Signature guitar with flamed maple top, Santana pickups and PRS hardware
Carlos Santana Signature guitar from PRS Core Models series, made in USA
Serial number 0335165
Gray-purple high gloss finish
Set-neck construction with 24.5" scale length (622 mm)
Mahogany body
Maple top with natural binding
Glued mahogany neck
24-fret rosewood fingerboard with Bird inlays
"Santana Retro" neck profile
One PRS Santana Bass humbucker in neck position
One PRS Santana Treble humbucker in bridge position
3-way switch with controls for Volume and Tone
PRS Gen III tremolo
PRS Phase III Locking tuners
PRS guitar case included
Santana Signature guitar in "Pre-Factory" style
With the PRS Santana Retro Purple IrisPaul Reed Smith revives basic design elements of the Santana model from the "Pre-Factory" era and combines them with modern detail solutions to a unique electric guitar with high playability and creamy sound. The flamed maple top has a distinctive contour, while carefully selected mahogany is used for the body and set neck. In the rosewood fingerboard, traditional bird inlays also mark the positions. With two PRS Santana humbuckers in neck and bridge positions, the PRS Santana Retro delivers the typical Santana sound at the guitar amp with a carrying Sustain and singing midrange. Last but not least, the Santana Retro Purple Iris guitar features a PRS Gen III Tremolo and PRS Phase III locking tuners.
The PRS Santana Retro Purple Iris #0335165 comes with solid curly maple top and picks up design features from the Maryland-based guitar maker's "pre-factory" era.
The glued mahogany neck of the PRS Santana Retro features the "Original Heel" and the comfortable "Santana Retro" profile.
Premium woods and classic "pre-factory" design.
For the design of the Santana Retro, Paul Reed Smith relies on classic "pre-factory" lines. Accordingly, the curly maple top not only features an evenly figured flame, but also a pronounced arch with dish carve. Furthermore, carefully selected mahogany is used for the body and glued neck with "Original Heel ", while the rounded "Santana Retro" profile fits comfortably in the hand. Last but not least, the Santana Signature model features a rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and the classic PRS Birds to mark the positions.
The combination of PRS Santana humbuckers in neck and bridge position promises the typical Santana sound.
PRS Santana Humbucker
Two PR S Santana humbuckers are used as pickups on the Santana Retro, which are optimally matched to the electric guitar and Carlos Santana's sound ideas. On the neck, the PRS Santana Bass Humbucker with moderate output provides a harmonically balanced sound that is equally suitable for transparent cleans and singing leads. The PRS Santana Treble humbucker placed at the bridge also has a moderate output and delivers a vintage-oriented sound that has a high assertiveness thanks to defined lows and pronounced mids. A classic 3-way circuit with general volume and tone controls grants full control over the pickups.
Six PRS Phase III locking tuners guarantee precise and stable tuning even when the vibrato system is used frequently.
PRS tremolo and clamp tuners
Perfectly matched hardware equipment completes the Santana Retro Purple Iris Signature guitar. The bridge is the PRS Gen III tremolo, which impresses with optimal sound characteristics and smooth handling for harmonic pitch modulations. In addition, PRS Phase III locking tuners on the headstock, which is designed in the classic Santana style, ensure precise and stable tuning even when the tremolo system is used frequently.
Love the scale and the feel of the earlier PRS body shape. Great fretboard access. Pickup mix superb esp. that bass emphasised neck. Beautiful finish. I've been playing a while and I've been fortunate to be able to obtain some good modern repros. I've still got my old SG w/vibrola purchased new from Selmer (1967). A difficult instrument to better. This Santana model feels like an improved update of it. Cannot give a better acolade than that. Well done PRS. Good service from DV24/7. Item well packaged and delivered within reasonable time frame over Easter break. Thank-you.
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(This review is from the same product in color Cobalt Blue)
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