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Kramer NightSwan
PRS SE Standard 24-08
VS
Playability
78
Sound
77
Build
59
Value
76
Score
71
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Playability
72
Sound
72
Build
59
Value
73
Score
68
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Kramer NightSwan vs PRS SE Standard 24-08

Reasons to Get
Kramer NightSwan over PRS SE Standard 24-08

Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Pickups
HHX vs HH
High output warm tones without a neck pickup
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Tremolo
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25'' (635mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 10'' (254mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
76 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
PRS SE Standard 24-08 over Kramer NightSwan

Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
HH vs HHX
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Tremolo vs Floyd Rose
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25'' (635mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
10'' (254mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Kramer NightSwan vs PRS SE Standard 24-08

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 vs PRS TCI S
Different Bridge Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs PRS Propietary
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Kramer NightSwan vs PRS SE Standard 24-08

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Kramer NightSwan is probably the better product overall with its final score of 71 compared to the PRS SE Standard 24-08's 68 score, although not by a lot.

The Kramer NightSwan wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the PRS SE Standard 24-08 has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Kramer NightSwan.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 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

Kramer NightSwan
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

PRS SE Standard 24-08
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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.

Kramer NightSwan Overview

  • From Kramer's 2022 Original series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: (/)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 Series Tremolo bridge
  • C-Shaped Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Kramer Deluxe 14:1 Ratio tuners
  • Weight between 7.15lbs (3.2kgs) and 7.85lbs (3.6kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

PRS SE Standard 24-08 Overview

  • From PRS's 2022 SE series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: PRS TCI S (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: PRS TCI S (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • PRS Patented Tremolo, Molded bridge
  • Wide Thin Set neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo frets
  • PRS Designed Tuners 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 Kramer NightSwan

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.

Woods Used in the PRS SE Standard 24-08

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Kramer NightSwan has an HHX configuration while the PRS SE Standard 24-08 has HH pickups.

HHX means there's no pickup in the neck position. It's a rare pickup combination. It gives you high output with a warm tone for hard rock with a bit more versatility than single-pickup guitars. You'll have to be careful not to set the middle pickup too high if you want to avoid hitting it with your pick.

On the other hand, 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 Kramer NightSwan'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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the PRS SE Standard 24-08 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.

Kramer NightSwan pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Kramer NightSwan's switch options
PRS SE Standard 24-08 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
PRS SE Standard 24-08'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: PRS SE Standard 24-08.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Kramer NightSwan
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 77
PRS SE Standard 24-08
Pickups 85
Sustain 65
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 72

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 Kramer NightSwan compares to the PRS SE Standard 24-08.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

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.

The Kramer NightSwan has a Locking nut. 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.

On the other hand, the PRS SE Standard 24-08 comes with a PRS Propietary nut. It's similar to TUSQ nuts, but they're not as hard, and the tone is not as bright. However, the material is self-lubricating, and it's usually well cut, so they have good tuning stability.

Winner: Tie.

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.

The Kramer NightSwan's brige is a 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.

On the other hand, the PRS SE Standard 24-08's is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

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: Kramer NightSwan.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Kramer NightSwan's are Kramer Deluxe 14:1 Ratio while the PRS SE Standard 24-08's are PRS Designed Tuners

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 Kramer NightSwan has a 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.

On the other hand, the PRS SE Standard 24-08 comes with Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Kramer NightSwan.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Kramer NightSwan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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 Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
PRS SE Standard 24-08
  • Expensive Wood
  • PRS Propietary Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Kramer NightSwan
Quality of materials 41
Features 65
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 59
PRS SE Standard 24-08
Quality of materials 46
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 59

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

Kramer NightSwan Nut Width
Kramer NightSwan Nut Width
PRS SE Standard 24-08 Nut Width
PRS SE Standard 24-08 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the PRS SE Standard 24-08 has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 1.6mm (0.063'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the PRS SE Standard 24-08, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Kramer NightSwan's Scale Length
Kramer NightSwan's Scale Length
PRS SE Standard 24-08's Scale Length
PRS SE Standard 24-08'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 PRS SE Standard 24-08 has the longest scale: 25". The Kramer NightSwan is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.25'' (6.4mm) 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

Kramer NightSwan Neck Profile
Kramer NightSwan's neck profile
PRS SE Standard 24-08 Neck Profile
PRS SE Standard 24-08'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.

Both the Kramer NightSwan and the PRS SE Standard 24-08 have a C-shaped 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

Kramer NightSwan Fingerboard Radius
Kramer NightSwan's Fingerboard radius
PRS SE Standard 24-08 Fingerboard Radius
PRS SE Standard 24-08'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 SE Standard 24-08's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Kramer NightSwan'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 Kramer NightSwan.

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 PRS SE Standard 24-08 favors large hands more than the Kramer NightSwan. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Kramer NightSwan:
Big Hands
Small Hands
PRS SE Standard 24-08:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Kramer NightSwan and PRS SE Standard 24-08 Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Kramer NightSwan
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 78
PRS SE Standard 24-08
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 75
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Kramer NightSwan vs PRS SE Standard 24-08
General Kramer NightSwan PRS SE Standard 24-08
Brand: Kramer PRS
Year: 2022 2022
Configuration: HHX HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Original SE
Colors: Blue Sunburst, Blue
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose 1000 Series Tremolo PRS Patented Tremolo, Molded
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Kramer Deluxe 14:1 Ratio PRS Designed Tuners
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: Hard Maple Maple
Decoration: White Pearloid Dots (size varies) in Ping Pong Configuration Birds
Scale Size: 24.75" 25"
Shape: C-Shaped Wide Thin
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 16" 10"
Nut: Locking PRS Propietary
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker / Passive) PRS TCI S (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: PRS TCI S (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 1