1980s, Paul Reed Smith called on Ted McCarty — ex-president of Gibson and the visionary behind the ES-335, SG, Firebird, Flying V and Explorer — to consult with him on guitar design and production techniques. McCarty became a mentor and friend to Smith, and in 1994 PRS issued its first McCarty model, leading to a series that now comprises four U.S.-made Core models, three S-2 series guitars (also made in Stevensville, Maryland) and three SE
