Did PRS Guitars Get Started? PRS guitars were founded by luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. Smith had previously worked at the guitar company Alembic, where he built custom guitars for artists such as Carlos Santana and Jerry Garcia.

In 1985, Smith set out to create his own line of high-quality, hand-crafted guitars. He began by building a small number of custom instruments for local musicians in his Maryland workshop.

soon gained a reputation for building some of the finest guitars in the world. In 1987, the company released its first mass-produced model, the PRS Custom 24. This guitar quickly became a favourite among professional musicians, and helped put PRS on the map.

In the 1990s, PRS expanded its product line to include a wide range of electric and acoustic guitars, basses, and amplifiers. Today, the company is one of the most respected names in the music industry, and its instruments are played by some of the world's most famous musicians.