Limited Edition PRS Artist Series lll.

1997 Paul Reed Smith Artist Series III (Quilted Top).

This PRS 'Artist Series lll weighs 7.80 lbs. One-piece 13 inch wide, 1 5/8 inch deep South American mahogany solid body with a carved quilted 'Big Leaf Maple' top. One-piece South American mahogany glued-in neck with a nut width of just over 1 11/16 inches, a scale length of 25.00 inches and a wonderful 'fat' profile. Back angled three-on-a-side veneered headstock with PRS 'signature' logo inlaid in Paua. Back of headstock with serial number "7 33332" and "Artist Series lll #258". Rosewood truss-rod cover with Paua purfling, secured by one screw. Individual Schaller/PRS 'Rotamatic' locking tuners with half-moon metal buttons. East Indian rosewood fretboard with Paua side purfling and 'bird' inlays and 22 jumbo frets. One PRS 'Artist Bass' Humbucker in the neck position and one PRS 'Artist Treble' Humbucker in the bridge position with outputs of 8.26k and 9.49k respectively. The 'double-black' pickups are uncovered as usual. One volume control, one tone control and a five-position rotary pickup selector switch. Gold plastic barrel-shape "Speed" control knobs. PRS wrap-tail 'stud-bar' tailpiece. All hardware gold plated. Inside the neck pickup cavity is "AS3" in black marker and inside the treble pickup cavity in blue ink is written "33,332 / Natural / Art. Ser. lll / 22 FQWF".This beautifully made guitar is in mint unplayed (9.50) condition and is complete with the original PRS Custom Shop Artist Series certificate of authenticity with matching serial number, signed by Paul Reed Smith and dated October 6th, 1997. Also included in the case is the original paperwork and the PRS truss-rod adjustment tool. Housed in the original three-latch, rectangular black hardshell case with black leather ends and black plush lining (9.25).

Limited edition of "under 500", issued with certificate of authenticity.

The five position Rotary-Hybrid Pickup System works as follows:
Position 1. Treble pickup -- PRS 'Artist' Treble pickup. Hot, fat and screams…
Position 2. Outside coils -- deep and clear…
Position 3. Series single-coils -- warm version of the "in-between the treble and middle pickups"…
Position 4. Parallel single-coils -- crisp version of the "in-between the treble and middle pickups"…
Position 5. Bass pickup -- PRS 'Artist' Bass pickup -- warm, with tons of character…

The PRS Artist lll guitar was in production from 1996-1997. The guitar featured a "one-piece wide-fat set-neck, East Indian rosewood fingerboard, Paua bird inlays, 22 frets, inlaid signature on headstock, gold-plated locking tuners. Solid mahogany PRS-shape body with quilted maple top. Special "thin" finish. Colours: amber:dark-cherry; sunburst; indigo; teal black. Two humbuckers (Artist Treble and Artist Bass). Three controls (five-way rotary pickup selector, tone, volume). Gold-plated PRS Stop-Tail. Limited edition of "under 500". (Dave Burrluck. The PRS Guitar Book, p. 148).