Bright, punchy and exceptionally versatile, the PRS Swamp Ash Special Maple combines resonant swamp ash with the snap and clarity of a bolt-on maple neck and fingerboard, backed by a unique three-pickup electronics package with 12 distinct sounds. A solid swamp ash body delivers tight lows and a lively response, while the 25" scale Pattern Regular maple neck and 10"-radius maple fingerboard provide familiar PRS playability with an added touch of brightness. Two 58/15 LT humbuckers flank a PRS Narrowfield in the middle position, bringing focused, single-coil-like bite without the hum. Independent mini-toggle coil taps expand the range of the outer pickups, with a five-way blade providing access to 12 tonal combinations while maintaining consistent output between humbucking and tapped settings. A PRS patented tremolo and Phase III locking tuners round out an American-made instrument built for expressive playing and wide-ranging tonal exploration.
Swamp Ash and Maple Deliver Snap, Twang and Definition
A solid swamp ash body gives the Swamp Ash Special Maple a lively, resonant foundation with tight low-end response, clear definition and a bright top end that remains smooth rather than harsh. The bolt-on maple neck adds snap and immediacy to the attack, while the maple fingerboard reinforces the guitar’s crisp, articulate character. Together, these woods give chords plenty of separation and individual notes a direct, responsive quality, with a welcome touch of twang that complements the versatile pickup array. A sculpted violin top carve adds familiar PRS dimension to the swamp ash body, finished in high-gloss nitro for a polished presentation.
Satin-Finished Pattern Regular Neck Offers a Smooth, Responsive Feel
The maple neck features a Pattern Regular carve and satin nitro finish for a smooth, natural feel beneath the fretting hand. Its 25" scale provides the balanced string tension characteristic of PRS guitars, while the 10"-radius maple fingerboard and 22 frets create a comfortable playing surface for chord work, bends and lead playing. The Pattern Regular profile offers substantial support without feeling overly bulky, giving the Swamp Ash Special Maple a familiar PRS feel despite its distinctly different tonal construction. Signature bird inlays complete the fingerboard, while a double-acting truss rod provides precise adjustment for maintaining consistent playability over time.
Three PRS Pickups Unlock 12 Distinct Tonal Combinations
The Swamp Ash Special Maple surrounds a PRS Narrowfield middle pickup with 58/15 LT humbuckers at the bridge and neck, creating an unusually flexible three-pickup layout. The Narrowfield delivers focused, single-coil-like bite while remaining hum canceling, complementing the fuller, vintage-inspired character of the outer humbuckers. Two mini-toggle switches independently coil-tap the 58/15 LTs, while a five-way blade combines the three pickups for a total of twelve distinct sounds. PRS also balances the output between the humbucking and tapped settings, allowing players to move between fuller tones and leaner, brighter textures without disruptive changes in volume. Master volume and tone controls keep the extensive tonal range straightforward to navigate.
PRS Tremolo and Phase III Tuners Support Expressive Playing
The PRS patented tremolo provides smooth, responsive pitch control for everything from subtle vibrato to more pronounced bends. Phase III locking tuners secure the strings at the headstock for dependable tuning stability and efficient string changes, with unplated brass shafts adding a distinctive detail to the open-back design. Nickel hardware complements the guitar’s clean presentation while keeping the focus on dependable performance. The Swamp Ash Special Maple includes a PRS premium gig bag for practical protection between rehearsals, sessions and gigs.
A Wide-Ranging Bolt-On PRS With a Distinctive Voice
The PRS Swamp Ash Special Maple brings together a bright, responsive tonal foundation and one of the more expansive electronics packages in the PRS lineup. Swamp ash and bolt-on maple construction provide the snap, definition and tight low end that shape the guitar’s core response, while the combination of 58/15 LT humbuckers, a hum-canceling Narrowfield and independent coil taps opens the door to everything from full-bodied warmth to leaner, chimey textures. Paired with a comfortable Pattern Regular neck carve and dependable PRS tremolo and locking hardware, the Swamp Ash Special Maple delivers exceptional range without losing the lively character that makes the instrument distinctive.