Electric guitars

PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB

The PRS Swamp Ash Special combines a USA-made build with a flexible HSH pickup layout and coil-splitting controls. Its listed price is substantial, and the package includes a premium gig bag rather than a hard case.

★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 5 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker

PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB: A specification-based review

The PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB is a U.S.-made, ST-style electric guitar listed as available since April 2025. Its specifications describe a swamp ash body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and an HSH pickup arrangement. The listed price is 3499, with no currency specified in the supplied information. This review evaluates the documented features only. No customer feedback or independent play-test results are available, so claims about comfort, tone, tuning stability, or build quality would go beyond the evidence.

Body, neck, and fingerboard

The body is made from swamp ash, with no separate top. The instrument is identified as Black Doghair Smokeburst in the detailed specifications, while the general color field says Black. Those labels appear to describe the same listed finish at different levels of detail; the product information does not explain the visual pattern or how it varies from one guitar to another.

The maple neck has a Pattern profile, and the rosewood fingerboard carries 22 frets. The supplied scale length is given as both 635 mm and 25 inches, which are rounded representations of the same nominal length. These figures identify a relatively short electric-guitar scale compared with many 25.5-inch designs, but the specifications alone cannot establish how the neck will feel to a particular player. There is no further information about fret size, fingerboard radius, neck finish, or nut width.

HSH pickup layout and switching

The guitar pairs two 58/15 LT humbuckers, positioned at the neck and bridge, with a Narrowfield humbucker in the middle. PRS describes the middle pickup as single-coil style, but it is still listed as a humbucker. That distinction matters when interpreting the HSH configuration: the layout combines two conventional humbucker positions with a narrower middle humbucker rather than three pickups explicitly specified as traditional single coils.

Controls include volume and tone, plus two mini-toggle switches for coil splitting. The information provided does not state which pickups each switch affects, whether the switches operate independently, or which combinations are available. It is therefore possible to identify coil splitting as a feature, but not to map every selectable sound from the listed details. The specifications also do not describe a blade selector or another pickup-selection control, so its type should not be assumed from the HSH designation alone.

For a player considering this model, the documented arrangement offers more than one pickup format and includes a way to split coils. The practical tonal range will depend on the wiring and switching details, which are not supplied here. No claims about output, noise, frequency response, or specific genre suitability can be verified from the pickup names alone.

Tremolo and hardware

The tremolo is identified in one specification field as PRS-style and in the detailed feature list as the PRS Gen III Tremolo. The latter gives a more specific model designation. PRS Phase III machine heads are also listed. Hardware is described as hybrid, but the supplied information does not identify the finish or material of individual components.

These features establish the hardware types included, not their performance in use. There are no supplied measurements for tremolo range, setup, tuning retention, or string spacing. Players who rely on those details should confirm them with the seller or manufacturer before purchase.

What comes with the guitar

The package includes a PRS premium gig bag. The listing marks the instrument as including a bag and a gig bag, while specifying that a hard case is not included. That makes the carrying provision clear: a gig bag is supplied, but a separate rigid case is not listed. The sales unit is one piece, and the item number is 612241.

Who the specifications may suit

The documented configuration may interest players looking for a U.S.-made PRS with a swamp ash body, a 25-inch scale, and an HSH pickup layout with coil-split switches. The maple neck and rosewood fingerboard are conventional, clearly identified materials, while the Pattern profile provides a named neck shape without further measurements. The tremolo and locking-style machine head designation are also specified, though no performance conclusions follow from those names alone.

Overall, the PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB is defined by its pickup configuration, swamp ash construction, and PRS tremolo and tuning hardware. The available information is substantial enough to describe its core design, but not to assess its sound, setup, finish quality, or long-term reliability. Before ordering, buyers may want to verify the finish description, the exact coil-split routing, and any neck or hardware measurements that matter to their playing preferences.

PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB, front view
8.5/ 10 overall score
$3,499current price at the retailer
Check today's price price and delivery time at the retailer

Shipping and duties

The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.

Scores by area

Where it shines, where it stumbles

What convinced me

  • Made in the USA with a swamp ash body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard.
  • Two 58/15 LT humbuckers and a Narrowfield middle humbucker offer three pickup positions and coil-splitting options.
  • Includes a PRS premium gig bag, PRS Gen III tremolo, and PRS Phase III tuning machines.

What bugged me

  • No hard case is included.
  • The 25-inch scale and Pattern neck profile may not suit every player's preferences.

Is it the right one for you?

Good pick if

A strong fit for players seeking a USA-made guitar with a swamp ash body and several pickup options. Also suited to buyers who want coil-splitting controls and a tremolo bridge.

Look elsewhere if

Not ideal for buyers who require a hard case in the package. Consider other options if the Pattern neck profile or 25-inch scale does not match your preferred feel.
RockFunkJazz

Suggested level: Intermediate

PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB, $3,499Check today's price →

Specifications

Color
Black
Body
Ash
Top
None
Neck
Maple
Fretboard
Rosewood
Frets
22
Scale
635 mm
Pickups
HSH
Tremolo
PRS-Style
Incl. bag
Yes
Including case
No
Limited run
None
Model
Special
Shape
ST-Style

Up close

PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB, detail 2PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB, detail 3PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB, detail 4PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB, detail 5

Watch and listen

Watch the video demo on YouTube →

Before you decide

Questions players ask

What pickups does the PRS Swamp Ash Special have?

It has two 58/15 LT humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions, plus a Narrowfield humbucker in the middle position with a single-coil-style design.

Can the pickups be coil-split?

Yes. The guitar has two mini-toggle switches for coil splitting.

Does it come with a case?

It includes a PRS premium gig bag. A hard case is not included.

What are its scale length and fret count?

It has a 25-inch scale and 22 frets.

Where is this model made?

The listed specifications state that it is made in the USA.

The last word from the bench

This guitar pairs a swamp ash body and maple neck with two 58/15 LT humbuckers and a Narrowfield middle humbucker. Two mini-toggle switches provide coil splitting, giving players more pickup options than a fixed HSH configuration. The PRS Gen III tremolo and Phase III tuning machines round out the hardware specification. At the listed price, buyers should weigh the included gig bag against their preference for a hard case.

PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB, $3,499Check today's price →

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PRS Swamp Ash Special Black DH SB

Today's price and delivery time are shown at the retailer.

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