Paul Reed Smith Artist V Purple Hazel

Continuing the tradition of harmonizing tone and beauty. 

The Artist Series began in 1991. This series experimented with component and structural updates that enhanced the tone of the guitar and brought more decoration with it. The Artist V is the first example of this series in nearly 15 years. The Artist V features new pickups sec’d by Paul Reed Smith, PRS' 2011 redesigned 5-way blade switch (previously featured only on the 2011 Custom 24), beautiful inlays and purfling, and only the best woods. Gold hardware and a selective color list, including three new colors (Blue Crab Blue, Eriza Verde, and Purple Hazel), complete the Artist V’s special offerings. 

Pickup Switching Positions: 
Position One: Bridge humbucker 
Position Two: Bridge humbucker with neck singlecoil, in parallel 
Position Three: Bridge and neck humbuckers 
Position Four: Neck singlecoil with bridge singlecoil, in parallel 
Position Five: Neck humbucker 

V12 Finish 
The finish should enhance the look, sound, and feel of a guitar by accentuating the wood’s inherent beauty and feel without hindering its natural resonance. And PRS Guitars’ new “V12” finish does just that. Introduced at Experience PRS 2010, V12 is a very thin, hard, and clear finish that will not crack or react with thinners. After roughly 12 years in development, it is halfway between acrylic and nitro but with a classic feel all its own. “PRS models with this new finish feel like old instruments,” said Paul Reed Smith. 

Pattern Regular Neck Shape 
Neck shapes have always been a high priority for PRS and a hallmark of their quality. A guitar should feel comfortable, like home, as soon as you pick it up, and the neck is paramount to that connection. The new “Pattern Regular” neck shape is similar to the traditional PRS regular neck found on guitars made in the late 80’s at PRS’s former Virginia Avenue location. 

This new neck shape reflects modern tooling and programming that allows PRS to even more precisely shape and consistently reproduce their necks. 

Features 

BodyTop Wood: Artist Grade Flame MapleBack Wood: Ribboned MahoganyFinish: V12NeckNumber of Frets: 22Scale Length: 25"Neck Wood: Peruvian MahoganyFretboard Wood: Ebony with Mother of Pearl PurflingNeck Shape: Pattern RegularFretboard Inlays: Paua Birds with Mother of Pearl OutlinesHeadstock Inlay: Ebony Veneer with Abalone Signature andMother of Pearl “Artist V”Hardware/ElectronicsBridge: PRS Tremolo Tuners: PRS Phase III TunersTruss Rod Cover: EbonyHardware Type: GoldTreble Pickup: Artist VBass Pickup: Artist V