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A Legacy of Innovation

Named after Ted McCarty, a pioneer of the electric guitar and musical instrument industry, the McCarty model embodies the most up-to-date findings from PRS and looks back to the golden age of the guitar. This vintage-appointed guitar features a bound, 22-fret Pattern neck and a slightly thicker back for enhanced tone and sustain. The PRS McCarty model is anchored by a stoptail bridge with brass inserts and non-locking PRS Phase III tuners with brass shafts for added resonance and sustain.

The PRS McCarty is outfitted with McCarty III treble and bass pickups. McCarty III pickups were spec’d by Paul Reed Smith and the PRS New Products Engineering team. From our own hands-on research into coveted vintage pickup models to advancements in signal analyzation and “tuning” technology, these pickups incorporate every detail of pickup knowledge PRS has gained in recent years of R&D. PRS McCarty III pickups are vintage-inspired humbuckers that bring a vocal clarity to their full, warm tone. Paired with a push/pull tone control and a 3-way toggle pickup switch, these pickups provide a complete palette of tones.

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 Paul’s own experiences as a guitar builder.

Featured Specifications

Specifications

Body
Body Construction Solidbody
Top Wood Maple
Back Wood Mahogany
Top Carve Violin
Neck
Number of Frets 22
Scale Length 25"
Neck Wood Mahogany
Neck Construction One-Piece
Truss Rod PRS Double-Acting
Neck Shape Pattern
Neck Depth at the 1/2 Fret 7/8"
Neck Depth at the 12 1/2 Fret 61/64"
Neck Width at the Nut 1 11/16"
Neck Width at the Body 2 1/4"
Fretboard Wood Rosewood w/ Faux Bone Binding
Fretboard Radius 10"
Fretboard Inlay Birds
Headstock Logo Signature, Inlaid
Neck/Body Assembly
Neck/Body Assembly Type Set
Finish
Finish Type High-Gloss Nitro
Hardware
Bridge PRS Stoptail w/ Brass Inserts
Tuners PRS Phase III Non-Locking Tuners w/ Wing Buttons
Hardware Type Nickel
Nut Bone
Truss Rod Cover "McCarty"
Electronics
Treble Pickup McCarty III
Bass Pickup McCarty III
Controls Volume and Push/Pull Tone Control w/ 3-Way Toggle Pickup Switch
Additional Info
Strings PRS Signature 10-46
Tuning Standard (6 String): E, A, D, G, B, E
Case Hardshell Case
Options 10 Top with Hybrid Hardware

Controls

Infographic showing switching positions for McCarty

McCarty - Controls Description

3-way toggle pickup switch:

Position 1 (down) - treble pickup

Position 2 - treble and bass pickups

Position 3 (up) - bass pickup

Coil-tap:

Down - humbucker mode

Up - single coil mode

Colors

Antique White Top (Opaque Top with Natural Back)

Antique White Top (Opaque Top with Natural Back)

Aurora Borealis

Aurora Borealis

Black Top (Opaque Top with Natural Back)

Black Top (Opaque Top with Natural Back)

Black Gold

Black Gold

Black Gold Wraparound Burst

Black Gold Wraparound Burst

Charcoal

Charcoal

Charcoal Burst

Charcoal Burst

Dark Cherry Sunburst

Dark Cherry Sunburst

Faded Blue Jean

Faded Blue Jean

Gold Top (Opaque Top with Natural Back)

Gold Top (Opaque Top with Natural Back)

Gray Black

Gray Black

McCarty Sunburst

McCarty Sunburst

McCarty Tobacco Sunburst

McCarty Tobacco Sunburst

Red Tiger

Red Tiger

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Accolades

"In all, the McCarty is a badass guitar and a superb choice for a lot of different styles. A welcome return indeed, and it earns an Editors’ Pick Award."

- Guitar Player

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