A Singing Semi-Hollow Celebration of PRS's 40th Anniversary
Paying tribute to the early-era PRS guitars that started it all, the PRS 40th Anniversary Special Semi-Hollow rings in four decades of impeccable PRS production in resonant semi-hollow style. An Artist-grade figured maple top starts this 6-string off with a bang, sitting atop an exotic foundation of a black limba body to ensure both a lightweight feel and a lively resonance. Next, two dynamic McCarty III humbuckers and a middle-position Narrowfield pickup come fitted with a five-way switch and two mini-toggle switches — an immensely versatile setup that puts up to 12 sounds on tap for you to sculpt your dream tone. You also get rock-solid PRS Phase III locking tuning machines and an expressive Gen III tremolo unit. A Pattern-profile black limba neck sporting a Honduran rosewood fingerboard ties it all together, boasting a “pre-factory” eagle headstock design and “old-school birds” inlays that recall the character of PRS’s formative era. Put it all together, and the PRS 40th Anniversary Special Semi-Hollow is sure to captivate longtime PRS followers and first-timers alike with its blend of effortless performance and master-grade artistry.
Related Videos: 40th Anniversary Special Semi-Hollow Limited Edition Electric Guitar - Sprayer's Choice
A sonic arsenal under your command
The PRS 40th Anniversary Special Semi-Hollow brings forth an onslaught of classic tones thanks to its complement of proprietary PRS pickups. Stationed at the bridge and neck, respectively, are McCarty III treble and bass humbuckers, which were first seen on the limited-run Private Stock 40th Anniversary McCarty Dragon guitar. The McCarty III neck pickup delivers plenty of rich, full-bodied vintage warmth. Throaty but clear, the McCarty III bridge pickup conversely produces a crisp, chimey, clean tone that’s easy to pull grit from with the Volume knob or aggressive pick attack. When overdriven, the tone of both pickups thickens while retaining clarity, making them perfect for complex chords or searing lead lines.
PRS’s Narrowfield, deployed in the middle position of the PRS 40th Anniversary Special Semi-Hollow, is a remarkable pickup that delivers the best characteristics of a humbucker, a P-90, a traditional single-coil, and a mini humbucker. Technically, the Narrowfield’s dual coils classify it as a humbucking design, while its svelte form factor is reminiscent of a mini humbucker (with which, perhaps not surprisingly, it shares certain tonal characteristics). Mini humbuckers have long been prized for their ability to maintain clarity in overdrive conditions while bucking the hum.
Pattern profile neck for optimized playability
The PRS 40th Anniversary Special Semi-Hollow is spec’d with PRS’s Pattern profile neck. A hallmark of PRS quality, neck shapes are, of course, critical to your playing experience. Perfected after years of prototyping, the Pattern neck, an updated version of the Wide Fat PRS neck style, is based on the neck shapes Paul Reed Smith designed in the 1970s and ’80s for Carlos Santana, Peter Frampton, and Howard Leese of Heart. Fast and comfortable, the Pattern profile always feels just right. In reality, most electric guitarists employ a combination of thumb-over and thumb-behind fretting-hand positions in their playing, and the Pattern profile lets you switch seamlessly between the two.
Switch up your sonics
The 40th Anniversary Special Semi-Hollow is equipped with two mini-toggle switches that tap the pickup coils for sparkly single-coil tones, while a 5-way pickup selector switch serves up spanky reverse-polarity tones in positions 2 and 4. The immense flexibility of the PRS 40th Anniversary Special Semi-Hollow’s unique pickup and switching arrangement gives you an instrument that can serve up any electric guitar sound you could ever need for a live gig or studio session.
PRS 40th Anniversary Special Semi-Hollow Limited Edition Features:
- Limited-edition PRS Special Semi-Hollow, celebrating 40 years of PRS
- Artist-grade figured maple top and semi-hollow black limba body result in a rich, lively tone with airy resonance
- Black limba neck shaped into PRS’s beloved Pattern profile
- Honduran mahogany fingerboard laden with “old-school birds” inlays with outlined patterns
- Dual PRS McCarty III pickups supply a full, warm, and defined array of humbucking tones
- Middle-position Narrowfield pickup combines the best qualities of a P-90, a humbucker, and a single-coil
- 5-way switch and 2 mini switches unlock up to 12 unique tonal positions
- Top-of-the-line PRS hardware package includes Phase III locking tuners with stylish wing buttons and a PRS Patented Gen III tremolo unit
- Eye-catching “pre-factory” eagle headstock inlay pays tribute to Paul’s early guitars
