Paul Reed Smith Company Origins
Paul Reed Smith began building guitars in the 1970s and formally established PRS Guitars in 1985 in Stevensville, Maryland. The company focused on high-end instruments that combined vintage-inspired construction with modern refinements, quickly gaining attention from professional players.
Launch of the Custom 24
The Custom 24 was introduced in 1985 as PRS's flagship model, featuring a 25-inch scale, 24 frets, and the brand's signature bird inlays. Early examples used Brazilian rosewood fingerboards and were offered in limited color options such as Vintage Yellow and Black.
Design Evolution and Artist Use
Over the decades the model received updates including the Switcheroo pickup selector, 57/08 and 85/15 pickups, and the introduction of the 10-Top program for highly figured maple. Notable users have included Santana, whose signature PRS models share DNA with the Custom 24 platform, and progressive rock players who value its extended fretboard range.
