PRS Guitars today announced two new models joining the SE catalog: the SE Ed Sheeran Hollowbody I Piezo Baritone and the SE Hollowbody I Piezo. Also included in today’s product release are limited runs of two new coverings on both the HDRX and Sonzera amps.
“2026 is the 25th anniversary of the SE Series, and we are proud to introduce these two new additions to the catalog,” said PRS Guitars COO, Jack Higginbotham. “We’ve enjoyed advancing and evolving this series of guitars, our designs, our processes, and the amazing partnerships we have. Our work with Cor-Tek and their dedicated PRS factory at P.T. Cort in Indonesia continues to produce improved products with each new launch.”
SE Ed Sheeran Hollowbody I Piezo Baritone
In January of this year, PRS launched the SE Ed Sheeran Cosmic Splash Limited Edition. The exact same model but now in catalog colorways instead of Cosmic Splash, the SE Ed Sheeran Hollowbody I Piezo Baritone is available in exclusive finishes Kaleidoscope and Pink Ombre, along with Orange Tiger Smokeburst. This model will also feature birds on the fretboard.
“Metal guitarists will absolutely shred on this, jazz guitarists will love this, and it will be able to fit into so many great scenarios. For all the guitar people out there who look at me as not an electric player, don’t let the person behind the guitar fool you. This is an incredible instrument and will fit in many, many guitar players’ collections,” said Ed Sheeran.
Designed in collaboration with Ed Sheeran, the 27.7" scale length model is built with a maple top and mahogany back, and features a fully hollow body with a center-block design for added resonance and controlled feedback. Equipped with PRS 85/15 “S” pickups and a PRS/LR Baggs piezo system, the guitar offers the ability to blend the piezo’s acoustic voice with electric power or isolate either signal for stage or studio flexibility.
“Artists are such an important part of our product development,” continued Higginbotham. “The relationships we have with new artists is one of the amazing, energizing, motivational, inspirational things that we get to do as a company. Developing this guitar with Ed Sheeran is a great example of what these types of relationships are, and how we can collaborate with a world-renowned artist to create something new. Further, it highlights how the SE Series in general is studio and stage ready for even the biggest artists.”
SE Hollowbody I Piezo
Similar to the SE Ed Sheeran Hollowbody I Piezo Baritone, the SE Hollowbody I Piezo also features a maple top, mahogany back, and fully hollow body with a center-block design, along with 85/15 “S” pickups and the PRS/LR Baggs piezo system, but with PRS's classic 25" scale length instead of the longer 27.7" baritone scale length.
“The beauty of working with Lloyd and LR Baggs is that when we are facing a challenge, even a significant design challenge, we have always been able to find a perfect solution working together. This guitar is a fantastic example of what happens when you have real partnerships with 100% of the group like-minded and on a quest to do something special. Everyone involved at every level has the goal to deliver to musicians an experience that we would want as a player. We are trying to give somebody a thing that we would want to get. It’s all about what’s best for the instrument and the player. That’s a big reason why our partnership with LR Baggs is working,” continued Higginbotham.
This model is also related to the SE Hollowbody II Piezo, SE Hollowbody Standard Piezo, and SE Hollowbody Standard, but this version features a carved top. When it comes to the player’s side of the guitar, the slimmer, contoured “flatback” design of the SE Hollowbody I melds the back design of a solidbody electric guitar with the rich, open tone and airy acoustic depth of a hollowbody. The classic feel of the carved back is a more traditional design for hollowbodies that comes from the way acoustic guitars are built. Whereas the flatback has more of a modern feel as it sits against the player. This slimmer back design allows for a little more brightness in the tone as well. The SE Hollowbody I Piezo is made with a solid mahogany back and a solid maple carved top, along with 85/15 “S” (uncovered) pickups. Those details give this guitar a more modern presence and a sound all to its own. It is available in Lake Blue and Orange Tiger Smokeburst.
