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Serial Number: 258810
Color: Mahogany Sunburst
Weight: 8.4lbs
Stock Number: 7050
Mint Condition!
Introducing the First Birds Guitar
A limited edition Private Stock replica of Paul Reed Smith’s 1976 “Frampton Guitar” created through a collaboration of Moore Guitars and PRS.
This historic Moore Guitars exclusive is a precise replica of Paul Reed Smith’s first commissioned build, and the guitarist who ordered it was none other than Peter Frampton. Paul stated that this was the first of his builds that he felt played and sounded better than the 1953 Les Paul he used as comparison to his early attempts. Before delivering the guitar to Frampton, Paul managed to get backstage at a Return to Forever concert to show it to Al DiMeola, who immediately ordered a guitar of his own.
The Frampton Guitar was, in many ways, the true beginning of the PRS story, not only because it was the first of his guitars to feature the iconic bird inlays, but also because of the innovations it included. The 24 fret neck was carved so the “true neck” went from the nut to the last fret without the transitions from neck to headstock and neck to heel interfering with the playing area. The Leo Quan Badass bridge was recessed into the top to allow the strings to be closer to the body for more comfortable playing, and was also modified into a string-through-body configuration with the addition of a brass plate in the back of the guitar. Combined with Paul’s hand-wound pickups, the sound and feel of this guitar made believers out of the top guitarists of the 70’s.
The Story of the First Birds Guitar
Brett Mulzer, owner of Moore Guitars, recognized the importance of the Frampton guitar and wanted to ensure that this historic instrument would not be forgotten. Brett approached Paul Reed Smith in early 2017 with the idea of recreating this guitar in a limited Private Stock run. In order to be as precise as possible in recreating this instrument, the first order of business was to locate six ‘76 vintage Leo Quan Badass wraparound bridges in pristine condition. Not an easy task. Between Brett and the Private Stock team, they were able to find them, but to meet Paul’s quality standards, all had to have the saddles re-machined.
The hand-carved neck of the original Frampton was precisely measured in every dimension from nut to heel to ensure an exact replication. The headstock duplicates the original Eagle that Paul drew by hand from a pattern copied from a t-shirt. The original inlay was made from mother-of-pearl piano keys that Paul had collected, and the headstock inlay was so large, it took two piano keys to make. The First Birds even get that 2-piece inlay detail correct. Original Schaller tuners finish off the top end.
The neck features Paul’s first attempt at the famous bird inlays, most of them copied from one of his mother’s bird-watching manuals. The original inlay templates created by Paul in 1976 were used for these guitars. A close look shows that a few of these birds are different from the inlays used today. A Brazilian Rosewood fretboard sporting medium gauge fret wire is beautifully bound in Rosewood as well. A nice detail that could easily go overlooked.
The neck and body woods are South American Mahogany, with a deep neck joint that extends beyond the neck pickup. Paul wanted extra stability for this neck that joins the body at the 23rd fret. A small block of Mahogany adorned with mother-of-pearl purfling covers the joint on the front of the guitar.
The body of this guitar was also Paul’s first venture into the violin carve that his core models feature today, but without the bevel on the lower cutaway found on his later guitars. The back cavity plate, as well as the truss rod cover, are carved wood – just as in the original. It’s beautifully finished in a high-gloss nitrocellulose Mahogany Sunburst.
Specially-made Custom LT pickups in the bridge and neck positions were reverse-engineered from the hand-wound pickups Paul created for the original guitar. The volume and tone pots, wiring scheme and 3-way toggle are all spec’ed to the original design.
As far as building a historic reproduction, I doubt a better job has ever been done. But this guitar is much more than a museum piece. Yes, there are only six of these in existence, but it would be a crime if these guitars aren’t actually played. The sound is truly something special. The mahogany neck/body in combination with the Custom LT pickups delivers a sound that can only be described as iconic. Think of classic all-mahogany instruments of the past, like Leslie West’s LP Junior, Hendrix’ Flying V, Zappa’s SG. That’s the territory we’re in here.
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Model: First Birds Guitar |
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Neck Wood: South American mahogany |
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Fingerboard Wood: Brazilian rosewood |
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Body Wood: South American mahogany with mother of pearl purfling strips on the top between the pickups |
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Neck Carve: Original Santana |
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Side Dots: Metal |
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Color/Stain: Mahogany Sunburst |
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Fingerboard Inlays: Mother of pearl “original” Private Stock eagle |
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Finish type: High gloss nitro |
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Pickups: Custom LT |
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Electronics: Volume, tone with 3-way toggle |
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Hardware: Nickel recessed Badass Stoptail bridge, Schaller original tuning pegs and a bone nut |
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Set-Up: D’Addario .009 |
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Case Type: Private Stock Black leather with Blue Interior |
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Specials: Mahogany Sunburst high gloss nitro finish, mother of pearl “original” bird inlays, mother of pearl purfling strips on the top between the pickups, double-action truss rod, Santana fret slots, original back cavity and truss rod cover shape as well as all other appointments on this guitar were made to replicate the Original Santana Paul Reed Smith first built. This guitar was built for the USA Only. |
