A singular PRS guitar: crafted from hurricane-salvaged wood and inspired by Caribbean heritage

PRS guitar inspired by Caribbean heritage

“The guitar is tragically, yet beautifully intertwined with how climate change affects the lives of people living in rainforest regions.”

PRS has revealed a truly singular electric guitar crafted using wood recovered from trees that were felled by Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico in 2017. Beyond its rare materials, the instrument stands out for its deep symbolism and visual storytelling, reflecting the Caribbean origins of the wood and its cultural significance.

The project continues the brand’s environmentally focused direction, previously explored through the SE S2 Special Semi-Hollow Reclaimed models. Those guitars were also built using reclaimed wood sourced from various regions across South America.

This semi-hollow instrument was originally designed as a personal guitar for long-time PRS team member Michael Reid, the company’s senior wood buyer. Reid conceived the sustainable concept around seven years ago while working on a personal home-building project, which prompted a deeper appreciation for reclaimed and responsibly sourced materials.

The PRS McCarty 594 Semi-Hollow features a mahogany top, back, neck, and headstock veneer. The guitar is also hand-signed by Paul Reed Smith, reinforcing its importance as a landmark internal project within the PRS story.

The wood used for the instrument was recovered by Reid through a local supplier after the logs were left at a dumpsite and scheduled for disposal during post-hurricane cleanup efforts. As a tribute to the origin of the materials, the guitar incorporates visual elements that directly reference the Caribbean region.

The fretboard is adorned with an inlay depicting the skyline of Old Havana, Cuba, while the headstock features the Cuban flag, further strengthening the cultural narrative behind the instrument.

As with the S2 Special Semi-Hollow Reclaimed models, the fretboard wood is sourced from Brazil. The guitar is richly decorated with an intricate mother-of-pearl inlay that also incorporates additional exotic materials. All inlay work was completed in collaboration with Maryland-based specialists Aulson Inlay.

According to Michael Reid, the guitar was envisioned as a reminder of the value of natural resources and the communities whose lives are closely tied to rainforest environments.
He also notes that the instrument draws inspiration from Puerto Rican poet Lola Rodriguez de Tio’s poem A Cuba, in which Cuba and Puerto Rico are described as two wings of the same bird.

Representatives from environmental organization Cool Earth add that the story of the guitar, shaped by materials weathered through storms and extreme conditions, serves as a powerful symbol of the connection between climate, nature, and the people living in rainforest regions.