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SKU PRS-SC594-MCCARTYBURST

PRS Paul Reed Smith McCarty 594 Singlecut Guitar, McCarty Sunburst

$4,100.00
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Player's Perspective

Who doesn't love a simple, yet sophisticated singlecut, double-humbucker, classic burst design? This beautiful PRS McCarty 594 Singlecut has a particularly gorgeous top that we would normally expect to see on their 10-Top guitars, and the McCarty Sunburst finish makes it even more reminiscent of the legendary '59-style axe that the 594 pays homage to.

After Paul Reed Smith befriended and picked the brain of guitar pioneer Ted McCarty, the first PRS McCarty models came out in 1994. They incorporated many of the subtle but essential build techniques that Ted used to create some of the best electric guitars the world has played. After a brief hiatus from the core PRS lineup, the McCarty is back!

It's a straightforward but effective design that embodies that classic mahogany body/dual humbucker sweetness with slinkiness from the shorter scale length, all in a body shape that will be familiar for vintage guitar enthusiasts and single-cut players alike. The back is a little thicker for increased tone and sustain, and two of Paul Reed Smith's best new vintage pickups pump out radiant sound in every register. This is a player's axe that's built to be played day after day, and carries on the legacy of the electric guitar's history. 

Item Specifics

The McCarty family of guitars are born from passion and precision: built passionately to embody vintage appointments and tone while utilizing the precision of PRS’s modern manufacturing techniques. Whether you are looking for rich, authentic humbucking tones or nuanced, sweet single-coil sounds, the McCarty Singlecut 594 can seamlessly master both sonic territories thanks to the 58/15 LT pickups and push/pull coil taps on the tone controls. The electronics layout, a few key specifications, and PRS craftsmanship combine in the McCarty Singlecut 594 to create an instrument that plays in tune, is intonated the entire length of the neck, and feels like a guitar that you’ve been playing forever.

The McCarty Singlecut 594 has been meticulously spec’d to deliver a familiar feel and warm, vintage tone, featuring a bound, 22-fret, 24.594” scale length Pattern Vintage neck, a slightly thicker back for enhanced tone and sustain, and 58/15 LT treble and bass pickups, which have now been through the TCI (tuned capacitance and inductance) process. 58/15 LT pickups offer exceptional clarity, focused midrange, and vintage character. The McCarty Singlecut 594 model is anchored by a zinc two-piece stoptail bridge with brass saddles and studs for added resonance and vintage-style tuners.

“One of my sayings is that everything that touches the string is God – well, that’s really the bridge, the nut, and the tuners. The updates to the McCarty family make a huge difference in their tone. The guitar sustains longer and the tone has more character,” said Paul Reed Smith.

For 2020, PRS has updated this model with TCI-tuned pickups and nitro over celluose (CAB) finish.

In the late 1980’s, Paul Reed Smith called on Ted McCarty to consult with him on guitar design and production techniques. He not only served as a mentor but became a great friend of Paul and everyone he met at PRS. In 1994, PRS released the first McCarty, an instrument that incorporated the full spectrum of techniques and knowledge Paul had gained from Ted as well as his own experiences as a guitar builder.

Pattern Neck Shapes
Neck shapes have always been a high priority for PRS and a hallmark of our quality. A guitar should feel comfortable, like "home," as soon as you pick it up, and the neck is paramount to that connection. These new neck shapes reflect modern tooling and programming that allows us to even more preciously shape and consistently reproduce our necks.

The Pattern Vintage neck has the same width measurements as PRS's Pattern neck but is slightly thicker front to back and features an asymmetrical carve with a little less meat on the bass side of the neck toward the nut end and a little less meat on the treble side of the neck from the twelfth fret to the heel.

It’s All in the Details: TCI-Tuned Pickups and Nitro Finish
Paul Reed Smith is known as a man who studies history, scrutinizes the details, and never stops applying what he learns to his own instruments. It is that passion, care, and tenacity that has permeated PRS Guitars’ culture and led to the constant evolution of PRS products. Last year, PRS announced TCI (tuned capacitance and inductance) pickups on the Paul’s Guitar. But, TCI is more than a pickup, it’s a process. That process has now been applied to all PRS pickups offered on our Core line of instruments, with the exception of a few artist Signature models.

“TCI stands for Tuned Capacitance Inductance. When you wind a pickup, the coils are capacitors, resistors, and inductors simultaneously. Our more refined ability to be able to tune those factors is what we have incorporated into TCI pickups,” said Paul Reed Smith. “To our ears, the results are very musical. We are very proud of how far we’ve come in the understanding and making of pickups. It’s been a fun process.”

PRS is also updating the finish system in their Maryland factory. PRS has been known to tweak its finish formulations and processes, always looking to provide a great sounding, feeling, and looking guitar while maintaining a repeatable, quality-driven manufacturing process. This new nitro finish is a variation of PRS’s Private Stock high-gloss nitro with a cellulose CAB basecoat. The resulting finish is thin, hard, and clear – all qualities that help make a resonant, musical instrument that feels great.

“When you pick up a guitar with this finish, you can immediately feel that it’s not taking away from the guitar’s energy. It’s feels organic - like a classic, vintage guitar; it’s clear and does not hinder the figure or color of the instrument, and it sinks very little over time.” said Paul Reed Smith.

Specifications

BODY

  • Model: McCarty Singlecut 594
  • Color: McCarty Sunburst
  • Top: Flame Maple
  • Body: Mahogany
  • Binding: Natural

NECK

  • Construction: Set Neck
  • Fretboard: East Indian Rosewood
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fretboard Binding: Parchment
  • Scale Length: 24.594"
  • Fretboard Radius: 10"
  • Neck Profile: Pattern Vintage - 1 11/16" width and 57/64" depth at nut
  • Inlays: Birds
  • Frets: 22

ELECTRONICS

  • Pickups: 58/15LT Humbuckers
  • Control Knobs: 2x Volume, 2x Tone
  • Pickup Selector: 3-Way Toggle Switch

HARDWARE

  • Bridge: PRS 2-Piece Zinc Cast
  • Tuners: Vintage Style

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Case: Black Tolex Hardshell
  • Serial #: 0359485
  • Instrument Weight: 8.8 lbs.

Overall Condition

Music Store Live is proud to be an authorized dealer for Paul Reed Smith. This McCarty Singlecut 594 is 100% brand new and is being sold with a full manufacturer's warranty. Photos are of the exact guitar you'll receive.

Our in-house guitar tech will inspect, test, set up, and clean all of our instruments on site prior to shipping. All of our instruments are guaranteed to be fully functional upon arrival.

If you still haven't found what you're looking for, we are more than happy to help you custom order your next instrument. Our PRS experts can help guide you in purchasing a new SE, S2, CORE guitar, or even your very own Private Stock. Message us for details!