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

KORG VOLCAKICK BASS PERCUSSION SYNTHESIZER
FENDER VINTAGE STYLE TUNING KEYS FOR STRAT/TELE
MEINL AFRICAN DJEMBE LARGE BLACK RED
MEINL NINOADJ3S WOOD DJEMBE
FENDER PURE VINTAGE '74 JAZZ BASS PICKUP SET
STAGG 975 PANEL FEMALE
AKG WMS420 HEADWORN SET
EVANS 22 GENERA G1 COATED
ROLAND KC-M KEYBOARD COVER MEDIUM
PAISTE 18 2002 WILD CRASH
ERNIE BALL 055 SINGLE BASS STRING
YAMAHA CG 182S CLASSICAL GUITAR NATURAL SPRUCE SOLID WOOD
MEINL FD20T FRAME DRUM
SHURE VP64A REPORTER MICROPHONE
YAMAHA CG 182C CLASSICAL GUITAR NATURAL CEDAR SOLID WOOD
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES HYGROMETER PWHTS
STAGG M60 MICROPHONE CABLE, 1M
GEWA JUMBO JAZZ FLAT TOP GUITAR CASE ECONOMY
ERNIE BALL REGULAR SLINKY 10-46
DADDARIO EPN115 PURE NICKEL
IBANEZ GSR180-BS
EVANS EC1 COATED 10 INCH
MEINL MCC1134CB CONGA
K&M 230/4 XLR GOOSENECK
PROSS KÕLAPLAAT D#2
YAMAHA AG03MK2 LIVE STREAMING MIXER AND USB AUDIO INTERFACE WHITE
K&M 21021 OVERHEAD MIC.STAND BLACK
K&M 21312 CARRY BAG
ROLAND VT4 VOICE TRANSFORMER
YAMAHA YTR 6335RCS COMMERCIAL Bb TRUMPET SILVER PLATED
FENDER AMERICAN VINTAGE STRATOCASTER®-TELECASTER® TUNING MACHINES
BACH TR-450 Bb TRUMPET
YAMAHA TRBX174 RED
FENDER 500K TONE SAVER
K&M 16240 GUITAR WALL MOUNT BLACK
MEINL HE3000 ALUMINIUM DOUMBEK
MEINL NINO570 TONE-BLOCK
JBL SRX812P 12" TWO-WAY BASS REFLEX SELF-POWERED SYSTEM
STAGG MUSARM1 MOUNTABLE MUSIC STAND
AKG PERCEPTION 820 TUBE
K&M 18840 BABY SPIDER PRO BLACK
GRETSCH G9110-L LONG NECK CONCERT UKULELE
YAMAHA FG800II BROWN SUNBURST
MEINL MDAB DARBUKA BAG
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES PWCT13 NS MICRO UNIVERSAL TUNER
YAMAHA YUS1 SAW
EVANS 22 EQ3 BATTER COATED
DADDARIO ECG26 CHROMES
ERNIE BALL 7-STRING SUPER SLINKY 09-52
STAGG SPH15BK SPEAKER WALL HANGER, PAIR
VIC FIRTH 2B AMERICAN CLASSIC WOOD TIP
YAMAHA AC1MII VN ELECTRIC ACOUSTIC GUITAR VINTAGE NATURAL
MEINL MCJB CAJON BAG
KLOTZ USB CABLE A-PLUG/MINI-B-PLUG 3M
K&M 252 MICROPHONE STAND
YAMAHA U1 SH3 SILENT PIANO POLISHED EBONY
EVANS 22 EQ4 BATTER CLEAR
KLOTZ TITANIUM PEDAL PATCHER 0,30M
MEINL MDJBM DJEMBE BAG MEDIUM
EVANS 24 EQ3 BATTER CLEAR KICK HEAD
GRETSCH G9110 CONCERT UKULELE
BOSS FZ5 FUZZ
MEINL PERCUSSION CONGA HEAD FOR MODELS HC555, HC10, HFC10 - 10-INCH
TAMA SUPER SENSITIVE HI-CARBON SNAPPY
YAMAHA MY8 AD96
MEINL 8 INCH DJEMBE PHARAOHS FIBER SKIN HEAD
K&M 210/2 MICROPHONE STAND BLACK
GIBRALTAR SC-19B CYMBAL SLEEVE
YAMAHA YCL CSGIIIL CLARINET PITCH CORRECTION
TAMA RB8P PLASTIC BOTTOM (2PCS)
YAMAHA YFL-472 FLUTE
KORG VOLCA SAMPLE 2
ERNIE BALL COATED BRONZE ACOUSTIC 13-56
K&M 19670 SPEAKER TILT CONNECTOR
MEINL 18BYZANCE MED.THIN CRASH BRILLIANT
SQUIER MINI STRAT BLK
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES 25LK03 KISS STRAP
AHEAD STICK TIP MBT
BOSS DS1 DISTORTION
PROTECTION RACKET 4015 TOM CASE
TAYLOR 512CE V-CLASS 