Three decades ago, Paul Reed Smith organized the original PRS factory in Annapolis, Maryland. The ensuing 30 years were filled with remarkable guitars reaching a quality of performance and beauty few other instruments ever attained. Amongst the Dragons, McCartys, Private Stock, and most recently the S2 models, Smith created a line of guitars that now represent a standard in the industry.

Burrluck's book traces that history in a beautifully detailed and graphically impressive volume. Here is the chronology of the instruments played by everyone from Howard Leese and Dave Navarro to Al DiMeola, Neal Schon, Mark Tremonti, Zach Myers, and many others.

This is broken down into five basic chapters: Early Years; Eighties; Nineties; 2000s; and Recent Years. An extensive library of marvelous photographs details every guitar. Accompanying these wonderful photos are an abundance of auxiliary materials including ads, catalogs and studio shots of the players with their instruments.

The text here covers the "pre-factory" prototypes Smith was building for players like Leese and Peter Frampton all the way through instruments currently being sold. Burrluck has done a thoroughly comprehensive job in his research. There is also a reference section breaking down various instruments along the lines of types of wood, vibrato, pickups, years built, options, and more.

No publisher chronicles the history of electric guitars better than Backbeat Books. Once again, they have created a book both informative to read and delightful to look at. If you've ever wondered why PRS guitars are so special, read this and you'll understand the reasons.