PRS DGT vs. Custom 24: What David Grissom Changed, and Who Should Care

Short answer: if you play mostly in the first twelve frets, ride your volume knobs, and like a neck with some shoulder to it, the PRS DGT is probably the better guitar for you. If you live above the 15th fret, want five pickup sounds from one switch, or like a slimmer neck, the Custom 24 still makes more sense. They look like siblings, but in the hand they feel more different than you'd expect.

Same 25" scale, same carved maple top over mahogany, same PRS tremolo idea. Here's where they split, and what I check when either one comes through used.

Where the DGT came from

The DGT (David Grissom Tremolo) was unveiled at Summer NAMM in July 2007. PRS described it as the product of a working relationship between Paul Reed Smith and Grissom that went back more than 20 years. The starting point wasn't the Custom 24. It was the McCarty Trem, PRS's more vintage-leaning 22-fret platform. PRS changed the neck, used bigger frets, designed new pickups and wiring for it, and added an extra volume control.

PRS says Grissom and Smith spent a year comparing more than forty sets of pickups before settling on the DGT humbuckers. Everything about the guitar is aimed at someone who plays rhythm and lead through a good amp, not someone who wants every possible sound from one instrument.

The neck: fuller than you'd guess

Here's where the expectations usually get turned around. People hear "signature model" and "big frets" and assume the DGT has a skinny shred neck. It doesn't. By PRS's own published numbers, the DGT carve measures about .844" deep at the first fret and .953" at the twelfth. The current Custom 24 comes standard with the Pattern Thin carve, which PRS lists at about .828" and .891".

So the two necks start out close at the nut, but by the 12th fret the DGT is roughly a sixteenth of an inch deeper. That's enough that your hand notices it. The DGT nut is also a hair narrower (1 21/32" against the Custom 24's 1 11/16"). In my experience that combination feels round and full in the hand without feeling wide. Players who find Pattern Thin a little flat or thin across the back usually like the DGT right away.

One caveat for used shoppers: PRS has offered Custom 24s with more than one carve over the years, and a Pattern Regular option exists, so check what neck a specific Custom 24 has before you compare. Our PRS neck profiles guide covers the differences.

Frets: taller wire changes how bends feel

The DGT uses PRS's jumbo wire, listed at .110" wide and .055" tall. The Custom 24's PRS Standard wire is .104" by .047". Eight thousandths of an inch of extra height doesn't sound like much, but it's what you feel when you bend. You're pushing on the string more and touching the fretboard less. Bends feel easier to grab and vibrato feels looser.

The tradeoff: a heavy-handed player can push taller frets sharp. On the plus side, taller wire leaves more material for future fret levels. A DGT that's been leveled a few times can end up feeling more like a Custom 24.

22 frets vs. 24 frets, and where the neck pickup sits

The DGT has 22 frets and the Custom 24 has 24. If you need those top two frets, the decision's made for you. The less obvious difference is the neck pickup. On a 24-fret guitar, the end of the fretboard pushes the neck humbucker toward the bridge, so it sits in a different place along the string than it does on a 22-fret guitar.

Many players hear the 22-fret neck position as rounder and thicker. Forum threads often call the DGT's neck pickup "woolly," which is fair with some gain on it. The effect is real but smaller than it gets made out to be online. The pickups and your amp matter more. If you want the long version, see 22 frets vs. 24 frets.

Controls: two volumes vs. a blade switch

This is the difference that changes how you play the guitar. The DGT has a volume knob for each pickup, a master tone with a push/pull coil tap, and a 3-way toggle. The current Custom 24 has one volume, one tone, and a 5-way blade. Older Custom 24s used other layouts; the 2003 we have in stock still has the original-style rotary selector.

Two volumes let you set a lead level on one pickup and a cleaner level on the other, then flip the toggle to switch between them. In the middle position you can blend the two pickups yourself instead of taking a fixed 50/50 mix. If you're used to a Les Paul, you'll be at home in about ten seconds. The Custom 24's blade gives you more preset sounds with less fiddling, and its in-between positions are good for clean and funk parts. If you're unsure what PRS means by "tap," our coil split vs. coil tap explainer sorts it out.

Tremolo and tuning

Both use a PRS tremolo with locking tuners (PRS's DGT spec page lists the Gen II trem; the Custom 24 uses the Gen III). A well-set-up example of either stays in tune with normal vibrato use. If one won't, look at the setup and nut before you blame the design. The DGT launched with .011 strings, so check what gauge a used one is wearing before you judge the feel.

What I check on a used DGT

• Original pickups. The DGT humbuckers are a big part of why people buy this model. Pull the pickup ring screws or ask for photos of the pickup backs if the seller can't confirm. On the 2011 we have in, the original DGT pickups and electronics are intact.
• Fret height. The jumbo wire is part of the DGT's feel. Low, flat frets mean it's been leveled heavily or is due for work.
• Both volume pots. Sweep each one by itself in the middle position. A scratchy or dead pot shows up quickly with this layout.
• The push/pull tone. Make sure the tap engages cleanly and the knob doesn't wobble on the shaft.
• Case candy. Paperwork, tremolo arm and tags help resale on any core PRS. The 2011 here still has its registration card and hangtags.

For everything that applies to both models (top cracks, trem post wear, neck relief), see what I check on any used PRS.

On weight: it isn't a model difference. Our 2011 DGT weighs 8.08 lbs, our 2003 Custom 24 weighs 8.12 lbs, and a 2019 Custom 24 Wood Library we have weighs 7.7 lbs. Weigh the actual guitar.

My take

The Custom 24 is the more versatile guitar for most players, and there's a reason it's PRS's flagship. The DGT is the better guitar if you already know you play the way Grissom does: a pick, a good amp, and the volume knobs doing the work your pedalboard would otherwise do. I'd rather someone buy the DGT because they love that neck and those controls than because it's a signature model. If you're between the two, play both, and spend your first five minutes on the neck and the volume knobs, not the top.

We currently have a 2011 PRS DGT 10-Top and a 2003 Custom 24 10-Top in stock if you want to compare them yourself, along with the rest of our guitars in stock. If you're selling or trading a PRS to fund the other one, our cash offer page is the quickest way to get a number.

FAQ

Is the PRS DGT neck thinner than a Custom 24?

Not compared with the current Pattern Thin Custom 24. PRS lists the DGT carve as slightly deeper at the first fret and about 1/16" deeper at the 12th, with a slightly narrower nut.

Does the DGT have 22 or 24 frets?

22. It was developed from the McCarty Trem platform, not the Custom 24.

Can the DGT do single-coil sounds?

Yes. The master tone knob is a push/pull that engages PRS's coil tap. It gives you useful thinner sounds, but don't expect it to sound like a Strat.

Is there a cheaper DGT?

Yes. PRS makes an SE DGT in its import SE line, with the same two-volume, push/pull tone and 3-way layout and its own DGT "S" pickups. It's a different guitar from the USA-built core model, so judge it on its own merits.