1986 Paul Reed Smith Custom 24 Sunburst

Deirdre Cartwright - TV used 1986 Paul Reed Smith (PRS) Custom 24 electric guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 61782; Body: sunburst finished figured maple '10 top' upon mahogany back, finish dings to back, light surface scratches, a few minor dings to top, inscribed '10' top with serial number within the bridge pickup cavity and inscribed with a large star within the neck pickup cavity; Neck: mahogany; Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood; Frets: mild wear; Electrics: working; Hardware: good; Case: original hard case and papers; Weight: 3.60kg; Overall condition: good for age

his is the main guitar used by Deirdre Cartwright on the second BBC Rockschool series, broadcast in 1987.
Purchased by Deirdre from Chandler's, Kew, London in February 1987 after being introduced to Paul Reed Smith by Doug Chandler at a big London trade show in 1986. Deirdre originally wanted a blue PRS with bird inlays, but as Chandler's had only a limited stock of PRS guitars, Doug Chandler loaned her this one to use. When a blue and yellow one came in, she decided to keep this sunburst one as it had the best sound.

Deirdre Cartwright is an accomplished British guitarist and composer. She was a member of 'Painted Lady', which later became known as 'Girlschool', which she left to form her next band 'Tour De Force'. 

Deirdre became well known presenting the BBC TV’s ground-breaking series 'Rockschool'. At this time she was also playing with Afro Latin Jazz group The Guest Stars, who recorded three albums and toured in 17 countries.

In 1991 she formed the Deirdre Cartwright Group and played international festivals from Mexico to Warsaw and recorded five albums. She has also written and recorded albums with the groups Emily Remembered and LUND.

 She has played with legendary jazz guitarist Tal Farlow, studied in America with Mick Goodrick, founded Blow the Fuse with Alison Rayner in 1989 and presented on Radio 3.

She has also written seven books on guitar playing and was head of the guitar syllabus for the Rockschool exam series.

More recently she has toured and recorded three albums with ARQ who won Best UK jazz group in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and British Jazz Awards in 2018.

She currently leads the group PICNIC with Annie Whitehead, and plays with ARQ, Sea Change, Carol Grimes, Electric Landladies and regularly at Ronnie Scott's in Soho.