PRS

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Paul Reed Smith Core SeriesPaul Reed Smith Core Series
Paul Reed Smith S2 SeriesPaul Reed Smith S2 Series
Paul Reed Smith SE Electric GuitarsPaul Reed Smith SE Electric Guitars
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Paul Reed Smith is a shining example of unbridled passion when it comes to building quality guitars. Like clockwork, he builds an instrument, tests it in a live performance situation, and crowdsources feedback from those who have played it in order to improve upon the final product. Based in Stevensville, Maryland, PRS Guitars employs a team of dedicated luthiers and consistently taps into a vast network of knowledge. Having recently celebrated their thirty year anniversary, PRS continues to approach their guitars, basses and amplifiers with the same mission - uphold the pride and dedication to excellence for everything they do, while utilizing the best quality materials and creating instruments that will stand the test of time.

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PRS Guitars

Known for their incredible quality, amazing tone, and immaculate playability (not to mention drop-dead gorgeous looks), PRS Guitars have been a staple in the music scene since their inception in 1985. You can find PRS guitars in the hands of many famous musicians, including Carlos Santana, John Mayer, and Miles Kennedy. If you’re looking for perhaps the finest factory-built electric guitars anywhere, look no farther than a PRS.

PRS Core Series guitars

At the heart of PRS’s guitar line is the Core Series of electric guitars. They’re called the Core Series because, well, they’re the best guitars you can buy! Each Core Series guitar is built to perfection with PRS’s insanely high levels of quality and attention to detail. Each guitar is rigorously tested to make sure it’s the ultimate tone machine.

Core Series electric guitars come in a wide variety of shapes and finishes. But no matter which model you choose, one thing is for certain: You’re going to get the absolute best the industry has to offer!

PRS S2 series electric guitars

The PRS S2 Series of electric guitars (named because they’re manufactured in the 2nd line of the Stevensville location) are built with a new manufacturing process but the same quality control measures. The result is an amazing guitar you’d expect from PRS but at a more affordable price point.

A great example of the S2 series in action is the PRS CE24 with a bolt-on neck. It follows the same look, feel, and tone of the PRS Core Series with a mid-range price tag. If you prefer brighter colors when you take the stage, nobody will be able to miss you holding a gorgeous PRS S2 Custom in Eriza Verde.

Several artists have also started to work with PRS to develop signature models in the S2 series. Perhaps the most notable S2 artist signature model is the John Mayer Silver Sky.

PRS SE series guitars

The PRS SE series (which stands for Student Edition) are the most affordable PRS electric guitars. They’re manufactured in facilities outside of PRS’s main factories in Maryland to cut costs, but they keep many of the quality features found in the higher-level guitars.

You can find many of the guitar models from the PRS Core and S2 series available in the SE line, like the PRS SE John Mayer Silver Sky. Other popular SE series guitars include the PRS SE Santana and the PRS SE Paul’s Guitar.

PRS acoustic guitars

PRS also makes several quality acoustic-electric guitar models. The PRS SE Angelus A60 and the PRS SE Angelus A50 are two exceptional acoustic guitars with PRS’s hybrid X/Classical bracing that really allows the top to vibrate freely for exceptional tone and projection.

And if you thought these guitars sounded good acoustic, plug them in and listen to the Fishman Sonitone pickup system sing! Easy-to-access volume and tone controls help you dial in the perfect sound for any show.

Looking for something a bit smaller and easier to handle? The PRS SE Parlor P20 is the perfect companion for any traveling musician.

History of PRS Guitars

Going through school, Paul Reed Smith took as many shop classes as he could. He just loved to work with his hands. As a challenge for a college professor, he built his first guitar by hand and decided to take his passion for guitars and guitar building to the professional level.

The next several years were spent with Paul Smith building a guitar, playing a few gigs to field test it, then redesigning his models from the ground up to make them even better. Eventually, he met up with another guitar-building legend, Ted McCarty (who was the former president of Gibson and the creator of the iconic ES-335, Explorer, and Flying V) who became his mentor and partner while designing the early PRS models. In 1985, Smith was finally ready to open a factory of his very own, and PRS was born!

What set PRS guitars apart was their dedication to quality. Initially, all PRS guitars were completely hand built with custom tuning pegs, patented vibrato, and high-quality electronics — which included Paul Smith’s custom rotary pickup switch and incredible humbuckers.

To sell his creations, Paul Smith would go around to different venues and talk to artists, seeing if they’d want to buy his guitars. Through his dedication and tireless efforts, he managed to get in with several big-name players like Carlos Santana, Howard Leese, and Al Di Meola.

As PRS got bigger, Paul Smith expanded his small operation to a 20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Despite their incredible growth, PRS remains dedicated to producing the best quality guitars possible, no exceptions.

Today, PRS builds perhaps the finest factory-built electric guitars anywhere, and they show no signs of slowing down. If you’re looking for the best of the best, there’s nothing like a PRS!

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