Paul Reed Smith guitars are one of the best examples of what happens when a hobby turns into a lifelong devotion to building the best guitars possible. Paul founded his company in 1985, when he was a college student who simply loved to build guitars. His passion showed in the quality of his work, which quickly caught the eye of guitarists like Carlos Santana. Today, PRS is known for guitars with a high-end vintage-inspired design, some of the best examples of which are their semi-hollow and hollow body electric guitars. If this is your first experience with PRS and you're looking to get in on the ground floor, check out the SE Custom Semi-hollow Guitar. With a mahogany back, maple top, wide 22-fret neck and genuine SE humbuckers, the SE Custom makes PRS quality accessible to any guitarist. The hollow chamber in this guitar not only boosts the midrange and reverb, it also makes the instrument light and easy to handle - a comfortable guitar for any player.
Staying in the semi-hollow class but turning things up a notch is the Limited Run 408, named for the custom pickups that use mismatched bass and treble field widths to focus and enrich the tone. The 408 Semi-hollowbody Guitar aims to give you the resonance of a hollowbody design without giving up solidbody levels of sustain. With its uniquely versatile pickups and artist-grade flame maple top, this guitar sounds as great as it looks.
One of the most famous PRS semi-hollow guitars is the Hollowbody II. Every version of this guitar has a brilliant acoustic character, outstanding clarity and impressive resonance. If you'd like that in a single-cutaway shape, take a look at the Singlecut Hollowbody II. As well, if you're big on your guitar's looks, consider the "10-top" models, which are set apart by having the best of the best figure in their maple tops. Whichever Hollowbody II you choose, you'll get a PRS/LR Baggs Piezo Pickup System in addition to the 57/08 pickups. By blending the two systems together, you can create your own custom combinations of acoustic and electric tones.
If you prefer a fully hollow body guitar, then you'll want to think about the JA-15. Designed for jazz first and foremost, the JA-15 is joint venture of Paul Reed Smith and Paul Jackson Jr. This is a spruce-topped, maple-backed guitar that puts out impressively clear resonance. 57/08 pickups, a 2-piece adjustable bridge and the signature PRS "pattern" neck shape make the JA-15 a versatile guitar that rockers can enjoy just as much as jazz-men.
Go ahead and take your pick - when you want the best of the best, PRS semi-hollow and hollow body electric guitars will more than satisfy. The reputation that comes with the name 'Paul Reed Smith' is a well-deserved one that comes through in every note and in every minute you spend onstage with one of these works of art in your hands.
