PRS Dragon, Series I, II, III and 25th anniversary
Some guitars are considered to be "art", and actually, there are guitars which can be found in museums. In this case it's not about playability, but it's all about craftmanship and design, guitars built by masterbuilders with the skills of an artist / designer.
One of those guitars to be considered "art" is the PRS Dragon with it's design and inlay of the fretboard.
One of those guitars to be considered "art" is the PRS Dragon with it's design and inlay of the fretboard.
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| prs dragon series I fretboard inlay closeup |
PRS, founded in 1985 by Paul Reed Smith, has the PRS Dragon exposed in the Smithsonian, the National Museum of American History. Also the PRS Dragon is supposed to be in the collection of the MOMA, the Museum Of modern Art, but I can't find any information about that on the MONA website. The guitars were donated by PRS, and it gave a boost to the collectability of the PRS Dragon. From here, the success of PRS Guitars started.
The PRS Dragon is handbuilt, in the early years of PRS Guitars, and is considered to be far more superior than the guitars built in the PRS factory, which was established in 1995.
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| prs dragon series II |
PRS Dragon, Series, building years and limited numbers
Like most collectible guitars from a Custom Shop or (PRS) Private Stock, the limitation of numbers built is essential. The PRS Dragon is no exception. The PRS Dragon is not as rare as "single pieces", but still rare and expensive enough to be collectible. Most PRS Dragon's will be in private collections.
The PRS Dragon Series I was built in 1992, limited to 50 Dragon's.
The PRS Dragon Series II was built in 1993, limited to 100 Dragon's.
The PRS Dragon Series III was built in 1994, limited to 100 Dragon's.The PRS Dragon 25th Anniversary, limited to 100 Dragon's.
PRS Dragon, fretboard / neck inlay
Obvious, the fretboard "dragon" inlay is the main feature of the PRS Dragon series I, II and III. The work is done by hand, which takes a lot more time than the modern method, using computer controlled cutting machines and duplicating devices to automate the series production. The fretboard inlay of the PRS Dragon series I, II and III is crafted by hand, so every fretboard of the Dragon in each serie is kind of unique.
I'm not sure if the inlay of the PRS Dragon 25th anniversary also is crafted the "old fashion way". Probably the fretboard inlay on this PRS Dragon is done by "Pearl Works", who does all the inlay work for PRS, computer driven.
*****
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| prs dragon series I fretboard inlay |
The dragon, crafted in the fretboard of the PRS Dragon II, is my favourite dragon inlay within the PRS Dragon Series. I especially grave the shiny abalone wings of the dragon. This dragon is made of 218 pieces of gold, coral, abalone, malachite, onyx and mother of pearl.
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| prs dragon series II fretboard inlay |
The PRS Dragon III, the last of the original PRS Dragon Series has the most extensive dragon inlay. No less than 238 pieces of gold, red and green abalone, mother of pearl and real mammoth ivory were used for the dragon! |
| prs dragon series III fretboard inlay |
The PRS Dragon 25th anniversary has a new designed multi material dragon inlay in the fretboard, which includes 300 pieces of 20 different materials in 8 colors, difficult to describe, but the image tells it all.
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| prs dragon 25th anniversary fretboard inlay |
*****
The PRS Dragon is in every way a very desirable and collectable guitar. Apart from the dragon neck inlay, the rest of the guitar is first class too. The top of the PRS Dragon is made of "bookmatched" superior wood, and as every PRS, lots of attention goes to the finish and details.
How does it sound in real? I don't know! My local guitar stores don't have the PRS Dragon in stock, so I never had the opportunity to see and hear the PRS Dragon myself.. PRS wants every guitar to sound like a perfect blend of a Gibson Les Paul and a Fender, and I'm sure the PRS Dragon, with "PRS Dragon" humbuckers sounds great. However I can't imagine taking this guitar from the wall and playing the delicate fretboard!
PRS Dragon III Video
Below is a video of the PRS Dragon III, posted on Youtube by guitarist Tony McKenzie who runs a wonderful website and who actually owns the PRS Dragon III. He presents the guitar, but, like expected, this PRS Dragon III is unplayed. It's all about the fretboard!
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