Private Stock Meet The Builders

Date you joined the PRS family?

08/1991

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

I’m a MICA graduate with an attention to detail and organization that even drives me crazy. I’m responsible for running our Private Stock and PTC departments.

What’s the most essential tool for your job?

My mind...I believe there is a zen to guitar building and without being in the right headspace, it can be difficult at best.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I didn’t know I wanted to work on guitars. I needed a job after college and I guess it was fate.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

I love to travel so as long as I am doing that I don’t have a bucket list.

Favorite food?

Sushi

Favorite quote?

I don’t really have a favorite, but I know the absolute worst quote I hear! “It is what it is.”

Favorite musician?

Greg Dulli from the Afghan Whigs and my favorite band is The Bronx.

Favorite song?

My two most played songs are “The Killer” by Greg Dulli live at the Triple Door, and “The Unholy Hand” by The Bronx.

Date you joined the PRS family?

10/1999

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Anything pertaining to basecoat on all private stock and artist guitars. Also, sanding, lots of sanding!

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

All the SCJ’s. Also, anything with a rosewood neck.

Most essential tool for your job?

Sandpaper and fine pads.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

Because I love them.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

To beat every video game I have or will ever own.

Favorite food?

Mexican

Favorite musician/song?

It depends on my mood, so it’s impossible to pick just one!

Date you joined the PRS family?

February 16, 1999.

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Production Coordinator “ Planning & Scheduling” Inventory Control, little bit of this and a little bit of that. Haha.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

Besides my own Employee guitar. The McCarty 594 is a beast.

Most essential tool for your job?

Communication and teamwork so we can deliver the best quality instrument the world has ever played.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I never knew I would have ended up here, it really just fell into my lap and still after 22yrs its still a great place to call home.

Favorite local lunch spot?

Big Owls Tiki Bar “ Great soft crab BLT” ;)

Favorite quote?

"I love you Daddy" – My Kids

Favorite musician?

Clint Lowery from Sevendust.

Favorite song?

Man…. I can’t just pick one.

Date you joined the PRS family?

06/2006

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Sand and finish prep.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

I love them all!

Most essential tool for your job?

Headphones

Favorite local lunch spot?

My truck.

Favorite food?

Anything that was once moving.

Favorite musician?

Ryan Upchurch

Favorite song?

Backyard Lullaby by Demun Jones

Date you joined the PRS family?

September 9, 2005

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

CNC Operator.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

#9020 McCarty 594 Hollowbody.

Most essential tool for your job?

CNC machine.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I enjoy playing. Thought making them would be just as fun.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

Take my kid to every NHL Arena.

Favorite local lunch spot?

My car.

"Win now, and we’ll walk together forever." - Fred Shero

Favorite musician?

Tony Iommi.

Favorite song?

"Electric Funeral" - Black Sabbath

Date you joined the PRS family?

08/1997

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Leveling fingerboards, placing frets on necks, and sanding the necks.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

John Mayer’s

Most essential tool for your job?

My hands, eyes, and sandpaper.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I enjoy playing guitar as well as woodworking.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

Travel throughout Europe.

Favorite local lunch spot?

The Love Point Deli.

Favorite food?

Steamed crabs and steamed shrimp.

Favorite quote?

“Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Favorite musician?

Jimmy Herring, Derek Trucks, Jeff Beck, Bob Marley.

Favorite song?

“Three Little Birds” - Bob Marley

Date you joined the PRS family?

03/2006

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Body sanding and finish sanding the guitars so they are ready for stain. I also do neck body assembly.

Most essential tool for your job?

My Dynoorbital sander or “Air Sander.”

Favorite local lunch spot?

Chic-fil-a

Favorite food?

Steak cooked on a hibachi grill.

Favorite musician?

George Harrison

Date you joined the PRS family?

April 9, 1999

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Leveling, sanding, and finish repairs.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

All of them.

Most essential tool for your job?

My hands.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

To see the Grand Canyon or Alaska.

Favorite local lunch spot?

None. I bring lunch.

Never give up on what you believe and always give 100% and be true to yourself.

Favorite musician?

I like a variety of musicians and music. Country is at the heart.

Favorite song?

“Simple Man” - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Date you joined the PRS family?

