onlyguitars it’s a 2008 CU24 👍🏻
I know exactly what you mean. A few months ago I wanted a SE DGT but theSE word most everywhere was backordered. I went shopping anyway. And yes, I bought a used Limited Quilt 10 CU24/08 etc... It was from the store owner's horde and I could not find a mark on it. I have a new working opinion of the word, sublime. I am very happy with it. And yes, a few months later, I got a new Goldtop SE DGT. They are both keepers.
Congrats on the purchase! I've got a couple of S2 McCarty guitars that I love, HAD (2) USA Silver Sky guitars, and HAD a $5.5K USA 10-Top McCarty. I just couldn't justify the 10-Top. It was beautiful, and it was so fragile...lived in a case. I already had an SE Silver Sky, and when I was thinning the herd one day, the USA Silver Sky just didn't make the cut. I've since picked up a Quilted SE Custom 24, an SE NF3, another SE Silver Sky, a Satin SE CE24, an SE Swamp Ash, and both SE DTG models. The SE lineup is just great. Since I don't have a history of buying USED, I'm going to find it hard to justify buying another USA PRS above S2, unless my financial profile climbs another couple of notches. Time to put more money away for retirement.
Truthfully, if the USA Custom 24 hadn’t been there to directly compare it with then I might well have bought the SE 24-08. It was a really great guitar, but having that instant comparison available just highlighted how excellent the core model really is.
@@DGSessions Maybe I'll rethink the pre-owned option on the right guitar one day too.
Having played and owned SEs, an S2 a Core and 2 Bolt-On (CE) PRSs, the SEs feel superior to your typical import guitar, but you really can't compare the feel between the SEs and any of the USA made ones. How much the feel difference is worth to you? That is a question you have to ask yourself. Great and similar sounds can be achieved with any of them.
I’ve got 4 SEs and 3 USA PRSes, and I freely admit there is a difference, I just don’t believe there is a 3k difference. The playability is better
@@mannymejia7972 I think I agree with you there. I couldn’t in good conscience recommend that everybody buy USA PRS instead of SEs (otherwise I would have in the video), for most players out there I believe that the SE is probably the correct choice.
But for me, the difference between the two guitars I played on that day was more than enough to convince me that the USA was worth the amount extra I paid. I still think it was one of my best ever guitar related purchases.
@@DGSessions I mean when you vibe with a specific guitar it can’t be helped. I’m sure that’s what happened with your purchase. I’ve vibed with $5k guitars and vibed with a used $50 squier.
There’s nothing wrong with an SE. It’s kind of like comparing a Toyota to a Lexus. Toyota is a great vehicle…fantastic in a lot of ways. But a high-end Lexus is a masterpiece. A core Custom 24 is a flagship PRS. If you are a musician and really enjoy playing guitar, and play often, and you can afford it, it makes more sense to buy a core model. They are a just a pleasure to play…great feel, great sound, easy to play, reliability and beautiful craftsmanship. It’s a great investment in your own craft and personal life-enrichment; plus if you buy a used one they hold their value. Yours is a beautiful color. Congratulations!
@@smflyboy Thank you! What really surprised me in this instance was just how much of a difference there was between the two.
Much more than I was expecting based on my experience of other brands.
I’m a novice bass player and discovered the exact same thing. I now have a USA G&L L2000.
If the bass doesn’t sound good, I know it’s not the instrument.
Excellent choice on the G&L! They’re a hidden gem for guitarists but bassists seem to be even less aware of how amazing they are!
I also own a G&L L2000. Best bass ever! I also bought an SE Custom 24 that have literally swapped out EVERYTHING to core specs. Upgraded pickups to 85/15 TCIs, MannMade bridge and trem upgrade, nut, locking tuners and finally swapped and upgraded the wring harness to a 5-way blade (getting rid of the push/pulls) and finished with core style speed knobs. Sounds and plays every bit as good (to me anyway) as all the USA cores I played it head to head with after the upgrades and only spent half as much. Pleased with the results!
Some notes: the core you have there is from 2012 to 2015. They put 85/15 pickups on the core custom 24s around 2015 or 2016. The pickups you have are probably dragon pickups. Totally different sound. Plus the 85/15s interact with different amps in different ways.
