A virtually untouched 2018 PRS Artist Package Custom 24 Rare Maple neck 24 fret with Piezo Pickup. It has mostly sat besides a few tests including the video link I included testing the piezo pickup out (the last pic is a video link). You can hear how amazing and full the guitar can be. It is all up to date and current PRS with the Gen III tremolo as well.
Note to clear up any confusion: The Artist Package has a higher grade top than a "10" top and only falls below a Private Stock though I have not seen a nicer top even on those, except maybe a couple of one-piece guitars going for $25,000.
As you will see it explained here: Standard Core Line → 10 Top → Artist Pack → Private Stock
There are NO 10 tops as nice as this. I have seen many. Just look at the book matching on this in the pics, the striations in wood grain match up perfectly which you will never see in a 10 top or anything less than an extremely high-end boutique guitar. In fact, I just checked every Artist Package I could find online and none of them came close to matching how well the grain matches up on this guitar.
The color is Purple Mist which is ONLY available in Artist Package. V12 finish. This is a thin pattern neck, the neck is fast but still has something to hold on to. My other C24 is a regular pattern and honestly, I can't really tell the difference in the necks. I actually assumed this was a regular pattern until I saw it on the case. Regardless, the neck is fast and comfortable.
Artist Packages come and go with some years PRS not offering them at all and several years not offering any maple necks on core models. Maple necks are very rare which is a shame as I own both and the maple necks sound amazing. Just as they do on a strat. I tend to think the PRS maples are a tiny bit warmer though.
Which brings me to the pickups on this. I am picky about pickups though I tend toward the more classic PAF style which seem to work best in all genres to me. I didn't find the stock 85/15 pickups hit the spot for me and after trying out many I went with handmade Bare Knuckle Abraxas pickups with burnt chrome covers (purple-ish to match the Purple Myst paint job). They are similar to the award-winning Bare Knuckle Mules but known to be better for taming bright guitars as you get with maple bodies and fretboards. I was right, they sound 100% better. It cost 480 with pro install to have those added. I will be including the original 85/15 pickups which are sold for $350+ on Reverb/Ebay/Craigslist. The Bare Knuckles look classy with the burnt chrome covers (which can be easily polished to just straight chrome if you want). Bare Knuckle are highly regarded pickups right now, generally considered the best. Handwound and made in England so, very long waits on orders. They are generally sold here in the US by private parties at really jacked up prices ($500 a set is common) As people don't want to wait months for build time and shipping from the UK. Pickups were professionally installed by John's Guitar Rescue and Repair in Burbank, my guy and many well-known player's go-to guy. His solder work looks like jewelry. And if you prefer the stock pups you can reinstall them and easily sell the Bare Knuckles for $500.
There is one tiny blemish that was professionally repaired by Pat Wilkins of Wilkins Guitars Van Nuys. It measures 3/16" by 1/16" roughly the size of a sesame seed and was completely filled in and smoothly refinished and all that is left is a very small spot that looks like maybe there is a tiny bit of discoloration in the wood there, if not just natural marking. It was actually hard for me to find the spot and I had to take about 5 pics before I got one you could see it in. I paid $200 so the luthier did a good job to get that small nick to disappear. I asked someone to look for it after the repair was done and they could not find it. This is why I marked the condition "excellent" rather than "mint". The guitar has about 15 mins playtime on it.
The bird abalone inlay is multi-layered and amazing. Black lip mother of pearl outlines on the inlay. The flame is extreme on the maple neck and body. AAAAA Maple top and neck and matching headstock. AAAAA Mahogany back. Even the abalone inlay for "PaulReedSmith" signature on the headstock is beautiful. Ebony truss rod cover The piezo pickup really does sound amazing. Check the video I included and you will see, I added some delay and chorus only, nothing else.
The case is Paul Reed Smith's personal favorite case (says so on their site). It is Black Paisley Artist Case with a super blue plush interior and paisley weave on the outside. It is very heavy and mega-solid. Comes with all case candy. PRS's best high-end locking tuners. Comfy black leather strap included.
Custom 24 with Piezo $4450
Artist package $1400
Bare Knuckle Abraxas sett Burnt Chrome covers and pro install $480
List: $6330 guitar
Video of piezo pickup test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G_ds5uP2U4