RichSchafer teaches the
intricaciesof fretboard
design
Aesthetically, Al Di Meola’s new Prism guitar is a clear departure from what you’re used to in a PRS. Think the prism-inspired color scheme is bold? Just wait until you see it in
person. It’s even brighter than you think with mesmerizing
curly maple “ 9 Top” that threatens to hypnotize even when
Al D isn’t playing it. The guitar’s 5708 pickups are tweaked
for Al’s bright sound.
Al Di Meola Prism
25” scale
Stained curly maple “ 9 top”
Mahogany back
Custom Al Di Meola neck carve (wide fat)
22 fret Mexican rosewood fingerboard
Grommet-style locking tuners
Abalone bird inlays
Tremolo bridge
1957/2008 pickups
New DuPont Finish
The PRS Blue Sierra amp
A new PRS Acoustic with Celtic
knot fret markers
The 50-Watt Blue Sierra (top)
cial release at NAMM 2009. Those include
the acoustics, a line of amplifiers and a
Strat-style solidbody called the Chesapeake
Electric.
The acoustics have a unique bracing system
that combines classical nylon string and regular steel string technology. Co-developed
with Steve Fischer, they are big sounding
but extremely well-balanced. Upon hearing Italian virtuoso, Massimo Varini fire one
up, it was hard not to notice the wider than
expected tonal range. Razor clarity helped
define his shred-like runs while boomy
base tones and rich mids resonated loudly.
Models at the event featured dreadnaught-type shapes and as well as thin waisted, bigger bottomed- models. The guitars had red
or German Spruce tops, figured rosewood
or mahogany backs/sides and fingerboards
made of ebony or rosewood. The company
is planning to release two of its five models
at NAMM. Both are slated to be available
in a cutaway and traditional non-cutaway
shapes.
The new amps turned a lot of heads, but
the company is keeping the details close to
the vest until a January release. We do know
that a normal line (non-Private Stock) of
three (with a fourth in development) 50-Watt
models is planned and that Doug Sewell
helped design them. The prototypes at the
show featured a brown paisley design.
The Chesapeake Electrics are currently
Private Stock built and have set necks.
Based on a design by Director of R&D/
Director of Private Stock, Joe Knaggs, there
are two designs in the works. Attendees
saw the first, the Severn, on display with its
triple-layered body with contour cuts, a P-style pick guard, three single coils, a hinged
trem bridge with brass saddles and a six-on-a-side headstock.
