THE PRS GUITAR BOOK : A COMPLETE HISTORY OF PAUL REED SMITH GUITARS

By Dave Burrluck

Foreword by Tom Wheeler

Published by Backbeat Books, San Francisco, California

2002 Stated First Edition

This book is a large soft cover in near fine condition with 142 pages, Index and lots of Color and some black and white photographs, some of which are large fold out pages.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD BY Tom WHEELER    

PART ONE: THE EARLY YEARS    

PAUL REED SMITH: THE EARLY YEARS      

PART TWO: VIRGINIA AVENUE, 1985-95      

CUSTOM, CUSTOM 22 AND 24, AND CUSTOM 22 SOAPBAR EARLY PRS BASS GUITARS 

PRS GUITAR, STANDARD, SPECIAL, AND STUDIO         

SIGNATURE AND LIMITED EDITION    

MATERIALS: WOOD AND METAL 

MATERIALS: FIGURED MAPLE TOPS   

CLASSIC ELECTRIC, CE AND EG  

ARTIST I, ARTIST II AND ARTIST LIMITED 

MARKETING, COLLECTABILITY, AMPLIFIERS AND ACOUSTIC GUITARS     

DRAGON I, II, III AND 2000    

MCCARTY MODEL 

PICKUPS AND ELECTRICS     

SANTANA AND 10TH ANNIVERSARY  

GUITARS OF THE MONTH AND EMPLOYEE GUITARS         

PART THREE: STEVENSVILLE, 1995     

SWAMP ASH SPECIAL AND ROSEWOOD LTD      

PRIVATE STOCK ONE-OFF GUITARS    

ARTIST III AND ARTIST IV    

MCCARTY STANDARD AND MCCARTY SOAPBAR         

MCCARTY ARCHTOP     

MCCARTY HOLLOWBODY    

SINGLECUT AND TREMONTI MODELS         

ELECTRIC BASS AND ELECTRIC BASS MAPLE TOP 

SANTANA III AND SANTANA SE (FIRST VERSION)         

THE GROWTH OF PRIVATE STOCK      

RETURN OF THE DRAGON AND THE NEW SE      

PART FOUR: MAKING A MODERN PRS 

MAKING A MODERN PRS GUITAR: THE STEVENSVILLE FACTORY    

PART FIVE: MODEL KEY & REFERENCE      

INDEX     

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS        

FROM THE COVER == "PRS guitars today appeal to a growing number of rock players, from Carlos Santana to Mike Einziger of Incubus and Mark Tremonti of Creed. This new superb book highlights every facet of PRS history with an in-depth story and beautiful specially commissioned photography.

Paul Reed Smith set up his first PRS factory in 1985 in Annapolis, Maryland, and has devised guitars from the regular Custom and McCarty models through to the outrageously decorated Dragon specials.

Dozens of guitars are pictured inside along with players, ads, catalogues, and rare memorabilia. There's also a detailed model key to help musicians and collectors identify and date PRS instruments, making this revised and updated third edition a must for all guitar fans."

MORE ABOUT === PRS Guitars (also known as Paul Reed Smith Guitars) is an American guitar manufacturer headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland, founded by guitarist and master luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985.

PRS has a reputation as a manufacturer of high end electric guitars made in the US, and known for their custom shop instruments. However since the 1990s they have expanded production to Asia, where they manufacture the more affordable 'SE' line of instruments. As of 2013 they have begun making more affordable guitars in the US with their 'S2' line. PRS Guitars also manufactures guitar amplifiers.

Two of PRS's most notable endorsers are Carlos Santana and Gustavo Cerati. In addition to this, many other artists endorse the company, including Mike Oldfield, who has used a PRS Artist Custom 24 for studio recordings and live shows since the late 1980s; Clint Lowery; Mikael Åkerfeldt; Dave Navarro; Ted Nugent; Al Di Meola; Mark Tremonti and Orianthi.

PRS introduced a new, affordable, line of guitars in the late 1990s referred to as the "SE" which are manufactured in Korea by World Musical Instrument Co. Contrary to popular belief, SE does not stand for student edition. The incorrect assumption was even published in the PRS Book.

PRS produce a large range of models in the SE series including the Custom 24, SE245, SE Kestrel & Kingfisher bass guitars as well as signature guitars such as the Bernie Marsden, Tremonti, Zach Myers & Santana amongst others.

S2 Series == In 2013, PRS added the S2 Series, which added a more affordable American PRS that are built in their Maryland factory. The S2 series features proprietary pickups and hardware and a more beveled and flat top, as opposed to the arched top of the Private Stock.

Currently the S2 lineup has a Standard 22, 24 and Singlecut, the Custom 22, 24 and 22 Semi-hollow, Singlecut and Singlecut Semi-hollow, Starla, Mira and Mira Semi-hollow. Also in 2015, PRS added the S2 Vela.

The Dragon models == In 1992 PRS introduced the Dragon 1 model. Only 50 units were produced. It featured an intricate dragon inlay which ran down the finger board, a wide 22 fret neck, and a non-vibrato Stop-tail bridge and a new pick up design.

The changes in design from previous models added a noticeable tonal improvement which led the company to use the same characteristics in later models such as the PRS Custom 22. The Dragon 2 was released in 1993, and the Dragon 3 in 1994.

Both featured dragon inlays which became more extreme with every year. Only 100 of each of the 2 models were made. In 1999 PRS released the Dragon 2000, which featured complex body curves, and a 3 dimensional dragon inlay. Just 50 Dragon 2000's were ever produced.

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