Finding out the history of my PRS Private stock guitar

Lovefish01

Lovefish01

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Mar 24, 2022
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I recently bought/was bought a single cut PRS private stock SC guitar #3004 whilst on holiday in Northern Ireland for my 40th birthday (I'm based in England). However, the shop owner knew very little about the guitar and it has expo 2010 on the back of the headstock which I think is a pretty interesting addition. I've messaged PRS directly about any history that they might have for the guitar but I've not heard back from them in a good while. I was wondering if there was a specific person or part of the PRS company I should be contacting about this rather than just a general email to them.
https://ibb.co/album/qyxjWq
txlrpddvzucwm3d513dn.webp
 
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Extra pics are in a link above the photograph.
Id be grateful if you could explain what a PRS experience run is?
Id imagine from what you say its showing people how PS are made whilst this was being built?
I initially imagined a PRS expo to be showing off up coming guitar models etc to the public. But this seems not to be the case.
Anyway I have heard back from PRS but the info I got was not all that I had hoped/prayed for
"All the information you have is correct on the guitar. The guitar was a 2010 Expo Private Stock model, 2011 signifies the year production was completed on this guitar. Private Stock guitars can have upgraded or changed appointments that were inspired by Paul or another who may have ordered, such as Private Individual or Dealer. We are unable to comment on who may have been the first owner of the guitar, as per company policy. The guitar was originally shipped to a dealer overseas, which is how it may have ended up in Ireland. Unfortunately, we do not have any media to share from that time period for the 2010 EXPO. Thank you for understanding."
 
EXP = Experience
EXPO = Exposition

The PRS Experience is a giant party that used to be held at the factory each year. COVID ruined it. Much can be found on YouTube regarding the annual event. Example here.

As Jamie noted, your guitar (which is lovely, by the way) is from the 2010 Experience. That was the weekend of 24 September 2010 and was at the PRS factory (Stevensville, Maryland). Given the completion date of your instrument, it is likely that your guitar was specified by a dealer -- or by an individual through a dealer -- who was physically at the 2010 Experience. It is not likely (again, given the completion date) that your guitar was already completed and sitting on a dealer's table during the 2010 Experience.

If the guitar was originally shipped overseas and was found in the Northern Ireland, I'd begin by calling UK dealers. When/if you locate the original dealer, they aren't likely to tell you the name of the original owner.

As a side note, I looked through my photos from the 2010 Experience and didn't see your guitar.
 
You may wish to also try PRS Europe. They were Headline distribution back in 2010 and handled PRS in the UK. I know they tended to commission Private Stocks for the Experience events as I bought one in 2011.
 
]-[@n$0Ma☩!© said:
EXP = Experience
EXPO = Exposition

The PRS Experience is a giant party that used to be held at the factory each year. COVID ruined it. Much can be found on YouTube regarding the annual event. Example here.

As Jamie noted, your guitar (which is lovely, by the way) is from the 2010 Experience. That was the weekend of 24 September 2010 and was at the PRS factory (Stevensville, Maryland). Given the completion date of your instrument, it is likely that your guitar was specified by a dealer -- or by an individual through a dealer -- who was physically at the 2010 Experience. It is not likely (again, given the completion date) that your guitar was already completed and sitting on a dealer's table during the 2010 Experience.

If the guitar was originally shipped overseas and was found in the Northern Ireland, I'd begin by calling UK dealers. When/if you locate the original dealer, they aren't likely to tell you the name of the original owner.

As a side note, I looked through my photos from the 2010 Experience and didn't see your guitar.
Click to expand...
A massive thank you for this information this was the kind of thing I was hoping to learn about my guitar.

I was not aware that Experience days at the PRS factory were a thing and it's a shame they've had to stop due to covid. Fingers crossed they will start up again sooner rather than later.

Clearly, as you say my PS guitar must have been in the building process during the EXP event. Although the event took place on the 24 September 2010 and the guitar was completed on the 7 May 2011. Do PS guitars take that long to build?

