To mark Paul Reed Smith’s birthday on February 18, PRS Guitars has launched a special limited-edition model of Paul’s personal instrument—the Charcoal Phoenix Limited Edition. This release is part of PRS’s ongoing celebration of their 40th Anniversary, and only 150 units will be made available worldwide. Each guitar comes with a certificate signed by Paul Reed Smith himself, commemorating the milestone.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the Charcoal Phoenix, Paul Reed Smith said: “When we released the Private Stock John McLaughlin Limited Edition in 2023, I was inspired by its exceptional sound and playability. For the Charcoal Phoenix, I wanted to create something equally remarkable, but with a stoptail bridge. Using chaltecoco for the neck and ziricote for the fingerboard, I achieved an instrument that sustains beautifully and rings with clarity. The deep crimson back and the charcoal microburst top inspired the name ‘Charcoal Phoenix,’ evoking the imagery of a phoenix rising from fire and ashes.”
Paul Reed Smith has spent the past year road-testing the Charcoal Phoenix, fine-tuning its design and tone. He most recently played this model during the PRS Guitars 40th Anniversary concert at the House of Blues in Anaheim, late in January 2025. The guitar’s deep crimson back contrasts strikingly with the Private Stock-grade figured maple top, finished in a charcoal microburst. The fingerboard, made of ziricote, is adorned with ripple abalone “Old School” bird inlays, adding a vintage aesthetic to the guitar.
The Charcoal Phoenix is equipped with the newly updated PRS TCI pickups for 2025. These pickups, featuring American Alnico magnets and modified winding, wiring, and electronics specifications, deliver a wide range of tones, from bright single coils to full-bodied soapbars. The pickups have been refined based on Paul’s extensive live and studio experience with the guitar. Additionally, the guitar features EQ mini-toggle switches that act as tuned high-pass filters, removing low-end shelving and enhancing clarity for a more musical, high-frequency response.
Other notable features of the Charcoal Phoenix include the PRS Stoptail bridge and PRS Phase III Non-Locking Tuners. The stoptail bridge is engineered with curved string slots, brass inserts, and steel studs to maximize the transfer of string vibrations through the instrument. The lightweight tuners further enhance tone transfer, resulting in a louder, more resonant sound.
The Charcoal Phoenix Limited Edition is available in a very limited run, making it a rare collector’s item and a fitting tribute to 40 years of PRS craftsmanship.
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