Trusted Shops: /5,00 ()
PRS Guitars: Innovation and craftsmanship
PRS (Paul Reed Smith) guitars are among the best-known and most respected guitar brands in the world. Founded in 1985 by Paul Reed Smith, the guitars combine the best of traditional and modern designs and still stand for the highest quality and musical innovation today.
The whole story of PRS Guitars
For PRS Guitars, guitar making is more than just a craft – it's a passionate journey of discovery. The company draws on the rich heritage of traditional guitar making and combines it with an enthusiasm for new technologies to create instruments that are characterized by sound, playability and beauty.
The success of PRS lies in its ability to always listen with an open heart and an attentive ear, to embrace change and to continue to refine its craft with dedication.
Paul worked tirelessly to get his guitars into the hands of great musicians. He hung around concert halls for hours to befriend the roadies and gain access to the stars. With a backstage pass in hand, he sold his handmade guitars directly to the musicians in the hope that they would try out one of his instruments.
Famous musicians such as Carlos Santana, Al Di Meola and Howard Leese agreed to test his guitars, and so he began to make a name for himself.
With a growing fan base and over 50 orders under his belt, Paul eventually built two prototypes. He packed them into his truck and drove the entire east coast to visit guitar dealers. After many days and countless miles, he returned with enough orders to officially launch PRS Guitars as a company.
The PRS philosophy
After attending his first Winter NAMM show in January 1985 with a modest selection of guitars, Paul Reed Smith returned to Annapolis, Maryland, full of determination and moved into the PRS factory on Virginia Ave. Over the next four months, a small team of less than 15 employees began building 20 guitars with great dedication and passion - not mass production, but individual masterpieces. Each of these early PRS instruments was a symbol of commitment, attention to detail and dedication to the craft.
Known for their outstanding craftsmanship and distinctive sound, PRS guitars have attracted an impressive list of famous musicians over the years. Some of the most famous PRS fans include Carlos Santana, John Mayer, Orianthi and Mark Tremonti.
Famous PRS innovations
PRS Guitars is known for a number of innovative developments that have revolutionized guitar making.
Among other things, Paul Reed Smith invented a compensated nut in 1981, which ensured that the intonation improved over the entire fretboard of the guitar. This solved the problem of instruments with frets at the end of the neck not staying in tune.
A patented tremolo system is also one of PRS's successes: after Carlos Santana wanted a guitar with vibrato that would stay in tune, Paul Reed Smith, with the help of John Mann, began to develop the now patented PRS tremolo system, which enables stability and fine tuning.
In 1992, the truss rod in a PRS neck was changed from a single-action to a double-action style. With the ability to correct both bent and bowed necks, the double-action truss rod not only allowed for better adjustability, but also an even more stable neck.
In 1998, PRS Guitars introduced the first piezo-equipped guitar. After adapting the system with LR Baggs, the design was registered for a US patent in 1999. The LR Baggs / PRS piezo system offers musicians both beautiful acoustic guitar tones and electric guitar tones in one instrument.
PRS and their signature bird inlays
The best-known trademark of PRS guitars is, of course, the beautiful bird inlays. These inlays, which are designed in various bird motifs, run along the fretboard and have become an unmistakable symbol of the brand since Paul Reed Smith introduced them in 1985. The special process of the beautiful inlays combines the consistency of CNC machining with handcrafted attention to detail for a distinctive fretboard that plays even better than it looks.
Special features of PRS guitars:
- Outstanding craftsmanship: every PRS guitar is made with great attention to detail using high quality materials by skilled craftsmen who ensure that each guitar is finished to perfection.
- Innovative technologies: PRS is known for its groundbreaking innovations, such as the patented tremolo system, the LR Baggs/PRS piezo system for acoustic and electric sounds in one instrument and the TCI pickups.
- Tonal versatility: PRS guitars offer an enormous range of tonal possibilities, from clear, warm tones to powerful, distorted sounds, perfect for different genres.
- Design and aesthetics: The iconic “Bird” inlays and the distinctive curvature of PRS guitars are not only a visual highlight, but also a symbol of the brand
In our Custom Reserve Shop, we not only offer you an exclusive selection of PRS guitars that impress with their beautiful design and outstanding sound quality, but also the opportunity to find an instrument that lets the legend of Paul Reed Smith live on. Our dedicated team will be happy to help you find the PRS guitar that perfectly matches your needs and musical desires.
You will not only have a piece of music history in your hands, but also Paul Reed Smith's unshakeable belief in the realization of great dreams.
Paul Reed Smith himself once said: “We are always pushing beyond what others would call perfection. With experts who ensure the technology is second to none and dedicated craftsmen who guarantee a finished product you won't be able to put down. We make no compromises. That's the story of the beginning of the journey. Not quite so short, but very sweet. And the moral? Believe in your dreams.”
Our special Custom Reserve selection
Just in time for the launch of our Custom Reserve Shop, we are delighted to present the exclusive Custom 24 Wood Library special series. These extraordinary guitars, which were created in close collaboration between session and PRS Guitars, impress with their breathtaking 10-top top and fine Ziricote fretboards. Each guitar in this special series is a unique work of art and stands for the highest level of craftsmanship. This exclusive selection is only available at session, and we are particularly proud to be able to offer our customers this unique series.