PRS Guitars - 22 vs 24 Frets (Differences, History, etc.)

Product reviewed / topic

This review is not a single product purchase, but a comparison of PRS electric guitars with 22 frets vs 24 frets. It focuses mainly on core double-cut models—Custom 24 (24-fret) vs McCarty (commonly 22-fret)—and how fret count changes sound and feel.

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Key differences (unique points mentioned)

1. Not realistically convertible

   • You generally can’t convert a 22-fret PRS into a 24-fret PRS because the bridge/bridge pickup placement and construction must change to add frets.

2. Core construction change (bridge + pickup shift)

   • Switching between 22 and 24 frets requires shifting hardware locations:
     • To get 24 frets, the bridge + bridge pickup move to accommodate the extra two frets.
   • The video presents this shift as the fundamental reason for downstream tonal and feel differences.

3. Major difference #1: the frets themselves (playability/positioning)

   • A 24-fret PRS provides three instances of the same note on a single string (open, 12th, and 24th).
   • Practical implication: helps players who want to solo up to the 24th fret without extreme bending from lower positions (around the 22nd upward).
   • If you specifically need the 24th-fret note on the same string for riffs/solos, a 22-fret may be limiting.

4. Major difference #2: neck pickup tone

   • Because the hardware must shift, the neck humbucker position changes between 22 and 24 fret models.
   • The speaker claims:
     • On 22-fret models, the neck pickup sits in a more “harmonically ideal” position, giving a warmer / “woolier” neck tone.
     • On 24-fret models, the neck pickup is effectively placed closer to the bridge side, yielding a clearer neck pickup tone for leads/solos.

5. Major difference #3: neck/body interaction and playing feel

   • The discussion is not only about frets, but also about model-family design choices:
     • Custom 24 (24-fret) is typically a trem/trim guitar with a shallower neck angle, leading to:
       • a flatter overall setup
       • feeling closer to the body
       • a thinner body design, with the neck sitting a bit further away
       • an overall vibe described as supporting “modern”/precise playing styles
     • McCarty (22-fret) is typically a stop-tail with a sharper neck angle, leading to:
       • feeling/playing further away from the body
       • a slightly thicker body
       • more space between pickups
       • a vibe described as more “rock,” looser, more aggressive, and more energetic

6. Model examples / “hybrids”

   • The video suggests you can blend fret-count benefits with other feel characteristics via PRS variants:
     • Custom 22
       • Trim Custom 22: closer to Custom 24 feel (thin body, flatter/closer-to-body feel) but with 22 frets
       • Stop-tail Custom 22: brings the sharper neck-angle feel closer to McCarty-style behavior, still with a thin Custom 22 body, plus different neck carve options (not detailed)
     • McCarty-family hybrids
       • Example given: Dave Gilmour trim / DGT-style models are framed as McCarty-based but with trim hardware, aiming for a “closer to body” feel while keeping thicker body + 22 frets

7. What to choose (overall decision framework)

   • The speaker summarizes selection around three themes:
     1. need/use of 24th-fret access
     2. preference for neck pickup tone (warmer/woolier vs clearer)
     3. preferred playing feel (closer/flatter/modern vs further/looser/rock)
   • Both are described as “amazing,” but they feel different “at their core.”

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Pros (as stated)

24-fret PRS

• Access to notes on the same string up to the 24th fret (useful for certain soloing/riffing approaches).
• Potentially clearer neck pickup tone for leads/solos (per the speaker’s interpretation).
• Custom 24 feel described as flatter and more precise/modern.

22-fret PRS

• Warmer / woolier neck humbucker characteristic tone (speaker’s claim).
• Stop-tail/McCarty-style setup described as looser, aggressive, rock-oriented, with an energized playing feel.

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Cons (implied)

22-fret PRS

• May be limiting if you specifically need the 24th-fret note on the same string or want to solo higher without heavy bending.
• You may not be able to reproduce the exact 22-fret neck pickup tone on a 24-fret due to pickup position changes.

24-fret PRS

• May not match the 22-fret “woolier” neck pickup tone.
• Feel may be less aligned with players who prefer a further-from-body, rock/aggressive experience.

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User experience / how it “feels” in use (from the video)

The biggest experiential differentiators are described as:

• Neck pickup character (warm/woolier vs clearer)
• How close/far the guitar feels to the body
• Setup geometry (neck angle) influencing what styles the guitar suits

The video encourages trying both, since preferences differ.

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Comparisons made

• Main benchmark: Custom 24 (24 frets) vs McCarty (22 frets).
• Mentions historical evolution (Custom 24 becoming more standard; 22-fret concepts tied to Custom 22 → McCarty → 594 influence), but the strongest emphasis remains on:
  • construction + feel + neck pickup tone
• Mentions hybrid variants (trim vs stop-tail combinations) as alternatives to blend experiences.

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Ratings / numerical scores

• No explicit star ratings or numeric review scores are provided.
• The most notable numeric detail is about playability:
  • 24-fret access means the open, 12th, and 24th fret notes occur on the same string (three instances per string).

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Overall verdict / recommendation (concise)

• Choose 24 frets if you need/like 24th-fret access for riffing/soloing patterns and prefer a clearer neck pickup tone, plus a flatter/more modern precise feel (typical Custom 24 setup).
• Choose 22 frets if you value the warmer/woolier 22-fret neck pickup tone and prefer the stop-tail, sharper neck-angle, further-from-body “rock” feel (typical McCarty behavior).
• The video suggests the best outcome is matching your playing style, or choosing a hybrid (trim vs stop-tail) to reach a “middle ground.”

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Speaker contributions / viewpoints

• Eric (main narrator): provides the full framework—construction explanation, the three difference categories (frets, neck pickup tone, neck/body interaction), and model examples/hybrid guidance.