Amps
<p>For players looking for some understated flash in their rig, the Sonzera 20 combo and HDRX 20 amps, and HDRX 1x12 cabinet are now available in extremely limited editions of two new coverings: Indigo (with Wheat grill cloth) and Black Paisley. The number of pieces range from 75 to 200 worldwide, depending on model and colorway.</p><p>For all of the latest news, visit <a href="https://email.prsguitars.com/c/eJxczDluwzAQAMDXiKWwF5dkwSKN_7E8FAuIY4Gio-8HcLr0g2m5BsRAxfWMISSCkGJ09yyagKmoWdQYUyobVAgtUq8BInS3ZwJS8JhQSUnXoOxVBLH34tFsETjG-fnap41zrc-H-8r3OY-FPxa6LXS7rmv9J0b-7tcxnu1V5_kO-mPv44-8xczirZokk8KykWgpTShsyK0U5MRuZmJI0NSYY9Dq0aCKafORmyps3v1k-g0AAP__-Z5JRg" target="_blank"><u>www.prsguitars.com</u></a> and follow @prsguitars on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, and YouTube.</p>
In January of this year, PRS launched the SE Ed Sheeran Cosmic Splash Limited Edition. The exact same model but now in catalog colorways instead of Cosmic Splash, the SE Ed Sheeran Hollowbody I Piezo Baritone is available in exclusive finishes Kaleidoscope and Pink Ombre, along with Orange Tiger Smokeburst. This model will also feature birds on the fretboard.
“Metal guitarists will absolutely shred on this, jazz guitarists will love this, and it will be able to fit into so many great scenarios. For all the guitar people out there who look at me as not an electric player, don’t let the person behind the guitar fool you. This is an incredible instrument and will fit in many, many guitar players’ collections,” said Ed Sheeran.
Designed in collaboration with Ed Sheeran, the 27.7" scale length model is built with a maple top and mahogany back, and features a fully hollow body with a center-block design for added resonance and controlled feedback. Equipped with PRS 85/15 “S” pickups and a PRS/LR Baggs piezo system, the guitar offers the ability to blend the piezo’s acoustic voice with electric power or isolate either signal for stage or studio flexibility.
“Artists are such an important part of our product development,” continued Higginbotham. “The relationships we have with new artists is one of the amazing, energizing, motivational, inspirational things that we get to do as a company. Developing this guitar with Ed Sheeran is a great example of what these types of relationships are, and how we can collaborate with a world-renowned artist to create something new. Further, it highlights how the SE Series in general is studio and stage ready for even the biggest artists.”
PRS
SE Ed Sheeran Hollowbody I Piezo Baritone
Hollowbody Baritone Electric Guitar, Signature, with Maple Top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Maple Neck, Rosewood Fingerboard, 2 Humbucking Pickups, and Active Piezo System - Kaleidoscope
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) celebrates the 75th Anniversary of the Precision Bass, one of the most important and universally recognized bass guitars in both tone and aesthetic.
“I tried other basses, but nothing had the balance of a P-bass,” said Geezer Butler. “It becomes part of you.”
As big band stages grew louder in the early 1950s, upright basses couldn’t keep up. In 1951, Leo Fender introduced the Precision Bass, adapting cues from the Fender Telecaster while debuting a double-cutaway body that improved balance and redefined electric design, later influencing the Fender Stratocaster. Where the Telecaster featured a single cutaway, the P Bass introduced something new: a double-cutaway body with two distinct horns, a practical innovation designed to improve balance on the longer, heavier neck. This bold new silhouette proved so influential that it went on to directly inspire the body shape of the Fender Stratocaster just a few years later.
By the 1960s, the P Bass had become a fixture of the studio and stage. Brian Wilson favored the model and it can be heard across the Beach Boy’s discography. Outside the realm of pop, session legends like James Jamerson and Carol Kaye used the Precision Bass on some of Motown’s most memorable hits. As rock and roll became more and more prevalent, so did the P Bass. Behemoths like John Entwistle, Dee Dee Ramone, Roger Waters and Geezer Butler helped usher in a new and more high octane era for the Precision Bass and proved that it could still shine against a backdrop of distorted guitars, thunderous drums and wailing vocals.
Today, the Precision Bass is as important as it ever was and can be seen in the hands of some of contemporary music’s most lauded bass players like Mike Dirnt of Green Day, Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses, Nate Mendel of the Foo Fighters, Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, Pino Palladino and Tony Franklin just to name a few.
