 How We Grade Our Woods  PRS and maple wood have had a long relationship that began in the late 1970's when Paul began using unique and highly figured maple on his earliest instruments for artists like Carlos Santana and Al Di Meola. While many of our designs and processes have been tweaked over the years, our love of maple has not wavered. Check out this blog to see how our use of maple began, and how exactly we grade our maple tops.   The Story of the PRS Bird Inlays  The PRS bird inlays are one of the most recognizable trademarks of our brand, but you may be wondering, why birds? We chatted with Paul Reed Smith about the history behind his decision and why it has stuck with our company for 32+ years.  The PRS Custom 24  The Custom 24 is the quintessential PRS guitar. This iconic instrument was the first model that Paul Reed Smith brought to the public at PRS Guitars' first Winter NAMM show in 1985 and has been a top seller ever since. Played by internationally touring artists, gigging musicians, and aspiring players, the Custom 24 features PRS's patented Gen III tremolo system and PRS 85/15 pickups with volume and tone controls and a 5–way blade switch. 85/15 pickups were personally designed by Paul Reed Smith to offer remarkable clarity and extended high and low end. The Custom 24 is the original PRS. Since its introduction, it has offered a unique tonal option for serious players and defined PRS tone and playability.  Tom Johnston of The Doobie Brothers and his PRS Custom 24
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