How about that NAMM Report, folks? I just had the opportunity to read it myself and I swear our reporting team gets better with each and every show. I’ve been to a number of NAMM Shows in the past and I can’t even begin to imagine how much effort goes into sorting through and prioritizing all that information. Really, it gives me a headache just thinking about it!

Of course, because of the length and detail of the report, our much-beloved editor has chopped my space in this issue to make room for another Employee Profile (which got bumped last issue due to — surprise! — space constraints). I don’t mind, since it’s profiling my friend, Jim Swain. I think Jim, Jeff Law, Robin Jenney and Jerroll Lehman are the only people who have been around longer than me — in fact, this issue marks the start of my ninth year of writing Tech Notes. Unbelievable! Seems like just yesterday that I flew from California (where I lived at the time) to visit Sweetwater and see the brand new building, which looked pretty big back then, though it was just a fraction of the size of the current facility (I really do still get lost on my occasional visits).

It’s been a genuine thrill to be involved with a company that has grown at such a meteoric rate and an even bigger honor to have the opportunity to work for a company that actually has so much integrity. If only every company cared about its customers the way Sweetwater does. Of course, that starts with the man who founded the company, Chuck Surack. It was Chuck’s vision that got Sweetwater pointed in the right direction and has kept it on track all these years. Since those early days, I feel fortunate to have gotten to know many of the people you deal with every day — the Sales Engineers — and some of the folks who work behind the scenes that you’ll probably never talk to.

Last issue, if you’ll recall, I said I had meant to talk about guitars. Despite my limited space this issue, I do want to talk about my favorite subject a little. Some of you may recall that a few years ago, I expressed my lust (well sorry, but there’s no other word for it) for a Paul Reed Smith Santana. Finally, thanks to Sweetwater, I now own one (well, half of one as I'm still working on getting it paid off) and it is unquestionably the best guitar I have ever owned in my life. While I do have a number of other superb guitars in my collection (some might even say too many), I always come back to the Santana when I really want to get inspired.

Longtime readers of this column may recall that a while back I broke my left wrist — twice in a matter of months (in two different places) — and I am still working on getting the dexterity back into that hand. When I play for more than half an hour, my wrist starts to throb painfully. But if I ever expect to get close to having my pre-injury skills back, the doctors say I just have to keep on going and try to ignore the pain (yeah, easy for them to say). My point is that having a guitar that truly demands to get played in my hands makes it much easier to do that, and the Santana is just such a guitar.

Unfortunately, 1998 was the last year of the production model Santana, and the guitar is now available only on special order basis (and at a list price of $8000!). That’s the bad news (sort of). The good news is that PRS is making a whole lot of awesome new guitars that are to die for — figuratively speaking, that is. I recently had the opportunity to play several of their new hollow body models and I have to say they come pretty darn close to matching the special magic of my Santana. Some may actually prefer them.

These are absolutely gorgeous instruments and include the 3-inch deep Hollowbody and Hollowbody II, as well as the 4-inch deep Archtop, Archtop II and top-of-the-line Archtop Artist. Prices start at about $3000 and go up from there, so they aren’t exactly cheap, but quite honestly, you’re getting a guitar that will unquestionably last you a lifetime. Many of these instruments ship with premium flamed maple tops (and some even have wraparound finishes with flamed maple on the front and back — wow!). Hey just take a look at the photo to the left and you’ll see what I mean. I wish we had a shot of one of the hollow bodies in the violin amber sunburst finish, which is my own personal favorite.

If you’re looking for a solid body electric with that special PRS look and feel, I’d personally suggest you check out the Custom Series. There’s the Custom 24 (with 24 frets and wide thin neck) and the Custom 22 (22 frets and a wide fat neck). You can even get Customs now with those vintage, single coil “soapbar” pickups for a bit more bite. There are all sorts of great finishes available on these, and many sport premium flamed or quilted maple tops (dubbed “10-tops” by PRS). Prices for the Custom line start at about $2500.

Well, as usual, I have more to say and no room. Well, I do have room to tell you to call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for additional information and your special low Sweetwater pricing on the entire line of PRS guitars. See you back here next issue!

Jim Miller can be contacted at jim_miller@mindspring.com