It’s a 2008, so should be a HFS/Bass set rather than 85/15 or dragons
@@DGSessions Oh, right on. Were you able to a/b the 85/15s with the HFS pickups. I don't know why, but I'm not digging the tone on the 2 and 4 positions with the 85/15s.
@@inthewild5776 I’m not sure where the 85/15s have come from, in the store I was able to directly A/B an SE CU24-08 (which has TCI “s” pickups) with the Core Custom 24.
Neither of them have a position 2/4, they’re both 3 way toggles.
Thats how I "accidentally" bought a core santana. I went to buy an se silversky...
@@liamartinproductions Gald to hear I’m not the only one to fall into that “accident”! Haha!
@DGSessions I ended up buying the silversky as well and now I have to ear ramen for the rest of the month....
@@liamartinproductions I still haven’t tried the DGT yet, I could well end up with that too!
Man... I totally get it.. PRS core is like custom shop for everyone else. If you get past the stigma they are insanely good
yeah bonding to a guitar is a very personal matter. but I think you should be able to tell us what aspects of the guitar you evaluate being so much better from the SE! you didn't tell... I can't believe it's a "I don't know why but I preferred this one" 🤔
@@PaoloC. It wasn’t that I didn’t know why I preferred it, it was better in pretty much every way.
Really enjoyed your video ! Thank you for sharing !
SE s are phukking great
@@gulfmarine8857 Can’t argue with that! The whole idea behind the video was that I was so surprised that the core managed to be noticeably better, despite the SE being amazing to begin with!
@@DGSessions I got my mint condition Santana model along with an Ovation 12 string (also immaculate) for 300 bucks! Both with hard cases.
Package deal!! I didn't know exactly what I had 'till I got home! I can't say I never got a lucky break now.
What pickups are in your new baby?
@@francoislouw181 I *think* it’s a HFS/Bass set
@@DGSessions awesome
@DGSessions and how do you find them? Been reading mixed reviews about them. Actually getting a set of those installed on my SE Custom 24 Floyd model this weekend.
@@francoislouw181 They suit me. I find a lot of pickups are voiced with a bit too much harshness and bite so that they don’t turn to mush when they’re run through mega gain. These are a bit warmer and work well with my usual mid-ish Marshall gain levels.
@DGSessions great. I'm a old school blues/rock and rock player. We cover a lot of ground from Bad Company to Pink Floyd to Gary Moore, the latter being my main influence too. I use a Bluguitar Amp1. So should work?
You remind me of me. I have gone to music store with the aim of testing certain guitars and walked out considerable poorer having chosen a guitar I wasn't even thinking about. Just like anyone addicted to any substance. So, no, it's not about the quality, sound or "wood". It's about psychology. Of course it sounds and play better! it costs many times as much! Yeah. I know the feeling.
@@olestef Truthfully, I’m usually the other way around. I sold a very expensive Suhr T-style after I a/b tested it with my Shijie, and I still have my Martin Kidd designed Jet City Amelia but my Victory counterparts went ages ago.
Core PRS guitars are indeed better and have nicer woods than the SE's. And they should be 😊 How much better and if you want to pay the extra cash, depends individually... Used core PRS's though, from the early 2000 can be found at a good price. I bought a 2003 CE 22 core for a little bit more than the cost for an SE Custom and less than half the current US CE24 price. And it is a way nicer guitar with a US trem and a violin carved top, you find nowadays only on the Core Customs...
@@bobdelair02 I’ve owned 3x USA CE PRSes through the years (one early 22, one early 24, and a modern 24) and the early CE24 is a guitar I wish I never sold. The 22 was excellent too but the neck on the 24 suited me better.
I think the main point is that the SE range is so good that it’s very easy to forget that the USA range isn’t just more expensive…it’s supposed to be noticeably better.
