Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

GreatOz said:
Good day,

I'm in the market for a PRS-ish HH guitar, but frankly do not want to spend the $4K-$5K on a new Core model. I was doing some reading up and I found another brand, Kiesel, who will do something very similar to what I want as far as finish and what-not.

This being said, if I can find a used PRS Core model, I would not mind that if I can find one in my price range, which is about $2200.
As far as the more personal specifics, I'm looking for a doublecut with an HH pickup configuration, somewhere between 24.5" to 25" scale length with a medium blue quilted maple top (aesthetic choice) preferably without a tremolo since I hardly use them, and a set neck. For those of you who are knowledgeable about both, which you would recommend and why?

Thanks,
GreatOz
Click to expand...
I have a 2000 PRS CUSTOM 24 I would sell, it is a dark purple quilt, purchase new ,very nice playing & looking guitar , I only played it for about 6 months =1 x per week , , I looked for the color for a long time before finding it, but didn't have a clue that it is a 25 '' scale, I have always played 24 3/4 '' and I have fret hand injuries , so it just sat in the case till 2010 till I loaned it to DON BARNES from 38 SPECIAL when he flew in to do a benefit , put it back in the case where is has been since, , just thought I would put it out there , good luck on finding what you want.
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

rammer69 said:
I have a 2000 PRS CUSTOM 24 I would sell, it is a dark purple quilt, purchase new ,very nice playing & looking guitar , I only played it for about 6 months =1 x per week , , I looked for the color for a long time before finding it, but didn't have a clue that it is a 25 '' scale, I have always played 24 3/4 '' and I have fret hand injuries , so it just sat in the case till 2010 till I loaned it to DON BARNES from 38 SPECIAL when he flew in to do a benefit , put it back in the case where is has been since, , just thought I would put it out there , good luck on finding what you want.
Click to expand...

Thank you for letting me know, but for the moment, I'm going to wait for now.
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

GreatOz said:
The funny thing is if I do decide to go with Kiesel, that is pretty-much my build, only with 22 frets. I don't really want another guitar with a tremolo. My Strat is my #1 and I like it on that specific guitar, but kinda don't like trems otherwise. They're not bad, just not my thing.
Click to expand...

That photo was a regular CT6 and a 22 fretter. I am used to a 24 fret DC and my 07 Custom 24 so--. Call Chris Hong over at Kiesel and chat with him on a build. Tell him Richard the guy with the Pink X 220 from Birmingham told you to call him. Just ran a pretty cool build on a CT6 with the hard tail in a flame top that was close to the specs I sent and it came in right at $2K with the hardshell case. If you don't go to nutty with options you can build a super nice mahogany neck and body flame top CT6 for between $1800 and 2100. Add say $300 or so for quilt and maybe a little more for a custom color like the candies.
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

Ended up going overbudget (lol, I can still afford it), but I went with a PRS McCarty 594 Semi-Hollow in River Blue.
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

ha! post pics when ya have it. betcha its sweet
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

I bet you love it, congrats on making a decision. Definitely post pictures once you get it!
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

As a side note, I notice that Kiesel does a lot of those 'shop walkthru' videos on Facebook lately...and they should be closed, shouldn't they?
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

not everywhere is closed
some of the mills around here are still open

and those videos may be older footage that they are just now getting around to editing
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

ehdwuld said:
not everywhere is closed
some of the mills around here are still open

and those videos may be older footage that they are just now getting around to editing
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought that, too..but he is reacting in real time to comments, and he is in California, which has some of the most strict SAH rules. I don't think a guitar company counts as essential.
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

GreatOz said:
Thanks for all the advice, for now I'm planning on going with the used PRS Core McCarty or PRS Custom 22 for many of the reasons y'all stated.
Click to expand...

I have never been excited by any PRS McCarty I've played. But I do own two Custom 22's. I play them all the time. They're my two favorites of my electric guitars.

However, mine both came with the Dragon II pickups and the 5 way rotary switch.

I felt that the PRS pickups were too strong for the 50's Les Paul (Duane Allman, Clapton, Beck...) kind of tone I was after.

I replaced the Dragon II's with Duncan Antiquitys and the 5 way rotary with a conventional 3 way selector switch like the McCarty uses.

My recommendation would be to shop for a used Custom 22 for a great price. Then do the pickup swap I did.
 
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Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

I only took one picture so far.
mccartyhome-smaller.jpg
The next day that it is clear outside, I will take more that will really do the guitar justice. I don't have enough light inside lol
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

GreatOz said:
I only took one picture so far.
View attachment 104323
The next day that it is clear outside, I will take more that will really do the guitar justice. I don't have enough light inside lol
Click to expand...

Wow, that is amazing!! Hows the sound? How would you compare the sound to something like a 335?
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

To be honest, I don't have much experience with 335s. The sound IS top-tier though.

I'm digging the semi-hollow which is one of the reasons I bought it; it has maybe a slightly breathier sound (slightly mid-scooped) to it compared to other HH solid body instruments that I've had/played, but that may be due to the pickups. Normally, I would replace pickups at some point, but I don't feel the need to or want to with this guitar. I think the pickups, which are the 58/15 LTs, are good as is. My Warmoth Strat, which has STKs (S7 neck, S4M middle, and S6 bridge), actually keeps up volume-wise, something I was very surprised about, so I guess I won't need a pedal to push the Strat's output up to match it.

It is a good contrast with the Strat and they complement each other very well, which is exactly what I wanted them to do. One of the things this really taught me is how good of an instrument the Strat is. It easily competes with the McCarty for sound and playability; the McCarty does have the better finish though. I wouldn't say either is "better" than the other, at least in my mind, it's more like they're both fantastic instruments, but truly excel at different things. The McCarty is smooth and sweet, but the Strat is more expressive and responsive. All in all, I really like this guitar and will hang on to it.

Also, the McCarty is LIGHT. Maybe 6 pounds. It's lighter than the Strat is lol.
 
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Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

Wow, nice guitar! Congrats.
I played a semi-hollow PRS SE Custom 22 last November. I really like it, doesn't sound like a 335 at all, more like a breathier solid body. 85/15s pickups sounded very good also.
 
Re: Used PRS Core McCarty or new Kiesel CT6?

Kiesel is a leader in innovation. So Kiesel.
ooppss so you made your call.... well .. i wish you well played man! looks nice
 
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