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PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN
PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd
VS
Playability
78
Sound
75
Build
59
Value
71
Score
71
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Playability
72
Sound
79
Build
62
Value
71
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN vs SE Custom 24 Floyd

Reasons to Get
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN over SE Custom 24 Floyd

Decorative Top
Beveled Maple Top w/ Quilted Maple or Walnut Veneer vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2023 vs 2014
From a more recent year
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
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs Coil Split
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Strings
7 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.91'' (23.1mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 25'' (635mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
20'' (508mm) vs 10'' (254mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd over SE Mark Holcomb SVN

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Coil Tap
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Strings
6 vs 7
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 0.91'' (23.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25'' (635mm) vs 26.5'' (673.1mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
10'' (254mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN vs SE Custom 24 Floyd

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scourge" vs PRS 85/15 S
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scarlet" vs PRS 85/15 S
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-3 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
PRS Propietary vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN vs SE Custom 24 Floyd

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
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
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm)
Same string separation at the nut
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
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • 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

PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that both instruments scored 71 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN is the better choice.

The PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd meets only 3. 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 Mark Holcomb SVN
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • 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.

PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN Overview

  • From PRS's 2023 SE series
  • Mark Holcomb Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 20" Fretboard Radius
  • Beveled Maple Top w/ Quilted Maple or Walnut Veneer top
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple w/ Satin Finish neck
  • Bound Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scourge" (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scarlet" (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • PRS Plate Style (String Through) bridge
  • Wide Thin Set neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • PRS Designed Tuners tuners
  • Compare Specs >

PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd Overview

  • From PRS's 2014 SE series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: PRS 85/15 S (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: PRS 85/15 S (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Original Floyd Rose Tremolo bridge
  • Pattern 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 PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN

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 Custom 24 Floyd

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

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.

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.

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN offers 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.

On the other hand, the PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd comes with the following: 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.

They both share the following switching options:

PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN and PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd pickups switch and push knobs diagram
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN and PRS SE Custom 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: PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd.

Final Sound Quality Scores

PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 75
PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd
Pickups 85
Sustain 70
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 85
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 SE Mark Holcomb SVN compares to the PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd.

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 PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN 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 PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd comes with 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.

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 SE Mark Holcomb SVN'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 PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd's 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.

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: PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. Both come with 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.

Both have 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.

Winner: Tie.

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

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

PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN
Quality of materials 48
Features 55
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 59
PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd
Quality of materials 41
Features 70
Quality Control 75
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 Mark Holcomb SVN Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42.9mm (1.688'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 7-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN's Scale Length
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN's Scale Length
PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd's Scale Length
PRS SE Custom 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 PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN has the longest scale: 26.5". The PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd is only 25" long. This is a 1.5'' (38.1mm) 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 Mark Holcomb SVN Neck Profile
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN's neck profile
PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd Neck Profile
PRS SE Custom 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.

Both the PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN and the PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd 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 Mark Holcomb SVN Fingerboard Radius
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN's Fingerboard radius
PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd Fingerboard Radius
PRS SE Custom 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 SE Custom 24 Floyd's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN'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 Mark Holcomb SVN.

Still, both are closer to a Stratocaster radius than a Les Paul, so both of them will favor chord playing rather than soloing.

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 Custom 24 Floyd favors large hands more than the PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN.

PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN:
Big Hands
Small Hands
PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN Frets Size
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN's Frets Size
PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd Frets Size
PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd's Frets Size

The PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the PRS SE Custom 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

PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78
PRS SE Custom 24 Floyd
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 75
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN vs SE Custom 24 Floyd
General PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN SE Custom 24 Floyd
Brand: PRS PRS
Year: 2023 2014
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: SE SE
Colors: Black Burst, Natural Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: PRS Plate Style (String Through) Original Floyd Rose Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: PRS Designed Tuners PRS Designed Tuners
Fretboard: Bound Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple w/ Satin Finish Maple
Decoration: Birds Birds
Scale Size: 26.5" 25"
Shape: Wide Thin Pattern Thin
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.91'' (23.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 20" 10"
Nut: PRS Propietary Locking
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scourge" (Humbucker / Passive) PRS 85/15 S (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scarlet" (Humbucker / Passive) PRS 85/15 S (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: Coil Tap Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1