In 1997, I bought a Paul Reed Smith custom 24 with a floating tremolo, and now, I hate to say this, but I’m in financial straights and it’s crossed my mind to sell it. I have another Taylor hear with me in Paris, and that is more than ample. I haven’t actually played the PRS in years because I’m not in a band.
But, enough about me, back to PRS. Someone told me years ago that '97 was the last year that PRS’s were completely hand made. Is that true? If so, does that make the value of my guitar go up?
Also, what’s the going price for a '97 PRS, if one day I get to the point I have to sell it?
I have a recent price guide for used guitars at home, but I’m at work right now. I can post the info from the guide when I get home, around 5 PM eastern time. Someone else will probably chime in before that. To the best of my knowledge, the high-end PRS guitars are still hand-made, but if there is a premium placed on guitars from 1997 and before, the price guide will reflect that.
Originally, PRS guitars were completely handmade. They got so popular in the mid 90’s that the line went from handmade to automated CNC production in 1995. That’s why pre-95 models are so sought after.
There are multiple PAUL REED SMITH PRS CUSTOM 24 guitars on eBay. The selling prices range from mid-$1000 to over $6,000. I can’t tell what the differences are. I did not see any from '97, but there’s a '98 that went for $1,925.00.
My 2005 price guide shows a range of $1500 to $2100 for a 1997 Custom 24. The high end of that range would be for a perfect one with bird inlays and gold hardware.