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

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TAKAMINE TH-90 HIRADE CLASSIC
KLOTZ ATCC0100 RCA TWIN CABLE 1m.
SENNHEISER EW D1 ME2 LAVALIER SET
K&M 21366 DISTANCE ROD BLACK
STAGG BX CHORUS
PROTECTION RACKET A5129R TOM CASE
KORG MONOTRON DUO
FENDER 500K TONE SAVER
YAMAHA DTX 482K ELECTRONIC DRUM KIT
MEINL TMCCH PROFESSIONAL CONGA STAND
TAKAMINE GD38CE-BLK DREADNOUGHT 12-STRING ACOUSTIC GUITAR BLACK
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VIC FIRTH M4 MALLETS
K&M 15250 FLUTE STAND
YAMAHA HW 880 HARDWARE SET
HOHNER BRAVO III 120 BLACK SILENT KEY
GIBRALTAR SC-GCSMC SUPER MULTI-CLAMP
PROTECTION RACKET 13X11 TOM CASE
KLOTZ M1 MIC CABLE XLR-XLR 3M
GIBRALTAR 7615 PERCUSSION TABLE
HOHNER BRAVO II 60 RED SILENT KEY
STAGG NMC10R N SERIES XLR/XLR CABLE 10M
FOCUSRITE CLARETT PLUS 2PRE
MEINL HE114 DARBUKA
VIC FIRTH 5AN AMERICAN CLASSIC NYLON TIP
PAISTE 16 PST 5 N MEDIUM CRASH
YAMAHA TP70S 3-ZONE PAD
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REMO 20EMPEROR CLEAR
K&M 17738 OBOE CONE
K&M 18969 KIDS KEYBOARD STAND
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LP MATADOR WOOD 11 3/4 CONGA
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EVANS 20 EQ3 BATTER CLEAR BASSDRUM HEAD
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ROLAND FR4XBRD DIGITAL V-ACCORDION RED WITH BUTTONS
PEARL PC110P CONGA STAND PRIMERO 11-INCH
EVANS EC2 COATED 10 INCH
YAMAHA YHR-671D FRENCH HORN
YAMAHA HW780 HARDWARE SET
YAMAHA CG 182S CLASSICAL GUITAR NATURAL SPRUCE SOLID WOOD
YAMAHA DXS15 MK3 ACTIVE SUBWOOFER
K&M 17745 CLARINET PEG WOODEN
YAMAHA APX 700II SB
EVANS EC1 COATED 12 INCH
CASIO GP-310 BK CELVIANO DIGITAL PIANO BLACK
YAMAHA CG-192S CLASSICAL GUITAR NATURAL SPRUCE SOLID WOOD
KORG LP 180 BLACK DIGITAL PIANO WITH STAND
KLOTZ KIK 3M INSTRUMENT CABLE BLACK
PAISTE 18 PST 5 N RIDE/CRASH
ARTURIA DRUMBRUTE IMPACT
YAMAHA AC3MARE TBS
DADDARIO EPN115 PURE NICKEL
PROTECTION RACKET 9114 DJEMBE BAG
MEINL CONGA BAG 12 1/2 BLACK
YAMAHA CPX 700II BL
PEARL RS505C/C ROADSHOW DRUMSET BLACK
KORG LP-380-U ROSEWOOD DIGITAL PIANO WITH STAND
ERNIE BALL BEEFY SLINKY 11-54
YAMAHA HH65
STAGG LOOK SMART PHONE/TABLET HOLDER
PROTECTION RACKET BOD18 BODHRAN CASE
YAMAHA CLEANING ROD FOR TROMBONE
CASIO PRIVIA PX-870 DIGITAL PIANO BLACK
MEINL 18BYZANCE JAZZ THIN CRASH
MEINL SH18 HEADED SPARK SHAKER
YAMAHA CPX 700II SB 