@@DGSessions Personally I prefer the CE22 over the 24, because the warmer neck pu sound. Wide fat necks are fine with me, though I would have preferred a more rounded edge. May sand the neck a bit rounder some day... 🙃
I was about to buy and on the lookout for a SE DGT, same as you... - I got a chance to test one recently in a shop .. - and boy was I disappointed ...; the built quality was subpar to everything I know from PRS, neck and fret finish was really bad.. plus a really bad setup which made it overly hard to play. (and I have some - Core USA, 2 S2 and really good SE's to compare - which are from the Korea Built period) - of course in the shop I could not start doing adjustments to see how much can be fixed to make it more playable.. - my gut feeling is, all the YT reviewers that hype especially this model "DGT SE" receive and extra carefully checked one... - don't get me wrong, I have 2 Korean made SE's which are outstanding - but right now I am rethinking if I should go for the SE DGT....
@@mheyl180 That’s the first negative review I’ve seen on an SE DGT, and I’ll definitely bear it in mind.
I was considering ordering one online, but this experience has firmly encouraged me to try instruments in store before buying.
Sometime with guitars you need to check out several of the same model because to me every guitar is unique. I was looking for a Gibson SG 61 reissue years ago and tried maybe 10 before I picked the one I bought. They were all noticeably different to me which doesn't say alot for quality control but never judge a model on just one sample. The same happened to me with a Gretsch 5622.
@@DGSessions I can honestly say, that with the move to have SE's built in Indonesia, the prices have gone up - and the built quality has become "inconsistent" to phrase it politely - but in all fairness the pickups have improved...; I have a Zach Meyers SE which is really good; for Korean built - my SE Bernie Marsden is fabulous, the now old Korina SE a killer...; I still fancy the SE DGT Gold Top as even the used Core DGT's here in Germany are rarely to be seen below 3.5k €...
@@sgguitarzz Spot on and I agree... you can always and everywhere pick a lesser one..;
3500 Pounds for a new Custom 24? Around 2010, I bought a 1990 Custom 24 for $1800 CAD. That converts to about $1020 British Pounds. This was from PRS’s arguably even higher quality, early period, when they still had the “sweet switch” and the now illegal Brazilian rosewood board, and before they began implementing full CNC construction. I don’t know where used prices are at nowadays, but I’d argue that maybe instead of settling for an SE OR paying out the a** for a new US model, people should be directed to looking at used US examples. -EDIT: Yeah, never mind. I just looked at going prices for 1990 models. Utterly ridiculous. I should have kept that guitar for another 10 years before selling it. Apparently I could have at least quadrupled my money off of some sucker today.
Ultimately, used prices are what they are. With new CU24s at 3500, a reasonable used price is probably north of 2k. Of course, bargains will be around from time to time but it is what it is. Compare any the used market today of anything with what was around 15 years ago and you’ll likely find similar results
Same happened to me, I already had a custom order made Suhr Modern and an USA Jackson SL2, however one day I’ve tried and bought a PRS P22 with a rosewood neck. At home I realized that I only started playing the PRS and I sold the Suhr and the Jackson and bougt two more core PRS’s. So I understand you :). SE’s are good guitars especially for the price but Core PRS’s are work of art. And it is not about the hardware difference, it is about the difference in amount of time spent on each instrument perfecting it.
@@crystaloffrost There’s magic mojo in there somewhere if you ask me!
The Cores and CE are just another level, that I didn’t feel with the S2.
Thanks. S2 is a level about se imo, but ce is on my radar. I haven't played one yet.
I am still not a fan of SEs. It’s the electronics that just don’t feel or sound like the Core models.
That really surprises me, the only time I’ve ever noticed a real difference between SE and Core models is when I’ve been directly A/B testing them like in this instance.
Other than that, the quality, sound, and playability have always been excellent. Considering the price difference is in the region of 2k, it’s amazing how well the SE range stands up.
@@DGSessions yup. Playability and feel are great. I just don’t like the feel of the knobs, the way they turn, and they don’t clean up nearly as good as the Core models. They play and sound exactly like sub $1000 guitars, as they should! Totally not knocking them at all, just some things that always push me to the Core models.
bla bla bla, why not play the guitars.
?
@@GuitarEd48 Because I didn’t buy the SE…there’ll be videos featuring the cu24 soon though
Waaaaaaaaaaay too much preamble babbling.
There’s a clue in the thumbnail if folks just want the answer….
@@MrBobby1159 Each to their own 👍🏻
@@MrBobby1159 I do, it’s ok. It really doesn’t bother me at all. Enjoy your weekend.