Atlantic Storm

A semi-solid, 24-fret bolt-on using woods you’ve never heard of? Welcome to PRS’s ‘Reclaimed Limited’ CE 24

- Dave Burrluck

Using recycled or reclaimed wood for guitars is far from a new concept, not least in the light of the current problems the industry faces with the new CITES rosewood restrictions. So using unusual and unusually sourced materials seems to have gone mainstream. At this year’s NAMM show, for example, Fender launched its Exotic Series using some reclaimed woods, and now PRS has joined the fray with a limited run (approximately 600 pieces) of two guitars featuring old wood from the Atlantic Forest area of south-eastern Brazil for both the top and fingerboard, sourced by senior wood manager, Michael Reid.

“Brauna preto (Melanoxylon brauna) was typically used as supporting posts for houses in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil,” explains Michael. “Found only in the Atlantic Forest [Mata Atlantica] of south-eastern Brazil, it is only available now as salvaged or reclaimed wood, as commercial cutting of timber is no longer permitted in the Atlantic Forest. It has a close grain similar to ebony and the colour ranges from dark brown to charcoal black. It is used occasionally by luthiers in Brazil for fingerboards.”