The Guitar Rack - a life pursuit of the instrument, gear, and TONE! Original guitar content through my journey in all things guitar!
Check out my page on other platforms (TGR Website, Facebook, and Instagram - links below) for a unique multi-media experience. I'm always open to feedback to make this content most valuable and exciting for YOU!
Honestly, it's been a LONG time since I've played an Invader. From my recollection, the Morse is more organic/balanced - it really impressed me from how I typically perceive ENGL!
I forgot to mention that the new CE24’s do not have recessed backplates like the Custom 24. Looks like the old ones were recessed the same as the Custom 24’s were.
That's correct. The old CE's were 'identical' to the Custom 24 except the change to a maple bolt on neck. The newer ones have the various tweaks to bring build and hardware cost down.
GREAT video! Thanks for sharing this great history. You don’t look old enough to have lived through that history though haha. Your collection is amazing. Some great info on what to search for to find some of those older models with their desirable features. You didn’t mention the TCI pickups. What do you think of those?
You aren't wrong - my oldest PRS is actually older than me, haha! This is all information I've pickup up from being lucky enough to own A LOT of PRS (first one as my single main almost 20 years ago, and it's been 'downhill' since then). As for TCI, I haven't experimented much with them. To be honest, I'm not finding much desire - there are so many amazing instruments and tonal options going into the mid 2010s that the more recent tweaks seem minor/unneeded for my personal tastes. Nothing against it, but one thing I've learned very clearly over having a larger collection to experiment with - when you already have magical instruments, no need to mess with it. :)
@@TheGuitarRackOfficial thanks for the reply. I was originally looking for a newer model, but after watching this video I decided to maybe look for some older models. I found a 1992 CE24 that is great shape and for some reason has only minor player wear. Was 1992 a good year for the CE24? I might take a chance on this one. Has the vintage bass and hfs pickups. I’m a little worried about the neck profile. I tend to like the pattern thin, but I don’t know what to expect with the 1992 CE24.
20:43 i wish more guitar youtube channels talked about the 24 stoptails. They were a remarkably iconic guitar between two fairly large bands by the end of the 90s. With the guitarist of Linkin Park using one. And an even more iconic example being Tim Mahoney from 311 using it prominently across one of their biggest apbums, From Chaos, that had the song Amber on it. And of course you can see him use it in the music video. It's just such a slept on guitar design, and i wished that with people wanting to dial back to some more simplicity in guitar models, that the 24 stoptail sounds like a dream come true for a lot of guitarists of varying genres. I certainly think it deserves a comeback in the form of an SE or S2 rebirth for modern players.
No argument there - absolutely fantastic spec. I have two of them, though one is for sale - decided it's time to let someone else enjoy it, and I'll survive with just one. :)
Probably not your preferred answer, but recommend you do a little research and make a best judgement off what you find - a lot of information out there on these models. From my perspective, they all carry the 'ENGL voice', and the differences are very heavily based on personal player preferences/style. Good luck!
For me i prefer 22 fret electric guitar.as you state in the video it moves the neck pickup closer to the bridge . I cannot get a good jazz tone on 24 fret guitars.
there is no doubting that PRS Guitars are the evolution of what was learned by Fender and Gibson, done better... There is no objective reason to buy a new Fender or Gibson, when you can get a PRS.
For me, after having tried both, I much preferred the 22…but im a smaller guy and it just felt more comfortable for me to play. Sound wise I didn’t notice much of a difference, it all came down to playability and comfort. I felt like there was less of a reach towards that first fret and all in all felt right in my hands.
Your perceptions are definitely correct - the PRS approach with the CU24 does have the neck shifted further away and bridge higher on the body (as compared to a 22 fret model). For me, it's just a slightly different playing experience - I tend to wear my CU24 guitar higher, and approach them with a more 'technical' playing approach, where my CU22s are very comfortable to play lower on the strap, which loosens up my playing style a bit. Makes me do different things, which is the type of inspiration which I personally like from different guitars.
Interesting - curious to hear more, what guitar model did you do this on? Did you also move the bridge position on the body? I'd think that without equal position change at the bridge to keep the scale length, you would have some intonation issues as a result (since fret placement is a function of scale length).
