Description
A Legacy Reborn
“When we released the Private Stock John McLaughlin Limited Edition in 2023, I was inspired by its exceptional sound and playability. For the Charcoal Phoenix, I wanted to create something equally remarkable but with a stoptail bridge. Using chaltecoco for the neck and ziricote for the fingerboard, I achieved an instrument that sustains beautifully and rings with clarity. The deep crimson back and the charcoal microburst top inspired the name ‘Charcoal Phoenix,’ evoking the imagery of a phoenix rising from fire and ashes.” – Paul Reed Smith
Over the past year, Paul has road-tested this guitar, refining its design and tone. The result is an instrument that delivers aesthetic arrest and unparalleled performance. A visually stunning deep crimson back contrasts beautifully with the Private Stock-grade figured maple top in a charcoal microburst finish. The ripple abalone “Old School” bird inlays on the ziricote fingerboard add a touch of vintage elegance. The Charcoal Phoenix also features the newly updated PRS TCI pickups for 2025 and EQ mini-toggle switches. The TCI pickups are crafted with American Alnico magnets and slightly modified winding, wiring, and electronics specifications. These pickups have a clear, beautiful tone based on Paul’s experience playing this guitar live and in the studio for more than a year. The EQ mini-toggles act as tuned high-pass filters when engaged, removing shelved low end and allowing the high frequencies through for more clarity and musical highs.
Introduced on Paul Reed Smith’s birthday, the PRS Charcoal Phoenix Limited Edition is part of PRS Guitars 40th Anniversary celebration. Only 150 of these instruments will be available. Hand-signed 40th Anniversary certificate included.
PRS Stoptail w/ Brass Inserts & Steel Studs
Engineered with curved string slots with brass inserts and steel studs, this bridge is designed to maximize the transfer of the strings’ vibrations through the instrument.
PRS Phase III Non-Locking Tuners with Wing Buttons
With vintage elegance, these lightweight tuners promote tone transfer for a louder, more resonant instrument.
PRS TCI Pickups
Musical pickups that offer versatile tones from spanky single coils to full soapbars. Made with American Alnico in Stevensville, Maryland.
- Stock #702
- 7 lbs 4 oz
- Body
- Body Construction Solidbody
- Top Wood Private Stock Grade Figured Maple
- Back Wood “Fat Back” Mahogany
- Top Carve Violin
- Neck
- Number of Frets 22
- Scale Length 25″
- Neck Wood Chaltecoco
- Neck Construction One-Piece
- Truss Rod PRS Double-Acting
- Neck Shape Pattern
- Neck Depth at the 1/2 Fret 7/8″
- Neck Depth at the 12 1/2 Fret 61/64″
- Neck Width at the Nut 1 11/16″
- Neck Width at the Body 2 1/4″
- Fretboard Wood Ziricote
- Fretboard Radius 10″
- Fretboard Inlay Rippled Abalone “Old School” Birds
- Headstock Veneer Ziricote
- Headstock Logo Rippled Abalone Pre-Factory Eagle
- Neck/Body Assembly
- Neck/Body Assembly Type Set
- Finish
- Finish Type High-Gloss Nitro
- Hardware
- Bridge PRS Stoptail with Brass Inserts and Steel Studs
- Tuners PRS Phase III Non-Locking Tuners with Wing Buttons
- Hardware Type Nickel
- Nut Bone
- Truss Rod Cover “40th Charcoal Phoenix”
- Electronics
- Treble Pickup TCI
- Bass Pickup TCI
- Controls Volume and Tone Control with 3-way Toggle Pickup Switch and Two Mini-Toggle EQ Switches
- Additional Info
- Strings PRS Signature 10-46
- Tuning Standard (6 String): E, A, D, G, B, E
- Case PRS ATA Multi-Fit Molded Case, D1
