The PRS A40E is an astonishing acoustic built on all of what PRS have learned since they started making acoustic guitars back in 2011. Using ovangkol back and sides with a solid Sitka spruce top this is great all rounder guitar that can cover a wide range of styles.
Tonewoods
The A40E uses a tonewood combination of a solid Sitka spruce with ovangkol back and sides. Ovangkol is a similar tonewood to rosewood but doesn’t come with the sustainability issues and CITES import restrictions. Like rosewood, Ovangkol has a broad dynamic range but with slightly more midrange emphasis. This is complemented by the the Sitka spruce top which has a very balanced and consistent tone. It’s this combination of tonewoods that makes the A40E such a versatile guitar.
To get the most out of these woods PRS have used their own X/Classical bracing pattern on the top. This tweak to the bracing pattern results in more flexibility for the top to resonate which at the end of the day means more volume and a more defined, full tone that gets the best out of the locked down ovangkol back and sides.
All PRS SE acoustics have mahogany necks with ebony fretboards for great stability and resonance.
Angelus Body
The Angelus is PRS’s take on a classic cutaway body shape. It’s a comfortable mid-sized body that isn’t so large that it’s unwieldy to play and not so small that you don’t get a full sound when you want to start strumming. You also get great upper fret access thanks to the cutaway for when you want to hit those high notes. Like the tonewoods, this body shape lends itself to a wide variety of playing styles and genres.
Fishman Pickup
Every guitar in the PRS SE Acoustic range comes fitted with a Fishman GT1 pickup. This sits under the saddle of the guitar and feeds off to controls that sit just under the soundhole for quick and seamless changes while playing.
Bone Nut and Saddle
If you follow Paul Reed Smith at all you know his philosophy for building acoustic guitars. That it is a ‘subtractive’ instrument meaning that everything on the guitar isn’t adding more tone, or sustain, it is just subtracting less.
Anything that touches the string has the ability to subtract more sustain or tone from your guitar so they have made sure that these guitars are fitted with bone saddles and nuts for the best possible sound. You won’t find this on many instruments at this kind of price.
PRS Acoustics
Since 2011 PRS have dedicated a large department to not only creating great acoustic guitars but also innovating what we thought possible with the acoustic guitar. By going back and looking at some of the oldest available acoustic guitars to what the best of the best are making today, they have created a few innovations that make an incredible guitar.
From Private Stock to SE every acoustic they make is made with a purpose, nothing is done just because that is what everyone else does. They have thought through every combination of woods, shape, bracing, electronics to come up with what they feel is the best acoustic they can make at a price a lot of people can afford.
Specifications
Body
- Top Wood: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Middle Wood: Ovangkol
- Back Wood: Ovangkol
- Body Shape: Angelus Cutaway
- Body Depth at Neck Block: 3 19/32”
- Body Depth at Tail Block: 4 3/8”
- Bracing: PRS Hybrid “X”/Classical Bracing
- Body Purfling: Tiger Acrylic
- Body Binding: Cream
- Rosette: Tiger Acrylic, Cream/Black
Neck
- Number of Frets: 20
- Scale Length: 25.3”
- Neck Wood: Mahogany
- Neck Shape: Wide Fat
- String Spacing: 2 7/32”
- Fretboard Wood: Ebony
- Fretboard Inlay: Birds
- Fretboard Radius: 11.81″
- Strength/Truss Rod: Adjustable
- Neck Depth At The Nut: 7/8”
- Width of Fretboard at the Body:2 9/32″
