PRS recently doubled down on its metal guitar game and went all-in on a new electric guitar family, the Tekton series.
The firm's pedigree in making heavy guitars is well established. Mark Tremonti, new recruit Herman Li, and Mark Holcomb have all shown that PRS guitars can handle the heavy.
The new Tekton models, though, take that a step further. They feature contours galore, a speedy neck profile, and humbuckers designed with digital rigs in mind.
Sweeping changes have been made across the board, and its iconic Bird inlays – a love or hate feature for many – have also left their perch.
Speaking in the new issue of Guitarist, Director of New Products Engineering, Rob Carhart, has spoken about the small details that make all the difference on these new axes.
“We tried prototypes with birds, dots and even no fingerboard inlays,” he admits. “We wanted the finished guitar to look elegant but a little different from what people expect when they see a PRS, so we ended up with simpler, more utilitarian markers.”
Last month, owner Paul Reed Smith laughed off a question about the firm’s 'dentist guitar' reputation during a fan Q&A with Andertons. But the approach to the Tektons suggests there is a real feeling in-house that these guitars had to distinguish themselves from the rest of the PRS lineup.
“We also included Luminlay side dots because they make it easier to see where you are on a dark stage,” Carhart expands. “The position of the volume and tone controls and the three-way switch changed during development, too.
“On a guitar with a tremolo, you don’t want the controls getting in the way of the arm.”
This attention to detail has, in turn, led to high praise for the guitars. Guitar World especially has championed the ergonomics of the guitars and the sounds the seven-string model produces.
Carhart’s full interview features in the new issue of Guitarist. Print and digital copies can be ordered from Magazines Direct.
