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"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 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 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 back plate of each instrument. Only 200 PRS Private Stock John McLaughlin guitars will be made in 2023.

Specs:

• Body Construction: Solidbody
• Top Wood: Figured Maple
• Body Wood: African Mahogany
• Top Carve: Violin
• 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
• Nut Width: 1 11/16"
• Fretboard: African Blackwood
• 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: Set
• Finish: High-Gloss Nitro
• Color: Charcoal Phoenix with Smoked Black Back
• Bridge: PRS Patented Tremolo, Gen III
• Tuners: PRS Phase III Locking
• Hardware Type: Nickel
• Nut: Bone
• Truss Rod Cover: "John McLaughlin"
• Treble Pickup: TCI
• Bass Pickup: TCI
• Controls: Volume, Tone, 3-way Toggle Pickup Switch, Two Mini-Toggle EQ Switches
• Strings: 10's
• Tuning: Standard
• Weight: 8lb 10oz
• Case: PRS Private Stock Brown Paisley