Carlos Santana is one of the most legendary guitar players of all time. He always has great tone, and his style is so smooth. 30 years after his ground-breaking performance at Woodstock, Santana released "Supernatural" in 1999 to widespread critical acclaim and newfound popularity. That year, Santana's collaboration with Paul Reed Smith also introduced a new model: the Santana II.
Relative to the Santana I, the Santana II was an expensive, high-end model dressed to the nines. It shares the same double-cutaway body and 24.5" scale of the Santana I, but each Santana II features an intense Flame Maple top and over-the-top cosmetic details. The abalone inlays in the top are instantly recognizable, and the intricate eagle inlay on the peghead make it clear this is the signature guitar of a standout guitarist. When new, the Santana II retailed in the $7,000 - 8,000 range, which was crazy expensive for the time. Because of that, not many were made.
Like the Santana I, the Santana II was outfitted with custom-wound "Santana" humbuckers, but one key change is the three-way switch on the Santana II. The original Santana I had individual toggles for each pickup, a regular three-way is much more functional. The switches and volume control are in the same discreet location, where you won't risk hitting them if you're picking hard or digging into the tremolo.
This 2000 Paul Reed Smith Santana II sports the eye-catching Black Cherry finish. It is a stunning guitar, and every detail was artfully executed. But make no mistake, it's not all about looks—the Santana II is a formidable instrument. 24 fret neck that is fast and smooth, short 24.5" scale, hot pickups, and tons of sustain on tap. It's like a freaking race car! The Santana II is a deeply expressive instrument, and it's a great representation of what Paul Reed Smith can do.
- Top: Flamed Maple
- Back: Mahogany
- Top Inlay: Rippled Abalone Purfling
- Neck: Mahogany
- Frets: 24
- Scale Length: 24.5”
- Fingerboard Radius: 11.5”
- Fingerboard: Brazilian Rosewood
- Fingerboard Inlay: Rippled Abalone Birdges
- Neck Shape: Santana wide fat
- Headstock: Santana Shape
- Headstock Inlay: Eagle w/ Om truss rod cover
- Bridge: PRS Floating Vibrato
- Pickups: PRS Santana Bass & Treble
- Tuners: Gotoh w/ Ebony buttons
This 2000 PRS Santana II shows some superficial signs of playwear and a few bumps around the edges (see photos), but it's in beautiful condition all around. No repairs or issues, and it plays like an absolute dream. It includes the original tremolo arm, bill of sale, and hardshell case.