Gary’s Story
I’ve owned and played a lot of extraordinary solid-body guitars, but if I had to choose a favorite, this is it.
Private Stock #1333 is a Custom 22 completed December 12, 2006 to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Private Stock program. It was designed and created by Joe Knaggs, Paul Reed Smith and the Private Stock team.
The guitar has an exceptional curly maple top in Violin Amber Burst, a South American mahogany back and a solid Brazilian rosewood neck with a Wide Fat carve.
There is something about the feel of a great solid Brazilian rosewood neck that is difficult to duplicate with any other wood. It feels smooth, substantial and exceptionally solid in my hands, and this particular neck is one of the best I’ve experienced.
The anniversary inlays incorporate black and brown lip mother-of-pearl, white and gold mother-of-pearl, paua, abalone, green snail, orange Madre per Lato, 14-karat gold, red coral and koa. The details continue with paua side dots, custom-engraved pickup covers, rosewood pickup rings and tuner buttons, and green ripple abalone, black and ivoroid binding.
But that is not why it is my favorite. It plays exceptionally well, and its sonic spectrum is exceptional.
The PRS 9 pickups simply sing. There is richness and depth in the lower frequencies, a strong and articulate midrange, and clarity and definition on top. The guitar has a broad sonic spectrum without losing the balance and precision I expect from a great PRS.
The craftsmanship is essentially faultless and the materials are extraordinary. But ultimately, the way a guitar feels and sounds determines which guitar I reach for.
PRS Private Stock #1333 remains my favorite solid-body guitar.
