The 2000 PRS Custom 22 Tremolo in Violin Amber Sunburst is an early-era USA-made Custom 22 that combines PRS's carved maple-top construction with a 22-fret mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard and patented tremolo system.

Developed as a slightly warmer, more traditionally positioned alternative to the Custom 24, the Custom 22 retains PRS's 25" scale while moving the neck pickup further from the bridge. Its twin-humbucker format and five-way rotary switching provide a wide tonal range suited to clean playing, blues, rock, fusion, pop and higher-gain work.

At A Glance

Key Detail	Information
Brand	PRS / Paul Reed Smith
Model	Custom 22 Tremolo
Year	2000
Origin	USA
Finish	Violin Amber Sunburst
Serial Number	0 46812
Condition	Pre-Owned, Good
Main Appeal	Early USA Custom 22 with classic PRS construction and rotary switching
Best For	Rock, blues, fusion, pop, studio and live performance

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Good Condition

This 2000 PRS Custom 22 Tremolo is offered in Good condition.

Good condition reflects a guitar that shows visible signs of previous ownership and playing while remaining suitable for regular musical use. For a USA PRS dating from 2000, it is an appealing option for a player who values genuine age and character over near-new cosmetics.

No faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

What’s Included?

✔ 2000 PRS Custom 22 Tremolo Violin Amber Sunburst
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This Custom 22 is graded Good, with evidence of previous use consistent with its age and condition classification.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned PRS Custom 22 has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks include:

• Both humbuckers tested
• Five-way rotary selector checked
• Volume and tone controls tested
• Output socket checked
• Frets inspected
• Rosewood fingerboard assessed
• Neck condition checked
• Locking tuners inspected
• Tremolo operation checked
• Bridge hardware assessed
• Strap buttons inspected
• General hardware condition reviewed
• Tuning stability assessed
• Overall playability checked
• Hardcase checked for basic usability

Service / Setup Work

All Pre-Owned electric guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

Our assessment includes:

• Action checked
• Neck relief checked
• Frets inspected
• Intonation checked
• Tuning stability checked
• Electronics tested
• Pickup output checked
• Tremolo setup assessed
• Hardware checked
• General playability assessed

Please note that guitar setup can shift slightly during delivery because changes in temperature and humidity can naturally affect wooden instruments in transit.

Why Choose The 2000 PRS Custom 22 Tremolo?

Classic USA PRS Construction

The Custom 22 combines a carved figured maple top with a mahogany back and set mahogany neck, giving it the construction formula that helped establish PRS as one of the defining American electric-guitar makers of its era.

22-Fret PRS Feel

With 22 frets and a 25" scale, the Custom 22 offers a slightly different feel and pickup placement from the Custom 24 while retaining the balanced string tension associated with PRS's core instruments.

Five-Way Rotary Switching

The period five-way rotary system expands the tonal range available from the twin-humbucker layout, providing additional pickup combinations without adding rows of switches to the guitar.

PRS Tremolo System

The PRS tremolo gives players expressive pitch control while retaining the clean, integrated design associated with the company's USA-built instruments.

Violin Amber Sunburst Finish

The Violin Amber Sunburst finish highlights the carved maple top and gives this Custom 22 a warm, traditional appearance that suits the sculpted PRS body shape particularly well.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

PRS Custom 22 vs PRS Custom 24

The Custom 24 offers two additional frets and a slightly different neck-pickup position, making it attractive to players who want maximum upper-register access, while the Custom 22 suits guitarists who prefer a 22-fret layout and a somewhat more traditional neck-pickup response.

PRS Custom 22 vs PRS McCarty

The McCarty leans more heavily towards vintage-inspired simplicity and traditionally voiced hardware, whereas the Custom 22 Tremolo offers a broader switching system and tremolo bridge for players wanting greater versatility.

PRS Custom 22 vs PRS CE22

The CE22 shares the 22-fret concept but uses a bolt-on neck, giving it a more immediate attack, while the Custom 22's set-neck mahogany construction provides the more traditional Core PRS feel.

2000 Custom 22 vs Modern PRS Custom 22

Later Custom 22 models introduced revised pickups, switching and hardware over time, while this 2000 example represents the earlier rotary-switch era and will appeal to players specifically interested in turn-of-the-millennium PRS construction.

Who Is It For?

PRS Players Looking For An Earlier Core Model

A strong choice for guitarists who appreciate current PRS instruments but want to explore an earlier period of the company's USA production.

Rock And Blues Guitarists

Twin humbuckers, tremolo and versatile switching make the Custom 22 comfortable moving from clean and edge-of-breakup sounds into sustained lead and driven rhythm tones.

Fusion And Progressive Players

The balanced 25" scale and wide tonal range make it well suited to players who need articulate clean sounds, fluid lead response and more complex chord voicings from one instrument.

Studio Musicians

The five-way rotary system gives the guitar several useful tonal colours without changing instruments, making it practical for layered recording sessions.

Players Upgrading To A USA-Made PRS

For somebody moving from an SE, S2 or other mid-range instrument, an early Core Custom 22 represents a substantial step into PRS's Maryland-built range.

Suitable Genres And Uses

• Rock
• Blues
• Fusion
• Progressive rock
• Pop
• Alternative
• Indie
• Hard rock
• Lead guitar
• Rhythm guitar
• Clean and driven tones
• Studio recording
• Rehearsals
• Live performance
• Pedal and modelling rigs

PRS Custom 22 vs Custom 24: Why Choose 22 Frets?