Agreed my original presumption was that either Paul (or staff) a dealer or a customer had designed the specifications for this guitar.
When I originally thought it was an Expo I thought it might have been a Paul spec guitar which was then shown there and then sold on. Now that I know it's an Experience guitar it's more than likely dealer or customer instead.
It's a bit of a shame that a photo of it didn't show up as it would be a great bit of history to add in with the guitar, ill keep looking maybe ill get lucky who knows.

Were many guitars labelled with the EXP label on the rear of the headstock?
I've looked around a good bit on the internet and I've struggled to find any other guitars from the same or other years with the same label on.
Is there a reason why the EXP label came in? again I've done some digging and found out very little about it.

..........From what I gather having just received an email from the shop that I bought the guitar from they said that the seller is based near the shop in Northern Ireland. So chances are it was a customer order through a UK PS dealer.
 
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FlameTop said:
You may wish to also try PRS Europe. They were Headline distribution back in 2010 and handled PRS in the UK. I know they tended to commission Private Stocks for the Experience events as I bought one in 2011.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this ill definitely drop PRS Europe a message.
 
FlameTop said:
You may wish to also try PRS Europe. They were Headline distribution back in 2010 and handled PRS in the UK. I know they tended to commission Private Stocks for the Experience events as I bought one in 2011.
Click to expand...
I heard back from PRS Europe this is their message

"I have checked our records to see if have any info on this instrument, however, it was before our current EU records began."
They recommended contacting the main factory in Maryland about it.
 
Lovefish01 said:
I heard back from PRS Europe this is their message

"I have checked our records to see if have any info on this instrument, however, it was before our current EU records began."
They recommended contacting the main factory in Maryland about it.
Click to expand...
I don't remember what the Experience 2010 Private Stock was. I expect they took orders for them from dealers during the event. There won't be many of them. Private Stock runs were pretty small in those days - the first big run was the Signature guitar which they did 100 of. That run was mostly done in 2011.
 
]-[@n$0Ma☩!© said:
The PRS Experience is a giant party that used to be held at the factory each year. COVID ruined it.
Click to expand...
That's your take on it. There are those who say my presence ruined it. Who can say who's right?

expprsmisc01.jpg


That's a pic of what I believe is one of the Experience guitars from that year. Not sure if I cropped the sign out or if I shot it that way. I'd have to dig out my backups from that year.
 
veinbuster said:
I don't remember what the Experience 2010 Private Stock was. I expect they took orders for them from dealers during the event. There won't be many of them. Private Stock runs were pretty small in those days - the first big run was the Signature guitar which they did 100 of. That run was mostly done in 2011.
Click to expand...
I've now watched a few videos 2010 looked great. PRS basically showing off cool guitars and a few kick-ass bands playing.
Agreed more than likely it was a UK dealer or custom order must have been taken whilst they were physical at that show.
Agreed PS must have had a pretty small output at that time considering from 1996 to 2011 they had only made just over 3000 guitars. Now in 2022, they're around the 10000 made mark.

Is that the 100 guitar run that sold out in 90 mins or something?
I was surprised when they did that as PS was always marketed as bespoke and one-off.
 
alantig said:
That's your take on it. There are those who say my presence ruined it. Who can say who's right?

expprsmisc01.jpg


That's a pic of what I believe is one of the Experience guitars from that year. Not sure if I cropped the sign out or if I shot it that way. I'd have to dig out my backups from that year.
Click to expand...
unfortunately, the picture doesn't seem to be working :S Id be grateful if you could try to post it again.

haha funny people say the same about my presence also. Think it might be my socks tho haha
If I ever get the chance to go to one of these events if they do go public again ill definitely go for sure.
 
Lovefish01 said:
unfortunately, the picture doesn't seem to be working :S Id be grateful if you could try to post it again.

haha funny people say the same about my presence also. Think it might be my socks tho haha
If I ever get the chance to go to one of these events if they do go public again ill definitely go for sure.
Click to expand...
Here is the picture that Alantig linked


FZnnj4E.jpg
 
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