The PRS Private Stock 35th Anniversary Dragon 2020 is a testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship and artistic vision of Paul Reed Smith Guitars. Celebrating the company’s 35th anniversary, this limited-edition masterpiece is among the most coveted Dragon models ever produced. Paul Reed Smith himself describes the Dragon series as the realisation of a dream he had as a teenager, where he envisioned a guitar adorned with a dragon inlay. The 35th Anniversary Dragon embodies that dream with breathtaking artistry and cutting-edge technology.
The visual centrepiece of the guitar is the intricate dragon inlay, designed by renowned fantasy artist Jeff Easley, known for his iconic Dungeons & Dragons artwork. The inlay was brought to life by Aulson Inlay, meticulously recreating Easley’s dragon across the fretboard and truss rod cover. Crafted from an impressive variety of materials—including Green Ripple Abalone, Black Mother of Pearl, Flame Synthetic Opal, and Stabilised Sand-Shaded Holly—the dragon glows with lifelike vibrance and dynamic texture. The intricate detail, including the fiery extension onto the truss rod cover, makes this one of the most striking inlays in PRS history.
Built on the PRS McCarty model, the 35th Anniversary Dragon features a thicker African ribbon mahogany back, a curly maple top, and a chaltecoco neck with a 25” scale length and a 22-fret ziricote fingerboard. Its hardware and electronics combine vintage inspiration with modern innovation, including TCI model pickups derived from the Paul’s Guitar series, a PRS Stoptail bridge, and Phase III Locking Tuners. This blend of old and new delivers a tonal palette that is both classic and versatile, ensuring the Dragon is as exceptional to play as it is to behold.
Finished in Frostbite Dragon’s Breath, the guitar radiates a fiery elegance, with a light centre fading into darker edges, reminiscent of a dragon’s flaming breath. Smoked black hardware enhances its fierce yet refined aesthetic. Limited to just 135 pieces worldwide, the 35th Anniversary Dragon is an extraordinary achievement in design and craftsmanship, capturing the spirit of PRS's innovation and artistry. Paul Miles, PRS’s Private Stock director, considers this model one of the most elegant Dragons ever made—a sentiment echoed by anyone fortunate enough to experience it.
