Our Finish Formula
Currently, all Maryland-made PRS electric instruments feature a nitrocellulose lacquer (nitro) finish. This is a thin, vintage-style finish, enabling our guitars to have a resonant, organic tone. The nitro finish also feels natural under your hand, elevating the playing experience from the moment you pick up the guitar.
Our nitro finish formula is designed with the tone and longevity of the instrument in mind; the thin finish sinks into the wood grain, moving with the guitar as the wood expands and contracts throughout its life. This will eventually result in “checking,” a natural process of nitrocellulose finish. Furthermore, the minimal amount of finish used allows for a truly resonant instrument.
Historical Finish Types and Timeline
Changes to our finish formula are often worked into production throughout the transitory years listed below. If you have a PRS manufactured in 2019 or 2023, we will not be able to determine the specifics of the guitar’s finish, and it’s best to treat it as if it were nitro.
I. Polyester Basecoat and Acrylic Topcoat
Also known simply as “poly.” Approximate years in production: 1985 – 2019.
II. Catalyzed Acrylic (CAB) Basecoat and Nitrocellulose Topcoat
Also known as “nitro over CAB.” Approximate years in production: 2019 – 2023.
III. Nitrocellulose Basecoat and Topcoat
Also known as “nitro over nitro” or simply “nitro.” Years in production: 2023 – present.
About PRS Finish Colors
PRS finish colors each receive a name and defined color specification. This specification may change over time, as colors are added and removed each production year.
Finish colors are allowed a small degree of variation within each color specification. Wood being a natural material, the species type and grain pattern takes the finish differently on every guitar.
Occasionally, a particular piece of wood may take an existing finish color in a new and exciting way that we did not expect—any color existing outside of our regular color specifications are referred to as a “Custom Color,” with this specification denoting a truly unique PRS.