Paul Phillips, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, became part of Puddle of Mudd in time to play on the band's major label release, Come Clean. That record sold over 5 million copies. The band is well above 7 million in total sales and their latest release, Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate, was release in December, 2009. Since those early days Phillips has played on with Puddle of Mudd, although ALL has not remained the same. He changed guitars, from one PRS model to another. Phillips' latest instrument is a PRS SC 245 single cut guitar.

How did you wind up with this Guitar? What is its story?

This is a guitar that I got back in '01 just to do an ad for PRS. They wanted to push the singlecuts but I was playing the Custom 24's at the time. Of course, I accepted the guitar and did the ad, but I didn't really start playing it until 2 or 3 years ago.

Why this guitar? Tell me the best things about it?

It is really beefy. The neck is much wider than the 24's, which is what I have started to favor. It feels really comfortable to me now. Tonally, it has a really deep dark growl to it, which I love. The neck pickup is especially great for that Slash-bluesy tone.

Had you played other PRS models? If so which ones and how did they lead you to this.

Yeah, like I said, I used to play the Custom 24's, but I was missing that Les Paul vibe. I had always played them before PRS's, so I thought I would revisit that single cut and I loved it.

Is there anything you would change about it? anything you think could be improved?

Definitely the color, but that's about it. The maroonish finish is not my favorite.

What do you play it through now? What other amps have you used? What sort of amp compliments this guitar most?

I have two amps going on at once. One is a Mesa Triple Rectifier and the other is a Line 6 Pod Pro through a Mesa tube power amp. That guitar and these amps are my tone and I get complimented alot, so I guess it works. People are always surprised when I say Mesa and Line 6.

How about effects. Can you tell us a little about the sort of effects you use?

Well, alot of my effects come from the POD, but I do have a Boss Super Chorus, Super Phaser, and a Digital/Reverb Delay. I use them sparsely and they just color up and compliment the sound I already have.