Best prs electric guitar for Beginners on a Budget

If you're shopping for a prs electric guitar on a first-time budget, the short answer is the PRS SE CE 24. Guitar Player calls it the best value in the PRS range, and the review says it sits just below the over $300 mark, so it's priced for a beginner who still wants a proper PRS feel. If you want the look of the flagship Custom 24 and can spend a little more, the SE Custom 24 Exclusive is the alternative. This guide helps you decide between them and shows where the evidence is thin.

How we researched

This guide compares three PRS models from Amazon's SE line against the published specs for the core models. It uses four non-Amazon sources: a magazine roundup, a brand-specific owner review, a retailer's outlet page and a retailer's PRS brand page. The Amazon search results for PRS guitars, which show more than 1,000 results, were used only for listed ratings and price tiers. This guide compares products using manufacturer specifications, current Amazon listings and owner reviews; we did not test them hands-on.

Buying criteria

We weighted these criteria in order:

1. Playability: neck scale and fret count, which decide how easy chords and bends feel.
2. Tone range: pickups and switching options.
3. Tuning stability with the tremolo.
4. Price tier and condition.
5. Included gig bag and finish range.

For a first electric, playability and tone matter most. The bag and finish matter least.

How we chose

Each verdict below traces back to those criteria. The evidence comes from three tiers: an expert roundup, one owner review written by someone who owns an original Silver Sky, and retailer and Amazon listings for condition and price tier. None of it is hands-on testing by us. Where a spec is missing from the sources, we say so instead of filling the gap. We update this guide when listings or price tiers change.

At a glance

All three Amazon listings fall in the over $300 price tier.

PRS SE CE24 Standard Satin: the best first PRS

This fits you if you want a PRS feel without buying the core line. Guitar Player says the SE CE 24 has excellent playability, dual humbuckers with coil split and a tremolo that stayed in tune even when the arm was pushed hard. The coil split, according to the reviewer, covers everything from heavy metal to jazz and blues. You can read the full review on Guitar Player.

Disclosure: this site may earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links in this guide. The price you pay does not change.

The listing PRS SE CE24 Standard Satin shows 4.9 stars from 12 ratings on Amazon. A second CE24 Standard Stoptail Satin listing shows 4.2 stars from 21 ratings on Amazon. Both samples are small, so treat the 4.9 as a hint rather than a verdict.

Drawback: the reviewer admits the CE 24 'wasn't the cheapest out of all on offer' among beginner guitars. Compare current prices before you buy.

PRS SE Custom 24 Exclusive: the classic look

Guitar Player calls the Custom 24 the flagship of the range. It describes the guitar as designed to be part Fender and part Gibson, and says it launched the company at the 1985 NAMM show. The review lists a 25-inch scale, 24 frets, 85/15 pickups and a five-way blade switch. Those specs belong to the core Custom 24, not to the SE build. The SE listing we have doesn't publish its own spec sheet, so check the seller's listing before you assume they match.

The review also says the Custom 24 is favored by session players, which is useful if you plan to play with a band. The Amazon listing PRS SE Custom 24 Exclusive with Gig Bag shows 4.6 stars from 37 ratings on Amazon, in the same over $300 tier as the CE 24.

Drawback: the pages we read give no SE-specific tremolo or pickup spec, so the praise for the core Custom 24 is not proof for this build.

PRS SE Silver Sky Rosewood Board: for Silver Sky fans

An owner review on That Guitar Lover describes the Silver Sky as designed with John Mayer and says the SE version was brought to market at a price that suits more players. The reviewer owns an original US-built Silver Sky and calls its price very high. That is one owner's view, not a survey. The reviewer also says the SE's grey gig bag is fine for driving to lessons, but recommends a bag with neck support and padding for public transit or gigs. The full review is on That Guitar Lover.

The listing PRS SE Silver Sky Rosewood Board shows 4.6 stars from 43 ratings on Amazon, in the over $300 tier.

Drawback: budget for a better gig bag if you'll carry the guitar around.

Condition matters: new, open box or blemished

Guitar Center's outlet page groups PRS guitars as New, Open Box and Blemished, with Level 1 and Level 2 grades for the used stock. It describes open-box items as removed from factory packaging and showing some cosmetic signs of use. Before you buy a discounted one, ask for photos, confirm the grade and read the return terms. The page directs condition questions to a phone line. You can see the outlet range on the Guitar Center outlet page. For context on the line, Sweetwater's PRS page describes it as running from affordable models to one-of-a-kind Private Stock instruments, which shows where the SE models sit.

How to choose

• If you're a first-time buyer who wants a real PRS feel on a budget, choose the SE CE 24.
• If you want the Custom 24 look and plan to play in a band, choose the SE Custom 24 Exclusive.
• If you already love the Silver Sky shape, choose the Silver Sky SE and budget for a gig bag.
• If you're considering open-box or blemished stock, check the grade and return terms first.
• Skip all three if your budget is well under $300. None of the listed Amazon PRS models fall below that tier, so look at other brands.
• If you want a bass instead, see our Best Beginner Electric Bass Guitar: Picks by Budget.

FAQ

What is the best PRS guitar for the money? Guitar Player names the SE CE 24 as its best-value pick. Its reviewer says the jump in quality over cheaper beginner guitars is large if you can spend $100–$300 more. That's one reviewer's opinion, so check the listing and your own playing first.

Is electric guitar very hard to learn? The sources don't measure this, so we won't give a timeline. What helps most early on is a guitar that is easy to play. The Guitar Player reviewer praises the CE 24's playability. Practice in short sessions and ask a teacher to check your setup.

Who plays a PRS? Guitar Player says the Custom 24 is favored by session players and that most players would name it first when asked about PRS models.

What does PRS mean in guitar? PRS stands for Paul Reed Smith, the company behind these guitars. The brand name appears on every listing in the search results.

Conclusion

For most beginners, the SE CE 24 is the sensible first prs electric guitar. It gives you the PRS playability and coil-split tone that the review praises, at a price that is still high but lower than the flagship. Choose the SE Custom 24 if the classic look matters more to you, and the Silver Sky SE only if you already love that shape and will budget for a better gig bag. Check condition carefully on any discounted stock.

Sources

• Guitar Player: Best PRS guitars
• That Guitar Lover: PRS SE Silver Sky review
• Guitar Center: PRS guitars outlet
• Sweetwater: PRS guitars