PRS NF 53 Electric Guitar - Blue Matteo Reviews
Paul Reed Smith takes the classic single-cut, bolt-on design to exciting new heights with the PRS NF 53. Inspired by a '53 from Paul's vintage guitar collection, the NF 53 is carved from a resonant slab of swamp ash with a svelte cutaway for added comfort. Its maple Pattern 53-shaped neck provides familiar playability, complemented perfectly by this solidbody electric guitar's maple, 10-inch-radius, 22-fret fingerboard, and 25.5-inch scale length. You'll be awestruck by the focused, powerful tone yielded by the NF 53's PRS Narrowfield DD pickups. You also get top-shelf hardware, including a PRS plate-style bridge, barrel-style saddles, and vintage-style tuners. And, of course, the NF 53 includes the company's iconic Birds fingerboard inlays, ensuring that nobody mistakes the NF 53 for anything other than a PRS. A killer modern bolt-on with a few well-placed nods to its vintage counterparts, the Paul Reed Smith NF 53 is another classic in the making.
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Highest Rated Reviews
Goldilocks
Every element of this guitar is thoughtfully designed and well executed. This guitar is the best combination of the best elements of all of my favorite guitars without the down sides of any of them.
The neck pickup is probably the best sounding neck pickup I've played. The bridge pickup can have the twang and brilliance of a single coil if you want it to, but it also has the warmth and girth of a nice humbucker. It has the simplicity of controls of the Tele, along with the classic shape.
It rivals my Strats for comfort playing. I have always found Teles, Les Pauls, and PRS guitars uncomfortable because the edge of the body digs into my forearm where it rests. The body contours of the Strat have always felt right, and the NF53 does this well.
The particular one I bought is a wonderful 6lbs 2oz - very comfortable on the back, and extremely resonant.
The neck shape is unique. My favorite neck has always been my Fender Custom Shop '63 which has some heft to it that comfortably fills the hand. I have small hands, but large necks are no problem. This neck feels deeper, with slightly less shoulder. It is taking time to adjust, but it is still very comfortable.
I hope this guitar gets the attention it deserves. This is definitely one of Paul's best designs to date.
Best $$$ I’ve Spent on a Guitar
I've had my NF53 since December and not a day has passed that I haven't played it. This guitar is amazing and by far the favorite in my arsenal. Unique tones and an incredible feel, like the guitar just wants you to play it from the time you pick it up. Well balanced and the neck allows your hands to flow up and down like butter. Biggest surprise for me is the sustain. It seems to ring a note forever. Beautiful from top to bottom, it's the best $ I've ever spent on a guitar and I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed either.
Outstanding guitar!!
Paul Reed Smith hit it out of the park with the NF 53. I got one a couple weeks ago, in Blue Matteo and had my first chance to gig with it on Friday night. The one I got is light 6 lbs 13 ozs. The neck is very comfortable for me even with not so big hands. The fit, finish and set up is great. The grain in the ash body is attractive.
For me the real star is the pickups. I gig with a Quilter TB202 head and a Quilter BlockDock 12 cabinet. I made no changes to my eq on my gigging amp, which I had been playing with a Ron Kirn Nashville Tele, and it sounded great. The pickups are dead quiet as they should be. The bridge pickup captures the Tele essence but with more fullness and without the ice pick. No need to back off on the tone. The neck pickup is very usable, nice clear and full sounding, not muddy, muffled or boomy. As expected, based on the individual sounds, together they are amazing and very usable. Still cut through in the mix. I thought I would miss the middle pickup on my Nashville Tele but the middle position on the 3 way is so good, I didn't miss it at all.
Overall, I'm very pleased with the guitar and the tones, one of the best guitar purchases I've made. Might be my new #1, we'll see.