"The Precision Bass didn't just change how bass guitar sounded, it changed what was possible in popular music,” said Justin Norvell, Chief Product Officer, Fender Guitars. “75 years later, that legacy is still alive and evolving. With this collection, we wanted to honor every chapter of that story: the swamp ash body and single-coil pickup of the 1951 original, the purposeful evolution that kept the P Bass at the center of music for generations, and the Thunderbolt™ pickup that suggests the best chapter may still be ahead. These are serious instruments built to be played hard, and we're proud to put them in the hands of the players who will write what comes next."
The 75th Anniversary Precision Bass Collection draws inspiration from every chapter in the P Bass’s journey, from oddity to industry standard. Each of the three limited edition models bring together classic Fender design and ingenuity with a modern flourish to provide players with an instrument that is endlessly capable, regardless of genre, style or technical ability. The American Vintage II 1951 Precision Bass® exudes retro swagger with an ash body, nitrocellulose lacquer and thumpy single coil Precision Bass pickup—just like the authentic model that started it all. The 75th Anniversary American PJ Bass™ is the P Bass at its most finessed, outfitted with a flame maple top, smooth rolled fingerboard edges, “super natural” satin finish and an additional Jazz Bass pickup for added articulation. Lastly, the Player II Precision Bass® is a testament to the power of modern day Fender craftsmanship. While the striking Diamond Dust Sparkle finish is sure to turn heads, the Thunderbolt™ Precision Bass® pickups prove that this bass guitar is so much more than something pretty to look at. The Player II delivers rich, velvety low end yet retains stunning clarity to ensure players can cut through even the thickest mix.
An inside look at artists that only Fender can deliver, Lowdown On The Low End, features some of the most iconic, recorded and exciting Precision Bass players alive sitting down in storied LA studio, Sound City, to talk all things P Bass. In this four part series, Fender sits down with artists for a mix of interviews, conversations and jam sessions that deliver band lore, studio insights, vintage instruments, candid moments and a couple distinguished guest drummers:
Lee Sklar, Freddie Washington and Bob Glaub with Steve Ferrone: The foundation of how the Precision Bass changed it all. A radical shift from upright to electric bass and the Precision’s current status as in-demand and omnipresent in the studio and on the road. Lee plays on his own while Freddie and Bob jam with Steve.
Geezer Butler and Nate Mendel: The access and insight of a documentary but the vibes of dinner with friends. Butler and Mendel talk about how the Precision Bass shaped their playing and sound. They trade stories about their basses and playing in bands while showing each other the P Basses that helped define the sound of their earliest records.
Matt Freeman and Justin Bivona with Jesse Bivona: With years of history between them, Freeman and Bivona sit down for a conversation where the fun is contagious. They discuss the road, studio, learning to play and how some of their most recognizable bass lines came to be. Jesse Bivona drops in to play drums with both Justin and Matt as they run through some of the biggest crowd pleasers from their set lists.
Tal Wilkenfeld with Steve Ferrone: See and hear four of Tal’s rarest vintage P Basses. She does a quick breakdown of each, what makes it special and how that impacts the sound before playing each in a jam with Steve.
Introducing the Limited Edition 75th Anniversary Precision Bass® Collection: Celebrating three-quarters of a century of foundational tone and revolutionary design. Each 75th Anniversary Precision Bass model showcases the rich heritage and legendary tones that have made the P Bass® an unrivaled icon. From vintage purists to progressive players seeking cutting-edge features, rest assured there’s a model that will deliver. Immerse yourself in the legacy of the Precision Bass and own a piece of Fender® history with the 75th Anniversary Precision Bass Collection.
75th Anniversary American Vintage II 1951 Precision Bass®
Celebrate the birth of the electric bass with the 75th Anniversary American Vintage II 1951 Precision Bass. Crafted with a resonant swamp ash body finished in nitrocellulose lacquer, this instrument radiates vintage charm. The 1-piece maple neck and 7.25" radius fingerboard with vintage frets provide the smooth playability that players have cherished for decades.
