PRS Private Stock Special 22 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar in Aqua Violet Dragons Breath

It's always an exciting day when a guitar-sized box arrives from Maryland, USA and this PRS Private Stock Special 22 Semi-Hollow in Aqua Violet Dragon’s Breath did not disappoint. Possibly one of the most magnificent finishes you will ever see, the Aqua Violet Dragon’s Breath is guaranteed to transfix whoever is watching you play as the shimmering Curly Maple top follows you around the room.

Its second-to-none build quality, exceptional tonewoods, premium pickups and electronics as well as its superb finish will make this the centrepiece of your guitar collection. The PRS Special 22 sings wherever you are on the neck and with its ergonomic curves and patterned neck profile it plays effortlessly. As with all PRS Private Stock guitars the guitar doesn’t leave the factory without first being played and inspected by Paul Reed Smith himself before he finally approves and signs it off, as seen on the back of the headstock and specification certificate.

Key Features

• Gen III Tremolo Bridge – The updated version of Paul's original 1984 Patented Tremolo System which helped put PRS on the map. More mass and more contact with the body for maximised tone.
• Phase III Locking Tuners – The perfect vintage aesthetic and modern design blend. Possibly the most thought-out tuners on any guitar.
• High Gloss Nitro – Stunning High Gloss Nitrocellulose lacquer finishes for head-turning looks and optimal resonance.
• Pattern Neck Profile – Effortless and comfortable throughout, the Patterned neck profile feels like home wherever you are on the neck.

Birds of a Feather

Originally developed for a selection of PRS Private Stock acoustic guitar models, the Birds of a Feather fingerboard design perfectly showcases PRS’ meticulous attention to detail and elegant design as well as demonstrating the highest level of craftsmanship. Instead of the usual PRS Birds inlays which they are famous for the Birds of a Feather takes inspiration from birds bursting from a large flock, soaring up the fingerboard and into the headstock.

Tonewoods

The foundation of every Private Stock PRS is simply outstanding wood choices. This Semi-Hollow Special 22 is no exception to this. Built around a Ribboned Mahogany body with a Curly Maple top this guitar utilises the classic tonal combination of Mahogany and Maple but takes it up to the next level with these eye-catching beautifully figured examples. The bright tone of the Maple top is perfectly balanced thanks to the Semi-Hollow body which brings the guitar to life with rich and resonant overtones and harmonics.

Versatility

The Special 22 Semi-Hollow is perfectly complimented by a pair of 58/15 LT Humbuckers in the neck and bridge position and a Narrowfield Single Coil in the middle. The 5-way switch in combination with the two coil-splitting toggle switches allows for a total of 12 different pickup choices. No tone is unobtainable thanks to the perfect partnership of the guitar's body design and thought-out electronics. The Low Turn 58/15 humbuckers deliver vintage sweetness and clarity with balanced highs and lows and a focused midrange.

Finishing Touches

It’s the small details that set this guitar above. The fact that the truss rod cover and even the backplates are made from Curly Maple and are stained to match the rest of the guitar really emphasises that this guitar is in a class of its own. Perfectly presented in a PRS Private Stock Brown Paisley case, the guitar looks special even when put away.

Specifications

Body

• Top Wood: Curly Maple
• Back Wood: Ribbon Mahogany
• Colour: Aqua Violet Dragon’s Breath
• Finish Type: High Gloss Nitro
• Body Type: Semi-Hollow

Neck

• Neck Wood: Mahogany
• Fingerboard Wood: Curly Maple/African Blackwood
• Headstock Veneer Wood: Curly Maple/African Blackwood
• Neck Carve: Pattern
• Side Dots: Ivoroid
• Fingerboard Inlays: ‘Birds of a feather’
• Headstock Veneer Inlays: ‘Birds of a feather’

Hardware

• Bridge: PRS Gen III Tremolo Bridge in Gold/Nickel
• Tuners: PRS Phase III Setscrew Locking Tuning Pegs in Gold/Nickle with Ivoroid Buttons
• Backplate: Curly Maple Backplates Stained to Match
• Truss Rod Cover: Curly Maple/African Blackwood

Electronics

• Neck Pickup: 58/15 LT
• Middle Pickup: Narrowfield
• Bridge Pickup: 58/15 LT
• Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
• Pickup Selector: 5-Way Bladeswitch
• Switches: 1 Mini-Toggle Coil-Split Switches

Miscellaneous

• Strings: PRS Signature .010
• Case: Private Stock Brown Paisley
• Documents: Signed Specification Certificate