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

IBANEZ TS808 TUBE SCREAMER
PRESONUS QUANTUM 2
STUDIO49 AGc ALTO GLOCKENSPIEL
REMO FALAM SLAM BASS DRUM PATCH (2,5” 2PCS)
K&M 240/5 MIC HOLDER
GRETSCH G5426 JET CLUB SILVER
YAMAHA TRBX-204 BRIGHT RED METALLIC
HOHNER BLUES HARP D-MAJOR
YAMAHA PACIFICA 012BLII ELECTRIC GUITAR BLACK
AKG WMS40 MINI VOCAL SET ISM2
TAKAMINE TC135SC ELECTRO ACOUSTIC CLASSICAL GUITAR NATURAL
TAYLOR 314CE LEFT HANDED
KLOTZ TM.STEVENS FUNKMASTER 4,5M
YAMAHA PACIFICA 212VQMCBR QUILTED MAPLE CARAMEL BROWN
TAYLOR 812CE
MEINL HE114 DARBUKA
K&M 28308 PANEL 8XLR
SHURE BLX14E/P31 WIRELESS HEADSET MIC SYSTEM
YAMAHA CPX 700II SB
BOSS DB30 DR.BEAT METRONOME
KLOTZ ATCC0100 RCA TWIN CABLE 1m.
TAYLOR 314CE V-CLASS GRAND AUDITORIUM
AKG D7
IBANEZ UV70P-BK STEVE VAI 7-STRING
GIBRALTAR B9608S SHORT THRONE BASE
STAGG STANDARD CRATE CAJON SUNBURST
GIBRALTAR SC-4B TENSION RODS
MEINL ADJ2-XL DJEMBE SET
YAMAHA YCL 255ES Bb STUDENT CLARINET ABS-RESIN SILVER PLATED KEYS Eb LEVER
AKG HSC271 HEADSET
SHURE BETA58A
REMO FALAM PATCH SLAM
TAYLOR 214CE KOA DELUXE
YAMAHA TRBX174 OVS
YAMAHA CF4A2 POLISHED EBONY PREMIUM CONCERT GRAND PIANO 191CM
ERNIE BALL POWER SLINKY 11-48
YAMAHA U3S PROFESSIONAL UPRIGHT PIANO POLISHED WHITE
HOHNER DIATONIC HARMONICA MARINE BAND 1896 G-MAJOR
YAMAHA SE132 PE
PRS TREMONTI - MT15 HEAD
GIBRALTAR SC-19B CYMBAL SLEEVE
KLOTZ JOE BONAMASSA GUITAR STRAIGHT 6M
YAMAHA CG 162S CLASSICAL GUITAR NATURAL SPRUCE SOLID WOOD
MEINL ZEBRA DRUM RUG 160 x 200 CM
SENNHEISER EW D1 ME2 LAVALIER SET
GÖLDO SCHALLER STYLE EBONY BUTTON SMALL
YAMAHA ARIUS YDP-165 DIGITAL PIANO WHITE
AKG PERCEPTION 220
REMO MF-1013-00 13 CONTROL RING
KLOTZ DAISY CHAIN DC9V5
SHURE BETA52A
GIBRALTAR 4 IN. WHITE PORT HOLE RINGS
STAGG KALI-KID10-RD 10 KEYS KID KALIMBA RED
EPIPHONE ES339 PRO NT
WARWICK SPW30035B1R BASS MACHINEHEAD RIGHT BLACK (TREBLE SIDE)
KORG VOLCA BEATS
DADDARIO KAPLAN VIVO KV310 4/4M VIOLIN SET MEDIUM
KLOTZ SC1 SPEAKER CABLE SPEAKON-JACK 2M
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES 25PRF05
SMT JACK PANELMOUNT
TAYLOR 512CE V-CLASS 