The McCarty 594 first showed up as PRS' "Private Stock Guitar of the Month" in February 2016. It was an instant hit, and PRS were bombarded with emails asking for a Core version that would be a bit more affordable and available all year round. This is that Core model McCarty 594 that everyone asked for - and it's just as spectacular as you might have expected.
McCarty History
The original PRS McCarty launched in 1994, inspired by the legendary Ted McCarty who built some of the world's most iconic guitars in the '50s and '60s. He served as a mentor for Paul Reed Smith and helped to form some of the great guitars that PRS are so renowned for today.
Modified McCarty Construction
The McCarty is well-known for being a bit bigger than a standard PRS, with a thicker back and a fatter, more vintage-inspired neck profile. This altered version of the PRS McCarty 594 is a little bit different, with a new "Pattern Vintage" neck profile that is as wide as PRS' regular Pattern neck but slightly thicker with an asymmetrical carve. This means that up at the treble side you'll have less material in the way, while on the bass end you're provided with a chunkier and more supportive feel.
The modified scale length is actually the biggest change to the neck. Previous McCarty models used more typical PRS scale lengths, such as 25" or 24.5". The McCarty 594 is a little bit different at 24.594" - hence its name. Increasing string tension ever so slightly over the 24.5" scale for improved note clarity, the McCarty 594 still offers a '50s single-cut kind of response.
Low Turn Pickups
PRS's 58/15 pickups are a great choice for guitarists who want all of that classic PAF tone, but with a bit of extra heat. In the PRS McCarty 594, there's a pair of the new LT ("Low Turn") versions which have fewer pickup winds, resulting in a lower output level better-suited to clean and mid-gain blues/rock styles. The added versatility of push/pull coil taps for each pickup gives you even more tonal options too!
Specifications
Body
- Top Wood: Flame Maple
- Back Wood: One-Piece Mahogany
Neck
- Number of Frets: 22
- Scale Length: 24.594"
- Neck Wood: Mahogany
- Fretboard Wood: Rosewood with Binding
- Fretboard Inlays: Birds
- Neck Shape: Pattern Vintage
- Truss Rod Cover: "McCarty 594"
Hardware
- Bridge: PRS 2-Piece Stoptail
- Tuners: PRS Phase III Locking Tuners
- Hardware Type: Nickel
Electronics
- Treble Pickup: 58/15 LT Treble
- Bass Pickup: 58/15 LT Bass
- Controls: Two Volume and Two Push/Pull Tone Controls with 3-Way Toggle Pickup Switch on Upper Bout
