Carlsbro PRS 25th anniversary guitar (1993)

[DISTORT6]

PRS used to do small-run dealer anniversary models like this one made for the 20th anniversary of the Machinehead. Jeff, the owner, started World Guitars, which is 10 minute's drive from where I live.

Sadly Jeff is no longer with us. Such a character...

Here's Machinehead's 20th anniversary

2003 PRS Machinehead 20th Anniversary Custom 22 - Purple - Near Mint | Reverb Malta

2003 PRS Custom 22 was created for the UK dealer Machine Head Music, in a lovely Purple finish. Only 20 of these guitars were made, with gorgeous artist-grade maple tops; each hand signed by Paul Reed Smith. This one is number 16/20. Weight 7lbs 11.5oz / 3.5 kg. Nut width 43 mm, depth at 1s...

reverb.com

Now THAT run I know of. Purple with gold hardware…YUM. Another one the pond kept away from me.

 

[Max Headroom]

Now THAT run I know of. Purple with gold hardware…YUM. Another one the pond kept away from me.

It's only a short flight.....

 

[Simon Says]

It's only a short flight.....

I can always keep it home for Distort6

The World Guitars has been just a shadow of itself since Jeff died. They have mainly used PRS guitars and very little stock in general. They have one faded ME1 and this HB with a one-piece top, which blew my mind

PRS Guitars: Hollowbody II Artist Pack W/ Piezo Vintage Yellow #132059

Stunning 2008 Hollowbody II Artist Pack with Piezo in Vintage Yellow with a staggering killer one piece top and back! In excellent condition almost as new! This is one of the nicest Hollowbody's we have ever seen. Full Artist Pack spec which is no longer available. These are a highly versatile...

worldguitars.co.uk

 

[Max Headroom]

I can always keep it home for Distort6

The World Guitars has been just a shadow of itself since Jeff died. They have mainly used PRS guitars and very little stock in general. They have one faded ME1 and this HB with a one-piece top, which blew my mind

PRS Guitars: Hollowbody II Artist Pack W/ Piezo Vintage Yellow #132059

Stunning 2008 Hollowbody II Artist Pack with Piezo in Vintage Yellow with a staggering killer one piece top and back! In excellent condition almost as new! This is one of the nicest Hollowbody's we have ever seen. Full Artist Pack spec which is no longer available. These are a highly versatile...

worldguitars.co.uk

Now that is stunning...and price is not horrendous.

 

[bodia]

Man, there’s no Sweet Switch in those pictures either

 

[DISTORT6]

Man, there’s no Sweet Switch in those pictures either

Post sweet switch era in ‘93.

 

[Tucson Thump]

Post sweet switch era in ‘93.

Ad copy says "push/pull sweet switch on tone control" so I think they didn't get their terminology straight.

 

[BigChrisW]

PRS used to do small-run dealer anniversary models like this one made for the 20th anniversary of the Machinehead. Jeff, the owner, started World Guitars, which is 10 minute's drive from where I live.

Sadly Jeff is no longer with us. Such a character...

Here's Machinehead's 20th anniversary

2003 PRS Machinehead 20th Anniversary Custom 22 - Purple - Near Mint | Reverb Malta

2003 PRS Custom 22 was created for the UK dealer Machine Head Music, in a lovely Purple finish. Only 20 of these guitars were made, with gorgeous artist-grade maple tops; each hand signed by Paul Reed Smith. This one is number 16/20. Weight 7lbs 11.5oz / 3.5 kg. Nut width 43 mm, depth at 1s...

reverb.com

Bought my Paul's Guitar from World Guitars... great shop. I knew Mark Smith that ran it for while, when I did some work with Taylor. He's moved on now but the guy running it is great.

 

[Noah Jender]

My first thought too and where's the quilt? Lol

Am I alone in thinking the only thing custom about these is a neck plate?

My guess is this advert was produced before the guitars had been built, if they ever actually got built

 

[Noah Jender]

PRS used to do small-run dealer anniversary models like this one made for the 20th anniversary of the Machinehead. Jeff, the owner, started World Guitars, which is 10 minute's drive from where I live.

Sadly Jeff is no longer with us. Such a character...

