Paul Reed Smith Guitars

MIRA MAPLE TOP

When PRS released the Mira in the year 2007 it seemed that the US giants had targeted the more
workmanlike musician who had little interest in fancy 10 tops and bird
inlays: instead this was a stripped-down, lightweight, pro-level
instrument that wouldn't look out of place in any venue. Now the range
has expanded with the Maple Top model.

A slim mahogany twin-cutaway body
remains the chassis of the guitar, with a gently carved maple top
giving a more sophisticated look while still retaining the purposeful
air of the standard Mira.

The mahogany
set-neck joins at the 23rd of its 24 frets, offering unrestricted access
to the rosewood fingerboard. This particular example features bird
inlays but the standard Maple Top will wear moons, with birds being an added-cost option.

 The bridge is a PRS
wraparound stoptail with grooves for the strings that compensate for
intonation.

Machineheads are PRS Phase II low-mass locking tuners, and they do the job nicely.
Electronics consist of two PRS Mira humbuckers
sharing master volume and tone controls, with a three-way selector
switch and a mini-toggle switch that activates the coil split. Neat,
well laid out, and easy to access on a dark stage.

SOUNDS

If tonal versatility is something you seek then the Mira Maple Top
may well end your search. From crashing distorted detuned mayhem to
spanky country clean, this guitar just takes everything in its stride.

The
humbuckers are clear and defined (aided no doubt by the maple top) with
a three-dimensional complexity that reminds you that you're playing a
top-level instrument.

The Mira just
sounds alive, and it can even surprise you at times with the tones it
produces - in a good way. The coil tap may reduce the output somewhat,
but it also reveals highly usable single coil tones, and that isn't
always the case with other premium guitars.

VerdictThe Mira is
simply exceptional. It offers beautiful tonal subtleties, gorgeous looks
and a super-comfortable playing feel, and all at a price that is still
attainable. Such is the ease with which the Mira moves through musical
styles, I'm half-convinced that if you sat it down at a drum kit it
would strike up a decent backbeat. The maple top, it seems, is more than
just eye candy: it adds a tightness and focus that allows the guitar to
breathe, and that's where the magic lies. The Mira Maple Top is a bona
fide modern classic.