Tellme about these McCartys

[JeffB]

I'm unfam with this model from PRS.

Guy at work jes lmk about one going for a decent price locally

How do they differ from say a Custom 24? (other than the obvious like switch/pups/22 frets, etc) I've heard the bodies are thicker than a "normal" PRS..it has vintage style tuners,know it has a 3 way switch, etc.

Is it supposed to sound like a Les Paul? or is it def PRS-like?

 

[tone4days]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

well, you know all the factual feature differences ... i dont hear it as being exactly like a les paul, but it certainly fills in that direction (of course, with the coil tap, you get some nifty split sounds as well) ... the scale length is not the same as a les paul and the body doesnt feel as thick ... to my hands, the fingerboard is wider than a les paul ... great, deep tone

t4d

 

[Blueline]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

as above, however, they are 1/8 thicker than traditional prs
not that you'd notice the 1/8 unless i told you
the headstock is also a drop thicker

 

[tone4days]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

as above, however, they are 1/8 thicker than traditional prs
not that you'd notice the 1/8 unless i told you ..
the headstock is also a drop thicker

+1

s'funny you mention that ... i had heard about 'how much thicker' the McC is than a regular PRS ... so i was expecting quite a hunka wood when i opened the case ... when i saw the width, i thought to myself "damn, if this was any thinner it'd need a pointy headstock and some shark fin inlays" ...

not complaining, i am gettin old and every little bit of weight saved is a bit longer i can hold it onstage without getting back pain

i forgot to mention in my first post that i also think there is a bit of difference between the McC and LPs because of the single cut vs the double cut ... my guess is the LP is (on average) gonna have a touch more natural sustain and prominent lower mids

i'd like to see scott_f chime in here (in addition to lots of other guys who have first hand experience on both LPs and PRSs) to get more expert input

cheers
t4d

 

[JeffB]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

Thanx everyone for the info...

anyone else care to comment?

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

The McCarty is for the LP player that wants a PRS, or for the PRS player that wants a LP. It's definately a compromise.


Besides, if I was getting a PRS, I would go for a CU22 with a trem. :burnout:

 

[Blueline]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

you're right about the neck joint
mydouble cutaways (like prs) don't have as much bass response because of the shorter gluing surface

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

I'm a big fan of McCarties, and to be honest, if I had to live with one electric guitar for the rest of my life, it'd be a McCarty, even though I truly love LP's and Strats.
I've had a Custom 24, Custom 22, and Swampash Special, but my two current McCarties have the upper hand on those, IMO. Remember, Ted McCarty was the President of Gibson (as a young man), throughout Gibson's glory years. He was responsible for launching the Seth Lover PAF pickups, the Les Paul, the 335, Explorer, Flying V, Firebird etc etc etc. When he was hired by Paul Reed Smith in 93/94, he reversed all the negative aspects of the PRS that turned many players off to them. His changes are right on the money, and perfected the guitar. That's why it's PRS's "Classic" and also best seller. In my mind, the McCarty is the
"last great Gibson guitar", with the only difference being it's owned by PRS. Anyone who says the LP is a superior instrument doesn't know what they're talking about, because I've had a grip of Pauls and McCarties, and they're equals, yet slightly different. The McCarty has better string to string definition, a more ergonomic body, and more sensible electronic layout. The LP still has those great low mids and fat tone, but the McCarty has that same quality, only a bit more resonant sounding. If you know anything about the classic guitar market, you know that the LP, SG, 335, strat, tele, Martins, Rickenbachers, Gretsch Duojets, and PRS McCarty are the true classics.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

I recently compared an R6 (56ri Les Paul with p90s) to a McCarty Soapbar. What I found was the McCarty had a slightly more defined tone, whereas the R6 had a bit more lower-midrange thickness. The tonal differences were definitely dicernable, but the two guitars had much more in common than not. In terms of playability, the Gibson had a slightly slinkier feel due to the smaller scale length, but the PRS was superior in terms of overall weight, feel and ergonomics.

Overall, the McCarty is my fave PRS. I'm seriously considering swapping my CU22 for a McSoap...

 

[bloodswords]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

despite exuding a vintage vibe, maybe i'm the only one here who chose to embrace the McCarty as a tool for high gain work. yes, the McCarty features a pair of very polite humbuckers, but at high gain settings, these are able to retain single note definition which i believe is a forte of this guitar. on the day i went shopping, the McCarty was up head-to-head against a gold top LP Classic. i chose the McCarty because it's truly a great guitar & it offers better upper fret access than an average LP...

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

I always thought these were pretty cool guitars, it sucks how their image has been tainted by nu metal/modern rock guitar players like hoobstank, chavelle (insert modern band that sucks)

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

despite exuding a vintage vibe, maybe i'm the only one here who chose to embrace the McCarty as a tool for high gain work. yes, the McCarty features a pair of very polite humbuckers, but at high gain settings, these are able to retain single note definition which i believe is a forte of this guitar. on the day i went shopping, the McCarty was up head-to-head against a gold top LP Classic. i chose the McCarty because it's truly a great guitar & it offers better upper fret access than an average LP...

Personally, I think the McCarty stock pickups are the best out there, especially the neck pickup. Unfortunately, you can't mix Duncans with PRS pickups without flipping a magnet, so you've got to change both, if you feel the need for a pickup change. I've kept one of mine stock, but added a
C-5/59 in zebra to my teal black McCarty. That's a really good pickup set for McCarties, but it's a bit heavier than the stock pickups. I don't really care that the nu-metal guys favor PRS's. I think the reason you see so many of those bands using McCarties and Singlecuts is because they have the beefy chunk of Les Pauls, but the articulation is better when tuned lower, partially because of the longer string length, but also the resonant wood.
For some reason, the tone doesn't fall apart under high gain, like a lot of other guitars.

 

[Dom L]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

Unfortunately, you can't mix Duncans with PRS pickups without flipping a magnet, so you've got to change both, if you feel the need for a pickup change.

This is only the case when dealing with the 5 way rotary. When installing in a 3 way toggle it should be a drop in. Yo may have to flip the wiring but not the magnet
Dom L

 

[JeffB]

Re: Tellme about these McCartys

Thanf for the info everyone...much to ponder...I'm gonna go play it this w/e.