[Please see our listing of used PRS guitars following this brief history of the brand.]
Used PRS guitars don't come cheap. This is a testament to their outstanding quality and reputation. Although it will take a reasonable investment to obtain a used PRS guitar, you will have a quality instrument that you can always get your money out of, or even watch it appreciate in value.
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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 2012 PRS Custom 24 Mount Annapurna Paul Reed Smith ONE PIECE TOP $2,705.00 Time Remaining: 24d 20h 55m Buy It Now for only: $2,705.00 |
 PRS PAUL REED SMITH SC 250 CHAMBERED VERY LIGHT WEIGHT KILLER GUITAR $1,400.00 Time Remaining: 1h 31m |
 2011 PAUL REED SMITH PRS TREMONTI ERIZA VERDE MONSTER QUILTED 10 TOP WOW $2,899.99 Time Remaining: 10h 15m |
 PAUL REED SMITH MCCARTY PRS FLAME TOP ROYAL BLUE $1,495.00 Time Remaining: 4d 14h 1m Buy It Now for only: $1,495.00 |
 2012 PAUL REED SMITH PRS TREMONTI BLUE CRAB BLUE FLAME MAPLE TOP UNPLAYED $2,599.99 Time Remaining: 10h 25m |
 PRS CUSTOM 22 10 TOP SIGNED BY PAUL REED SMITH EMERALD GREEN DRAGONS $2,399.99 Time Remaining: 2d 14h 49m Buy It Now for only: $2,399.99 |
 2012 PAUL REED SMITH PRS TREMONTI FADED BLUE BURST OMG QUILTED 10 TOP WOW $2,999.99 Time Remaining: 10h 48m |
 PAUL REED SMITH PRS CUSTOM 22 DARK CHERRYBURST FREESHIP FLAME MAPLE $1,799.99 Time Remaining: 3d 10h 13m Buy It Now for only: $1,799.99 |
 2011 PAUL REED SMITH PRS STUDIO AMBER BLACK AMAZING FLAME TOP UNPLAYED $2,649.99 Time Remaining: 10h 53m |
 2011 PAUL REED SMITH PRS SANTANA SANTANA YELLOW AMAZING TOP UNPLAYED $2,749.99 Time Remaining: 10h 58m |
 PRS Paul Reed Smith P22 10 Top Fire Red Burst NEW $3,630.00 Time Remaining: 16d 13h 27m Buy It Now for only: $3,630.00 |
 2011 PAUL REED SMITH PRS TREMONTI PURPLE HAZEL KILLER FLAME TOP UNPLAYED $2,599.99 Time Remaining: 11h |