(STEVENSVILLE, Md.) July 18, 2025 – PRS Guitars today released the first episode of a new video series on the PRS “Rules of Tone.” The Rules of Tone is a document written by Paul Reed Smith back in 2006, in which he documented 21 “rules” that he and the guitar makers at PRS follow in order to ensure instruments of the highest quality.
“It was meant to be a guide so that I/we always build the best instruments we can possibly make. There are 21 rules – each one the culmination of decades of experience in guitar-making, design, and repair work. While no set of rules can guarantee a perfect instrument, a guitar should improve with each instance of a rule followed – in the end becoming greater than the sum of its parts,” said Paul Reed Smith.
The video series will be published as six episodes in total. Episode 1 focuses on woods and is available now at this link. Remaining topics include: necks, pickups, finish, hardware, and setup. In each video, Paul Reed Smith is joined by a member of the PRS Guitars manufacturing team to talk about how the guitar-making philosophies are applied in practice on the manufacturing floor. To see each episode as soon as it is released, subscribe to the PRS Guitars YouTube channel and click the bell for notifications.
“Since 2006, I have spent a lot of time teaching these guitar-making principles to the teams here. The teams have, in turn, become stewards of the rules to every person who makes guitars for PRS. Please enjoy these videos. It is my hope that they give you an idea of the amount of care and constant improvement we dedicate ourselves to, so that you receive our best,” said Paul Reed Smith.
PRS Guitars continues its schedule of launching new products each month in 2025. Stay tuned to see new gear and 40th Anniversary limited-edition guitars throughout the year. For all of the latest news, click www.prsguitars.com/40 and follow @prsguitars on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, X, and YouTube.
