| There are a few guitar companies that are | | | | |
| well known for their quality and their list | | | | PRS Guitars have a list of current stock |
| of celebrity players. PRS Guitars is one such | | | | models and private stock guitars that are all |
| company. Paul Reed Smith, owner and creator | | | | listed on the website. There are the |
| of PRS Guitars, made his first guitar while | | | | Singlecut guitars that were previously |
| he was a student at St. Mary s College in | | | | mentioned, the SE Series which is a lower end |
| Maryland. He continued to build guitars after | | | | model and slightly less expensive, the |
| college and after he d complete one, he would | | | | Santana SE, and the 513 Rosewood Guitar. |
| bring it to concerts and convince the | | | | However, these are just a few examples of the |
| musicians to try them out and give him | | | | extensive list provided on the site. |
| feedback. | | | | |
| | | | There have been a lot of famous artists who |
| Smith eventually encountered Carlos Santana. | | | | have played Paul Reed Smith guitars. These |
| The end result of this meeting was that | | | | include Carlos Santana, Al DiMeola, Peter |
| Santana ended up trying out his guitars. (He | | | | Lindgren, Tim Mahoney, Dave Navarro, Mark |
| tried three total.) Santana was impressed, | | | | Tremont, Larry Hanson of Alabama, Larry |
| and this ultimately changed the direction of | | | | Lalonde of Primus, Neal Schon of Journey, |
| Smith s life. Santana put Smith in touch with | | | | Rich Williams of Kansas, Steve Stevens with |
| a man named Ted McCarty, who eventually | | | | Billy Idol, and Vince Neil of Motley Crue. |
| became his mentor. | | | | For more information on the artists who play |
| | | | PRS Guitars, visit the website. |
| Ted McCarty is a veteran of the guitar | | | | |
| industry. He was the president of Gibson for | | | | Here is what one person has to say about |
| a number of years and he created the Gibson | | | | their PRS Guitar: |
| Explorer, the ES-335, and the Gibson Flying | | | | |
| V. Like Santana, McCarty also realized that | | | | About the PRS Custom 20th Anniversary I love |
| Smith had talent and took him under his wing. | | | | the way this guitar looks. I had wanted a |
| The two collaborated and developed a series | | | | quilt finish, but the exact spec would have |
| of guitars together. These guitars are now | | | | taken 3-4 months on a special order and cost |
| included in the PRS Guitars line. | | | | lots more, so I got this one, and haven t |
| | | | regretted it for a second. Fabulous rich |
| Perhaps it was due to McCarty s collaboration | | | | sounds – as soon as I took it to the |
| with Smith that ultimately lead to the | | | | first rehearsal, everyone in the band could |
| trouble. But, Gibson sued PRS Guitars over | | | | tell the difference (had previously been |
| their Singlecut guitars, which they claimed | | | | playing US Standard Strat and Les Paul |
| were remarkably similar to the Gibson Les | | | | Studio). Lighter sound than the Les Paul, but |
| Paul style. Eventually Gibson lost the case, | | | | so versatile. The tone control is useable and |
| but PRS could not make the guitars while the | | | | the choice between single/double wound |
| court case was going on. But the case was | | | | pickups makes a real difference. Magical. |
| resolved in Smith and McCarty s favor. | | | | |