@TheGuitarRackOfficial The guitar is a old made by Gibson Epiphone Strat. 80s model hockey stick head. I kept everything the same. I just did some intonation.
Thanks for this video. Absolutely superb. I have a 1988 Custom 24 which I bought second-hand around 1991-1992, but it has a tone control (not the sweet switch). Do you by any chance know when PRS first introduced that? It also has half-moon inlays.
Thanks for watching - really appreciate it! From my experiences on these older guitars, the tone control started phasing in more heavily in 1990, with the oldest 'Factory Sweet Switch' example I've seen being from 1991 (though infrequent in those years). PRS did offer 'custom orders' on these details, so there was definitely overlap over the later 80's/early 90's between the two specs. Hope that helps!
I have 5 PRS guitars. One from 1984, one from 1985, one from 1990, one from 1994 and one from 2008. The older the PRS guitar the more problems they have. My two older PRS guitars have serious finish issues, the clear coat peels off in 2 inch wide strips. They cannot be played since every time you pick it up it causes the clear coat to fall off. My 1994 Custom 22 hardtail is a quality guitar, my 2008 SC 250 is a rocking guitar. But they fail to do anything close to my 1956 Strat or my 1957 Tele, PRS are cookie cutter plastic coated junk that only looks pretty. The PRS pickups are terrible. I never use them in the studio or on the road. My Jackson SL2 Custom shop was cheaper and it out performs any PRS guitar.
Enjoyed your video!Gave you a Sub as well!I own 2 PRS guitars.A new Custom 24-08 in Enriza Verde color which is stunning!!Also I have a 2008 Al Di Meola signature Prizm with a Quilt Top!!Had to replace a bass side tuner and found they don’t make the Phase 2 tuners anymore!A nice rep got them to find me one in the shop and sent it to me though.Any suggestions on replacements if I can’t get anymore??Thanks!!!
Thanks for watching Wendell - nice pair of PRS there for sure. With my general addiction to PRS, I actually keep a stare set of the older tuners around for this very reason. They're still available out there, so my recommendation would be to look for a used set and set it aside. They're generally SUPER reliable (I've owned almost 200 PRS now, and never had a tuner fail), so having 3 spares per side from a single set should keep you comfortable for a very very long time. :)
Enjoyed your video!Gave you a Sub as well!I own 2 PRS guitars.A new Custom 24-08 in Enriza Verde color which is stunning!!Also I have a 2008 Al Di Meola signature Prizm with a Quilt Top!!Had to replace a bass side tuner and found they don’t make the Phase 2 tuners anymore!A nice rep got them to find me one in the shop and sent it to me though.Any suggestions on replacements if I can’t get anymore??Thanks!!!
That's what I was covering in point #2 - 'harmonically ideal position', but you're correct, I probably could have expanded on that a little more. Thanks for watching!
Appreciate you checking it out! Wide Thin/Pattern Thin have been my go to for a long time - more recently, I've expanded to the other PRS necks, and I love how it changes my playing style (with a Wide Fat necked, McCarty, for example). All part of the fun!
I really love this video! You get into explaining some things that are not obvious to everybody. I've got some additions. Pickup placements vs sound The 22f neck pickup placement emphasises the 4th harmonic of the open strings. The 24f pickup does the same to the notes being played on the 2nd fret. This is not the only, but probably the biggest pickup placement effect when playing chords. Also The closer the pickup is to the end of the string, the thinner/brighter the sound will be (simplified, but generally useable statement). Here, psychoacoustics kick in. People tend to judge the sound differences of pickups in a guitar by playing chords and other things with their fretting hand not at the upper end of the fretboard. Then they conclude that the bridge pickup is brighter than the neck pickup. But at upper part of the fretboard the, the relative placement of the pickup changes. At the 22nd fret, the pickup pickup on the 22f neck is much closer to the end of the string than the pickup on the 24f guitar. So here it is actually brighter - not warmer.
Happy to consider that feedback in the future. I will saw - short of getting out a protractor and getting super nerdy, showing a small difference in headstock angle will be difficult on camera. :)
I can help with that! :) Here's the Amazon link: www.amazon.com/Raybee-Shelving-Adjustable-Shelves-Capacity/dp/B08PB94QPC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Raybee%2Bshelving&qid=1616981349&sr=8-1&th=1
Beautiful guitar. I've been wanting to get a baritone or maybe a bass 6 at some point soon. I'm curious what tuning you're using, if I had to guess I would say A standard, but more importantly, do you think something like this would work an octave down if you put the right strings on it?
