Paul Reed Smith
Latest Paul Reed Smith news, guitars, gear, music, performances, and collaborations covered by Guitar Radar.
Guitar Radar has 1 story about Paul Reed Smith, tracking new music, tours, collaborations and gear. Most of it sits under industry. The most recent story, from Aug 29, 2026, is “Paul Reed Smith Joins the Guitar Center RockWalk, With John Mayer Presenting”.
About Paul Reed Smith
Paul Reed Smith, born in 1956, is the founder and owner of PRS Guitars and a Maryland luthier who started building guitars while at St. Mary's College of Maryland, making roughly one a month after he graduated. His early break came when Derek St. Holmes of the Ted Nugent band tried his second guitar onstage, and Carlos Santana became a loyal customer, later becoming the brand's best-known artist with several signature models.
Smith then contacted Ted McCarty, the former president of Gibson who was involved with the Explorer, the ES-335 and the Flying V, and McCarty became his mentor and adviser. Their collaboration produced the line of PRS guitars, which include solid-body and hollowbody instruments, and the company is now based in Stevensville, Maryland.
Smith also plays guitar in his own band, which sets him apart from Ted McCarty and Leo Fender. Guitar Radar follows his new PRS models and Private Stock releases under the PRS brand.
Sources: Woodbrass: PRS Guitars · Wikipedia: PRS Guitars · Reverb: A brief history of PRS Guitars
