Meet The Builders
Chosen for their ability to pay attention to the finest details and their passion for building the finest instruments, the small team of Private Stock craftsmen represent the pinnacle of PRS design and execution. By continually pushing the envelope at every stage of the build, these specialty luthiers see every instrument for its potential as an heirloom, a piece of art, and tool to make music.
Instrument making is a very personal thing at PRS, and at the end of the day, every member of the team wants your Private Stock to look, feel, and sound its best.
Meet the team behind Private Stock.
Paul Miles
Director of Private Stock
Date you joined the PRS family?
08/1991
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
I’m a MICA graduate with an attention to detail and organization that even drives me crazy. I’m responsible for running our Private Stock and PTC departments.
What’s the most essential tool for your job?
My mind...I believe there is a zen to guitar building and without being in the right headspace, it can be difficult at best.
Why did you want to work on guitars?
I didn’t know I wanted to work on guitars. I needed a job after college and I guess it was fate.
Number one thing on your bucket list?
I love to travel so as long as I am doing that I don’t have a bucket list.
Favorite food?
Sushi
Favorite quote?
I don’t really have a favorite, but I know the absolute worst quote I hear! “It is what it is.”
Favorite musician?
Greg Dulli from the Afghan Whigs and my favorite band is The Bronx.
Favorite song?
My two most played songs are “The Killer” by Greg Dulli live at the Triple Door, and “The Unholy Hand” by The Bronx.
Andrew Jordan
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Wood Shop
Date you joined the PRS family?
02/2005
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
Body sand and finish sand.
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
The new remakes of Paul’s old guitar built for Peter Frampton.
Most essential tool for your job?
My brain.
Why did you want to work on guitars?
I enjoy working on wood. Before working at PRS I was fixing furniture.
Number one thing on your bucket list?
To travel to California on a motorcycle.
Favorite local lunch spot?
“The Deli”
Favorite food?
I’ll eat anything
Favorite quote?
“Fantasy is only reality that has yet to be discovered.” - Joe Hill
Favorite band/musician?
Aerosmith
Favorite song?
Filter - The Best Things. To me the song is humbling.
Austin Harris
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Acoustics
Date you joined the PRS family?
12/2001
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
I do mainly neck work, but all assembly within the wood shop.
What’s the most essential tool for your job?
A good sharp chisel.
Why did you want to work on guitars?
I loved starting with raw wood and ending up with a beautiful guitar.
Number one thing on your bucket list?
To travel more.
Favorite food?
Mexican
Favorite quote?
“Fantasy is only reality that has yet to be discovered.” - Joe Hill
Favorite musician?
Too many to list
Favorite song?
“Forty-six & 2” - Tool
“A Change is Gonna Come” - Sam Cooke
Brian Lutz
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Finish
Date you joined the PRS family?
10/2000
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
Paint jobs and bad-ass touch ups.
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
Each guitar has its own personality and voice. I remember each one I’ve worked on and treated each one with respect.
What’s the most essential tool for your job?
A spray gun and a brush.
Why did you want to work on guitars?
I have a background in woodworking and wanted to work at PRS because of the quality of these instruments being made. I wanted to lend a hand to that mission.
Favorite quote?
“I am the king of rock. There is none higher. Sucka MCs call me sire.” - Abraham Lincoln
Favorite song?
“Anvil of Crom” - Basil Poledouris
Christopher Bean
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Finish
Date you joined the PRS family?
06/2006
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
Sand and finish prep.
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
I love them all!
Most essential tool for your job?
Headphones
Favorite local lunch spot?
My truck.
Favorite food?
Anything that was once moving.
Favorite musician?
Ryan Upchurch
Favorite song?
Backyard Lullaby by Demun Jones
Dana Seidman
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Neck Specialist
Date you joined the PRS family?
08/1998
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
I run day-to-day neck operation on our Private Stocks.
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
There’s a guy by the name of Steve P. on the Private Stock Forum, he goes by ‘’11top” - everything he comes up with is awesome.
Most essential tool for your job?
Dial Calipers - they help me make sure everything is in spec.
Number one thing on your bucket list?
Go to the Super Bowl.
Favorite local lunch spot?
Hong Kong Chinese Carryout!
Favorite food?
Peking Duck
Favorite musician?
David Gilmour / Pink Floyd
Favorite song?
The entire The Wall album.
Eric Granroth
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Final Assembly
Date you joined the PRS family?
01/2000
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
Assembly, wiring, and set up on all Private Stock guitars - acoustics, artist relations guitars, and prototype guitars.
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
All of the McCarty Singlecuts are my favorite sounding guitars. The painted dragon run was really fun to build as well.
Most essential tool for your job?
Brain for focus and attention to detail. Also, my ears..the rest of the team does a great job making the guitars look beautiful, I need to make them play and sound as good as they look.
Why did you want to work on guitars?
I was too poor to pay someone else to work on my guitars, so I learned to do it myself. Then I found out that it could be my profession.
Favorite local lunch spot?
Kent Island Depot - AKA “The Gourmet Gas Station.” Their beef & brie sandwich is fantastic.
Favorite quote?
“I don’t know anything about music. In my line, you don’t have to.” - Elvis Presley
Favorite musician?
Slash, Tony Iommi, Ronnie James Dio
Favorite song?
This is ever changing. Today it was Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well.”
Jason Spicer
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Finish
Date you joined the PRS family?
05/2002
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
Fret leveling and all finish work. Mainly wet sanding, buffing, turn around and casing.
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
PS# 5135 - a McCarty Singlecut.
Favorite quote?
"Who dares, wins.” David Stirling
Favorite song?
