John Mann (engineer)

John Mann first met Paul in 1978 when he wanted to have a 1966 Gibson SG refinished.^[4] At that time, John worked at Westinghouse, Oceanic division, a large research and development engineering facility for the Navy on the outskirts of Annapolis, Maryland.

John Mann and Paul Reed Smith made history together when their PRS vibrato/tuning system received its U.S. patent. The two men have worked closely together since 1978, when they first met at Paul's one-man workshop on West Street, in Annapolis, Maryland.^[5]