impulse PRS buy

TattooedCarrot

New member
Just picked up this McCarty. Now I have to sell my PRS Standard 22 in natural mahogany.

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Re: impulse PRS buy

Very, very nice. I think the colour is stronger without the natural scraped edges.

I love blue PRSs. My CU22 is a whale blue flametop. Though my all-time fave production PRS is the McCarty soapbar in teal black. There's one in my local shop and it calls to me...
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

I've owned a couple C 22's, but never a McCarty, how do they differ? I just closed the deal on this, don't have it in hand yet. And My whale blue CU22 had the natural binding. I really think this would look even cooler with white body and neck binding. But that's the Gibson-guy in me speaking.
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

Gearjoneser has a better handle on the differences between McCartys and CU22s than I do.

My CU22 is about as 'McCarty' as that model gets: hardtail, McCarty switching and Duncan 59s.

From what I do know, McCartys have a thinner headstock, a fatter neck profile, lighter tuners and a slightly thicker mahogany back. As a result, they should a bit fuller in the low mids than a CU22.

At some point soon, I'm going to a/b my CU22 against McCartys, other hardtail CU22s and McSoaps. Should be interesting. At the moment, I'm utterly impressed with my CU22, so a s/h McCarty or McSoap is probably the way to go, allowing me to keep my current one.
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

very nice impulse buy.... how much you lookn for your st. 22?
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

Here's a pic of what it looked like before I modded it.

http://home.comcast.net/~tattooedcarrot/wsb/media/244886/site1044.jpg

I added CTS 500k pots, kept the Dragon II pickup in the bridge, but removed the cover so it's double black,. Added a double black Pearly Gates (no logo) neck with a coil tap (very stratty), and added a black switch tip and chrome humbucker rings. It looks way cool and sounds killer. I just couldn't pass up the blue one and can't keep both.

I'm looking to get $1500 shipped with hard case.
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

im really curious about the diffs between the standards and the Mcarty's


can anyone elaborate???


Ishan
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

Great looking guitar, love the way that top looks is that a 10 top? I am sure that once you get hold of it you'll give us a review. How much did you pay for it?
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

Ishan,
The standards are all mahogany with Dragon 2 pickups on the 22 model and Vintage Bass/ HFS on the 24. McCartys have a thicker body, vintage tuners, usually a maple top (McCarty Standards are all mahogany), and McCarty humbuckers (or P-90s). Generally McCartys have a fatter more midrangey tone.
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

Very nice, TC. I'm not normally big into Royal Blue but that guitar shore is purty. :)
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

The McCarty sounds a tad fatter and fuller than the CU22, but those Dragon II pickups are pretty nice from the few I've played. No reason to change those! J Lagrassa has a McCarty and has had many pickups in that guitar - he might be a good source also.

The McCarty has the same wide/fat neck as many of the CU22s but the addition of the Kluson tuners adds a nice bit of resonance to the neck!
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

I love that color! How much? I think McCarties will prove to be PRS's "Classic."
The neck shape feels great in my hand. It seems that even though CE's and McCarties can have the 'wide fat' neck, the McCarties have a tad bit more of a soft V feel to them, which is ergonomically perfect IMO. Because the bodies are thicker, the emphasis moves from high mids to lower mids, closer to Gibson sound.
I've had a Custom 24, 2 Custom 22's, and 3 McCarties. Overall, the McCarties sound better on tape to me. I left my dark SB flametop bone stock, and love it.
On my teal black flametop, I added a zebra C-5/59 combo and a Tonepros adjustable bridge. That guitar sounds nice and beefy, and honestly makes me think it sounds better than my Gibsons, at times because of its articulation. The only thing I don't like about McCarties are the non adjustable tailpieces. They only work for 9s and 10's in standard tuning.....any other gauge or tuning and the intonation is impossible to set perfectly. I'm honestly surprised that PRS didn't switch over to their adjustable saddle tailpieces like they use on their hollowbodies.
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

Gear, I think you can get a McCarty to sound just as beefy and articulate with the stock pickups if you replace the electronics. I am going to replace the stock pots/caps and wiring with the kit from RS. Apparently this brightens up the tone, makes it hotter, and thicker. Might be cheaper than upgrading pickups.

Gear, I was told by a couple PRS gurus (store owners and repair techs) that the stock bridge will work as high as 11-52 and even a half step down.

Replace the stock pots/caps in your LP and watch the articulation go through the roof!!
 
Re: impulse PRS buy

Both my 22's have hybrid slinkys on them and tuned 1/2 step down and they are dead nut on. Straightest necks I've ever played was on my two previous PRS. I'm a Gibson guy at heart, but I cannot deny the level of craftmanship and quality in PRS guitars.

As for the price, I think I got a good deal ;)
 
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