Experience Paul Reed Smith (XPRS) 2008

by Rick Landers.

When photographer Michael G. Stewart and I arrived at the gathering at Paul Reed Smith’s home on Thursday, September 18, in Annapolis, Maryland, we scanned his living room and recognized a few of the faces. PRS artists Bugs Henderson, Johnny Hiland, Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge and Creed), Howard Leese (Heart), Paul Jackson, Jr. (American Idol), Ricky Skaggs and other guitar aficianados were enjoying the scene, along with other members of the guitar media crowd and PRS distributors from around the world.

Plenty of food and drink were available, but it was the music and the love of guitars that formed the common bond and spirited conversation. We bumped into Jon Chappell from HarmonyCentral.com who was armed with his trusty video camera. Other press representatives included Matt Blackett (Guitar Player); Heinz Rebellius (Gitarre & Bass); Joe Cody (Premier Guitar); Brian Wilson (Fox News) and Rory Gordon (GuitarInstructor.com). Most of these guys are fellow gear heads and all a pleasure to hang with during these guitar-centric huddles.

Some of the PRS crew were hanging out, including marketing reps Peter Wolf and Rebecca Eaddy; PRS guitar designer Joe Knaggs and the firm’s dynamic events coordinator, Beverly Fowler, who made certain that all the party logistics ran smoothly. Earlier, we met the company’s new Vice-President of Operations, Frank DeFina, who not only has considerable experience in marketing, sales and business operations, but is a guitar player with a very impressive vintage guitar collection.

An hour or so into the gathering Paul invited his friends to grab a seat or find a spot on the living room floor to settle in for an intimate concert, played on some newly unveiled PRS acoustic guitars. Before the set began, Paul had a special treat arranged for Ricky Skaggs. Morgan State College Choir vocalist, Lizz Hogue, walked into the room and unleashed a stunning rendition of "Amazing Grace," dedicating the song to Ricky. Kentucky Thunder’s Cody Kilby and Scottish-born Tony McManus flanked Skaggs, who gifted the crowd with some virtuoso instrumentals, a nice version of Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s in the Cradle.” In the mix of tunes the three played, Ricky threw in some sweetly nuanced mandolin bits and bends to accompany Cody’s mind boggling licks and Tony’s open-tuned Gaelic acoustic runs.

Modern Guitars briefly talked to Skaggs, who mentioned a new project that he was involved with that was going to pay tribute to the founding fathers of bluegrass music. A moment later, he instinctively grabbed one of the new PRS acoustics and began to strum, noting that he loved the neck and the tonal qualities of the instrument. The PRS family of friends gathering was a great warm up for Friday, September 19, when Expo PRS 2008 would officially open its doors for the two day extravaganza.

PRS celebrity guests were roaming the PRS grounds throughout Friday and Saturday. Johnny Hiland, Mike Scott (Justin Timberlake band); Dave Grissom; Bugs Henderson; Mark Tremonti, members of the rockin' group Caimbo and others appeared, checked out the new PRS guitars, talked guitars in small gatherings and showed their stuff on the PRS stage. On Friday and Saturday night, guests gathered in mass to see artists such as Emil Werstler (Daath), Massimo Varini, Gary Grainger, Andrea Braido, Mike Scott, Chuck Brown, Bugs Henderson, Liz Hoque, Jim McCarty (Cactus), Dave Grissom, the Family Force 5 and, of course, Paul Reed Smith.

Al DiMeola arrived to perform, as well as to highlight with Paul for the second PRS Expo where he and Paul Reed Smith unveiled the new Al DiMeola Prism signature model, with its full color tie-dye spectrum finish that glistened both visually and sonically.

Paul Reed Smith stepped up to the plate several times to present guitar seminars during the weekend, including one held in the new PRS operations building where he talked about guitar making with a bevy of guitars as on-hand examples. Joe Knaggs and J. Hayes of PRS offered up seminars on New Product Demonstrations and Product Demonstrations, respectively. Part of the demo scene was the introduction of some very cool Paul Reed Smith amps, one called the Dallas was wrapped in paisley. And throughout the day, guests bumped into some of their favorite artists walking around the place or watched them play while the performers plugged in to rally crowds with some exceptional guitar clinics.

Photo Gallery

Related Links
PRS Guitars
Modern Guitars Magazine at Experience PRS 2007
Guitar Review: PRS Mira Maple Top
PRS Debuts Al Di Meola Signature Model - The Prism
The Official PRS Magazine on News Stands Now
PRS Debuts Modern Eagle II at Experience PRS 2008
Michael G. Stewart Photography
Mike Davis Photography

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