The Guitar Player's Resource
Ever wonder what gives Carlos Santana's guitar that singing, vocal-like quality that cuts straight through to your emotions? It starts with having the right instrument style - something that prioritizes musical expression over technical showboating.
Some guitar partnerships start with a handshake, but the greatest ones begin with pure musical necessity. Forty years ago, when a young Paul Reed Smith approached Carlos Santana backstage at Merriweather Post Pavilion, neither man knew they were about to create one of music's most enduring collaborations.
That backstage encounter led to Carlos receiving a guitar he famously called "an accident of god" - then immediately telling Paul he'd never be able to build another one that good. Well, forty years and countless iconic guitars later, this Santana Retro SY (Santana Yellow') proves that some accidents can be repeated with deliberate precision.
Here's what makes this anniversary model special: it's not trying to improve on the original Pre-Factory design that made Carlos fall in love with PRS guitars in the first place. Instead, it faithfully reproduces every detail that made those early instruments so magical. The body dimensions, neck profile, saddle, and headstock are exactly identical to what Paul built for Carlos in the early '80s.
Those TCI "Santana" pickups are where modern technology serves vintage inspiration. They've been specifically designed to capture the voice of the original guitar - that singing, vocal-like sustain that turns simple melodies into emotional statements. Whether you're executing those soaring single-note passages that made Santana famous or digging into complex chord voicings, these pickups respond to your touch with musical sensitivity.
The Santana Yellow finish over carved figured maple creates visual warmth that matches the guitar's tonal character, while that mahogany body and neck combination delivers the sustain and resonance that made Carlos's original guitar so special.
At 7.74 pounds, this guitar feels substantial without being unwieldy - perfect for players who need an instrument that can handle both delicate clean passages and full-throttle rock intensity. The 24.5" scale length provides that slightly warmer, more singing sustain that serves melodic playing so well.
This isn't just another artist signature - it's living rock history that happens to deliver serious musical performance.
General:
Model: Santana Retro
Color: Santana Yellow
Finish: Nitrocellulose, High Gloss
Weight: 7.74 lb
Body:
Material: Mahogany
Top: Carved Figured Maple
10Top
Neck:
Material: Mahogany
Profile: Santana Retro
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 24
Inlays: Birds
Width at Nut: 1.6875"
Scale Lengths: 24.5"
Electric:
Neck Pickup: Santana
Bridge Pickup: Santana
Controls: 1x Volume, 1x Tone
Switch: 3-Way Toggle Pickup Switch
Hardware:
Bridge: PRS Patented Tremolo, Gen III
Tuning Keys: Phase III Locking Tuners
Color: Nickel
