From time to time PRS will release a limited run of a new model - This gives them the opportunity to try out a few new ideas, concoct a few new colours or indeed service a small yet discerning number of customers with a specialist guitar - Hence the arrival of the PRS DC245 Soapbar in a very traditional amber black finish

In essence the chasis of the DC245 can be seen as a McCarty with a 24.5" scale length, or indeed the SC245 albeit with a double cutaway - Infact the DC245 was released as a limited run to pay tribute to Ted McCarty - Not only was he very influential with a whole host of important designs and updates to Gibson Guitars in the 50's and 60's, but he was a father figure and an inspiration to Paul - As a result the DC245 Soapbar pays homage to Ted as it blends vintage and modern attributes into one very desirable package

Note the original PRS style headstock shape, as seen on the Santana models - Then note the curly maple veneer on the headstock facia, along with a set of Kluson style vintage tuners and a Ted McCarty truss rod cover - In the traditional manner, you still get a one piece mahogany body, topped off with a delightful flamed maple top and of course the natural finished maple edged binding, which is now very much a PRS trademark, just like the bird inlays - Weight watchers will adore the fact that it only sits at 7lbs and 10oz on our scales - Mother of pearl is chosen for the bird inalys, which perch on a 22 fret rosewood fingerboard, as they look to fly south to view the amber black finish - Note the finish on the DC245 is a nitro based finish as used on the PRS DGT model - The neck is constructed from one piece of mahogany, with the wide/fat neck profile - Whilst this implies a cumbersome chunky neck, it is not - Yes it has some girth to it, to aid sustain, tone and stability but it is very comfortable and eminently playable - The playing experience is one of the greatest pleasures of owning and playing a PRS, as it is so slick and fluid throughout the length of the fingerboard - 22 frets are impeccably fitted, polished to perfection and allow for effortless string bending - Set-up with a set of 10's, the 24.5" scale length ensures a softer tone, coupled with easier string bending, than on a longer scale length - So overall it has plenty of Gibson-esq influences behind it, yet with the attention to detail, build quality and that magical playing experience that only PRS can deliver

Now to the magic of the DC245 and that comes in the shape of a pair of Soapbar pick-ups - Soapbar or P90 pick-ups are probably one of the best kept secrets in the guitar world - Tonal wise, they offer a 'beauty and the beast' option, in that they can work in a smooth jazz/blues enviroment, or a hard core 'punk' format and everything in between - They offer so much soul and expression - They possess the clarity and sparkle of a good Fender based single coil pick-up, but combine this with the power and depth of a good humbucker - On clean amp settings, the neck pick-up is so soft and smooth, with clear full lows and highs that chime, with enough mids to add body, but not clutter up the overall tone - The bridge pick-up can bite and snarl, like a good Tele, with plenty of body, so it never sounds thin - You'll find a P90 is very responsive with excellent attack and incredible articulation - Add some overdrive and you are in blues/rock heaven - It puuuuurrrrrs, with endless sustainnnnnnnnnnn - Again the neck pick-up is velvet smooth, whilst the bridge pick-up bites - Hit some power chords or riffs and you can here each note so clearly, so no hint of that muddy nature that come humbucker based guitars possess - Furthermore, the volume and tone pots work smoothly over the whole 1-10 range and as such this adds to the guitars expression - Set-up the amp with some overdrive and then just control the sound from the guitar - Leave the guitars volume on full tilt for a flat out tone, or roll off the pot a touch to obtain a softer clean tone - Hence you are in total control over the soul, emotion and expression of each and every magical note that you caress out of the DC245 - To me, this is the magic of the DC245