Responsible Sourcing
Woods Used in PRS Guitars Are a Win for Global Forests and Support Quality Jobs in the U.S.
WOODS USED IN PRS GUITARS ARE A WIN FOR GLOBAL FORESTS AND SUPPORT QUALITY JOBS IN THE U.S.
The expert luthiers at Paul Reed Smith Guitars use wood species from around the world to make guitars sought after by rock stars, such as Carlos Santana and John Mayer, and everyday players alike. PRS has established itself as an industry leader, employing hundreds of workers–from master luthiers to materials specialists, marketers and sales professionals–in its headquarters in Stevensville, MD, and across the country.
“It takes quality components and materials to make a fine instrument,” said Jack Higginbotham, COO of PRS Guitars. “Wood is the foundation of any guitar, so we take great pains to obtain the finest woods that we can. While the raw materials come from around the globe, they ultimately fuel the PRS factory in Maryland.”
PRS Guitars employs well over 400 employees in its Stevensville shop. In addition to its American-made instruments, a good portion of the guitars built elsewhere flow through the Maryland factory for final inspection before being shipped to U.S. and Canadian dealers.
Learn More About How PRS Assembles a Guitar | From The Factory Floor
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The exotic species most commonly used for production of PRS guitars are African Mahogany (Khaya) and Genuine Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). African Mahogany is ideal for making guitar bodies due to its light weight, stability, and beautiful appearance. Genuine Mahogany is also quite stable but a bit more dense and therefore stronger and better suited to fabrication of the neck of the guitar.
Other exotics used primarily for the manufacture of fingerboards include Ebony (Diospyros) from West Africa and a variety of Rosewoods (Dalbergia) from around the world, such as Indian Rosewood, Honduran Rosewood, and Brazilian Rosewood, which is now only available from reclaimed sources. Fingerboard woods are selected based on their resonance, density, and appearance.
Learn More About How PRS Guitars Prepare Lumber for Guitar Making | From the Factory Floor Guitars
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On occasion, PRS luthiers use less well-known exotics such as Hormigo (Platymiscium) and Chaltecoco (Dalbergia retusa) from Guatemala, and on a limited basis, Santo Domingo Mahogany (Swietenia mahogany), sometimes referred to as Cuban Mahogany, salvaged from municipalities in Puerto Rico. Although guitars make up a fraction of the overall exotic wood market world-wide, PRS is continually looking for alternative woods to incorporate into their guitar designs and production.
“A major trend in the use of exotic woods for guitars is toward sustainability and diversity, as supplies of traditional guitar woods around the world are decreasing,” said Michael Reid from PRS Guitars’ Wood Purchasing Team “Our willingness to look at non-traditional wood options, and the open-mindedness of our customers when it comes to accepting new woods, will undoubtedly help to sustain us as we continue to move forward through the 21st century.”
Jamie Mann, president of PRS Guitars, notes the past two years were somewhat of a roller coaster ride. “We were one of the few manufacturing companies in Maryland deemed non-essential during the pandemic shutdown,” he explained. “We kept everyone on the payroll while the factory was closed and maintained ongoing communication with the teams. Once we reopened, we got right back to work with a motivated team, and, as it turned out, the market was hungry for guitars.”
CARLOS SANTANA
**Listen to an interview with Santana by PRS Guitars. **
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“The demand is still strong, and we are continuing to increase production,” he continued. “As fewer and fewer folks work from home, and inflation and recession dominate discussions, we are keeping a watchful eye, but so far the outlook looks solid.”
Through the years, PRS Guitars has been fortunate to work with many gifted and talented musicians such as Carlos Santana, John Mayer, Neal Schon, and John McLaughlin. “One of the most rewarding parts of our job as a guitar manufacturer is hand crafting high quality instruments that these professionals can rely on day after day,” Mann said. “One special guitar that we are very proud of is a McCarty Violin Guitar that we made for John McLaughlin in 2011. Essentially, it’s a violin guitar with a tremolo, 57/08 humbuckers, a rare Curly Maple top, rare ribbon-striped Mahogany back, a Pernambuco (Caesalpinia echinate) neck, and Black Rosewood (Albizia odoratissima) fretboard.”
JOHN MAYER
Listen to an interview with John Mayer by PRS Guitars.
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“We are focused on continually improving the quality, tone, playability, and the aesthetic appeal of our products. We innovate relentlessly,” Mann stated. “We know the world will continue to shift around us. But we believe, whether we are in a good economy or a tough economy, if our products are the best we can make them, musicians will continue to seek pleasure and inspiration from our instruments.”
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Frequently asked questions
What wood species does PRS Guitars most commonly use for guitar bodies and necks?+
PRS most commonly uses African Mahogany (Khaya) and Genuine Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). African Mahogany is ideal for bodies due to its light weight, stability, and appearance, while Genuine Mahogany is denser and stronger, making it better suited for necks.
What woods does PRS use for guitar fingerboards?+
PRS uses Ebony (Diospyros) from West Africa and various Rosewoods (Dalbergia) including Indian, Honduran, and Brazilian Rosewood. Brazilian Rosewood is now only available from reclaimed sources. These woods are selected for their resonance, density, and appearance.
Where is PRS Guitars headquartered and how many people does it employ?+
PRS Guitars is headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland, where it employs well over 400 people. Guitars built elsewhere also flow through the Maryland factory for final inspection before being shipped to U.S. and Canadian dealers.
How is PRS Guitars addressing sustainability in exotic wood sourcing?+
PRS is continually looking for alternative, non-traditional woods to incorporate into their designs as supplies of traditional guitar woods decrease globally. They use lesser-known exotics like Hormigo and Chaltecoco from Guatemala, and Santo Domingo Mahogany salvaged from municipalities in Puerto Rico.
How did PRS Guitars handle the pandemic shutdown?+
PRS was deemed non-essential in Maryland during the pandemic shutdown. The company kept everyone on the payroll while the factory was closed and maintained ongoing communication with teams, then resumed production to meet strong market demand once reopened.
What woods were used in the custom McCarty Violin Guitar PRS built for John McLaughlin?+
The 2011 McCarty Violin Guitar features a rare Curly Maple top, rare ribbon-striped Mahogany back, a Pernambuco (Caesalpinia echinate) neck, and a Black Rosewood (Albizia odoratissima) fretboard. It also includes a tremolo and 57/08 humbuckers.