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

K&M 25680 ONE-HAND-MIC STAND
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K&M 23105 TABLE MIC.STAND
SENNHEISER PROFESSIONAL NECKBAND MICROPHONE HS 2 BE
GÖLDO SKULL TUNERS 6L CHROME
MEINL MSTBB1 BONGO BAG
K&M 24180 SPEAKER WALL MOUNT
AHEAD STICK TIP 5AS
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JACKSON JS-32 DINKY SNOW WHITE ELECTRIC GUITAR MAPLE FINGERBOARD
VIC FIRTH F1 WOOD TIP
EPIPHONE SHERATON II PRO EBONY
MEINL 16BYZANCE MED.THIN CRASH BRILLIANT
KLOTZ PATCHCORD 0,6M 2pcs.
GIBRALTAR SC-19A CYMBAL SLEEVE
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VIC FIRTH 5AN AMERICAN CLASSIC NYLON TIP
ROLAND HP702 DIGITAL PIANO LIGHT OAK
AKG WMS470 SPORTS SET
K&M TABLET PC STAND BLACK
YAMAHA YCR 8335S CORNET
EVANS 20 EQ3 RESONANT COATED WHITE
DADDARIO ECG25 CHROMES
ROLAND TD-17KVX V-DRUM KIT
EVANS 18 EQ3 BATTER CLEAR BASSDRUM HEAD
FENDER PURE VINTAGE 65 STRATOCASTER PICKUPS
M-AUDIO MICRO DAC 24/192
YAMAHA MX61 V2 BLACK
PROTECTION RACKET 9113 DJEMBE BAG
HOHNER BLUES HARP E-MAJOR
STUDIO49 AX 2000 ALTO XYLOPHONE
K&M 26740 MONITOR STAND
PROSS KÕLAPLAAT C3
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES 25SS01DX SUEDE GUITAR STRAP COGNAC
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KLOTZ TM.STEVENS FUNKMASTER 9M
DADDARIO ACCESSORIES LEMON OIL CLEANER PLMN
EVANS 16 GENERA G2 COATED TOM HEAD
KLOTZ SC-3 SPEAKER CABLE JACK 2M
MEINL CYMBALS BYZANCE 14" VINTAGE PURE HIHAT
STAGG HP80 SPEAKER CABLE
AUGUSTINE 650547 STRINGS FOR CLASSIC GUITAR PARAGON CARBON MEDIUM TENSION
EVANS EC1 COATED 10 INCH
STAGG MELODICA 32-KEYS BLUE
VIC FIRTH PRACTICE PAD 12
K&M 195/8 SPEAKER MOUNTING ADAPTER
MEINL MC-FDH FRAME DRUM HOLDER
GIBRALTAR SC-3261 FELT BEATER
ROLAND RUBIX22 USB AUDIO INTERFACE
KEELEY MEMPHIS SUN LO-FI REVERB ECHO
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