PRS Custom 24, Faded Whale Blue, Hardshell Case - Used - Mint
The Custom 24 is where everything started. Paul Reed Smith carried it into the Winter NAMM show in 1985 and within a few years it had earned a permanent place in the conversation alongside the guitars that defined American lutherie. That staying power is not accidental — the Custom 24 is simply an exceptionally well-designed instrument. Set mahogany neck, figured maple top, 24 frets, 25" scale, and PRS 85/15 pickups that Paul Reed Smith developed personally to deliver clarity and extended response at both ends of the frequency spectrum. Through the 5-way blade switch it covers genuine humbucking weight and coil-split articulation without sounding like it is compromising in either direction. It is a unique tonal voice, and it has been for forty years.
The Pattern Thin neck is one of the fastest profiles PRS makes, and together with the weight the whole guitar just disappears. Effortless and fast from the first note, the kind of instrument that gets out of your way completely and lets you play.
The Faded Whale Blue finish is worth a careful read: the color has shifted from its original shade due to UV exposure, a known and documented characteristic of certain PRS nitrocellulose finishes. This is not damage, not a refinish, and not a defect — it is a natural consequence of the finish chemistry, well understood in the PRS community, and we are calling it out plainly because that is how we do things. The guitar is otherwise Mint. No play wear, no marks, nothing to report. Comes with the original hardshell case.
- Make: PRS (Paul Reed Smith)
- Model: Custom 24
- Option: 10 Top with Hybrid Hardware
- Country of origin: USA
- Body construction: Solidbody
- Top: Figured maple, violin carve
- Back: Mahogany
- Finish: High gloss nitrocellulose, Faded Whale Blue (UV color shift — see description)
- Neck: Mahogany, one-piece, set neck
- Neck shape: Pattern Thin
- Neck depth at 1st fret: 53/64"
- Neck depth at 12th fret: 57/64"
- Neck width at nut: 1 11/16"
- Neck width at body: 2 1/4"
- Fingerboard: Rosewood, 10" radius
- Fingerboard inlays: PRS Birds
- Headstock logo: Signature, inlaid
- Scale length: 25"
- Nut: PRS
- Frets: 24
- Treble pickup: PRS 85/15 humbucker
- Bass pickup: PRS 85/15 humbucker
- Controls: Volume, tone, 5-way blade pickup switch
- Bridge: PRS Patented Gen III tremolo
- Tuners: PRS Phase III locking
- Hardware: Nickel
- Truss rod: PRS double-acting
- Truss rod cover: Custom
- Strings: PRS Signature 10-46
- Weight: 7 lbs 14 oz
- Modifications: None
- Includes: Original 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.