The 75th Anniversary 1951 Single-Coil Precision Bass® pickup delivers authentic tones with that foundational thump and clarity that has defined the sound of popular music for decades. Other appointments include a vintage-accurate serialized bridge with Pure Vintage Precision Bass® Fiber Saddles, Vintage-Style Reverse Gear Bass tuners, and a 1-Ply Black Phenolic pickguard.
The included vintage-style tweed case is packed with a bevy of period case-candy to complete the package. This limited-edition model captures the essence of the original Precision Bass — a must-have for collectors and bass enthusiasts.
Celebrate 75 years of bass innovation with the 75th Anniversary American Professional PJ Bass. Crafted with a resonant alder body topped with a stunning flame maple top and finished in a classic 2-tone sunburst, this instrument radiates premium elegance. The '63 P Bass profile neck now sports smooth rolled fingerboard edges with a comfortable 9.5" radius and medium jumbo frets, a "Super-Natural" satin finish, and a newly sculpted neck heel for a supremely comfortable feel and easy access to the upper register.
The 75th Anniversary Precision Bass® and Jazz Bass® pickups deliver the best of both worlds — that foundational P Bass thump combined with the articulate growl and versatility of a J Bass bridge pickup. Other premium appointments include gold-plated hardware throughout, a vintage HiMass™ bridge, and tapered-shaft tuning machines.
This limited-edition model represents the evolution of the Precision Bass legacy — a must-have for collectors and bass enthusiasts seeking modern performance.
Experience modern craftsmanship with a touch of sparkle in the Player II Precision Bass. Crafted with a resonant alder body finished in eye-catching Diamond Dust Sparkle, this instrument delivers both style and substance. The Modern "C" shaped maple neck with 9.5" radius rosewood fingerboard, rolled edges, and medium jumbo frets provide the smooth, comfortable playability that today's players crave.
The 75th Anniversary Thunderbolt™ Precision Bass® pickup delivers rich, powerful tones with enhanced clarity and punch that cuts through any mix. Other quality appointments include a 4-Saddle Bridge with Single-Groove Steel "Barrel" Saddles, open-gear tuning machines, and a 4-ply pearloid pickguard with chrome hardware throughout.
This exceptional 75th Anniversary Player II Sparkle Precision Bass combines contemporary appointments with a premium sparkle finish, perfect for players who want to stand out while delivering that legendary P Bass sound.
Openhagen has introduced the NordicVault™, a patented guitar display cabinet hand crafted from solid hardwood with humidity control and tempered glass.
Available in three premium finishes – Walnut, Oak, or Stained Oak Black – NordicVault™ is a premium wall-mounted guitar display cabinet designed to protect, preserve, and showcase guitars in a refined Scandinavian furniture aesthetic.
Designed and manufactured by Openhagen, NordicVault combines Danish design, passive humidity regulation, integrated lighting, and the patented HangWithMe™ mounting system into one display solution.
Passive Humidity System (No Electricity Required) The included humidity pack automatically absorbs or releases moisture to maintain a stable environment inside the cabinet. Maintains approximately 45–55% relative humidity.
No setup required, no cables or batteries, no maintenance-heavy electronics.
Solid oak or walnut construction, tempered glass front, minimal Danish aesthetic,
Each NordicVault includes Openhagen’s patented and award-winning HangWithMe™ mounting system. Openhagen offers a special HangWithMe™ version designed specifically for asymmetric headstocks and left-handed guitars. Customers simply inform Openhagen after ordering.
NordicVault includes integrated lighting designed to illuminate the guitar beautifully, with motion-activated lighting, adjustable light tone, ambient or gallery-style illumination.
NordicVault dimensions are…
Length: 155 cm (61 inches)
Width: 71 cm (28 inches)
Depth: 12 cm (4.7 inches)
Weight: 50 kg (110 lbs)
Openhagen’s NordicVault™ Premium Guitar Display Case carries a street price of $2499 USD. For more information visit openhagen.com.
This 1942 Gibson LG-1 is representative of a small but historic run of instruments produced during World War II.
Photo by Lloyd Nicely
“Banner” Gibson flattops command attention before a note is played. That this particular example—a 1942 LG-1—changed hands off the tailgate of a truck for cash did nothing to diminish it.