Removing two frets does more than shorten the fingerboard. On a 22-fret design, the neck pickup can sit slightly further from the bridge, which can contribute to a rounder and fuller neck-position character while still retaining PRS's familiar 25" scale.

For players who rarely need the 23rd and 24th frets, the Custom 22 offers a compelling balance between modern PRS playability and a more traditional 22-fret layout.

Looking for advice on choosing the right PRS Custom 22, USA-made PRS or Pre-Owned electric guitar? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context: PRS Custom 22

The roots of the Custom 22 can be traced to the PRS Dragon series. In 1992, the first Dragon introduced a 22-fret format to PRS, combining the company's established construction ideas with an elaborate inlaid fingerboard and a new stoptail design.

PRS introduced the production Custom 22 in 1993, taking the underlying 22-fret concept of the Dragon and turning it into a regular model without the elaborate Dragon artwork. Buyers could choose tremolo or stoptail configurations, with Wide Thin and Wide Fat neck profiles forming part of the range.

The model quickly became an important alternative to the 24-fret Custom. By 1998, PRS had also made its Artist Package available on the Custom 22, reflecting the model's established place within the company's premium USA line.

This 2000 example therefore comes from the first decade of Custom 22 production and from the period when the five-way rotary selector was still central to the classic PRS control layout. That gives it a noticeably different character from later Custom 22 generations fitted with revised switching and hardware.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Brand	PRS / Paul Reed Smith
Model	Custom 22 Tremolo
Year	2000
Country of Manufacture	USA
Finish	Violin Amber Sunburst
Top Wood	Carved Figured Maple
Back Wood	Mahogany
Neck Material	Mahogany
Neck Construction	Set Neck
Fingerboard Material	Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius	10"
Scale Length	25"
Number of Frets	22
Pickup Configuration	HH
Electronics	Passive
Controls	Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Selection	5-Way Rotary
Bridge	PRS Tremolo
Tuning Machines	PRS Locking Tuners
Serial Number	0 46812
Condition	Pre-Owned, Good

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required for the guitar's passive electronics.

Connect the Custom 22 to a guitar amplifier, pedalboard, modeller or suitable audio interface using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Buying Pre-Owned is an excellent way to access earlier generations of established guitar models, particularly when the specification has changed substantially over time.

A 2000 PRS Custom 22 offers the construction and design character associated with an earlier period of PRS production, including the rotary-switch control system that distinguishes it from many later examples.

At Fair Deal Music, our Pre-Owned guitars are individually checked and assessed before sale, helping customers buy older and distinctive instruments with greater confidence.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 

★★★★★ 5/5

The 2000 PRS Custom 22 Tremolo in Violin Amber Sunburst is a strong choice for players who want classic USA PRS build quality with the distinctive feel and switching of an earlier Core instrument. Its carved maple and mahogany construction, 22-fret layout, tremolo bridge and five-way rotary system make it versatile enough for serious stage and studio work while retaining plenty of period character.

Best suited for: Players looking for an early USA-made PRS Custom 22 for rock, blues, fusion, recording and live use.

Customers usually upgrade from: PRS SE and S2 models, mid-range twin-humbucker guitars and other production-level set-neck instruments.

Most commonly paired with: Valve or modelling amplifiers, overdrive, boost, delay, modulation and reverb.

Our tip: If you enjoy PRS guitars but prefer a 22-fret layout and the distinctive rotary-switch era, this generation of Custom 22 deserves particular attention.

Showroom feedback: Early Custom 22 models offer an appealing combination of familiar PRS refinement and the more distinctive control layout associated with the company's earlier production years.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

From our Birmingham showroom, our knowledgeable musician-led team helps players find the right equipment whether they're purchasing their first serious instrument, upgrading an existing setup or searching for something distinctive within the Pre-Owned market.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
• Carefully checked new and Pre-Owned musical equipment
• Decades of experience buying and selling guitars
• Large Birmingham showroom
• Secure online ordering
• UK delivery
• Friendly support before and after purchase
• Extensive experience with used and Pre-Owned instruments

For an individual USA-made guitar such as this PRS Custom 22, our team can also help with questions about playing feel, setup and whether its specification suits your requirements.

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What string gauge works well on a PRS Custom 22?

A 9–42 or 10–46 set can both work well depending on your preferred feel. A significant change in string gauge may require adjustments to the tremolo balance, action and intonation.

Can the PRS tremolo be set to float?

Yes. The tremolo can be set up for expressive movement according to player preference, although substantial changes to bridge balance should be considered as part of the guitar's overall setup.

Is a 25" scale comfortable if I normally play Fender or Gibson guitars?

Yes. PRS's 25" scale sits between the traditional Fender 25.5" and Gibson 24.75" lengths, giving it a familiar but distinct balance of tension and playability.

Can this Custom 22 be used with modern pedals and amp modellers?

Yes. Its conventional passive output works with traditional amplifiers, pedalboards, multi-effects processors, digital modelling systems and compatible recording interfaces.

How should a figured maple-top PRS be cared for?

Use a suitable guitar-safe cloth and cleaning products intended for finished instruments, and avoid rapid temperature changes, excessive heat and extreme humidity.

Can I request a closer look before purchasing?

Yes. For an individual Pre-Owned instrument such as this, our Request a Video Demo option is useful if you would like a closer look before making your decision.