PRS SC-J Thinline Limited Edition, 2008

Condition: near mint, no issues.

It's been years since I last played one of these SC-J Thinlines, and the guitar I now have in the shop is genuinely hard to put down. Picture a thinline Gibson L-5 CES with a Bigsby, and you can get close to what PRS was aiming for here, but in many ways, this execution surpasses the original inspiration.

The playability strikes me as remarkably precise - there's a clarity and focus that eliminates any unwanted overtones while delivering music that's harmonically rich and beautifully articulate. What impresses me is its open, pleasing acoustic tone that rings with genuine woody resonance even when unplugged.

While jazz and blues players will undoubtedly find their sweet spot with this instrument, don't underestimate its versatility - this beauty can certainly rock out when the music calls for it. The Bigsby adds just the right amount of shimmer and movement without compromising the guitar's sophisticated voice.

PRS crafted this limited run in 2008, producing only 300 pieces worldwide, and the attention to detail shows in every aspect. The wide fat neck carve feels substantial yet comfortable, reminiscent of those legendary 1950s archtops but refined with modern precision. The flame maple top and back, paired with mahogany sides, provide both visual drama and tonal complexity that keeps revealing new nuances the longer you play.

This SC-J represents something special in the PRS catalog - a successful marriage of archtop tradition with contemporary reliability and playability. It's a well-executed instrument that shows why this limited run has gained such respect among players.

If you'd like to find out more about this item, just call or e-mail me. It would be my pleasure to talk to you about it.

ABOUT PRS PRIVATE STOCK
Everyone has heard of PRS Guitars; they are one of America's great entrepreneurial success stories. But not everyone has heard of the Paul Reed Smith Private Stock instruments. These are special guitars, in every sense. That's what inspired us here at CR Guitars to seek them out; they conform perfectly to our vision of what "hand selected" really means. The goal behind the PRS Private Stock of instruments is not only to create the most beautiful and best playing guitars money can buy, but the best sounding. PRS works very closely with each order - through hourly discussions, experimentation, meticulous checks of every detail at each step in the process and making final tweaks when the guitar is complete - to make sure they are building the best guitars possible. If you get an extraordinary instrument from Private Stock that is equally as good as a family heirloom and a musician’s tool to make a living on, then the Private Stock goal has come to fruition.

“Whether built to your specification or ours, every Private Stock instrument is carefully guided through the process by highly talented, seasoned guitar makers, and each completed instrument is checked and signed by Paul Miles and me. From all of us on the Private Stock team, thank you for looking at and considering a Private Stock instrument. If you decide on a Private Stock guitar, we will give everything we have to make it the best instrument you’ve ever experienced.” - Paul Reed Smith