Paul Reed Smith

After a period with some hand built guitars as a result, Paul Reed Smith introduced his products "as a brand" from 1985 onwards. From 1995, the instruments were produced in larger numbers from a new factory.

Unknown makes unloved. PRS has actually eluded me for years. Until I accidentally got hold of a second-hand Custom 22 (from 2003) in a guitar shop. A neck that felt perfect and was easy to play. The PRS sounded un amplified already, just wait and see what will be heard from the speakers.

An eye for detail and built with great attention. Perhaps I happened to hit a special one, so I decided to buy this guitar on the spot. A top instrument.

The collection was supplemented not long after by a Custom 24 from 2001. At first it seemed like a great guitar, but the amplified sound actually sounded "nowhere". After some research, it turned out to be caused by a volume potentiometer that someone had replaced with a 10 K-Ohm one (500 K-Ohm it should be, what a difference). I arranged the original pots and switches of the same year through Ebay, and I ended up with a great PRS.

The most interesting period for me is 1985 - 1995, when these guitars were still on the market on a relatively small scale and some were still built by hand.

The only "flaw" on the Custom 22/24 that I can think of with some effort is the button that switches between the different elements. You can't actually see which position it is at that moment due to that round button. With the more recent Customs, the rotary knob has replaced a different type of switch for a reason. Furthermore, nothing but praise (despite the relatively high purchase prices).

The position marking on the necks is standard performed with so-called "moons". From a distance it may seem dots, but from close by or from a certain angle you immediately recognize the half-moons.

For an additional charge, the test was inlaid with various "birds". The pattern of this can sometimes differ per year and can differ for special editions. See also the overview at the bottom of this page.

I have no experience with the relatively less expensive SE series that are not made in the USA but in Korea.

Paul Reed Smith Custom 24 - 1989

A Custom 24 in Vintage Yellow from a period also known as "Pre-factory" (Annapolis, Maryland). Mahogany body with a maple top and a mahogany neck with a "Brazilian board" inlaid with birds.

During this period there was no tone control but a so-called "sweet switch" (see also: How a Sweet Switch really works)). The heel of the neck was also noticeably narrower during that period. Pickups: PRS Standard Treble and PRS Standard Bass. The date as stated inside the recess of one of the elements is: 07-07-1989. Also in one of the recesses is written "Vintage Yellow" and the indication "10". In 1990 this PRS was bought new by the previous owner at a music store in Munich.

A great instrument in every way!

Paul Reed Smith Standard - 1990

A "Standard 24", so no maple top, but a one-piece mahogany body. Actually, the addition "24" for this model was only used from 1998 and went through 1986 as "PRS Guitar" and then until 1992 as "Standard".

Coming from the earlier PRS period. To be precise, this has been dated 13-08-1990. On the back of the head a serial number consisting of 4 digits.

Equipped with a "sweet switch" and still with the narrow heel of the neck.

The neck has no "birds" but "abalone moon inlays". I am the second owner, who actually does something like that?

Very pleasant to play and a "very great" sound.

Paul Reed Smith EG4 - 1990

An EG-4 from the first series with the flat "angular" body. Actually intended as an "affordable" counterpart to the Stratocaster. This version was only produced in 1990 and 1991. The neck and middle pickups have been shopped elsewhere and this EG-4 is therefore standard equipped with two "SSL-2" single coil elements from Seymour Duncan, with the magnetic poles different and also "reverse" wound. So both elements in combination give a humbucker effect.

A PRS-HFS element is located at the bridge. Afterwards, I exchanged the bottom tone potentiometer for a "push-pull" copy, so that the bridge humbucker can now also be switched as single coil if desired.

"Alder" body and screwed "Maple" neck with "Rosewood" fingerboard. The machine heads come from Shaller but are equipped with the PRS logo. Given the serial number, my copy belongs to the first 250 EGs of the total approx. 3300 that have been built. However, these models did not become popular.

Paul once said: "we lost money on every EG we built".

Paul Reed Smith Custom 24 - 2001

In McCarty Sunburst color with a "Standard" neck. Under the elements (2 x HFS) someone has the text "Luke Dan C.V." written.

After taking over this Custom from someone, I replaced the potentiometers and switch with a set from a guitar of the exact same year. It turned out that the rotary switch had been replaced by a rocker switch and it had a potentiometer with a total traffic "value". As a result, the guitar could hardly be used electrically amplified. One of the tuners did not work either, finding a similar one was not easy, but it worked out in the end.

Everything is now working and actually original again.

Paul Reed Smith Custom 22 - 2003

The first PRS that I really got to know and that immediately sparked my interest in this brand. Wide thin neck with 22 frets and "moons".

The elements are: Dragon II Bass, Dragon II Treble. In the space below the elements is written: "Dec 23 2002" and the accompanying card mentions that he left the factory a month later in January 2003.

Since purchase, for me this is the most common axe.

Paul Reed Smith 305 25th anniversary - 2010

A Smokeburst 305 newly purchased from an American PRS dealer in the 25th anniversary version, with the date 09-07-2010 (September 7). A total of 305 copies were made in this anniversary version. Nice thing is that the plastic plate that covers the space on the back of the body is signed by Paul Reed himself. But does this make it a "Paul Reed Smith Signature"? Since purchase, only 1x (for a photo) from the matching white case.

Included Information: Body Wood: Carved Alder, Neck Wood: Rock Maple, Neck Shape: 513, Fingerboard: Rosewood, Inlays: 25th Anniversary Shadow Bird, Scale Length: 25.5 ", Frets: 22, Pickups: 513 Single Coil, Controls: Volume and Tone Controls with 5-Way Blade, Hardware: Nickel, Tailpiece: Tremolo, Tuners: PRS 14: 1 Phase II Low Mass Locking.

Paul Reed Smith 305 - 2010

A new 305 with a "standard neck" from late 2010 (according to the supplied "card" December 2010). An instrument that in many ways may evoke a comparison to the Stratocaster. The 305 has only been in production for a short time, but after that you saw other PRSs appear in which the same type of element was used.

Alder body and a glued maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard (option). Contrary to what you might expect from a modern guitar, the middle pickup is not "reverse" wound and "pooled" the other way around to give a humbucker effect in combination with one of the pickups. Personally I like it better, the sound of 2 switched elements is beautiful.

It is nice that this instrument is very lightweight.

Paul Reed Smith Custom 24 25th anniversary - 2011

A 25th anniversary with gold-plated hardware that left the factory in February 2011 (after the anniversary year actually). According to the dealer, the color has been called "Matteo Mist".

The maple top looks beautiful and it is still a mystery to me why it didn't get the "10-top" stamp. The head of this anniversary model is decorated with an inlaid eagle. Standard neck.

Both elements are of the type 57/08.

Newly purchased and never used after that and therefore still in completely new condition.

For the "bird watchers", these position markings are on a "birds" neck: