Located in Stevensville, Maryland, Paul Reed Smith Guitars is one of the world's largest manufacturers of guitars and amplifiers. Since our humble beginnings in 1985, PRS Guitars has consistently strived to create instruments of impeccable quality. The manufacturing of guitars and amplifiers is a very personal matter at PRS, as the majority of the team members are themselves passionate musicians, honing their craft as luthiers, musicians, and artists from all backgrounds. Their deep commitment to their profession and culture of quality drive PRS both within the company and in the market.

Paul Reed Smith (born February 18, 1956) is a master luthier, as well as the founder and owner of PRS Guitars, recognized as one of the best high-end guitar manufacturers in the United States. Smith is considered one of the most influential and respected luthiers in the world.

He built his first guitar while he was a student at St. Mary's College of Maryland and continued to build guitars after finishing his studies, at a rate of one guitar per month. With John "Orkie" Ingram, another local craftsman, he formed the core of what would become Paul Reed Smith Guitars.

Smith often brought his guitars backstage at concerts and eventually had his first major success when Derek St. Holmes, a member of the Ted Nugent Band, agreed to try the second guitar (#2) he had made. St. Holmes played a few songs with the guitar on stage, and Smith told him that after showing it to other musicians, he would personally deliver the instrument to him in Detroit. St. Holmes eventually resold the guitar for 200 dollars. Another artist who became loyal to the brand through this sales approach was Carlos Santana. Today, Santana owns several signature models at PRS and has made it his sole guitar supplier.

Subsequently, Smith contacted Ted McCarty, former president of Gibson and creator of the famous Explorer, ES-335, and Flying V models. McCarty then became his mentor and advisor. Their collaboration gave birth to the current range of PRS Guitars, including solid-body and hollow-body guitars. The PRS Private Stock line is made with a wide variety of exotic materials, including rare stones, resonance woods with complex patterns, and inlays in mother-of-pearl and other precious materials. Unlike Ted McCarty and Leo Fender, Paul Reed Smith himself plays guitar in his band, The Paul Reed Smith Band.

Today, PRS Guitars is one of the most prestigious guitar manufacturers in the United States, recognized for the exceptional quality of its instruments. PRS guitars are also highly sought after in Europe.