July 2003

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Preparing guitars for stain, staining guitars, making stains, matching stains, fixing bad stains, inventing new stains.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

Staining a guitar for Vernon Reid was pretty cool.

Most essential tool for your job?

A thick skin and a good sense of humor.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

Guitars are cool.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

To retire someplace warm.

Favorite local lunch spot?

“Ain’t the beer cold at Love Point Deli, Wine and Spirits!”

Favorite food?

All of it.

Favorite quote?

“People don’t think it be like it be, but it do.” - T-Pain

Favorite musician?

All of ‘em.

Favorite song?

“Ballad of the Hard Man” - Thin Lizzy

Date you joined the PRS family?

01/1987

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Team-builder, communicator, storyteller, mind-reader.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

The Spring 2018 double-neck 6/12 string we made for John McLaughlin. The dual Ziricote fingerboards were a challenge to level. And the top color reminded me of our “Scarlet Red” finish from the Annapolis days.

Most essential tool for your job?

Patience. My job is to make Paul’s instruments as playable and comfortable as possible for the musician. Every guitar is unique. It takes time to shape the individual sound and tone of each and every one.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I’ve played guitar since I was 12 and I love to work with my hands, simple as that.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

To actually learn how to properly play guitar.

Favorite local lunch spot?

Love Point Deli, Wine, & Spirits.

Favorite food?

Fish & Chips with malt vinegar and a good pint.

Favorite quote?

“The future is unwritten.” - Joe Strummer

Favorite musician?

Paul McCartney! Working class boy makes good…

Favorite song?

Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles

Date you joined the PRS family?

01/2000

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Assembly, wiring, and set up on all Private Stock guitars - acoustics, artist relations guitars, and prototype guitars.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

All of the McCarty Singlecuts are my favorite sounding guitars. The painted dragon run was really fun to build as well.

Most essential tool for your job?

Brain for focus and attention to detail. Also, my ears..the rest of the team does a great job making the guitars look beautiful, I need to make them play and sound as good as they look.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I was too poor to pay someone else to work on my guitars, so I learned to do it myself. Then I found out that it could be my profession.

Favorite local lunch spot?

Kent Island Depot - AKA “The Gourmet Gas Station.” Their beef & brie sandwich is fantastic.

Favorite quote?

“I don’t know anything about music. In my line, you don’t have to.” - Elvis Presley

Favorite musician?

Slash, Tony Iommi, Ronnie James Dio

Favorite song?

This is ever changing. Today it was Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well.”

Date you joined the PRS family?

11/2007

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

I have a 40+ year guitar background and spend most of my time at PRS building, repariring, doing custom work on all string instruments, and various tasks that need to be done!

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

All of them!

Most essential tool for your job?

Chisels.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I wanted to learn how to play, couldn’t afford one so I started making my first guitar. People started asking me to make or repair one for them and here I am!

Number one thing on your bucket list?

To empty the bucket.

Favorite quote?

“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” - FDR

Favorite musician?

Chris Tomlin

Favorite song?

Amazing Grace (My Chain’s are Gone)

Date you joined the PRS family?

12/2001

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

I do mainly neck work, but all assembly within the wood shop.

What’s the most essential tool for your job?

A good sharp chisel.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I loved starting with raw wood and ending up with a beautiful guitar.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

To travel more.

Favorite food?

Mexican

Favorite quote?

“Fantasy is only reality that has yet to be discovered.” - Joe Hill

Favorite musician?

Too many to list

Favorite song?

“Forty-six & 2” - Tool
“A Change is Gonna Come” - Sam Cooke

Date you joined the PRS family?

October 31, 2016

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Basecoat, sanding, grain filling.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

All of them.

Most essential tool for your job?

My hands. Being able to feel and correct any imperfections on a guitar.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

To be a part of something bigger than myself. Knowing that the guitars I’ve worked on are being played by famous musicians and those yet to become famous.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

To travel to Europe and the D-day invasion path of WW2.

Favorite local lunch spot?

Preserve in Annapolis

Anthony McAuliffe’s one word reply to a German ultimatum to surrender during the Battle of the Bulge. “Nuts!”

Favorite musician?

This changes daily.

Favorite song?

As does this.

Date you joined the PRS family?

April 25, 1994

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Painting Private Stocks with high-gloss and satin nitro lacquer.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

Paul’s 85’s.

