PRS Guitars has launched its first signature guitar with award-winning guitarist, songwriter, producer, and content creator Herman Li, best known for his work as one of the lead guitar players in the power metal band DragonForce. The model is called Chleo, named by Herman as a combination of the names of his children. Featuring several departures from traditional PRS designs, including Fishman Fluence powered pickups, a new sculpted body carve, and several other unique appointments, the Chleo Limited Edition exhibits PRS further spreading its wings. Available in Orchid Dusk and Charcoal Purple Burst, only 200 pieces will be made in 2025.
“With the PRS Chleo, I wanted to create a guitar that combined effortless playability, precision craftsmanship, and a versatile tonal range. It brings together modern innovation with timeless style, giving players the freedom to explore both classic sounds and new creative possibilities. The Chleo isn’t just a signature model — it’s a guitar built to inspire,” said Herman Li.
As a guitar player who is as dedicated to understanding his instrument as he is to continually refining his craft as a player, Li was a formidable partner in designing his signature PRS. At first glance, the Chleo is a seemingly dramatic departure from classic PRS design, but its craftsmanship and quality are wholly PRS. Featuring PRS’s tried-and-true combination of a mahogany back and figured maple top with a maple neck, the Chleo’s body shape and neck have been specially engineered for this model. The body has been modified in several ways from PRS’s traditional profile. Most notably, it is remarkably thin, making it light enough for high-energy stage performances and comfortable for longer gigs. The neck shape and neck joint were specially designed to be comfortable and fast, and with glow-in-the-dark side dots you’ll never lose your place. The neck is very thin front-to-back with a slightly taller playing surface and 20” fretboard radius, and the neck joint has added surface area to promote build integrity and tonal transfer. PRS’s trademark scoop has also been modified for ultimate access to the upper frets, and the last 4 frets are scalloped so players can dig into those notes with ease. If the Chleo wasn’t unmistakable already, its ebony fretboard features a unique “Eclipse Dragon” inlay pattern.
Li’s Signature Series Fishman Fluence pickups are at the heart of the PRS Chleo. These copper-free pickups use layered PCBs for consistent, noise-free performance. With three distinct voices and a versatile switching system, the guitar offers up to 13 unique tone combinations. From fat, aggressive rhythm tones to smooth, warm leads, soaring screams, and crystal-clear single-coil sounds, these pickups cover it all. The performance-friendly control layout makes it easy to switch between tones on the fly. Whether you’re using high-gain tube amps, solid-state rigs, modern amp modelers, or DAW plugins, the Chleo’s pickups are built to shine across any setup.
“This guitar represents a new evolution for PRS. We spent more than four years in research and development, working closely with Herman to get everything exactly right,” said PRS Guitars Director of New Products Engineering, Rob Carhart. “Partnering with Fishman for yet another project continues to be rewarding as well.”
Adding to the innovation is a Gotoh locking tremolo system, enhanced with a new custom PRS stabilizer. It delivers the expressive freedom of a fully floating tremolo, while offering the tuning stability that players love from fixed bridges, delivering confidence and control in any situation.