"Set To Fail” - Lamb of God
Jimmy Lyons
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Finish
Date you joined the PRS family?
05/2017
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
Buffing, repairs, sanding, turnaround.
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
Koi Fish Custom 24
Most essential tool for your job?
Patience
Why did you want to work on guitars?
Guitar is the most expressive instrument to me.
Number one thing on your bucket list?
Go cliff diving in Mexico.
Favorite local lunch spot?
Big Bats
Favorite food?
Pizza
Favorite quote?
“I could lose, but I could also win.” - William Hjelte
Favorite musician?
Bruno Mars
Favorite song?
“Memorial Field” - Title Fight
Mike Gaitley
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Utility Man (Finish & Assembly)
Date you joined the PRS family?
01/1987
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
Team-builder, communicator, storyteller, mind-reader.
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
The Spring 2018 double-neck 6/12 string we made for John McLaughlin. The dual Ziricote fingerboards were a challenge to level. And the top color reminded me of our “Scarlet Red” finish from the Annapolis days.
Most essential tool for your job?
Patience. My job is to make Paul’s instruments as playable and comfortable as possible for the musician. Every guitar is unique. It takes time to shape the individual sound and tone of each and every one.
Why did you want to work on guitars?
I’ve played guitar since I was 12 and I love to work with my hands, simple as that.
Number one thing on your bucket list?
To actually learn how to properly play guitar.
Favorite local lunch spot?
Love Point Deli, Wine, & Spirits.
Favorite food?
Fish & Chips with malt vinegar and a good pint.
Favorite quote?
“The future is unwritten.” - Joe Strummer
Favorite musician?
Paul McCartney! Working class boy makes good…
Favorite song?
Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles
Pierce Cheney
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Woodshop
Date you joined the PRS family?
03/2006
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
Body sanding and finish sanding the guitars so they are ready for stain. I also do neck body assembly.
Most essential tool for your job?
My Dynoorbital sander or “Air Sander.”
Favorite local lunch spot?
Chic-fil-a
Favorite food?
Steak cooked on a hibachi grill.
Favorite musician?
George Harrison
Rick Ames
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Basecoat Finish Specialist
Date you joined the PRS family?
10/1999
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
Anything pertaining to basecoat on all private stock and artist guitars. Also, sanding, lots of sanding!
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
All the SCJ’s. Also, anything with a rosewood neck.
Most essential tool for your job?
Sandpaper and fine pads.
Why did you want to work on guitars?
Because I love them.
Number one thing on your bucket list?
To beat every video game I have or will ever own.
Favorite food?
Mexican
Favorite musician/song?
It depends on my mood, so it’s impossible to pick just one!
Rich Hubbard
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Woodshop
Date you joined the PRS family?
12/1996
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
Book match and build all Private Stock bodies from raw wood. I also body sand, and shape, and do custom inlay on bodies.
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
All artist guitars and the guitars of customers I meet.
Most essential tool for your job?
My trusty 5” Dynabrade orbital sander and eye for detail.
Why did you want to work on guitars?
Being a musician and having a love of music.
Favorite food?
Dead things, local veggies, and seafood.
Favorite quote?
“Carpe Noctem.”
Favorite musician?
All the great bass players!
Rich Schaefer
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Woodshop
Date you joined the PRS family?
10/1999
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
My specialty is Neck and Body Assembly. However, like all of us here in the Private Stock woodshop, I spend a fair amount of time sanding, drilling, filing and milling wood.
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
It's really hard to single out one favorite. There have just been so many insane and complex builds over the years! It can be incredibly rewarding to watch chunks of raw wood and shell become some of the finest instruments on the planet.
Most essential tool for your job?
The eyes. We work to an absolutely meticulous level of detail here. Also, hands are an important tool, especially when working on necks. Your Private Stock will look beautiful, but it is very important to us that the guitar's neck feels perfect in every way.
Favorite quote?
"Forgive him Theodotus: he is a barbarian and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.” - Caesar and Cleopatra, George Bernard Shaw
Favorite musician?
It’s impossible for me to narrow this question down. I have a voracious appetite for hearing new music! Part of my daily routine is finding something I haven’t heard before to throw on while working.
Rick Hancock
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Neck Specialist
Date you joined the PRS family?
11/2007
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
I have a 40+ year guitar background and spend most of my time at PRS building, repariring, doing custom work on all string instruments, and various tasks that need to be done!
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
All of them!
Most essential tool for your job?
Chisels.
Why did you want to work on guitars?
I wanted to learn how to play, couldn’t afford one so I started making my first guitar. People started asking me to make or repair one for them and here I am!
Number one thing on your bucket list?
To empty the bucket.
Favorite quote?
“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” - FDR
Favorite musician?
Chris Tomlin
Favorite song?
Amazing Grace (My Chain’s are Gone)
Rob Cartney
Speciality Guitar Luthier - Neck Specialist
Date you joined the PRS family?
08/1997
What are your main responsibilities at PRS?
Leveling fingerboards, placing frets on necks, and sanding the necks.
Favorite Private Stock worked on?
John Mayer’s
Most essential tool for your job?
My hands, eyes, and sandpaper.
Why did you want to work on guitars?
I enjoy playing guitar as well as woodworking.
Number one thing on your bucket list?
Travel throughout Europe.
Favorite local lunch spot?
The Love Point Deli.
Favorite food?
Steamed crabs and steamed shrimp.
Favorite quote?
“Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Favorite musician?
Jimmy Herring, Derek Trucks, Jeff Beck, Bob Marley.
Favorite song?
“Three Little Birds” - Bob Marley