This guitar lives in Drop B for my preferences. I've had no issues taking a 27" scale baritone down to E, but it definitely takes a careful choice of string gauge and setup. If you're too heavy handed, a slightly longer scale may be preferable.
I have an '87 Custom 24 and I hardly ever play it because I don't like the T&B pickups. If the guitar had a tone control instead of the sweet switch it would be fine, but the sweet switch rolls off too much high end for my taste. I have to radically alter my amp settings when switching guitars or plug in a much longer cable than I normally use to roll off the ice pick high B & E strings. I'm hesitant to modify the guitar with a tone control because I don't want to ruin the value, but I also don't want to buy another Custom 24 just to have one that sounds good to me. I had one of the PRS guitar center Throwback models with the 59/09 pickups that sounded fantastic. I should have never sold it, but again, I didn't want to have two of the same guitars and the 1987 Cu24 was made the year I was born, so it's special as well as being collectable. I think I'm going to just bit the bullet and add a tone control in place of the sweet switch. I was able to find some 59/09 pickups with round bobbins so they with look period correct in the guitar. I've ordered a 5-way rotary switch harness as well. I know I'll lose the out of phase quack position, but I don't want to possible ruin the original switch by soldering on it. The original switch is pretty scratchy as well. I'll just keep the original pickups and electronics if I every sell, which is doubtful. I think I'll be able to use a small washer with the sweet switch if I ever want to install it again, which is the only downside to changing the electronics. If those T & B pickups weren't so incredible bright, I wouldn't even consider doing this.
The T&B are definitely unique. While I really enjoy them for their 'vibe' in the original PRS guitars, they're not my absolute favorite when it comes to versatility and overall tone. Great pickups, but I definitely understand (and appreciate) Paul's continued evolution on this front!
@@TheGuitarRackOfficial i love so much, i have play many guitar like musicman jp6,musicman majesty7, ibanez rg prestige, Suhr modern pro. it all good but Prs has something special in the way of feel,resonance ,look,tone ,sustain, every small detail is perfect . I need more maybe charcoal cherry burst, blue burst. haha
@@RutchanonWongsang and there in lies the problem. Once you taste the awesomeness that is PRS, you just want all the different variations of 'flavor' (whether it's spec or aesthetics) - haha. Congrats again!
I have a couple of SEs a CU24 08 and 594S. I get my first 10 top tomorrow from Sweetwater via Fed Ex in faded whale blue (crazy top, black back) CU24. Thanks for the history. That '86 is awesome.
@@TheGuitarRackOfficial Thanks! I just opened it and Its amazing. It reminds me of my true San Dimas Jacksons from the early '80s. The top is crazy and the neck is excellent. Yeah you have a nice collection going thats for sure.
So beautiful I got some up to 7 but 2 I sold off other two make 5 own mccarty to the paul omg omg I did have korina mccarty great guitar . Now hollow body 2 Special semi hollow my one amzing tone . 96 sas mod pickup phase cat . An asa narrow field its different tone old one bit more fat strat svr but got own tone it's lite body too to sas 96 I think is that got flame neck omg I did have John Mayer gold omg better my old fender hot rod ha still goid . Jm just feel great I sold for special sim_hllw . But se get better jm es I buy feel good it kill strat for tuning an Stable I buy Santana gold an his yellow flame bolt Second hand little mod they two different tone thick body on gold other thin with maple top Is . Save me buy full one $$$$ it be nice . But other work for me . They beautiful guitar but they work fix lot odd design other make big f an g . I had they great guitar . I got Edward lp black costume Japanese make might keep ?? Sell for other se 594 it be little some different ah ah maybe 😅 prs great work art but they do job it how feel Through your Fingers at time prs will fake it so well isn't Fender or gibson but you can fake bit. an some little ticks .
Great discussion here. Just my 2 cents having bought my first PRS custom in 1988. I go for the 24's because they have a pretty unique voice and feel and sound completely different than my Gibson's and Fender's. But if you are not struck on Les Pauls, I can tell you with great certainty that a typical McCarthy handles itself very well in the company of Gibson R8's and R9's. Scary how good they are.
