Fresh for 2021: PRS unveils a new-look Studio and Special Semi-Hollow, the Custom 24-08, and expands SE range
Narrowfield pickups, coil-taps, the SE Series now has a Custom 24 with a shallow violin body carve... It's all going on
GEAR 2021: NAMM might have been cancelled but this year shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to massive online guitar launches. We have seen epic announcements from the likes of Fender, Ibanez, Jackson and more, and it was only a matter of time before PRS got in on the act.
There are many highlights of their 2021 lineup. Where do you begin? You could check out the new Lunar Ice Silver Sky, which sees John Mayer's signature guitar dressed in a polychromatic flip-flop finish that changes hue as the light hits it. And perhaps you should – it is limited to just 1,000 units worldwide.
Or maybe the Fiore is more your pace – a high-end signature model for Mark Lettieri that showcases a new body shape for PRS, plus a highly versatile HSS pickup combo and two-point tremolo.
But if you are looking for something without an artist tied to it, there is plenty to be getting on with in the Core and SE Series.
The Core Series witnesses the return of the PRS Studio and PRS Special Semi-Hollow, both revamped for 2021 and complete with PRS Narrowfield pickups, expanded switching options and hardware. The Custom 24-08 now comes with mini-toggle coil tap switches for a total of pickup settings. Cobalt Blue, Eriza Verde, Purple Iris are options as colours.
Factor in the meticulous build, the attention to detail, PRS's Nitro over Cellulose (CAB) finish treatment and you have some top-line electric guitars on your hands.
As for the more affordable SE Series, we've a got fresh finish for the Zach Myers Private Stock-inspired signature model, an SE Custom 24 with a shallow violin carve on its maple top, and a Custom 24-08 – complete with new switching options.
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- NAMM 2021 is cancelled, but we'll be covering all the big January gear announcements right here on MusicRadar.
PRS Special Semi-Hollow
- Mahogany body with violin carve, flame maple top
- Mahogany Pattern neck, 25" scale
- Rosewood fingerboard with 22 frets, Birds inlay
- 58/15 LT humbuckers in neck and bridge positions, PRS Narrowfield pickup in the middle
- Volume and tone control with 5-Way blade pickup switch and two mini-toggle coil-tap switches
- PRS Gen III Tremolo,
- PRS Phase III Locking Tuners
- Case included
PRS Studio
- Mahogany body with violin carve, flame maple top
- Mahogany Pattern neck, 25" scale
- Rosewood fingerboard with 22 frets, Birds inlay
- 58/15 LT humbucker at the bridge, two PRS Narrowfield pickups in middle and neck positions
- Volume and push/pull tone control with 5-way blade pickup switch
- PRS Gen III Tremolo,
- PRS Phase III Locking Tuners
- Case included
PRS Custom 24-08
- Mahogany body with flame maple top
- Mahogany Pattern Thin neck, 25" scale
- Rosewood fingerboard with 24 frets, Birds inlay
- Two 58/15 LT humbucker in neck and bridge positions
- Volume and Tone Control with 3-Way Toggle Switch and two Mini-Toggle Coil-Tap switches
- PRS Gen III Tremolo,
- PRS Phase III Locking Tuners
- Case included
PRS SE Custom 24-08
- Mahogany body with flame maple veneer and shallow violin top carve
- Maple Wide Thin neck, 25" scale
- Rosewood fingerboard with 24 frets, "Old School" Birds inlay
- TCI “S” humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions
- Volume and Tone Control with 3-Way Toggle Switch and two Mini-Toggle Coil-Tap switches
- PRS moulded tremolo, PRS tuners
- Gigbag included
PRS SE Custom 24
- Mahogany body with flame maple veneer and shallow violin top carve
- Maple Wide Thin neck, 25" scale
- Rosewood fingerboard with 24 frets, Birds inlay
- TCI “S” humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions
- Volume and Push/Pull tone control with 3-way blade switch
- PRS moulded tremolo, PRS tuners
- Gigbag included
PRS SE Zach Myers
- Beveled maple top with flame maple veneer and mahogany back
- Semi-hollow singlecut built with F-hole
- Satin-finish mahogany Wide Fat neck, 24.5" scale
- Rosewood, 22-fret fingerboard with Birds inlay
- Two 245 "S" humbuckers in bridge and neck positions
- Individual volume and tone controls, 3-way toggle pickup selector switch
- PRS Adjustable Stoptail
- Vintage-style tuners
- Gigbag included
See PRS Guitars for more details.
Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars and guitar culture since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitar World. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.
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