The Legacy of Ted McCarty: Vintage Guitar Icon
22 Jan 2026
The first PRS McCarty model was introduced in 1994. Since then it's gone on to become one of our most popular styles of guitar spanning across the Core line and both the S2 and SE Series. The model was named after Ted McCarty, a pioneer of the electric guitar and the musical instrument industry and Paul Reed Smith's mentor. Though he never played guitar himself, Ted was instrumental to the guitar industry having filed patents ranging from the Tune-O-Matic bridge to the Les Paul!
His relationship with Paul Reed Smith was integral to the company, with Paul consulting Ted on matters from engineering all the way to how best to pick up and move a factory. His impact is felt to this day across the industry and in each of the people he worked with to create some of the greatest guitars on the planet.
To honor the work and legacy of an industry giant, and good friend, we created the 73-minute documentary "The Legacy of Ted McCarty: Vintage Guitar Icon" that you can watch now on the PRS Guitars YouTube channel to gain a deeper understanding and respect for the impact one single man has left on not only PRS Guitars, but the musical industry itself.
“Ted McCarty was a legend. Incredibly smart. Really exceptional. He was a champion, an industry icon, a leader, a mentor, a friend. In the end, he was family.” – Paul Reed Smith
