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PRS NF 53
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM
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Playability
70
Sound
72
Build
68
Value
60
Score
70
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Playability
73
Sound
79
Build
70
Value
79
Score
74
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PRS NF 53 vs Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM Specs Comparison
PRS NF 53 Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM
General
Brand: PRS Charvel
Year: 2024 2021
Configuration: HH HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Mexico
Series: NF Pro-Mod
Colors: White, Black, Blue, Natural White, Pink
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Swamp Ash Alder
Bridge: Body Gotoh Custom 510 Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: PRS Vintage-Style Non-Locking Tuners with Wing Buttons Charvel-Branded Die-Cast Locking
Fretboard: Maple Caramelized Maple
Neck Material: Maple Caramelized Maple
Decoration: Birds 4mm Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Pattern 53 Charvel Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.875'' (22.2mm) - 12th Fret: 0.969'' (24.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.77'' (19.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" 12" to 16"
Nut: Bone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 41.7mm (1.641'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Narrowfield DD (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Narrowfield DD (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 RWRP (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Gold
Show Diagrams Comparison
PRS NF 53 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
PRS NF 53's switch options
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM's switch options

Reasons to Get
PRS NF 53 over Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Mexico
Built with higher quality standards
Decorative Top
Swamp Ash vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2024 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
HH vs HSS
High output without hum
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.875'' (22.2mm) vs 0.77'' (19.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.969'' (24.6mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.641'' (41.7mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up

Reasons to Get
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM over PRS NF 53

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 10"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSS vs HH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.77'' (19.6mm) vs 0.875'' (22.2mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.969'' (24.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.641'' (41.7mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Avg. Weight
7.05lbs (3.2kgs) vs 7.594lbs (3.4kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
79 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
PRS NF 53 vs Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM

Bridge Pickup
Narrowfield DD vs Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Narrowfield DD vs Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 RWRP
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
PRS NF 53 vs Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

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Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both favor small hands .

PRS NF 53:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the PRS NF 53 meets only 5. 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.

New Player Friendliness

PRS NF 53
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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

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.

Woods Used in the PRS NF 53

Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: PRS NF 53.

Pickup Configuration

The PRS NF 53 has an HH configuration while the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM has HSS pickups.

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.

On the other hand, HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

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.

However, the PRS NF 53 has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM's online:

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: PRS NF 53.

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 Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM gives you 5 switch options while the PRS NF 53 gives you 3. This means that the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

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

Winner: Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM.

Final Sound Quality Scores

PRS NF 53
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 75
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 79

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 PRS NF 53 compares to the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The PRS NF 53 is built in United States while the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM is made in Mexico.

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.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Winner: PRS NF 53

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 PRS NF 53 has a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

On the other hand, the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

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 PRS NF 53's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM'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: Tie.

Tuners

The Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM has the best tuners of the two because they are 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: Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM.

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.

Both have 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.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
PRS NF 53
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM
  • Locking Tuners
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

PRS NF 53
Quality of materials 60
Features 50
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 68
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM
Quality of materials 61
Features 80
Quality Control 70
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

PRS NF 53 Nut Width
PRS NF 53 Nut Width
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM Nut Width
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 41.7mm (1.641''). This is a 1.2mm (0.047'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

PRS NF 53 and Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM's Scale Length
Both have the same 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.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

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

PRS NF 53 Neck Profile
PRS NF 53's neck profile
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM Neck Profile
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM'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 PRS NF 53 and the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM 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

PRS NF 53 Fingerboard Radius
PRS NF 53's Fingerboard radius
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM Fretboard Compound Radius
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM's Compound Fretboard 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 Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Fret Size

PRS NF 53 Frets Size
PRS NF 53's Frets Size
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM Frets Size
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM's Frets Size

The Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the PRS NF 53'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

PRS NF 53
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 65
Playability 70
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSS 2PT CM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73