PRS S2 Standard 24 review

You might know PRS for theirJohn Mayer signature guitars, their bird fretboard inlays, or both. And while some PRS guitars are fairly pricey, the PRS S2 Standard 24 is an excellent value and sounds equally great played clean or with some dirt.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Solid body Electric Guitar

The guitar you play has the potential to shape your playing style, and it's wise to think carefully before making a purchase. Here are a few of the things you'll want to keep in mind before buying:

The S2 Standard 24 is a remarkably feature-packed guitar, especially for the price. In this section, we'll take you through some of the highlights.

Body And Neck

Mahogany has long been the tonewood of choice for many players who like a balanced sound with great sustain. The S2 Series was designed by PRS to offer incredible value, so it's somewhat surprising that the S2 Standard 24 is made out of a high-quality tonewood--many less expensive guitars are made using cheaper mahogany alternatives. Mahogany also has a beautiful grain, which is highlighted in some of the transparent finishes you'll see on the Standard 24.

While the double-cutaway design is a mainstay in the electric guitar world, the body design of the Standard 24 is worth mentioning. Bevel cuts on each cutaway make fret access comfortable and easy, and the body is contoured in a way that hugs your body. As you can see in the video (below-left), it's even comfortable to play on the couch.

The neck of the S2 Standard 24, like the body, is also solid mahogany. Mahogany is a strong wood that is unlikely to warp, and it also tends to absorb some string vibration, which compresses your sound slightly.

The neck profile is what PRS calls a Pattern Regular neck. This shape has some substance, but it's not so bulky that it becomes a challenge to play. Many older PRS guitars are made with Pattern Regular profiles, too. The video (above-right) goes over the Pattern Regular neck and other neck shapes used by PRS.

Notably, the neck on the Standard 24 is a bit longer than that of your average guitar. The "24" indicates 24 frets, and this slightly longer scale length opens up new possibilities for playing leads.

Pickups And Sound Quality

While you can always upgrade pickups later on, it's a good idea to choose a guitar whose pickups you like. The PRS Standard 24 comes with 85/ 15 S pickups. PRS 85/ 15 S pickups were initially designed for the company's 30th anniversary, and they are made to be incredibly versatile. They can produce beautiful clean tones, but the 85/ 15 S pickups also work well with heavy overdrive and distortion.

These pickups also have a push pull function that allows you to play with single-coil tones, too. Their sound is frequently described as vintage-inspired, which is likely to appeal to players across genres. You can hear them in this demo video (below) of a Vintage Cherry guitar.

Appointments

Overall, we think this guitar offers plenty of value for the price. And unlike many guitars touted as "value instruments," this one comes with several high-end appointments:

Finish Options

Most listings for the S2 Standard 24 feature the beautiful, vintage-inspired McCarty Tobacco Sunburst finish, but you can find this guitar in several different colors:

It's also important to note that the S2 Standard 24 can be purchased in either gloss or satin finishes. The finish likely isn't the most important factor you consider when buying, but it's always good to have options. The video (above-right) shows off one of the satin S2 Standard 24 models.

In many cases, it's a good idea to play a guitar before purchasing. But if you can't try out the PRS S2 in person before buying, reading online reviews of this guitar might help. Here are a few online S2 reviews that might help you make a decision:

Like many who have purchased the S2 Standard 24, this buyer seems especially impressed. Notably, they also describe how comfortable the highly contoured body of the PRS S2 is to play.

This helpful review details why this buyer sees the S2 Standard 24 as the best value option in the PRS lineup. Some PRS models can run high into the thousands, but this relatively affordable model offers great tone and playability for the price.

This review was written by someone who didn't initially intend to buy the S2 Standard 24. However, like many who have purchased this guitar, this buyer can't put it down.