PRS Charcoal Phoenix: Exclusive 2025 Limited Edition

By using exotic woods – durable Ziricote for the fingerboard and Chaltecoco for the neck – the designer has achieved a crystalline sound and an extraordinarily long sustain. The base of the body is made of a solid piece of select mahogany ("Fat Back") covered with a top made of two arched figured maple slabs with a transparent finish in an impressive dark shade, which also gave the instrument its name, referring to the mythical Phoenix rising from fire and ashes.

Over the past year, Paul has been testing the guitar on the road, refining its design and tone. This has resulted in an instrument that delivers an aesthetic experience and a superior sound. The visually interesting dark crimson back contrasts beautifully with the figured microburst top in Private Stock quality, and the "old school" abalone bird inlays on the 10-inch radius fingerboard give the guitar a touch of vintage elegance.

The Charcoal Phoenix has newly designed PRS TCI 2025 humbuckers linked to volume and tone potentiometers. The choice of pickups fitted with Alnico magnets is handled by a three-position toggle switch complemented by a pair of mini EQ switches, acting as finely tuned hi-pass filters correcting excess, often distracting bass and letting higher frequencies through for greater clarity and musicality in the treble.

Humbuckers with narrower coils produce a complex, balanced tone and reflect Paul's experience playing this guitar live and in the studio. The aforementioned electronics offer eight different combinations. The hardware consists of a wraparound bridge with steel studs and brass inserts to increase resonance. The headstock decorated with an abalone emblem features proven PRS Phase III tuners with plastic tuning keys.

The limited edition PRS Charcoal Phoenix 2025 comes with certification, the company's ATA Multi-Fit case and other accessories. The instrument, with a 25-inch scale and a nitrocellulose lacquer finish that allows the wood to age naturally over time, is to be produced in a run of 150 pieces.