- Width of Fretboard at the Nut: 1 11/16″
- Nut: Bone
Hardware
- Bridge Wood: Ebony
- Tuners: PRS-Designed
- Acoustic Saddle: Bone
- Strings: 12-53
- Included Accessories: PRS Hardshell Case
Electronics
- Acoustic Electronics: Fishman GT1

PAISTE 18 PST 3 CRASH/RIDE
DADDARIO XTC46 HARD STRING SET FOR CLASSICAL GUITAR
GRAPH TECH NUBONE LC-5000 F-STYLE GUITAR NUT FLAT/CURVED BOTTOM SLOTTED LUTHIER'S
MEINL ARTIST SERIES 60 BARS LUIS CONTE CHIME
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES CUSTOM SERIES 30FT CABLE
STAGG K10-097 STANDARD BLACK NYLON BAG FOR KEYBOARD
TAKAMINE GD30-BLK
YAMAHA YTR 8345G CUSTOM Bb TRUMPET GOLD BRASS BELL
YAMAHA APX 700II VS
AKG D7
K&M 150/1 BASSOON STAND
K&M 234 TABLE MIC.STAND Black
YAMAHA CFX PREMIUM GRAND CONCERT PIANO POLISHED EBONY 275CM
GÖLDO SNFB42 BASS NUT
AHEAD STICK TIP 5AS
TAKAMINE EF381SC
GROVER ROTOMATIC GUITAR MACHINE 3+3 GOLD
STAGG TIKI SOPRANO UKULELE US-TIKIEH
YAMAHA DZR 10
K&M 48260 16-UNIT STEEL RACK
GIBRALTAR SC-4C TENSION RODS
KLOTZ SC-1 SPEAKER CABLE JACK 10M
MEINL FD18T FRAME DRUM
PEARL D790 DRUM THRONE
STAGG MTR-P3A COMPACT PRACTICE MUTE FOR TRUMPET
STERLING SILO20BK
MOOER TENDER OCTAVER PRO
GUILD WESTERLY F-1512 12-STRING JUMBO ACOUSTIC GUITAR NATURAL
AKG WMS40 MINI VOCAL SET ISM2
DADDARIO EPN110 PURE NICKEL
YAMAHA THR5AH
ELECTRO HARMONIX ECHO1 DIGITAL DELAY
AHEAD REPLACEMENT RING FOR 5A/7A BLACK
ERNIE BALL .015 RPS PLAIN SINGLE STRING
IBANEZ GSR200SM NGT ELECTRIC BASS NATURAL GRAY BURST
TAYLOR 818E GRAND ORCHESTRA
DW 9000 XF SINGLE PEDAL DWCP9000XF
LEVANTE LVCL4101 Bb CLARINET ABS BODY BOEHM SYSTEM SILVER PLATED
YAMAHA PACIFICA 311H VINTAGE WHITE ELECTRIC GUITAR
KLOTZ TITANIUM PSP ANGLED 4,5M SUPREME GUITAR CABLE WITH SILENTPLUG
GÖLDO VINTAGE BONE BRIDGE INLAY, 90x7,5x2,2mm
PROSS KÕLAPLAAT C#2
YAMAHA PACIFICA 012RMII ELECTRIC GUITAR RED METALLIC
DADDARIO WOODWINDS RICO GRAND CONCERT EVOLUTION CLAR. 2,5
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES PWP047E ADAPTER
IBANEZ RG421EXBKF BLACK FLAT
SHURE SRH440A RECORDING AND LIVE HEADPHONES
TAKAMINE GN51CE-BSB
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES STD ACRYLUX RESO 25PACK
K&M 19695 UNIVERSAL JOINT
SENNHEISER E908 B HIGH END CONDENSER MIC FOR DRUMS WINDINSTR.
YAMAHA JR-2 NATURAL
K&M 24116 CONNECTOR PLATE
IBANEZ GSA60WNF WALNUT FLAT
FENDER MARINE LAYER REVERB PEDAL
AKG WMS420 HEADWORN SET
YAMAHA FLEXIBLE CLEANING BRUSH (S)
DADDARIO EJ15 PHOSPHOR BRONZE
TAKAMINE GN30CE BLACK
YAMAHA YCL CXA A CLARINET
YAMAHA C3X POLISHED WHITE GRAND PIANO 186CM
FENDER AMERICAN VINTAGE STRATOCASTER®-TELECASTER® TUNING MACHINES NICKEL
GIBRALTAR SC-4B TENSION RODS
STAGG GCX-UKB/GD BARITON UKULELE CASE GOLD TWEED
ZOOM A1X FOUR ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENT MULTI-EFFECTS PROCESSOR
MEINL PADJ2MF AFRICAN DJEMBE
NEUTRIK NC3FDL1
STAGG US30 SOPRANO UKULELE MAHOGANY WITH BAG
TAMA PW620 PLASTIC WASHER
EVANS 10 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
STAGG SCL70 CLASSICAL GUITAR WITH SPRUCE TOP NATURAL SATIN
K&M 10065 MUSIC STAND NICKEL
GIBRALTAR SC-GLL LUG LOCKS
GRETSCH DELTOLUXE PICKUP
IK MULTIMEDIA IKLIP GRIP PRO STAND
KLOTZ MY204 BAL.PATCH CABLE BLACK
PROTECTION RACKET SUR18 SURDO CASE
MOOER BLACK SECRET DISTORTION MDS1
K&M 12295 ORCHESTRAL DIMMABLE LAMP
GIBRALTAR SC-19A CYMBAL SLEEVE
PROTECTION RACKET 9025 SEAT COVER
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES 25FT SPEAKER CABLE PWS25
K&M 24180 WALL MOUNT WHITE
IBANEZ GRX70QA-TRB GIO TRANSPARENT RED SUNBURST
VOX STOMPLAB 2B BASS MULTI-EFFECTS PEDAL
EVANS 22 EMAD BATTER CLEAR
TAYLOR 312CE V-CLASS GRAND CONCERT
GIBRALTAR RATCHET DRUM KEY
LINE 6 RELAY G10II DIGITAL WIRELESS GUITAR SYSTEM
YAMAHA S3X SH3 PE PREMIUM SILENT PIANO 186CM
TAYLOR 414CE V-CLASS 