Back to navigation


The Modern Eagle V Soars into the Core Line





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





Previously only available through the Wood Library and Private Stock programs, this iteration of the Modern Eagle V represents the model’s first plunge into the PRS Core line of instruments! Like its forebearers, the Modern Eagle V is a decidedly modern spin on the PRS formula, primed for maximum tonal versatility. Dual TCI pickups and a middle-position NS-01 are outfitted with a 5-way blade switch and two dedicated coil-splitting mini toggles, providing a plethora of sparkling single-coil sounds and full-range humbucker grind. Under the hood, a time-tested maple-capped mahogany body, mahogany neck, and rosewood fingerboard carry on Paul’s steadfast dedication to providing guitarists with the finest tonewoods possible. Wrap it all up with the rock-solid hardware pairing of a smooth PRS Gen III Tremolo and PRS Phase III locking tuners, and the Modern Eagle V clocks in as one of the most high-performance instruments that PRS has to offer.





Related Videos: Modern Eagle V Electric Guitar - Purple Mist, 10-Top





NOW PLAYING:


PRS Modern Eagle V: Majestic Mahogany for All





Untold Origins: PRS Modern Eagle V & the Engine of Innovation





Winter NAMM 2021: An Interview with Paul Reed Smith


Classic tonewoods for a modern masterpiece





While PRS Modern Eagle V boasts a host of cutting-edge appointments, the tonewoods are firmly rooted in the golden age tradition of guitar building. A lightweight mahogany body provides a firm tonal foundation for your sound, imparting depth and richness to your every note. Next, the maple top adds a touch of cutting clarity to complement the mahogany’s natural midrange push. It’s a classic tonewood pairing that traces its heritage all the way back to the early ’50s, showcasing Paul’s affinity for seamlessly merging the best elements of golden-age guitar building and cutting-edge 6-string innovation.





One guitar, five coils





The PRS Modern Eagle V may appear to be a typical HSH upon first glance, but the truth is that this 6-string delivers sweeping versatility that gracefully skates between the humbucker and single-coil spectrum. Dual TCI pickups inhabit the bridge and neck slots, with each pickup compromised of two true single-coil pickups that can be split or combined using dedicated mini-toggle switches. These pickups deliver both clear, bell-like single-coil sparkle to full-range humbucker firepower, all with perfectly balanced volume between each mode. Finally, PRS takes the tonal tenacity even further with a middle-position NS-01 single-coil pickup that enables you with quacky in-between sounds when flipping through the 5-way switch’s veritable library of tones.





Time-tested PRS Pattern neck for playing comfort





The PRS Pattern neck is an exceptionally comfortable profile inspired by one of Paul’s earliest pre-factory shapes: the Wide Fat Pattern. It’s a slightly substantial neck that never feels too hefty, with a fast feel and carve that perfectly conform to the natural bend of your hand while moving up and down the neck. It's a favorite among Sweetwater guitarists of all stripes, but it’s also been endorsed by legendary guitarists such as Carlos Santana, Peter Frampton, and Howard Leese of Heart fame.





Only a 10-Top will do





Curl, flame, quilt, and spalt: even in the early days of Paul Reed Smith’s guitar-building career, the company had a reputation for the sheer quality of figuring on their maple tops, with dazzling lines and grain patterns that make any plain top pale in comparison. Naturally, customers began to call in and request that their instruments be built with “a nice-looking top” ? far too vague a term for the tonewood scientists in Stevensville, Maryland. Thus, the 10-Top designation was born: a lofty status that requires a “clearly defined figure across the entire top,” leaving no doubt that the guitar will arrive capped with a superlative piece of timber.





PRS Modern Eagle V 10-Top Electric Guitar Features:


Lightweight mahogany body for a rich tone with present midrange


Stunning maple 10-Top imparts cutting clarity and beautiful resonance


Mahogany neck carved into an old-school PRS Pattern neck


Sleek rosewood fingerboard shaped into a 10-inch radius for effortless playability up and down the fingerboard


Dual TCI dual-coil pickups with a middle-position NS-01 deliver exceptionally versatile HSH tones


2 dedicated mini-toggles split the TCI pickups for chimey true single-coil sounds with no volume drop


PRS Phase III locking tuners ensure your instrument retains optimal tuning stability


PRS Gen III Tremolo with a smooth action and incredibly reliable return to pitch