Extra Special Offer - still new, set-up + full warranty - Was £1899 - Now £1599

To say we are excited about the introduction of the PRS NF3 to the PRS product range is a massive under-statement - As PRS rightly say, the NF3 is a new modern classic that delivers a fluid playing performance combined with a versatile tonal package - Add the PRS impeccable build quality and attention to detail and the NF3 is set to become a best selling guitar within the PRS range

Before I go into any further details please
click here
click here
click here
and spend a few minutes exploring the following video clips of the NF3 by Davy Knowles, Paul Reed Smith and J Hayes as this will give you a good indication of the sonic tonal qualities that the NF3 possesses

Yes the influences and vibe for the NF3 have come from a Strat, but in the typical PRS way of doing things, Paul and his highly skilled team of luthiers have 'tweaked' and 'upgraded' the 'old design' to enrich the playing performance for todays guitarist - The korina body combines warmth with a crisp lively and resonant tone, whilst a careful selection of wood ensures the whole guitar sits on the scale at 8lbs - This in turn is married to a bolt-on maple neck and fingerboard - Note the 25.25" scale length, 10" fingerboard radius, 22 medium jumbo frets and the 'ring dot' fingerboard inlays - The neck has the 'new' pattern regular profile, which in short means it has somewhat of a Strat feel about it, albeit with a comfortable amount of depth to it which will enrich the tone - Fast, fluid and comfortable to play, it most certainly is - The maple neck has a thin lacquer applied to it, which in fact is 'absorbed' into the wood grain, as against sitting on the wood, hence it feels like a nice old played in neck

Note the new V12 translucent charcoal finish that is ultra thin, allowing the guitar to resonate freely with a lively natural ring (the pics do not do it justice, but in the flesh you can see a nice hint of the wood/body through the finish) - The Korina body is contoured like a Strat for the right forearm, and the rear stomach contour, whilst the 3 PRS 57/08 Narrowfield pick-ups and controls sit on a scratchplate - The nickel plated hardware is now pretty much familiar territory on a PRS, so you have a set of PRS locking tuners and the PRS modern fulcrum trem that incorporates a set of solid steel saddles - Add the PRS low friction top nut and you have a very stable trem system that feels smooth and positive, allowing for both up and down movement

The earlier video clips should give you plenty of info as to how the NF3 sounds, so I'll try and add some of my thoughts - The guitar has plenty of dynamics, soul and emotion to it and is very responsive to your touch, allowing you to stroke the strings for a softer tone, or dig into it for more bite and attack - As you play around with the tonal variations from the 5 way switch, you'll note that guitar has plenty of thickness, or body to it, that is clear and warm, coupled with sparkling clear highs - Where as the NF3's close sibling, the DC3, is aimed fairly and squarely at the vintage market, the NF3 sounds like a vintage based guitar with the boost pedal turned on - Yes it works well for chilled out jazz, blues, country or rock'n'roll, on clean amp settings, but as you add some overdrive the NF3 comes into its own - Note, that the Narrowfield pick-ups ensure no hum, so you can add as much hi-gain overdrive as you require, allowing the NF3 to work in an enviroment where the vintage guitar fails - As you move from SRV blues, through to classic rock and the virtuoso styles of Van Halen, you'll soon realise how versatile and competent the NF3 is, delivering loads of sustain for blistering hot solos, as required - Again as you play around with different amp settings and stroll through the 5 switch settings, remember to explore the volume and tone controls on the NF3 as this will add to the soul and emotion that is available to you - Both controls work smoothly and evenly across the 1-10 range without losing any tonal character, allowing you to caress some clean laid back chords one minute, then lay into a hot blues lick the next

Will it ever replace the Strat ? - No, as history and tradition along with the fact that so many of our hereos have used them for years has a strong influence on the market - However, if like me you love the PRS build quality, tonal character and that fluid playing performance, yet find a Strat less forgiving and more of a challange to play, then you'll see the appeal of a PRS NF3 - For the working guitarist looking for a versatile gigging tool, or the plug in and play 'white van man's guitar' again the NF3 warrants a test drive