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SKU PRS-PS-MCLAU

PRS Paul Reed Smith Private Stock John McLaughlin Limited Edition Guitar, Charcoal Phoenix

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Manufacturer's Description

Playing music is a way of being. Playing an instrument requires you to move out of the normal level of consciousness. If you’re thinking, you’re not playing. If you’re playing, you’re not thinking. If you have problems with your instrument, you’re not going to move out of the thinking zone and into your own world. This is why I love my guitar. For me, it’s perfect.” – John McLaughlin

The PRS Private Stock John McLaughlin is a classic instrument that has been meticulously spec’d by Paul Reed Smith to honor John McLaughlin. All of the woods were specially chosen by Smith for their tone, figure, and weight. The specs are fairly straightforward: maple top, mahogany back, hormigo neck (a tone wood used on marimbas for sound-producing tines) with an African blackwood fretboard, 22 frets, 25” scale length, Pattern neck, PRS’s patented Gen III tremolo, and PRS Phase III tuners.

Some of the more particular details on this model are in the finish, pickups, and electronics. The guitar is finished in high-gloss nitro with an unfinished neck with clear grain filler for a smooth, natural playing feel. The TCI pickups feature American Alnico and are paired with volume and tone controls with a 3-way toggle pickup switch and two mini-toggle EQ switches. The mini-toggles act as tuned high-pass filters when engaged (in the up position), removing shelved low-end and allowing the high frequencies through for more clarity and musical highs.

“Being John’s guitar maker is an honor I fought decades for, and to now be able to give him a signature model is a special moment for me and hopefully the industry,” said Paul Reed Smith. “These guitars were designed to both feel like magic when you pick them up but also disappear in your hands so you can just focus on playing. John is capable of playing at extraordinary speed and with this instrument, you hear every note. Finding that balance as a guitar maker and coaxing every bit of sound out of the guitar was the key.”

Paul Reed Smith and Paul Miles have signed each Private Stock John McLaughlin model on the back of the headstock. As an added detail, John McLaughlin has autographed the backplate of each instrument.

Only 200 PRS Private Stock John McLaughlin guitars will be made in 2023.

Unique features to this PRS Private Stock guitar are:

  • 1 of 200 Made – Special Limited Run
  • High-Gloss Nitro Finish
  • Curly Maple Top
  • Hormigo Neck
  • African Blackwood Fingerboard & Headstock Inlays
  • Celtic Knot Abalone, Holly, & Multi-Violet Synthetic Opal Inlays
  • Nickel Hardware
  • Paul's TCI Pickups

Specifications

Body

  • Body Construction: Solidbody
  • Top Wood: Figured Maple
  • Back Wood: African Mahogany
  • Top Carve: Violin
  • Finish: Charcoal Phoenix with Smoked Black Back, High-Gloss Nitro

Neck

  • Number of Frets: 22
  • Fret Wire: PRS Jumbo
  • Scale Length: 25”
  • Neck Wood: Hormigo
  • Neck Construction: One-Piece
  • Truss Rod: PRS Double-Acting
  • Neck Shape: Pattern
  • Neck Depth at the 1⁄2 Fret: 7/8” [22.22 mm]
  • Neck Width at the Nut: 1 11/16” [42.85 mm]
  • Neck Width at the Body: 2 1⁄4” [57.15 mm]
  • Neck Depth at the 12 1⁄2: 61/64” [24.20 mm]
  • Fretboard Wood: African Blackwood
  • Fretboard Radius: 10”
  • Fretboard Inlay: Celtic Knots, Abalone Knot w/ Holly Spikes and Crushed Opal Oval
  • Headstock Logo: Private Stock Eagle, Crushed Opal w/ Holly Outlines

Neck/Body Assembly

  • NBA Type: Set

Hardware

  • Bridge: PRS Patented Tremolo, Gen III
  • Tuners: PRS Phase III Locking
  • Hardware Type: Nickel
  • Nut: Bone
  • Truss Rod Cover: “John McLaughlin”

Electronics

  • Treble Pickups: TCI
  • Bass Pickups: TCI
  • Controls: Volume & Tone Controls with 3-Way Toggle Pickup Switch and Two Mini-Toggle EQ Switches (Up: High-Pass EQ Mode, Down: Standard Humbucker Mode)

Misc.

  • Strings: 10’s
  • Tuning: Standard (6 String): E-A-D-G-B-E
  • Case: Private Stock Brown Paisley
  • Instrument Weight: 8.2 lbs
  • Serial #: 0364250

Overall Condition

Music Store Live is proud to be an authorized dealer for PRS. This Private Stock John McLaughlin Limited Edition is 100% brand new and is being sold with a full manufacturer's warranty. Photos are of the exact guitar you'll receive.

Our in-house guitar tech will inspect, test, set up, and clean all of our instruments on site prior to shipping. All of our instruments are guaranteed to be fully functional upon arrival.