Gary’s Story
I’ve owned and played a number of exceptional PRS Private Stock guitars, but this Custom 24 is unlike any other I’ve encountered. I call it “The Brazilian.”
Completed September 2, 2015, Private Stock #5722 is remarkable for the amount of Brazilian rosewood incorporated into a single instrument. Most unusual is the Brazilian rosewood top — the only Brazilian rosewood-topped PRS Private Stock guitar I have ever seen.
The guitar also has a solid Brazilian rosewood neck, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, headstock veneer and truss rod cover, along with Brazilian rosewood pickup rings, control knobs and tuner buttons. The rear electronics cover continues the theme.
The body back is African ribbon mahogany, while curly maple binding follows the carved top contour. The Natural with Smoked Burst Satin nitro finish allows the grain and color of the Brazilian rosewood to remain the visual focus.
The bird inlays are white with black web, with matching purfling, side dots and a Brazilian country-outline inlay on the Brazilian rosewood backplate.
For me, the solid Brazilian rosewood neck is one of the defining features. It has a PRS Pattern carve and an exceptional feel in the hands.
The electronics use PRS 57/08 pickups with volume, push-pull tone and a three-way toggle. The hardware combines gold and nickel, with a PRS tremolo and Phase III locking tuners.
With faultless materials, extraordinary workmanship, excellent sound and playability, this is among my favorite guitars.