PRS Tekton Guitars: Built to Melt Metal Faces
PRS launches the Tekton: a radical new metal guitar family with stainless steel frets, thin bodies, and Stylus pickups engineered for modern high-gain
Attention blues traditionalists and pentatonic purists: you might want to avert your eyes. If your idea of "high gain" is a mildly pushed vintage tube amp, this new release probably isn't for you. But if you Djent, sweep pick, or measure your BPM in the 200s, pay attention.
PRS, the Maryland brand historically synonymous with gorgeous, classic builds, has just kicked down the door of the modern heavy metal guitar market. Billed as a “whole new family of guitars,” the highly anticipated PRS Tekton lineup has officially arrived.
Pulling absolutely no punches, the Tekton series is purpose-built from the ground up for the most technical of modern players. Sporting radical body contours, stainless steel frets, and an unabashed focus on shredability, PRS is planting a massive flag in the metal guitar world.
The Thinnest PRS Ever Made
To accommodate lightning-fast playing, PRS had to rethink its architecture. The result? The Tekton models boast the thinnest body and thinnest neck the company has ever produced in standard production.
The silhouette itself is a clever hybrid—a halfway house between the flagship Custom 24 and the offset Vela. It features an exaggerated scoop for effortless upper-fret access, a massive belly carve, and a heavily sculpted neck heel.
The tonewoods are equally striking. The standard, tremolo, and seven-string variants all feature highly figured mango tops layered over mahogany backs. Meanwhile, the Floyd Rose variant opts for a solid, aggressive all-alder body.
A Neck Built for Speed and Sweeps
The bolt-on maple neck features a near "D" shape, ensuring that while it is incredibly thin, it doesn't feel cramped in the hand. Inside, it utilizes hormigo strength rods—borrowing a trick from the carbon fiber rods found in Herman Li’s Chleo signature model—to maximize stability and resonance.
But the real headlines are on the fretboard. PRS has finally embraced stainless steel frets, set into a flat, shred-friendly 16” radius. The iconic PRS Bird inlays have been ditched entirely in favor of sleek offset dots, complemented by Luminlay side dots so you can navigate the neck on the darkest of stages.
The fretboard itself is crafted from Indian ebony, complete with naturally occurring mineral deposits or "birthmarks," meaning no two fretboards look exactly alike. To top it off, PRS utilized the slightly wider string spacing found on the John Mayer Silver Sky and Mark Lettieri Fiore models, creating the perfect runway for precise pick attacks and sweeping arpeggios.
Meet the Four Horsemen
Because heavy metal is not a monolith, PRS is launching the Tekton series with four distinct models to suit your specific brand of sonic chaos:
The Tekton (OG): The standard hardtail model, built for steadfast tuning stability and no-nonsense riffing.
The Tekton T: Equipped with a two-point tremolo for expressive flutters and subtle pitch shifts.
The Tekton "Floyd": Armed with a Floyd Rose locking tremolo for players who treat their whammy bar with extreme prejudice.
The Tekton SVN: A subterranean seven-string configuration engineered for modern, extended-range metal.
Stylus Pickups: Engineered for the Digital Age
At the heart of these instruments are the all-new Stylus humbuckers (taking their name from the Ancient Greek instrument used for writing). Built with Alnico 5 magnets, these pickups are voiced for extreme clarity, articulation, and character.
Interestingly, these humbuckers offer a flatter output than traditional pickups. This is a deliberate, highly modern design choice aimed squarely at digital gear. Recognizing that today's metal is largely recorded and performed using sophisticated digital modelers, the Stylus pickups are engineered to keep your tones intact and aggressively defined, without turning complex, high-gain chords into sonic mush.
A Radical Lane Change
"This is not just introducing a new model. We are planting a flag for a whole new family of guitars,” explains PRS Director of Sales Jim Cullen. “Over the years, we have heard a growing call for more modern spec’d PRS guitars. The Tekton is our answer to that call.”
If you're ready to shake up your metal rig, the Tekton lineup is available now. The standard Tekton and Tekton T will list for $2,899, while the Tekton Floyd and Tekton SVN are priced at $2,999.
For more details on the new lineup, visit the official PRS website
- +Thinnest PRS body and neck ever made for superior ergonomics
- +Stainless steel frets eliminate fret wear concerns
- +16-inch radius fretboard optimized for speed and sweeping
- +Stylus pickups voiced for modern digital gear clarity
- +Four distinct models cover all modern metal playing styles
- +Indian ebony fretboard with unique natural character
- +Luminlay side dots aid visibility on dark stages
- +Wider string spacing reduces pick attacks and sweeping errors
- −Significant departure from classic PRS aesthetic may alienate traditionalists
- −Premium pricing reflects boutique specs and features
- −Stylus pickups' flatter output may not suit all player preferences or tone goals
What makes the PRS Tekton different from other PRS guitars?
The Tekton is purpose-built for modern metal with the thinnest PRS body and neck ever produced, stainless steel frets, a 16-inch radius fretboard, Indian ebony with Luminlay side dots, and exaggerated upper-fret access. It's a radical departure from PRS's traditionally classic designs.
What are Stylus pickups and why does the Tekton use them?
Stylus humbuckers are all-new pickups with Alnico 5 magnets voiced for extreme clarity and articulation. They have a flatter output than traditional pickups, deliberately engineered for digital modelers and high-gain recording without losing definition in complex chords.
Which Tekton model should I choose?
PRS offers four variants: the standard hardtail for tuning stability, the Tekton T with a two-point tremolo for pitch expression, the Tekton Floyd with a Floyd Rose locking tremolo for extreme whammy use, and the Tekton SVN seven-string for extended-range metal playing.
How much do PRS Tekton guitars cost?
The standard Tekton and Tekton T list for $2,899, while the Tekton Floyd and Tekton SVN are priced at $2,999 each.
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