Luthier Paul Reed Smith devised an electric guitar that became very influential in the 1980s. With the success of the electric guitars, Smith decided to move into other markets, including the amplifier business. Because of the tube scare during the late 1980s, Smith thought amps with solid-state chassis was the way to go. Eric Pritchard developed these amps with the Harmonic Generator circuit, which is where the amps got their name "HG." The HG Series of amps were first released in 1989, but despite initial good reviews, high prices and lack of interest in solid-state models, the project lasted less than a year. Only 350 units were shipped and they were discontinued in 1990.
As boutique tube amplifiers became popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Smith decided he wanted to offer a guitar amplifier again with a tube chassis. In 2006, Smith met amp designer/builder Doug Sewell at the Dallas Guitar Show and after getting to know each other, Smith asked Sewell to design a line of guitar amps for Paul Reed Smith. Sewell declined at first, but later on accepted the offer and began working for Smith full time in June 2008. At the 2009 NAMM Show, PRS introduced three new guitar amplifiers called the Original Sewell, Dallas, and Blue Sierra that were all covered in a gold/black paisley fabric covering. In mid-2009, PRS introduced two smaller amplifiers with a more traditional white covering called the 30 and the Sweet 16. In late 2011, PRS introduced the SE line of amps that are built in Korea. Source for early PRS amplifier history, Dave Burrluck, The Paul Reed Smith Book
Amplifiers currently produced in Stevensville, MD since 2009 and in Korea since 2011. Previously produced in Annapolis, MD between circa 1989 and 1990. The PRS trademark was established in 1985.
