PAUL REED SMITH GUITARS

PAUL REED SMITH GUITARS
Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Ltd. introduces 12 guitar models at the 2008 NAMM Show:

The DGT - David Grissom Trem is the result of more than 20 years of collaboration between Paul Reed Smith and David Grissom. The DGT was inspired by Grissom’s wish to take all of the best elements of his PRS guitars and combine them with an extra volume control, a nitro topcoat, vintage colors, his favorite neck shape, large frets, and .011 gauge strings. Grissom’s signature model features special pickups, special wiring, a special neck shape (smaller than a wide-fat neck), bigger frets, and heavy-gauge strings that complement rhythm and solo tones.

The PRS Mira is a 24-fret guitar that features a 25” scale length, 10” radius, regular or wide-thin neck shape, locking tuning pegs, PRS Stoptail, abalone moon inlays, optional bird inlays, East Indian rosewood fingerboard, a solid mahogany body and neck, Mira Treble and Bass pickups, volume, tone, three-way blade switch, and mini toggle coil tap. The Mira model is offered in Vintage Cherry, Orange, Vintage Mahogany, Black, Wild Mint, Lilac, Seafoam Green, Powder Blue, and Sandstorm.

Korina has come to be known as a rare and legendary tone wood amongst manufacturers and players over the years, and PRS now adds the McCarty Korina to their model line. The new model features an all- korina body with a korina neck and headstock, an East Indian rosewood fretboard, and is offered in several colors.

The McCarty II is the successor to the McCarty, the PRS guitar model named for industry icon Ted McCarty. The instrument comes standard with a carved figured maple top with a mahogany back body, 25" scale length, 22-fret mahogany wide-fat neck with rosewood fretboard, moon inlays (new birds optional), PRS Stoptail, vintage-style tuners, McCarty II truss rod cover, and a new Mastering Voice Control. The Voice Control is fully variable from clean, clear vintage tones to powerful heavy metal sounds.

The electronics include new McCarty II Treble and Bass pickups with covers, volume and tone control, three-way toggle pickup selector, and a mini-toggle for turning the Voice Control on and off.

The Santana IV is the evolution of the Santana I, II and III models. Carlos Santana and Paul Smith have been working together for more than two years on this new instrument and its new sound. The instrument has most of the appointments of the Santana II and III models but with two major differences. The knobs are now in McCarty positions, and the instrument includes a special Mastering Voice Control. This Voice Control provides an early-1960s sound and clarity to the instrument and turns on and off with a mini-toggle.

PRS is now offering a 300-piece run of a large, full-scale hollowbody guitar. Previously, the SCJ Thinline was only produced in small quantities inside the Private Stock department. This newly offered, limited-run model will feature two different bridge/tailpiece setups, a custom-made Bigsby, as well as a PRS-designed ebony/curly maple unit. The model also features a select grade maple top and back, mahogany middle and neck, and a Macassar ebony fingerboard/headstock veneer with gold mother-of-pearl birds and signature.

Solid alder is once again being used by PRS Guitars with the introduction of the CE 22/24 Alder model. Alder has not been used by PRS since the earlier ‘90s, and the body of this new model, the successor to the CE Mahogany, is made from solid alder without a maple top. The bolt-on neck is hard maple, and both contribute to a unique CE 22/24 Alder tone.

After the success of the PRS Hollowbody series, PRS has extended the line to include the Singlecut Hollowbody. The guitar is offered in two models: the SC Hollowbody Standard and the SC Hollowbody I, both featuring PRS Stoptail bridges and 22-fret necks.

The SC Hollowbody Standard features an all-mahogany body and neck, 25" scale length, 22-fret mahogany wide-fat neck with rosewood fretboard, moon inlays, PRS Stoptail, PRS low-mass locking tuners, Archtop Treble and Bass pickups with covers, volume and tone control, and three-way toggle pickup selector.

The SC Hollowbody I features a maple top with a mahogany back, sides and neck. All other specifications are the same as the SC Hollowbody Standard.

In addition, PRS will unveil four new SE Models at the NAMM Show: the SE Baritone, SE Custom Semi-Hollow Soapbar, the SE Singlecut, and the SE Soapbar.

MMR Update: NAMM Show, January 19 & 20, 2008