The 2015 National Association of Music Merchants trade show is but weeks away and Paul Reed Smith (PRS) Guitars will be taking along a rather intriguing vintage-inspired single-cutaway guitar called the P245. What makes this particular solid body PRS interesting is the inclusion of a piezo pickup system in addition to two in-house magnetic humbuckers.
PRS says that the P245 is one of its first models to feature the Paul Reed Smith-designed 58/15 treble and bass pickups, described as having exceptional clarity and focused midrange. By utilizing a separate blend control, players can combine the sounds of the magnetic humbuckers and piezo pickup through a single output jack for tailored versatility, or output the LR Baggs/PRS piezo system via its own instrument jack for "authentic acoustic tones."
The P245 features a 24.5-inch scale, 22-fret mahogany neck topped by a rosewood fingerboard with bird inlays. There's a figured maple top and mahogany back with binding, proprietary adjustable stoptail bridge and Phase III locking tuners in nickel, volume, push/pull tone knobs and a 3-way toggle switch. An Artist edition is also available with an "Artist Grade" flame maple top, similarly select neck and fingerboard woods, and a choice of gold, hybrid or nickel hardware.
The new PRS single-cutaway is scheduled to start shipping in Q1 2015 for a minimum advertised price of US$3,599, but will make its first public appearance ahead of release at the NAMM show this coming January.
Product page: PRS P245