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PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
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Playability
72
Sound
72
Build
60
Value
73
Score
68
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Playability
70
Sound
74
Build
62
Value
74
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
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PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt vs Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Specs Comparison
PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
General
Brand: PRS Fender
Year: 2024 2018
Configuration: HH SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Mexico
Series: SE Artist
Colors: Blue, Red White
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Alder
Bridge: PRS Patented Tremolo 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo Set Flat to Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: PRS Designed Fender Vintage F Stamped
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Birds White Dot
Scale Size: 25" 25.5"
Shape: Wide Thin Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.91'' (23.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" 7.25"
Nut: PRS Propietary Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: TCI “S” (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Custom Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Custom Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: TCI "S" (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Custom Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: Coil Tap None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Nickel Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt pickups switch and push knobs diagram
PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt's switch options
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster's switch options

Reasons to Get
PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt over Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2024 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs None
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Pickups
HH vs SSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.91'' (23.1mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) 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 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Avg. Weight
7.719lbs (3.5kgs) vs 8.344lbs (3.8kgs)
Tends to be lighter

Reasons to Get
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster over PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt

Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
SSS vs HH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.91'' (23.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 25'' (635mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 10'' (254mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
74 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt vs Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
TCI “S” vs Fender Custom Ceramic Single-Coil
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
TCI "S" vs Fender Custom Ceramic Single-Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
PRS Propietary vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt vs Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm)
Same neck comfortability
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
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
  • Locking Tuners
  • 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

Price History Comparison

PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt Prices

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Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Prices

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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 SE Custom 24-08 Quilt:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt meets only 4. 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 SE Custom 24-08 Quilt
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 SE Custom 24-08 Quilt

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

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 Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

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 SE Custom 24-08 Quilt.

Pickup Configuration

The PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt has an HH configuration while the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster has SSS 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, SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

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 Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

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: Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster.

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 Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster gives you 5 switch options while the PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt gives you 3. This means that the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Tap.

Coil Tap is similar to Coil Split but it works a bit differently. Instead of completely cancelling one of the coils of the humbucker, it only cuts part of the output once activated. Some people believe this gives the split pickups a more real single-coil sound.

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 Custom 24-08 Quilt.

Final Sound Quality Scores

PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt
Pickups 85
Sustain 65
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 72
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74

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 SE Custom 24-08 Quilt compares to the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt is built in Indonesia while the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster is made in Mexico.

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.

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: 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 PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt has 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.

On the other hand, the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster comes with a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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

Both come with regular tuners. The PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt's are PRS Designed while the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster's are Fender Vintage F Stamped

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 PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt has a 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.

On the other hand, the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster 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: Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt
  • Expensive Wood
  • PRS Propietary Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Tap 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt
Quality of materials 50
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
Quality of materials 61
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 62

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 SE Custom 24-08 Quilt Nut Width
PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt Nut Width
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt, 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 SE Custom 24-08 Quilt's Scale Length
PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt's Scale Length
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster's Scale Length
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster'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 Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster has the longest scale: 25.5". The PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt 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

PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt Neck Profile
PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt's neck profile
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster'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 SE Custom 24-08 Quilt and the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster 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 SE Custom 24-08 Quilt Fingerboard Radius
PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt's Fingerboard radius
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster'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 Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt'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 PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt.

Fret Size

PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt and Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster 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

PRS SE Custom 24-08 Quilt
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 75
Playability 72
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 70