I almost sold my Mccarty...

Scott_F

Flushologist
Staff member
twice in a month it almost flew the coup.

So today, I pulled my ad from ebay and proceeded to sit down with it and a bottle of cold malt-based adult beverage and tried to determine what it was about this guitar that wasn't doing it for me lately.

It came down to the action/setup. I have gotten spoiled on my strat and tele, the action there is nice and low as you might expect on a great bolt-on neck.

Then I looked at my heritage. It was set up by jay wolfe in Florida. He's a freaking master at set ups. I measured every spec on that neck. I then looked at my R8 Les Paul which I adore. I measured every spec on that.

First things first, oiled up the solid rosewood neck. Put on new strings, stretched them in very very well.

So, I set about setting up my PRS to meet those specs from the other two set neck guitars I have. First thing I did was screw down the tail piece all the way. I got the strings to the correct height that I really love on the other guitars. Close at least. Raised up the bass side of the tailpiece one half turn. There, I had it.

Then I looked for buzzing frets and started adjusting the truss rod accordingly. I finally dialed it in after a lot of trial and error with the truss rod wrench. Then I went about getting the pups the right height.

So, now the PRS is playing like it should, equal to my other setneck guitars. I sat there a while ago belting out some high decibel Who tunes and got to wondering why I was too freaking lazy to give the guitar a chance. I t wasn't doing it for me, so it was about to take a one-way trip out of here. Part of that was the GAS I have for a 56RI LP, but that's another story.

Thought I'd share.

I am a Gear Whore. :laugh2:
 
Re: I almost sold my Mccarty...

Anyone know where I can buy some rosewood oil? I think it's wrong that I'm putting lemon oil on a rosewood neck.
 
Re: I almost sold my Mccarty...

Scott,
you can find a number of places for rosewood oil just by doing the ol' yahoo search ...
I'd think good lemon oil would be fine though
 
Re: I almost sold my Mccarty...

but Gary, the smell of rosewood oil is just so yummy! That's half the allure of the RW neck on the PRS. They call it "crackwood" for a reason. ;)
 
Re: I almost sold my Mccarty...

Scott,
do they have Jacarandas down your way? you know, those trees with the lavender flowers?

they have a lot of them here ... they're a rosewood. Every time I pass some, I think, hmmm ... probably some nice tonewood there. :)

yeah, once in a while, they put some on lathes where I work, and you realize where the name came from

it's always been my favorite
 
Re: I almost sold my Mccarty...

i saw your listing on ebay.... glad to see u came to your senses
 
Re: I almost sold my Mccarty...

glad it's come around for ya Scott ... this is your 'swimming pool' prs, right? ... damn, i wouldnt be able to imagine parting with that gorgeous axe ... what is a reasonable price for one that purdy?

cheers
t4d
 
Re: I almost sold my Mccarty...

Scott_F said:
Anyone know where I can buy some rosewood oil? I think it's wrong that I'm putting lemon oil on a rosewood neck.

You're right. Lemon oil should only be used on guitars made from Lemon wood. Or guitars that are lemons... :laugh2:

I use that Dr. Duck's oil/polish for pretty much everything...but not on my lemons. :laugh2: A little dab'll do ya!
 
Re: I almost sold my Mccarty...

tone4days said:
glad it's come around for ya Scott ... this is your 'swimming pool' prs, right? ... damn, i wouldnt be able to imagine parting with that gorgeous axe ... what is a reasonable price for one that purdy?

cheers
t4d

I had it on fleabay for about 3 days with an extra set of pups at a 3300 buy it now price and it didn't go. (thank goodness as it was a very weakmoment for me)

That's what they go for new, but with an extra set of duncan pups and what I think is one of the most outstanding tops to ever leave PRS, it was worth a shot.

I had a couple offers of 2800 for it.

As far as olls go, Rosewood is one oily wood to begin with. It really doesn't take much to keep it oily, especially when there's an entire neck made out of it.
 
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