PRS EB4 Swamp Ash pre production Prototype £1500 Lincoln

[The Burpster]

Swamp Ash Prototype. 

 

This is the one I thought I wouldn’t sell! 

It is a 2001 Electric bass with Swamp Ash body and Maple/Rosewood neck with bird inlays. 

 

So here is the special bit. 

When I saw it for sale at Absolute Music I thought there was something unusual about the serial number. I contacted the support team at Stevensville and here is the story. 

 

When Mr Smith has an idea for a new guitar model he keeps either the prototype or one of the production models and keeps them in the factory music room. The design for the EB4 had been settled and was in production but he wanted to try a Swamp Ash body, this is the prototype. It was not initially issued a serial number and only when a smart broker convinced PRS to sell some of the guitars in that room that this one made the cut. At that point it was issued the serial number 150. 

This is easily established by contacting the Support center at the factory. 

I have one of the production Swamp Ash models which was the first EB 4 I bought. 

This model is pretty much NOS and is mint. The only thing apart from cleaning and periodic playing is fitting GHS flatwound 105 strings which IMHO brings out the true tone of the SwampAsh body. 

 

I really dont like the idea of sending it so would prefer a meet up or collection and trial first hand. 

 

It really is special instrument and worth every penny of £1500 especially safe in the knowledge that Mr Smith himself thought it good enough to keep.