The Guitar Player's Resource
Sometimes the best guitar stories start with teenage dreams that take decades to become reality. Paul Reed Smith first envisioned a dragon-inlaid fingerboard when he was just a kid, but the technology to execute something this intricate simply didn't exist yet.
Fast forward to 1992, and PRS released their first Dragon series - 50 instruments that instantly became collector's pieces. Now, thirty-two years later, the 40th Anniversary Dragon brings Paul's original vision full circle with a level of craftsmanship that would have been impossible back when he first dreamed it up.
Here's what makes this guitar genuinely special: over 200 pieces of multicolor mother-of-pearl, blue Pacific opal, and brown scale juma form a dragon that stretches from the 22nd fret all the way to the truss rod cover. This isn't just decorative excess - it's a masterwork of precision that represents the absolute peak of what modern luthiery can accomplish.
But Paul Reed Smith didn't build his reputation on pretty guitars that couldn't deliver musically. Those new McCarty III pickups provide the voice that matches the visual impact. Combined with that Pattern neck profile - refined from shapes Paul designed for Carlos Santana and Peter Frampton back in the '70s and '80s - you've got an instrument that plays as beautifully as it looks.
The Private Stock process ensures every detail gets the attention it deserves. From the lightweight mahogany body to that stunning figured maple top in Burnt Chestnut finish, each element is selected from PRS's legendary wood vault and crafted by their most skilled luthiers.
With only 165 made worldwide, this isn't just a guitar - it's a piece of musical history that happens to deliver serious performance. Paul Reed Smith personally inspects and signs each one before it leaves the facility, which tells you everything about how seriously PRS takes these instruments.
General:
Model: Dragon
Special Release: 40th Anniversary
Number of Strings: 6
Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
Body:
Body Type: Solidbody
Body Shape: PRS Doublecut
Body Material: Mahogany
Top Material: Private Stock Figured Maple
Body Finish: High Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Color: Burnt Chestnut
Neck:
Neck Material: Ziricote
Neck Shape: Pattern
Neck Joint: Set Neck
Radius: 10"
Fingerboard Material: Gaboon Ebony with pale Moon Ebony Insert
Fingerboard Inlay: 40th Anniversary Dragon Design
Number of Frets: 22
Scale Length: 25"
Nut Width: 1.687"
Nut Material: Bone
Hardware:
Bridge/Tailpiece: PRS Stoptail with Brass Inserts and Steel Studs
Tuners: PRS Phase III Non-Locking, 18:1
Electronics:
Neck Pickup: PRS McCarty III Humbucker
Bridge Pickup: PRS McCarty III Humbucker
Controls: 1 x volume, 1 x tone
Switching: 3-way toggle pickup switch
