PRS Swamp Ash Special with Maple Fretboard 1998 - Tri-Color Sunburst

This 1998 PRS Swamp Ash Special is one of those older PRS guitars where the wood almost steals the entire show. The swamp ash body has an incredible grain pattern under the burst, but the real standout for me is the maple neck. There is flame running through the back of the neck, the headstock, and even the maple fretboard.

At 8.11 lbs on my scale, it feels substantial without becoming cumbersome. The thicker rounded neck fills the hand nicely, but paired with the low action and excellent frets, this thing absolutely flies.

The original H-S-H electronics are also a huge part of what makes these early Swamp Ash Specials interesting. It has PRS McCarty humbuckers in the neck and bridge with a Seymour Duncan Vintage Rails in the middle.

The original electronics sheet is still with the guitar and explains the switching. The 3-way toggle handles the humbuckers normally, while pulling the tone control brings the middle pickup into play and changes the neck pickup to a single-coil configuration. It gives you quite a bit more range than the simple control layout suggests.

Everything passed my complete electronics inspection with no issues.

What stood out to me:

• Incredible figured maple neck

• Flame continues through the headstock

• Highly figured maple fretboard

• Bird inlays

• Beautiful swamp ash grain

• Original McCarty neck and bridge humbuckers

• Original Seymour Duncan Vintage Rails middle pickup

• Original electronics and switching

• Thick, rounded neck feel

• Effortless low action

• Excellent fret condition

• Spot-on intonation

• 8.11 lbs on my scale

• Original PRS hardshell case

• Original PRS inspection sheet

• Original PRS hang tag

Condition is Very Good overall, and honestly impressive for a guitar from the late ’90s.

The body and neck both came through inspection in excellent condition. The back has some light scratches and buckle rash from normal use, which is where most of the visible wear is concentrated. Nothing stood out to me structurally, and it has clearly been looked after very well over the years.

The frets are excellent, the fretboard is clean, and the recent setup has it playing with genuinely low action. The combination of the bigger neck and slick setup gives it a really solid feel without slowing you down at all.

I also really like that this one has stayed together. The pickups and electronics are original, and the original PRS documentation is still here. Having the old Swamp Ash Special electronics sheet, inspection sheet, and original hang tag with the guitar is a really nice bonus on something this age.

The original PRS hardshell case is included.

The photos shown are real photographs of this exact guitar. I do not use AI-generated imagery, replacement backgrounds, or image manipulation to misrepresent the condition of my guitars. What you see is the instrument you’ll receive.

Like all my guitars, this one’s been cared for and dialed in—no guesswork, no surprises, just a great instrument that’s ready to play. I personally inspect and test every guitar before it ships, making sure it’s in the exact condition I’d want to receive myself. These guitars come from me, not a shop—each one gets the kind of attention and care only a real guitar lover gives. Ships fast and fully insured via Reverb Safe Shipping.

⏳ Quick note: These guitars don’t usually sit. Most are purchased within 3–7 days, and I regularly hear from watchers after the listing has already sold. If this one’s on your radar, now’s the window!