Appreciate you watching, and great input! I do agree - if you let go of the fact that the McCarty is not a single cutaway design, it definitely holds its own in those traditional tones. I enjoy mine very very much!
If you solo on a 22 fret and you need that high E. You can either perform a whole tone bend, OR you can also achieve the same note with a natural harmonic ( < 24 > ) . The downsides of this is lack of speed (it interrupts a sequence or run) and also no tapping potential for that note. BONUS TIP: You can also get the 23rd fret as a natural harmonic via: < 16 > on the b string. This means your fretting finger will be in the 16th square in order to fret a high E-flat but right over the 17 fret. You get nearly the same harmonic via < 4 > on the same b-string which is an octave lower but the resulting harmonic is still the same octave; weirdly enough. I personally have found bolt-on necks to not usually make the 23 and 24th frets accessible to normal technique. You have to modify your hand and thumb position to reach them and avoid the horns of the body and wrap your thumb against the neck block. Set-neck designs, however, seem like a different story and have a selling point to make for upper fret access (although I have never played a set neck). I'm not a PRS user, but I thought I'd chime in for fun.
I currently own a 408 wich is a 22 fret. I sold my Custom 24 SE complete the money i needed to buy the 408 and sound and quality wise the 408 is so much better but i do miss those extra 2 frets some times.
I dig the video. The Mark IV is such a beast of an amp! That PRS baritone is awesome too! Nice to see de Lisle amp switcher. I just had Jer build me a custom 12x12
Yup, Artist Relations build. Apparently part of a set of 3, one with Mark Tremonti, this one, and another one somewhere out there. Pretty cool history/story! :)
That animation is the perfect demonstration of why the 22 fret models sound so much better (in my opinion, of course) than the 24 fret models. First of all, the neck pickup is shifted so much further up the string that it results in greatly increased lower frequency response. Second of all, the bridge is shifted more to the center mass of the body, which changes how the body wood is activated by the bridge, and all the resonances that creates and how they propagate. The 22 fret models are just better looking, as well, because visually the components are more in balance.
Appreciate the watch and comment. I do agree - the animation definitely helps put it in perspective, very much a 'picture is worth a thousand words' type situation. :)
Excellent explanation, thank you very much ! I love both 24 and 22 frets - in fact it's fun for me to change from time to time the guitars and the styles ;-)
@@geoffh8077 The HFS is a great pickup - definitely a huge part of that 2000's PRS sound we all know and love. The 85/15 is a bit more refined, but still does great under gain (more power than something like a 57/08, which is a magic pickup, but different). Thanks again for watching and chatting!
@@TheGuitarRackOfficial It's so hard to even describe what it is about the HFS, some sort of crunching, barking quality. Hey, maybe an idea for a video would be to investigate it?
@@geoffh8077 'Snarl' is the word that I typically use, but I agree. Hoping to do a big follow up to this comparing CU24 pickup tones in the not too distant future, so definitely agree with the idea!
Great video Eric! You covered an immense amount of ground. One thing I can add here is the fretboard width. I have a 1989 CE 24 in Scarlett Red - a beautiful instrument - but the one issue I have with it, and its a big one, is the width of the board. At some point, I'm guessing here but it must have been around the time the Pattern necks appeared - PRS widened the fretboard at the nut. My 2019 McCarty with a Pattern neck is wider. I have large fingers, and that extra milimeter of space makes all the difference. I struggle to play the more complex open chords cleanly on the '89, whereas on the McCarty (and my Les Pauls, Ibanez etc) I do not. This is a game changer, I sadly have to sell my '89 to get a PRS with a pattern neck - which is a pity as you're right, they do have mojo. Selling it is another thing... people just do not realise that the early CE's are a Custom with a bolt on. and its impossible to sell them for their true value. I'm glad you highlighted this in your video. I'll probably reference this in my Reverb advert. You almost need to advertise them as a CU24 with a bolt on - perhaps that will get someones attention. I would be interested to hear from you if your CE's or early Customs have this narrower fretboard? Could you measure them and post? Or is it just mine, with it being a very early model (number 782 CE made, 4 April 1989).
