NGD! '94 PRS McCarty

[AndyK]

Just got this one yesterday. It was advertised on eBay as Root beer, but it says Tortoise Shell under the pickup, so now I know what color she is! Buying a used 20 year old guitar is always a crap shoot, and can be interesting. This guitar has some buckle scrapes on the back, and a few minor dings on the top, but overall, has been very well cared for over the years.

It also looks to me like it has had at least on refret, judging by the sloppy looking nut ends. And, a recent grind and polish probably. The action at the first fret was terrible until I filed the nut slots down to match the fret height better. Now she plays fine, intonation is perfect - but I think I will be sending her to PRS for a fret job in the near future. I want PRS perfection!

Another interesting 'feature' - someone put dual toggle switches in (both non PRS). So, you could pull the tone knob, and only the bridge pickup is single coil. Pull the volume knob, and only the neck pickup is single. A useless feature for me, and I just ordered a PRS drop in wiring harness to bring it back to stock - adding the single push pull tone knob that wasn't around in '94.

The pickups must have been changed recently since there is no tarnish on them. Both McCarty - bridge and neck. I was kinda looking forward to the original Dragon bass pickups, but I guess I can always sell the McCarty pickups if I want to change later on.

Here she is!

 

[Badronald]

Nice! Cool color.
I like the fret markers. Never liked the birds on PRS guitars.
Congrats!

 

[AndyK]

Thanks. Yeah, birds are ok, but I like simple.

 

[JTyson]

Nice!
I love that color.. I hate the McCarty bridge pup

 

[AndyK]

Nice!
I love that color.. I hate the McCarty bridge pup

Yeah, it's kind of a mush. Like I accidentally put a neck pickup in the bridge!

 

[ericsabbath]

nice score!

I had a black '96 and a dark cherry sunburst 2000, both with moon inlays
the '96 was probably the best sounding guitar I ever played, after I put a bk riff raff in the bridge
my bandmate has a gray/transblack or whatever they call it mccarty with bird inlays with a bk miracle man in the bridge
that thing sounds REALLY good and versatile

 

[d1469d]

Its funny how I get the same feeling when I see a nice looking guitar and a nice looking women. Can't keep my eyes off it. Awesome buy!!!!!!!

 

[JTyson]

Its funny how I get the same feeling when I see a nice looking guitar and a nice looking women. Can't keep my eyes off it. Awesome buy!!!!!!!

Agreed..
But its not funny once they figure that out

 

[AndyK]

Its funny how I get the same feeling when I see a nice looking guitar and a nice looking women. Can't keep my eyes off it. Awesome buy!!!!!!!

Well, not the SAME feeling - but I know what you mean!

So is the consensus that PRS pickups should be swapped out?

 

[cphr3d]

Congrats!!! Very cool color. I love the Tortoise Shell finish. Might be the color I get for my next PRS.

 

[AndyK]

Congrats!!! Very cool color. I love the Tortoise Shell finish. Might be the color I get for my next PRS.

Thanks. Yeah, Tortoise Shell is be nicest color IMHO! Very rich and warm looking.

 

[JTyson]

Its funny how I get the same feeling when I see a nice looking guitar and a nice looking women. Can't keep my eyes off it. Awesome buy!!!!!!!

Well, not the SAME feeling - but I know what you mean!

So is the consensus that PRS pickups should be swapped out?

I actually like the neck pup for a lot of stuff, I run it split a lot for pulled back cleans
Lots of good options for the bridge

 

[AndyK]

I may go Duncan Custom 5 for the bridge to add clarity and gain.

 

[rockify]

score! love the mcarty body thickness

killer tone, enjoy!

 

[JTyson]

I may go Duncan Custom 5 for the bridge to add clarity and gain.

Almost anything will be better unless you are a blues guy
I've had great results with several different pups in McCarty's. The guitar itself is solid and resonant, its all personal preferance after that

 

[stratotone]

Nice guitar! I've had three McCartys - a korina w/braz board I wish I still had, a regular one that was nice, and a McRosie that I got a few months ago. McCartys to me are the best sounding 'regular production' PRS guitars, but they are more of a vintage vibe with stock pickups. Put something a little gainier in there and you'll be very happy I bet. PRS makes a really nice guitar, but they need to take lessons IMHO from Tom Anderson on how to make a pickup. best thing I ever did to my '96 Cu22 Quilt was yank the Dragon out of it and put a Duncan in the bridge. Much better for my purposes.

 

[AndyK]

Nice guitar! I've had three McCartys - a korina w/braz board I wish I still had, a regular one that was nice, and a McRosie that I got a few months ago. McCartys to me are the best sounding 'regular production' PRS guitars, but they are more of a vintage vibe with stock pickups. Put something a little gainier in there and you'll be very happy I bet. PRS makes a really nice guitar, but they need to take lessons IMHO from Tom Anderson on how to make a pickup. best thing I ever did to my '96 Cu22 Quilt was yank the Dragon out of it and put a Duncan in the bridge. Much better for my purposes.

I have a covered Alnico II Duncan for the neck, and a covered Custom 5 for the bridge ready to go, as soon as I get the drop in wiring kit I ordered. The McCarty bridge pickup sounds too much like a neck pickup to me, and the neck pickup sounds like a pillow is placed over my speakers. I will probably sell the PRS pickups since they are not originals to the guitar anyway.

The guitar itself is super resonant, and even with worn frets, has a killer woody tone. The PRS wide/fat neck is my all time favorite (much better than Anderson necks), and when I get the frets replaced, it will be a keeper!

I noticed the clear coat is worn off on parts of the neck - maybe PRS can give me the satin finish on the back of the neck when I send it to get a re fret. Or, I'll just live with the clear coat wearing off?