Here's Machinehead's 20th anniversary

2003 PRS Machinehead 20th Anniversary Custom 22 - Purple - Near Mint | Reverb Malta

2003 PRS Custom 22 was created for the UK dealer Machine Head Music, in a lovely Purple finish. Only 20 of these guitars were made, with gorgeous artist-grade maple tops; each hand signed by Paul Reed Smith. This one is number 16/20. Weight 7lbs 11.5oz / 3.5 kg. Nut width 43 mm, depth at 1s...

reverb.com

That's a corker, I wish PRS had done a run for Holiday Music Lefties store (
I have a lefty Custom 22 and an original '93 EG, but they're getting hard to find. My shop was Music Ground (Donny), Rick is a different kind of character )

 

[Simon Says]

Bought my Paul's Guitar from World Guitars... great shop. I knew Mark Smith that ran it for while, when I did some work with Taylor. He's moved on now but the guy running it is great.

I have chatted with WG staff over the phone several times, and they are fire. One of my good mates at work knows them well, and we are planning a visit soon. He speaks highly of Smithy as well as about the current management. I really want to buy my next guitar from them. I feel like it's essential to keep them in the biz. It's a special place, small yet charming.

Here's Paul and Jeff together

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Apparently not, I'll see if I can upload it to Pintrest and get a link

Ah so a dealer run, that makes more sense.

My Mesa Boogie Studio 22 came from the Norwich Carlsbro store, about the same time this dealer run was offered.

 

[Huddo61]

The Carlsbro limited edition CE model was a run of 25 guitars to commemorate the shop's 25th anniversary and I have no.10 of 25.
As the advert says, it has an amber quilt top, Dragon 1 pickups and a sweet switch which is activated via a push/pull on the tone knob.
I have posted some photos here:

Dropbox - File Deleted - Simplify your life

www.dropbox.com

 

[SinSir]

I have no.10 of 25.

The cert says #24 but neck plate has 10 of 25.

 

[Huddo61]

The cert says #24 but neck plate has 10 of 25.

Yes I know, unfortunately I don't have the cert for my guitar, I got the cert photo from another one which was for sale a while back.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

The Carlsbro limited edition CE model was a run of 25 guitars to commemorate the shop's 25th anniversary and I have no.10 of 25.
As the advert says, it has an amber quilt top, Dragon 1 pickups and a sweet switch which is activated via a push/pull on the tone knob.
I have posted some photos here:

Dropbox - File Deleted - Simplify your life

www.dropbox.com

Was it just one Carlsbro store, or were they available through the chain. Just interested as I was a customer of Carlsbro, not for this guitar though.

I bought my Mesa 22 from them a year later (1994).

 

[Huddo61]

Was it just one Carlsbro store, or were they available through the chain. Just interested as I was a customer of Carlsbro, not for this guitar though.

I bought my Mesa 22 from them a year later (1994).

They were available through the chain of Carlsbro stores in the UK. I was offered one of these second-hand a few months after they were released but couldn't afford it......31 years later I've finally got one ......(it goes well with my '94 Custom 24 and '90 EG4).

 

[Noah Jender]

The Carlsbro limited edition CE model was a run of 25 guitars to commemorate the shop's 25th anniversary and I have no.10 of 25.
As the advert says, it has an amber quilt top, Dragon 1 pickups and a sweet switch which is activated via a push/pull on the tone knob.
I have posted some photos here:

Dropbox - File Deleted - Simplify your life

www.dropbox.com

Lovely to actually see one, I tried to order one at the time and I could hear the laughing over the phone when I asked if there were any lefties, When I came across the old ad I wondered if they had actually got all the orders they needed and proceeded with them, now I know they did. I have a 93 lefty EG and a lefty Custom 22.................... obviously I won't be as lucky as you were )

 

[GarageGear]

Hello there, I just saw this post, and I have to say that they are real! I have number 24 of this Carlsbro series, the Dragon PickUps are gone, were replaced for a 57/08 in the neck and a 59/09 in the bridge... I do have the certificate, but Paul Reed Smith´s signature is very blurry, but the Jack Higginbotham signature is intact... I uploaded some Pictures of the beauty

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Hello there, I just saw this post, and I have to say that they are real! I have number 24 of this Carlsbro series, the Dragon PickUps are gone, were replaced for a 57/08 in the neck and a 59/09 in the bridge... I do have the certificate, but Paul Reed Smith´s signature is very blurry, but the Jack Higginbotham signature is intact... I uploaded some Pictures of the beauty

Which store did this one come from?

Beautiful guitar.

Nice piece of PRS history.