Please see our listing of used PRS guitars following this brief history of the brand.
Paul Reed Smith, originally from Bowie, Maryland, and born on February 18, 1956, is one of the premier luthiers in the world. He is the founder and owner of PRS Guitars.
Smith built his first guitar while attending St. Mary's College of Maryland, and continued to build about one guitar per month all through his college years.
Together with John "Orkie" Ingram, they formed what would become 'Paul Reed Smith Guitars.'
Smith would often take his guitars backstage at concerts, and got his big break when rocker Derek St. Holmes, of the Ted Nugent Band, agreed to try out #2, the second guitar Smith had ever made. St. Holmes played the guitar for the first few songs of his set. Smith told him that after he showed it to some other musicians, he would fly out to Detroit and give it to him. St. Holmes eventually sold the guitar for $200.
Here's a quote from Paul Reed Smith himself. I think it is evident of the man's dedication and drive to build the best instruments that can be had.
"I remember hanging out at the local concert arenas for six or seven hours before a show to make friends with the roadies. With a backstage pass in hand, I’d peddle my guitars to the stars. One night in ten I’d make a sale. Carlos Santana, Al Di Meola, Howard Leese, and other well known players agreed to check one out. I made deals. If someone gave me an order, made a deposit, and then didn’t love the finished guitar, I’d give them their deposit back even if I couldn’t make my rent the next day."
Smith eventually got in contact with Ted McCarty, developer of the Gibson Explorer, ES-335 and Flying Vee guitars, and former President of Gibson. McCarty became his mentor and adviser.
Their collaboration resulted in the current line of high-quality solid, semi-hollow and hollow body PRS guitars. The beautiful woods, inlays and finishes on PRS guitars, results in instruments that are second to none in their amazing appearance and playability.
The Private Stock line of PRS guitars are made utilizing a vast range of exotic materials including various stones, elaborately figured tone woods, and intricate shells for inlays.
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 1999 Paul Reed Smith CE22 Goldtop  US $720.00
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 Paul Reed Smith PRS SE Singlecut Electric Guitar w/bag US $300.00
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 PRS Paul Reed Smith Paul Allender US $550.00
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 PAUL REED SMITH CUSTOM 22 TEN TOP ELECTRIC GUITAR US $1,510.15
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 1999 Lefty left handed PRS Paul Reed Smith Mccarty US $1,526.73
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 PRS Paul Reed Smith Budweiser Guitar - Collectible US $223.50
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 2001 PRS Paul Reed Smith McCarty - Signed by Paul US $760.00
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 Paul Reed Smith Custom 22 Artist - 2003 US $2,999.00
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 Paul Reed Smith Custom 24 Artist - 2003 US $3,499.00
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 Paul Reed Smith McCarty Soap Bar W/Indian Rosewood Neck US $1,695.00
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 Paul Reed Smith 513 - Brazilian Rosewood US $3,899.00
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 Paul Reed Smith Modern Eagle - Brazilian Rosewood US $4,599.00
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