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During Eric Clapton’s 2026 Crossroads Guitar Festival at the Moody Center, Guitar Center formally inducted Paul Reed Smith, founder and Managing General Partner of PRS Guitars, into its legendary RockWalk.
The induction ceremony took place at the Dell West Plaza Rockwalk Stage inside the festival grounds, with modern guitar icon and longtime PRS signature artist John Mayer inducting Smith. The honor celebrates Smith’s more than four decades of luthiery innovation, relentless commitment to tone, and pushing guitar manufacturing standards forward since founding PRS Guitars in 1985. Following the ceremony, Smith’s handprints will be permanently enshrined on Sunset Boulevard outside Guitar Center’s flagship Hollywood store.
Ceremony Highlights & Luthiery Legacy
- John Mayer Induction Speech: Mayer delivered the formal induction address, honoring Smith’s collaborative spirit and engineering breakthroughs—from Custom 24 instruments to the development of the Silver Sky signature series.
- A Tradition of Innovators: Smith joins an elite group of industry legends and luthiers inducted into the RockWalk, including Ted McCarty, Jim Marshall, and Leo Fender.
- Crossroads Festival Integration: The induction served as a centerpiece event within The Guitar Center Experience at Crossroads 2026, where PRS also debuted a limited-edition PRS Silver Sky “Crossroads” in Incline Blue featuring a custom 12th-fret sun inlay.
- Executive Tributes: Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto joined Mayer on stage to present the award, recognizing Smith’s enduring impact on music history and professional instrument design.
Notable Artists Associated with PRS Guitars
| Artist | Associated Band / Project | Primary PRS Model(s) | Career Impact / Milestone |
| Carlos Santana | Santana | PRS Santana Signature Series | Early champion who put PRS on the map in 1980; helped establish the custom shop. |
| John Mayer | Solo / Dead & Company | PRS Silver Sky, Super Eagle | Co-designed the Silver Sky, redefining modern bolt-on Strat-style performance. |
| Mark Tremonti | Alter Bridge / Creed | PRS Tremonti Signature Singlecut | One of the longest-running signature artists; defined hard rock Singlecut tone. |
| Alex Lifeson | Rush | PRS Private Stock Alex Lifeson | Used custom PRS acoustics and solidbodies extensively on late-era Rush world tours. |
| David Grissom | Storyville / Dixie Chicks / Solo | PRS DGT (David Grissom Trem) | Helped refine PRS pickups and neck profiles; created one of PRS’s most popular models. |
| Dustie Waring | Between the Buried and Me | PRS DW CE 24 “Floyd” | Brought PRS double-locking tremolo configurations to progressive metal. |
| Mark Holcomb | Periphery | PRS Mark Holcomb SVN / SE | Developed specialized high-gain 6- and 7-string models for modern djent and prog. |
| Zach Myers | Shinedown | PRS Zach Myers SE Semi-Hollow | Created one of the best-selling semi-hollow singlecut gigging guitars in the SE line. |
| Orianthi | Solo / Alice Cooper / Michael Jackson | PRS Custom 24 “Lotus” | High-profile ambassador for Custom 24 power in rock, pop, and arena tours. |
“There are very few people in the history of the electric guitar who have pushed the design and perfection of the instrument forward more than Paul… The first time I saw a RockWalk induction, Ted McCarty was getting inducted, and Eddie Van Halen was there. To now be in the middle of another induction is an honor that leaves me without words.”
— Paul Reed Smith, Founder of PRS Guitars
The MikesGig Takeaway
- Recognition for Master Luthiery: Inducting Paul Reed Smith highlights that the people behind the instruments are just as vital to music history as the legendary guitarists who play them on stage.
- Strong Artist & Builder Bonds: From Carlos Santana in 1980 to John Mayer’s Silver Sky, Smith’s open-door, collaborative approach with players consistently leads to modern classic instruments.
- Historic Crossroads Setting: Hosting the induction alongside Eric Clapton’s festival cements the deep relationship between retail partners, boutique guitar makers, and charitable causes like Crossroads Centre Antigua.
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