PRS Modern Eagle V 10-Top Electric Guitar -
A limited-production Modern Eagle with 17 different pickup combinations via three-pickup HSH layout and unique switching. Guitar World gave it a perfect 5/5 for tonal versatility and build quality.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +17 different sounds via TCI Treble/Bass humbuckers, NS-01 single-coil middle, 5-way toggle, two coil-split mini toggles, and push/pull tone for all-three-pickup mode
- +Pull-switch on tone control allows all three pickups voiced together or neck/bridge combined for unique tonal combinations
- +Third mini-toggle changes volume pot value from 500k to 250k, providing a different palette of vintage-to-modern tones
- +Lightweight mahogany body with stunning flame maple 10-Top imparts cutting clarity, beautiful resonance, and rich midrange presence
- +PRS's 40-year-old design constantly tweaked to detailed level of quality that's still setting industry standards
Cons
- −Gloss black finish is mirror-perfect but shows fingerprints and playing marks after minimal use, requiring constant cleaning
- −Extremely limited production (200 of each color) makes finding one difficult and resale market unpredictable
- −Complex switching system requires learning curve to fully exploit 17 available tones without getting lost in options
The Verdict
PRS’s perfect 5/5 from Guitar World is earned. The Modern Eagle V is a tonal chameleon that delivers everything from bell-like single-coil sparkle to full-range humbucker grind with perfectly balanced volume between modes. The electronics design is brilliant, offering classic Strat quack, thick Les Paul grind, and uniquely PRS sounds via the all-three-pickup mode. At $5,900, it’s expensive but not insane for a limited-run USA-built PRS with premium tonewoods and cutting-edge switching. The finish shows fingerprints easily, but if you want one guitar that does it all at the highest level, this is it.
