A Celebration of Paul and Carlos’ Pre-factory Signature Models
The PRS Santana Retro is a fitting tribute commemorating Paul Reed Smith and Carlos Santana’s 4-decade-plus guitar-building relationship, blending pre-factory PRS style with the company’s latest tonal enhancements. Just like the original instruments Paul built for Carlos all the way back in the ’80s, the PRS Santana’s maple-on-mahogany body features an old-school PRS neck heel, along with a much deeper body carve for enhanced comfort. On the opposite end, this guitar’s mahogany neck is carved into a robust Santana Retro profile, then finished off with Paul’s original headstock shape and nut placement for added authenticity. All of these classic features are bookended by a decidedly modern hardware pairing of Phase III locking tuners and a smooth-action Gen III tremolo that delivers high-performance reliability worthy of a rock guitar titan.
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TCI Santana pickups for a modern edge
Many of the PRS Santana Retro’s features refer to Paul’s early pre-factory era, but this guitar is no history piece. Cutting-edge TCI Santana pickups inhabit the bridge and neck slots, harnessing Paul’s 40-year dedication to improving the art of pickup voicing. Punchy cleans, clearly defined overdrive tones, all-out screaming humbucker fury: TCI Santana pickups offer stunning tones across the sonic spectrum — exactly what we would expect from two of the world’s most tenacious tone chasers.
Slinky 24.5-inch scale length
The vast majority of PRS instruments clock in at a scale length of about 25 inches, but Carlos opted to go with something just a touch smaller at 24.5 inches. It may seem like splitting hairs, but the truth is that this scale length offers a significantly slinkier feel than your typical PRS instrument, allowing for wide, multi-step bends with minimal resistance. The 24.5-inch scale is an ideal choice for any guitarist looking to fire up the fingerboard in the fleet-fingered Santana tradition, but guitarists of all backgrounds will surely appreciate how the Santana Retro’s diminished scale length drastically improves feel and playability.
PRS Gen III tremolo provides a customizable feel and reliable intonation
The new Gen III tremolo functions the same as PRS's older, patented tremolo system, but with a few notable updates. Countersunk mounting holes create a perfectly aligned bridge, ensuring reliable intonation along the entire length of the neck, while larger mounting screws add mass for enhanced sustain. The bridge's sidewalls have been redesigned to prevent sideways movement of the saddles, greatly improving tuning stability. And compound-radius saddles improve vibrational transfer by optimizing the angle the string breaks across the saddle. An unthreaded tremolo arm employs a small set screw that allows for a customizable feel. And radiused grooves on the bridge plate match the radius of the height-adjustment screws, creating more contact and a better fit.
PRS Santana Retro Features:
- Inspired by the early pre-factory instruments that Paul Reed Smith built for legendary guitarist Carlos Santana
- Mahogany body with PRS’s old-school extra-deep body carve for enhanced comfort
- Gorgeous carved figured maple top for a touch of treble bite
- Chunky Santana Retro mahogany neck in a slightly short 24.5-in. scale length for a slinkier feel and easier bends
- Rosewood fingerboard in a high-performance 10-in. radius
- Dual TCI Santana pickups impart a modern edge, with exceptionally versatile dual-coil tones
- Phase III locking tuners ensure optimal tuning stability, no matter how hard you play
- Gen III tremolo with a smooth action and deep range
- Old-school PRS headstock with Santana’s “Om” symbol
- Iconic PRS Brushstroke Birds inlays
