Since its debut at the 1985 Winter NAMM show, this model has defined what a professional–grade electric guitar from PRS should sound and feel like. The Custom 24 in Pat Thin Fire Smokeburst represents the original design that launched the brand, now refined through decades of player feedback and manufacturing advancement. Figured maple caps a mahogany body, while the 25" scale mahogany neck carries a rosewood fretboard with 24 frets. This instrument has earned its place in the hands of stadium headliners, working session players, and dedicated students worldwide.
PRS's Gen III patented tremolo system and Phase III tuners with wing buttons anchor the platform, delivering rock–solid pitch stability through aggressive whammy work and string bends. DMO pickups in both neck and bridge positions offer what Paul Reed Smith and the engineering team describe as a wide–open tonal response with vocal midrange character, drawing on years of analysis of vintage pickup designs and modern signal measurement technology. The 5–way blade selector, paired with dedicated volume and tone controls, provides broad sonic range from glassy clean tones through saturated high–gain textures across the full frequency spectrum.
The DMO pickup architecture prioritises clarity and musicality across bass, mid, and treble frequencies in each position, avoiding the muddiness or harshness that plagues lesser designs. This configuration has remained a top seller for nearly four decades because it addresses the core demands professional guitarists place on a main working instrument: tuning accuracy under stage conditions, comfortable playability during extended sessions, and tonal flexibility that translates in both live and studio environments.
Features
- Figured maple top paired with mahogany back construction
- Mahogany neck with 25" scale length and rosewood fretboard
- 24–fret neck profile for extended upper register access
- PRS Gen III patented tremolo system for tuning stability
- Phase III locking tuners with wing button design
- DMO treble and bass pickups designed by Paul Reed Smith
- 5–way blade pickup selector with volume and tone controls
- Pat Thin Fire Smokeburst finish over figured maple top



