PRS Guitars today announced that the company’s marketing department, specifically the creative team, has won two international video production awards for its documentary “The Legacy of Ted McCarty: Vintage Guitar Icon.” Named an Honoree for the 2026 Webby Awards and winning a 2026 Telly Award at the Silver level, the feature-length work published on YouTube focuses on Paul Reed Smith’s mentor and friend and guitar industry titan, the late Theodore “Ted” McCarty and his lasting impact on both Smith and the company. The documentary can be viewed here.
Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet. This year, the Webby Awards had more than 13,000 entries from more than 70 countries. Other 2026 honorees include PBS, NASA, Google, PBS, Apple, The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, and Netflix.
The Telly Awards honors excellence in video and television across all screens and is judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks, production companies. This year’s winners include Paramount TV, Warner Brothers Discovery, FOX Entertainment, MoMA, Mayo Clinic, Sony Music, TED, Al Jazeera, Variety, PETA, United Talent Agency, People Inc., Olympic Channel, AccuWeather, ABC News, Dude Perfect, Washington Commanders, Harvard Business School, Modern Post, and more.
“I’m incredibly proud of our small but mighty team for the care, creativity, and dedication they brought to this project. One of the most meaningful parts of the experience was meeting Ted McCarty’s daughter, Sue Davis, a reminder that behind every legacy is a family and a human story. Beyond the awards themselves, this project brought our entire company together around a shared passion for craftsmanship, innovation, and storytelling. We hope guitarists, music lovers, and history fans alike enjoy the documentary and gain a deeper appreciation for McCarty’s remarkable impact,” said Judy Schaefer, PRS Guitars Director of Marketing.
Ted McCarty served as vice president of the Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1949 and as president from 1950-1966. In addition to the Les Paul and Tune-O-Matic bridge, McCarty was also responsible for several other patents and innovations, including the humbucking pickup (with engineer Seth Lover), Explorer, Flying V, SG, ES 335, and Firebird to name a few. After leaving Gibson in the mid 1960s, McCarty became co-owner of Bigsby.
Paul Reed Smith first came across McCarty’s name in the US Patent office in the early 1980s, later enrolling him as a manufacturing and business consultant. McCarty died in 2001 at the age of 91, but his contributions continue to ripple through the guitar industry. PRS introduced the first McCarty model in 1994 and has since honored him with many instrument designs. Now, the McCarty family of guitars spans from the SE Series to Core instruments and represents more vintage-appointed PRS guitars.
The documentary features archival interview footage of Ted McCarty himself, and interviews with Paul Reed Smith, McCarty’s daughter Sue Davis, PRS Signature Artist David Grissom, and several PRS Guitars employees. The PRS in-house creative team produced the entire piece in house over a period of more than a year. That team comprises Judy Schaefer, director of marketing; Hunter Selman, (past) creative manager; Andrew Dorbin, senior videographer; and Michael McInerney, videographer.
“Honorees like PRS Guitars are redefining what’s possible on the Internet, pushing creativity and innovation forward in bold and unexpected ways,” said Nick Borenstein, General Manager of The Webby Awards. “As we celebrate the 30th Annual Webby Awards, being recognized as an Honoree from nearly 13,000 entries is an incredible achievement and a true testament to the impact of their work.”
“Video has never been more contested, more creative, or more consequential than it is right now,” shares Amanda Needham, Managing Director of The Telly Awards. “The Telly Awards has had a front-row seat to this industry for 47 years, and today’s entertainment is happening in multiple formats, across every screen, and at every budget level.”
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