Most essential tool for your job?

Spray gun.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I met a guy who worked here and he showed me his employee guitar and I thought it looked amazing.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

To see the Grand Canyon, I guess.

Favorite local lunch spot?

El Jefe

Favorite musician?

Paul McCartney.

Favorite song?

“Blackbird” - The Beatles

Date you joined the PRS family?

02/2005

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Body sand and finish sand.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

The new remakes of Paul’s old guitar built for Peter Frampton.

Most essential tool for your job?

My brain.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I enjoy working on wood. Before working at PRS I was fixing furniture.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

To travel to California on a motorcycle.

Favorite local lunch spot?

“The Deli”

Favorite food?

I’ll eat anything

Favorite quote?

“Fantasy is only reality that has yet to be discovered.” - Joe Hill

Favorite band/musician?

Aerosmith

Favorite song?

Filter - The Best Things. To me the song is humbling.

Date you joined the PRS family?

10/2000

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Paint jobs and bad-ass touch ups.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

Each guitar has its own personality and voice. I remember each one I’ve worked on and treated each one with respect.

What’s the most essential tool for your job?

A spray gun and a brush.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I have a background in woodworking and wanted to work at PRS because of the quality of these instruments being made. I wanted to lend a hand to that mission.

Favorite quote?

“I am the king of rock. There is none higher. Sucka MCs call me sire.” - Abraham Lincoln

Favorite song?

“Anvil of Crom” - Basil Poledouris

Date you joined the PRS family?

10/1999

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

My specialty is Neck and Body Assembly. However, like all of us here in the Private Stock woodshop, I spend a fair amount of time sanding, drilling, filing and milling wood.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

It's really hard to single out one favorite. There have just been so many insane and complex builds over the years! It can be incredibly rewarding to watch chunks of raw wood and shell become some of the finest instruments on the planet.

Most essential tool for your job?

The eyes. We work to an absolutely meticulous level of detail here. Also, hands are an important tool, especially when working on necks. Your Private Stock will look beautiful, but it is very important to us that the guitar's neck feels perfect in every way.

Favorite quote?

"Forgive him Theodotus: he is a barbarian and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.” - Caesar and Cleopatra, George Bernard Shaw

Favorite musician?

It’s impossible for me to narrow this question down. I have a voracious appetite for hearing new music! Part of my daily routine is finding something I haven’t heard before to throw on while working.

Date you joined the PRS family?

08/1998

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

I run day-to-day neck operation on our Private Stocks.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

There’s a guy by the name of Steve P. on the Private Stock Forum, he goes by ‘’11top” - everything he comes up with is awesome.

Most essential tool for your job?

Dial Calipers - they help me make sure everything is in spec.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

Go to the Super Bowl.

Favorite local lunch spot?

Hong Kong Chinese Carryout!

Favorite food?

Peking Duck

Favorite musician?

David Gilmour / Pink Floyd

Favorite song?

The entire The Wall album.

Date you joined the PRS family?

May 25, 2004

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Engineering and CNC programming for Private Stock. I help turn unique guitar orders into physical objects through 3D modeling and machining.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

I like a good challenge. I recently worked on a double-neck that required me to develop a new technique for turning old CNC programs into 3D model surfaces.

Most essential tool for your job?

SolidWorks, MasterCAM, and a backplotter.

Why did you want to work on guitars?

I got hooked on turning my cheap guitars into decent guitars. Went to luthier school and realized I could make a career out of it.

Number one thing on your bucket list?

Raise my boys to be good, happy men.

Favorite local lunch spot?

Haha, I'm too cheap to eat out for lunch... so, my cubicle.

Favorite musician?

Grandaddy, Richard D. James, Elliott Smith, Phish, Sigur Rós, Radiohead, Ween... can't pick.

Favorite song?

"It Overtakes Me" - The Flaming Lips

Date you joined the PRS family?

05/2002

What are your main responsibilities at PRS?

Fret leveling and all finish work. Mainly wet sanding, buffing, turn around and casing.

Favorite Private Stock worked on?

PS# 5135 - a McCarty Singlecut.

Favorite quote?

"Who dares, wins.” David Stirling

Favorite song?

"Set To Fail” - Lamb of God