Michael Reid’s “Harpy Guitar” Charity Auction

Posted Oct 09, 2018

#WeMakePRS

Michael Reid has been an employee of PRS Guitars for over 30 years. His role involves sourcing the amazing woods we have the privilege of turning into instruments here at PRS.

Paul Reed Smith and Michael began their working relationship in 1980 -- before “PRS Guitars” became an official company. Michael would source all of the curly maple wood for Paul's early instruments, including the first guitars built for Carlos Santana.

Michael has an incredible skill for sourcing unique woods from around the globe, this includes our 2017 “Reclaimed Limiteds” - a limited quantity of reclaimed support beams and siding from ranch houses in the Atlantic forest region of Brazil.

When Michael celebrated his 30 year anniversary at PRS, it was time for him to decide on the specs of his 30 year employee guitar. Employee guitars are a special benefit of PRS employees and are awarded at different intervals during an employee’s time at the company.

Michael graciously decided to auction off his guitar to raise funds for the American Bird Conservancy which supports a variety of conservation projects in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. You can read about the specific project this guitar auction will be supporting here.

There are a few things that make Michael’s employee guitar highly unique. As you can imagine, Michael has seen 10's of thousands of pieces of wood in his lifetime, ultimately he chose woods inspired by the Reclaimed Limited project he helped facilitate in 2017. The woods for his employee guitar are all recovered from 19th century ranch houses in Brazil. Michael also commissioned the talented Floyd Scholz to carve a one-of-a-kind Harpy or Crested Eagle into the guitar’s top.

"HARPY EAGLE" SPECIFICATIONS:

  • Peroba Do Campo Top
  • Spanish Cedar Back
  • Peroba Rosa Neck (Pattern Thin Carve)
  • Brazilian Rosewood Fretboard
  • Peroba Do Campo Bird Inlay
  • Natural Satin Finish
  • Gold Hardware
  • 85/15 Pickups
  • Gen 3 Tremolo Bridge
  • Phase III Tuners
  • 5-Way Blade Switch
  • Peroba Do Campo Truss Rod Cover

Check out the video below as Michael discusses the inspiration and design of his unique employee guitar:

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The auction is live now, click here to view!

Learn more about the American Bird Conservatory here.

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