Lead players know the feeling. A 22-fret neck runs out of room up high, but 24 frets give you a full two octaves on every string and the notes a shorter neck can’t reach.
There’s a small trade-off, because the neck pickup shifts a touch closer to the bridge and brightens its tone a little. For metal, fusion, and prog players, that’s a fair swap for the extra range and the fast necks these guitars usually carry.
We compared five guitars on pickups, tremolo, neck feel, body wood, and value. The list runs from pro-level instruments down to budget shred machines that won’t drain the bank.
Related reading: how many frets on a guitar?, best electric guitars, and what guitar frets are made of.
Quick Comparison Chart
| # | Product | Our Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
PRS SE Custom 24 | ★★★★★ | Check Price |
| 2 |  |
Ibanez RG470AHM | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 3 |  |
ESP LTD Kirk Hammett KH-602 | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 4 |  |
Schecter C-6 FR Deluxe | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 5 |  |
Jackson JS32Q Dinky Arch Top | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
Trem Systems Split This Field
Three of the five run locking tremolos: a true Floyd Rose on the Schecter, a licensed version on the Jackson, and Ibanez’s double-locking system on the RG470AHM. Dive-bomb players should start there.
The PRS SE Custom 24 keeps things simpler and steadier for everyone else, and the ESP LTD KH-602 brings Kirk Hammett’s signature spec with an ebony board for the metal faithful.
1. PRS SE Custom 24
PRS SE Custom 24
Mahogany-body solidbody with two humbuckers, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, and a smooth tremolo for any genre.
Pros
- Versatile humbuckers handle rock, metal, and blues
- Mahogany body delivers warm sustain
- Maple neck and rosewood fretboard play smoothly
- Tremolo bridge for expressive vibrato
Cons
- Pros may want hotter aftermarket pickups
- Charcoal Burst finish only on this model
The “24” in the PRS SE Custom 24 refers to its 24 frets, and it remains the benchmark every other guitar on this list is measured against. The mahogany body delivers warm, resonant sustain while the pair of humbuckers, paired with a 3-way switch and coil controls, cover everything from clean blues to high-gain rock and metal.
The maple neck and rosewood fretboard feel smooth and fast, and the tremolo bridge adds expressive vibrato without throwing the tuning off.
What makes it our top pick is sheer versatility for the money. Few guitars in this price bracket play and sound this refined, which is why the SE Custom 24 has been a go-to recommendation for years.
If you want one 24-fret guitar that does it all, start here.
2. Ibanez RG470AHM
Ibanez RG470AHM
Ash-body shredder with HSH pickups, maple fingerboard, and a double-locking tremolo built for fast lead work.
Pros
- HSH layout covers single-coil to humbucker tones
- Double-locking tremolo holds tuning through dives
- Thin Wizard-style neck suits fast lead playing
- Ash body gives a bright, punchy attack
Cons
- Locking trem makes string changes slower
- Not ideal for total beginners
The Ibanez RG is the archetypal 24-fret shred machine, and the RG470AHM carries that legacy with an ash body and a striking Blue Moon Burst finish. Its HSH pickup layout, one single-coil flanked by two humbuckers, gives you a huge tonal range, from glassy in-between sounds to full bridge-humbucker aggression.
The double-locking tremolo holds tuning rock-solid even through deep dive bombs.
The thin, fast Wizard-style neck is purpose-built for speed, making this the metal and lead player’s natural choice. The locking trem does make string changes slower and is less forgiving for absolute beginners, but for anyone serious about fast playing, it earns its keep.
3. ESP LTD Kirk Hammett KH-602
ESP LTD Kirk Hammett KH-602
Kirk Hammett signature with alder body, two humbuckers, ebony fingerboard, and a vibrato for searing metal lead.
