About PRS McCarty Guitars
Launched in the late 1990s, the PRS McCarty series pays homage to Ted McCarty, the legendary guitar maker and former president of Gibson. Under his guidance, some of the most iconic electric guitars were born. Paul Reed Smith, looking to capture the essence of those golden years, designed the McCarty series to reflect the tone, aesthetics, and playability of classic instruments while incorporating PRS’s modern advancements.
The McCarty line is renowned for its rich, warm tones, achieved through a combination of vintage-inspired specifications and PRS innovation. Features include thicker bodies for enhanced sustain, 58/15 pickups for smooth, articulate sound, and a Pattern neck shape for comfortable playability. Models like the McCarty 594 (referring to the 24.594” scale length of iconic vintage guitars) and the McCarty Singlecut 594 offer players a versatile range of tones suitable for any genre, from blues to rock.
Signature touches like the PRS two-piece bridge, phase III locking tuners, and nitro over cellulose (CAB) finish not only pay respect to McCarty's designs but also ensure these guitars stand out in the modern era. The series has expanded to include various models and configurations, including the McCarty 594 Hollowbody II, combining PRS’s acoustic and electric guitar innovations.
The original McCarty model differs slightly from the subsequent 594s in a few ways. It is equipped with McCarty LT pickups that have don’t have quite as many switching options, the pickup selector is set into the body rather than the upper bout, and the guitar uses a PRS Stoptail bridge, not the two-piece setup of the 594s.
Today, the selection of McCarty’s is larger than ever, with models spanning the Core, S2, and SE series to match the budget of any player seeking that old-school feel.
The McCarty is a great choice for the pure vintage experience and character, while the 594’s retain that spirit but add in enhanced features to give you a versatility and tonal palette that’s unmatched.
