Single-cut design boasts swamp ash body, bolt-on neck and special PRS Narrowfield DD pickups for “single-coil tones without the hum”
PRS has long been a trailblazer in the world of electric guitar design, but the company appears to have outdone even its own storied legacy with the brand-new NF 53, which Guitar World Tech Editor Paul Riario calls a “very different and electrifying addition” to PRS’ six-string range.
Indeed, the NF 53 aims to be a modern classic, mostly because it draws its inspiration from one of Paul Reed Smith’s favorite vintage guitars from 1953, with a bold single-cut design.
In keeping with that classic look, the NF 53 boasts timeless specs: a swamp ash body and a 22-fret, 25.5-inch scale length bolt-on maple neck with maple fretboard – the latter of which is given some pizzazz via PRS’ signature bird inlays
Then there’s the NF 53’s unique voice, which comes courtesy of a special set of PRS Narrowfield pickups – the Narrowfield DD (Deep Dish), which sport a mixed magnet/steel pole piece design and a slightly deeper bobbin, combining to offer plenty of twangy goodness without sacrificing bottom end.
(Image credit: PRS)
You also get single volume and tone controls and a three-way blade pickup switch, as well as vintage-style tuners, a bone nut and a steel PRS plate-style bridge with brass saddles, a tried-and-true combination that “undoubtedly offers a much brighter tone and snappier response, not to mention more sustain,” Paul says.
His verdict?
“For players who love that vintage look and feel of a T-style guitar, the PRS NF 53 is a modern classic,” Paul summarizes. “It is a touch-sensitive and powerfully responsive guitar that combines single-coil tones without the hum, thanks to its sweetly-voiced Narrowfield DD pickups.”
Paul continues that the “spot-on craftsmanship and precision playability only add to the charm of the NS 53, making it one of my favorite guitars that I’ve had the pleasure to play.”
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