“Smith has road-tested this guitar, refining its design and tone”: The PRS Charcoal Phoenix is Paul Reed Smith’s personal guitar of choice – and it’s already starred onstage next to John Mayer

Paul Reed Smith plays the PRS Charcoal Phoenix guitar onstage (left), the PRS Charcoal Phoenix guitar.

Late last month, PRS Guitars celebrated its 40th anniversary in style with a star-studded concert at Anaheim, California's House of Blues featuring John Mayer, David Grissom, Orianthi, Herman Li, Mark Lettieri, and the man himself, Paul Reed Smith.

Those who looked closely at video of the concert may have noticed Smith wielding a striking, charcoal-y PRS model while trading solos with Mayer and others.