PRS SC 58 Review

By: Dr. Matt Warnock

When I first walked past the PRS SC 58 guitar at Experience PRS 2010, I stopped for a second and took a look at the guitar. I wasn’t sure if maybe this was a new prototype that had mistakenly been put out on display, but it was definitely not what I was expecting as far as the new PRS models were concerned. It’s got a 2-piece bridge, which is brand new for PRS, as well as a single-cutaway which is a bit out of character for a company that has built its reputation as the biggest, baddest double-cutaway maker on the block. Regardless of my expectations, I found that the guitar stood its ground against everything I threw at it.

The first thing I noticed, and the one thing that PRS wants you to notice with this guitar, is their new 2-piece bridge. The first part of the bridge is a standard looking saddle, where the strings rest, while the second piece of the bridge is located a few inches behind the saddle, where the strings are held in place. This is not your standard wrap-around PRS bridge that we’re all used to, but it’s a really cool addition to the product line and hopefully we’ll see it on more models in the future.

The reason that PRS chose to add this new bridge was because “there are more contact points on this new 2-piece adjustable bridge, which in turn create a more resonant musical instrument.” After playing the guitar, in both lead and rhythm situations, I can say that I agree with this statement. The guitar has sustain for days, while delivering a thick, consistent tone across the board. Even in the upper frets each note rings clear, and holds on long after other similar guitars would have faded away.

One of the other unique, or I guess different, aspects to this guitar is that it’s a single cutaway. I guess I’ve gotten used to the double-cutaway models that PRS has become famous for, but even so, I really dug this guitar. I’ve never owned a single cutaway solid-body, though I have had a few archtops built in this manner, and I’ve never really liked them.

I always felt that I was struggling to reach the upper frets and couldn’t quite get comfortable playing up there, but I had no trouble reaching the high notes on the SC 58. Maybe I just haven’t played enough single-cutaways, but this guitar kind of surprised me with how easy it was to reach up and rip around the 20+ frets.

From a visual standpoint the guitar looks great, and a large part of its visual appeal comes from the new V12 finish that PRS debuted at Experience PRS 2010. The “new V12 finish is the midpoint between acrylic and nitro, but it has a classic feel all its own” states the company’s Signature magazine, and I have to agree, at least on the last part of the sentence, the first part is beyond my chemical comprehension.

The finish is distinct, and eye catching, without taking away from the instrument itself. It’ll be interesting to see how far PRS will go with the new finish. Will they just use it on select instruments? Will it become the new standard for all of their guitars? Only Paul knows the answers to those questions, but those who have seen it are anxiously awaiting his responses.

Though I wouldn’t but a SC58 myself, it just doesn’t fit into my style arena as a jazz-Brazilian guitarist, I still enjoyed playing the instrument and getting a chance to put it through the ringer. If you’re a rock or blues player, than this guitar is more up your alley. The tone is great, the build is of course top-notch as are all PRS’ and the new V12 finish is very cool.

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