Pros
- Alder body and humbuckers deliver tight metal tone
- Ebony fingerboard feels fast and slick
- Vibrato system for dive bombs and squeals
- Maple neck offers solid sustain
Cons
- Voiced narrowly toward heavy styles
- Signature pricing runs above the field
The ESP LTD KH-602 is Kirk Hammett’s signature model, and it’s built for one thing above all: searing metal lead. An alder body pairs with two humbuckers and an ebony fingerboard that feels genuinely fast and slick under the fingers, while the vibrato system handles dive bombs and pinch-harmonic squeals with ease.
The maple neck keeps sustain long and tight.
This is the most specialized guitar in our lineup. Its voicing leans hard into heavier styles, so it isn’t the most versatile pick here, and the signature branding pushes the price above much of the field.
But for dedicated metal players who want a stage-ready instrument with serious pedigree, it delivers.
4. Schecter C-6 FR Deluxe
Schecter C-6 FR Deluxe
Affordable basswood metal axe with Diamond Plus humbuckers, a Floyd Rose trem, and a satin black finish.
Pros
- SGR Floyd Rose trem at a budget price
- Diamond Plus humbuckers push plenty of gain
- Maple neck and rosewood fretboard play comfortably
- Sleek satin black looks the part on stage
Cons
- Stock pickups limit tonal range
- Basswood body sounds less rich than mahogany
The Schecter C-6 FR Deluxe is our budget standout, packing an SGR by Floyd Rose tremolo onto an affordable basswood-body metal guitar finished in sleek satin black. The Schecter Diamond Plus humbuckers push plenty of gain for heavy riffing, and the maple neck with rosewood fretboard plays comfortably for long sessions.
For players who want a Floyd Rose without spending big, this is hard to beat.
The compromises are honest ones. The stock pickups limit tonal range compared to pricier options, and the basswood body doesn’t sound as rich as the mahogany on our top pick.
Even so, it looks the part on stage and gets you a locking trem and 24 frets for a fraction of the cost.
5. Jackson JS32Q Dinky Arch Top
Jackson JS32Q Dinky Arch Top
Beginner-friendly Dinky with a poplar body, amaranth fingerboard, two humbuckers, and a licensed Floyd Rose.
Pros
- Slim Dinky neck is easy for new players
- Two humbuckers cover rock and metal basics
- Quilt maple top looks striking for the price
- Licensed Floyd Rose enables tremolo tricks
Cons
- Poplar body limits tonal depth
- Floyd Rose is tricky for beginners to set up
The Jackson JS32Q Dinky Arch Top is the entry point of our list, aimed squarely at beginners who want a fast neck and an eye-catching look. A poplar body wears a quilt maple top in Transparent Purple Burst, the slim Dinky neck and amaranth fingerboard make it easy for new players to move around, and two humbuckers cover rock and metal basics.
A licensed Floyd Rose even lets newcomers experiment with tremolo tricks.
The poplar body limits tonal depth, and the Floyd Rose can be fiddly for beginners to set up and restring. But as a first 24-fret guitar that looks great and rewards practice, the JS32Q punches above its modest price.
Final Thoughts
The PRS SE Custom 24 is our clear top pick. It’s the guitar that put the 24-fret format on the map for everyday players, and its blend of a resonant mahogany body, versatile humbuckers, and a smooth tremolo makes it the one instrument here that genuinely does it all.
If you only buy one 24-fret electric guitar, this is the safest bet by a wide margin.
For dedicated shredders, the Ibanez RG470AHM and ESP LTD KH-602 are the specialists worth a look. The Ibanez gives you a fast neck, an HSH pickup spread, and a bulletproof double-locking trem, while the Kirk Hammett signature leans all the way into heavy lead tones for metal players who know exactly what they want.
On a tighter budget, the Schecter C-6 FR Deluxe delivers a Floyd Rose and stage-ready looks for surprisingly little, and the Jackson JS32Q Dinky is an excellent first 24-fret guitar that helps beginners reach the top of the neck. Whichever you choose, those extra two frets will be waiting the next time a solo climbs higher than you expected.
