1993 PRS CE 24 – Gibson 490T/498T Pickups – OG Hardshell Case – Used Very Good
The CE 24 holds a special place in PRS history as the guitar that introduced bolt-on construction to a brand that had built its reputation entirely on glued-in necks. Introduced in 1988, it gave players the legendary PRS body shape, carve, and craftsmanship with the added snap, brightness, and immediacy that a bolt-on neck delivers — a different voice from PRS's set-neck guitars, prized by players who wanted that extra edge and articulation. This 1993 example is from the genuinely early era of CE production — three-piece maple neck, no black headstock overlay, 25-inch scale, and the classic mahogany body with a flamed maple top and rosewood fingerboard with bird inlays that define the CE 24's look and feel. This particular guitar has a real story behind it. One of our shop techs has been playing it personally for the last year and took it upon himself to perform a genuinely high-quality fret level, crown, and polish — the kind of careful, deliberate fretwork that most players never get to experience on a guitar this age, and it shows. The frets play like new. He also installed a really nice bone nut, a meaningful upgrade in tone transfer and sustain at one of the most critical points of contact on the instrument. The original pickups have been swapped for a Gibson 490T in the neck and a 498T in the bridge — a combination that brings real PAF-style character and output to this bolt-on platform, something that players who love both the Gibson and PRS worlds will appreciate.
This guitar has serious vibes and shreds. It carries plenty of honest wear and tear from being genuinely played and loved, not babied in a case — the kind of relic that tells you everything about the guitar before you even plug in. There is a repaired crack in the back of the neck that is completely stable and does not affect playability or structural integrity in any way. At 7 pounds 9 ounces it is comfortable to wear for a full set, and with the recent fretwork and bone nut upgrade, this is a CE 24 that plays better right now than it likely has in years.
- Make: PRS
- Model: CE 24
- Year: 1993
- Country of origin: USA (Stevensville, MD)
- Body: Mahogany with flamed maple top, double cutaway
- Finish: Red Burst
- Neck: Maple, 3-piece, bolt-on
- Fingerboard: Rosewood, bird inlays
- Scale length: 25"
- Frets: 24, recently leveled, crowned, and polished — like new
- Nut: Bone (recently installed, professional quality)
- Pickups: Gibson 490T humbucker (neck), Gibson 498T humbucker (bridge)
- Controls: Volume, push/pull tone control, 3-way toggle switch
- Bridge: PRS patented tremolo
- Tuners: PRS locking
- Hardware: Nickel
- Weight: 7 lbs 9 oz
- Repairs: Repaired crack in back of neck, fully stable
- Modifications: Gibson 490T and 498T pickups installed, bone nut installed, professional fret level/crown/polish performed
- Condition: Used Very Good – honest wear and tear from genuine use, repaired and stable neck crack, frets like new from recent professional work
- Includes: Hardshell case
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value. International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
