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Acoustic Guitars

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ELECTRIC: PRE-1985 MFG.

Paul Reed Smith began making his now familar PRS-body shaped instruments beginning in 1980, combining the best features of both Fender and Gibson designs. These instruments were typically manufactured with either solid mahogany bodies or mahogany with figured maple tops (pre-factory Santana style). Certainly the most collectible of these instruments will be the figured maple tops in Vintage Yellow finish. Values for pre-'85 instruments range from $20,000 - $30,000 for all mahogany construction to $30,000 - $50,000+ for mahogany with maple top. These guitars are very rare and need to be evaluated individually by a competent dealer/collector who has experience with this period of manufacture.
In 1985, Paul Reed Smith began regular production, and by October, the company's 100th instrument had been manufactured at its Virginia Ave., Annapolis address.