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ESP E-II Horizon-III FR
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd
VS
Playability
80
Sound
84
Build
82
Value
72
Score
82
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Playability
75
Sound
81
Build
70
Value
65
Score
75
FIND IT ON:
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E-II Horizon-III FR vs PRS DW CE 24 Floyd

Reasons to Get
E-II Horizon-III FR over PRS DW CE 24 Floyd

Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Retainer Bar
Yes vs None
Assists you so tuning doesn't change when locking the nut
Neck Profile
Thin U vs Dustie Waring
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.656'' (42.1mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 25'' (635mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 10'' (254mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
72 vs 65
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd over ESP E-II Horizon-III FR

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Dustie Waring vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Nut Width
1.656'' (42.1mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
25'' (635mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
10'' (254mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
E-II Horizon-III FR vs PRS DW CE 24 Floyd

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Custom-5 vs PRS Mojotone Tomahawk Gen 2
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 vs PRS Mojotone Tomahawk Gen 2
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock

Shared Features
E-II Horizon-III FR vs PRS DW CE 24 Floyd

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Floyd Rose
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP E-II Horizon-III FR is probably the better product overall with its final score of 82 compared to the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd's 75 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP E-II Horizon-III FR wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd in every aspect.

However, there's still a reason to choose the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd instead. If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

PRS DW CE 24 Floyd
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Easy-to-use bridge

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR Overview

  • From ESP E-II's 2021 Horizon-III series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original bridge
  • Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

PRS DW CE 24 Floyd Overview

  • From PRS's 2020 Bolt-On series
  • Dustie Waring Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: PRS Mojotone Tomahawk Gen 2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: PRS Mojotone Tomahawk Gen 2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 Tremolo w/ Locking Nut bridge
  • Dustie Waring Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo frets
  • PRS Low Mass Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the ESP E-II Horizon-III FR

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Winner: ESP E-II Horizon-III FR.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

You can purchase similar pickups to the ESP E-II Horizon-III FR's and use them on any guitar:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The PRS DW CE 24 Floyd gives you 5 switch options while the ESP E-II Horizon-III FR gives you 3. This means that the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the ESP E-II Horizon-III FR comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP E-II Horizon-III FR's switch options
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: ESP E-II Horizon-III FR.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 95
Sound 84
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 95
Sound 81

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the ESP E-II Horizon-III FR compares to the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The ESP E-II Horizon-III FR is built in Japan while the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd is made in United States.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Locking nuts. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

However, only the ESP E-II Horizon-III FR has a retainer bar for the locking nut, which is a helpful addition. Without it, the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd's strings will change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'll have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly.

Winner: ESP E-II Horizon-III FR.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

They both have locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

The ESP E-II Horizon-III FR has a Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

On the other hand, the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd comes with Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: ESP E-II Horizon-III FR.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II Horizon-III FR
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Strengths & Weaknesses
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR
Quality of materials 55
Features 95
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 82
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd
Quality of materials 45
Features 70
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 70

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR Nut Width
ESP E-II Horizon-III FR Nut Width
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd Nut Width
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd has the wider nut with 42.1mm (1.656'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.1mm (0.002'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR's Scale Length
ESP E-II Horizon-III FR's Scale Length
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd's Scale Length
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The ESP E-II Horizon-III FR has the longest scale: 25.5". The PRS DW CE 24 Floyd is only 25" long. This is a 0.5'' (12.7mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR Neck Profile
ESP E-II Horizon-III FR's neck profile
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd Neck Profile
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The ESP E-II Horizon-III FR has a U type of neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

The PRS DW CE 24 Floyd, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR Fingerboard Radius
ESP E-II Horizon-III FR's Fingerboard radius
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd Fingerboard Radius
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the ESP E-II Horizon-III FR's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the ESP E-II Horizon-III FR.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the ESP E-II Horizon-III FR favors large hands more than the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR:
Big Hands
Small Hands
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR Frets Size
ESP E-II Horizon-III FR's Frets Size
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd Frets Size
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd's Frets Size

The ESP E-II Horizon-III FR has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the PRS DW CE 24 Floyd's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

ESP E-II Horizon-III FR
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 80
PRS DW CE 24 Floyd
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 75
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

E-II Horizon-III FR vs PRS DW CE 24 Floyd
General E-II Horizon-III FR PRS DW CE 24 Floyd
Brand: ESP E-II PRS
Year: 2021 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan United States
Series: Horizon-III Bolt-On
Colors: See Thru Black Sunburst Black, Blue, Brown Burst, Red Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose Original Floyd Rose 1000 Tremolo w/ Locking Nut
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh Locking PRS Low Mass Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Maple
Neck Material: 3pc Maple Maple
Decoration: Offset Blocks Black Birds
Scale Size: 25.5" 25"
Shape: Thin U Dustie Waring
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 10"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42.1mm (1.656'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom-5 (Humbucker / Passive) PRS Mojotone Tomahawk Gen 2 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 (Humbucker / Passive) PRS Mojotone Tomahawk Gen 2 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1