This 1942 Gibson LG-1 is representative of a small but historic run of instruments produced during World War II.
Photo by Lloyd Nicely
Gibson LG models—the LG-0, 1, 2, and 3—are hardly rare, and were produced on the budget side of Gibson’s line. Many resources document the LG-1 model as being introduced in 1947 with familiar specifications: ladder bracing, sunburst finish spruce top, and stenciled block Gibson headstock logo. But Banner-era LGs, as well as the L-00 and other higher-priced models like the J-45s and SJs made between 1942 and 1945, were built in much smaller quantities by a small crew of mostly women. The “Kalamazoo Gals”—as they’ve come to be known thanks to John Thomas’ exceptional book of the same name (now a documentary film!)—were brought on by Gibson to replace their male predecessors, who were in short supply due to U.S. involvement in World War II.
This 1942 LG-1 features unique specifications, including X-bracing, bound mahogany top, back, and sides, script-font Gibson and “Only a Gibson Is Good Enough” banner headstock logos, is stamped inside with factory order number 7705H. These original, often-forgotten LG-1 guitars were only produced in 1942, and all seem to be designated with factory order numbers in the 7700s. According to original records, Gibson built six batches of these instruments, and only made 87 shipments of the LG-1 from 1942 into early 1943. During this period, a typical batch would have been around 40 guitars. After a great conversation with our friend Joe Spann, author of Spann’s Guide to Gibson 1902-1941, we surmised these were smaller, possibly even half-size batches, meaning only around 120 of these LG-1s were produced.
It’s probably safe to say the LG-1 was not a hot seller in 1942. These guitars share the same bout size, dimensions, and X-bracing pattern as the much coveted, and much better selling, LG-2, but with a solid mahogany top and walnut stain finish. Tonally, this particular guitar has that quintessential dry “thump” that old Gibson flattops are famous for, but with a surprisingly poignant cut, and a great deal of volume. The X-bracing, paired with the mahogany top and “banner”-era construction, offers a very distinctive tonal palette that is quite pleasing and intriguing.
Guitars with this distinctive logo on the headstock are often referred to as “banner”-era Gibsons.
Photo by Lloyd Nicely
How this particular LG-1 made its way from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to radio station WLAC—the call letters of which are hand-engraved on the truss rod cover—in Nashville, remains a mystery. What we do know is that this LG-1 spent the bulk of its life with Violet, guitarist for WLAC’s the Old Gang (formerly WLAC’s the Old Chuck Wagon Gang, and not to be confused with the Chuck Wagon Gang, a gospel group still active after 80-plus years). Promo photos show Violet posing with several different small-body Gibson models—and assorted reasonably sized cowboy hats—during her time with WLAC’s “guaranteed clean” morning show.
“Will someone someday comb through Gibson’s production totals from 2020 to suss out whether their grandma’s SG Standard could be considered rare due to pandemic-era manufacturing reductions?”
Violet’s grandson decided to move this guitar along due to a mighty good cause for downsizing; he and his wife were moving from the spacious sprawl of a Tennessee suburb to a smaller-scale way of life in Hawaii. Any belongings that made the cut would be making their way by boat and priced by collective weight and size. Violet’s grandson and granddaughter-in-law didn’t play guitar, and even if they aspired to, this guitar wasn’t in good, playable shape at the time (even for Hawaiian-style), so practicality must have outweighed sentimentality. We followed up on our promise to have the guitar properly restored, and worked with the fine folks at Glaser Instruments in Nashville, who repaired a crunch in the bass side of the body, heat set the neck, reglued the bridge (original shim removed but retained!), and replaced three deteriorated tuner buttons. We suspect that if Violet was still around, she would be pleased with the results.
Reading old stories about the Kalamazoo Gals building what became known as “floor sweep” guitars with a combination of model specs, or the Martin crew fashioning a copper device to use a pencil all the way down to the eraser end, shines a light on the resourceful manufacturing atmosphere that evolved to keep businesses rolling and guitars shipping out the door at an important moment in music history. Will someone someday comb through Gibson’s production and shipping totals from 2020 to suss out whether their grandma’s cherry-red ’61 reissue SG Standard could be considered rare due to pandemic-era manufacturing reductions? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
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