McCarty necks?

[mrjamiam]

I think I recall reading here in the HFC forums somewhere a recollection of a change in the neck size of the PRS McCarty.  I've RTFF, and used the handy-dandy search feature, but I can't seem to find it.

As I recall, the poster said that the initial/early McCarty necks were wide and fat, but at some point they got smaller, or at least variable.  Can anyone confirm, or correct?  I've had McCarty GAS for a while, and I'm looking a little more seriously now than I have before.  That model has been available for quite a while, and there is always a wide variety offered for sale.  I'd like to have some confidence that I'm looking in the right segment (90's with dots/moons) if I want a fat neck.

Anybody?

[bubs_42]

They use the Term "FAT", but if your looking for anything like a 58 or 59 neck this is not it. They are a "FULL" neck that is how I would explain it. Great Tapper, nice handful, very comfortable. I have a 94 and it has a great neck with a little shoulder, Dragan has a 95 Namm Guitar and it has the same neck. I had a 96 that I sold to one of Dragan's Bandmates and the neck had a little less shoulder, but the change was slight. Now one thing that I would say is that the 96 did not have the McCarty Pickups, and my 94 doesn't either. Dragans has the original pups with the rounded covers and his guitar is the benchmark for McCarty Tone. I drove up close to his house when I picked up my second one (Which is an hour away from me) and drove straight to his house to compare. Just about every time i've swapped the pickups i've taken it back to compare. Every McCarty i've picked up the necks are pretty damn close and consistent. The EARLY ones differ but it is really slight. If you don't know the difference you won't. We also played 3 McCartys at CME about a month back and the necks were all familiar. Those were early/mid 2000's. 

[django49]

They complicated things by changing from "regular", "wide/fat", etc to what they now call "Pattern". Following are their own specs on the differences.

To complicate things slightly more, their "latest and greatest" is a McCarty 594, which has set off a lot of raves. I have NOT tried one, so cannot give an opinion, other than to say a lot of people seem to be scrambling to get one. One thing to note, however, is they have an "asymetrical" neck that is just a bit thicker on the bass side. (There are several other "tweaks" that set the fanboys in a lather). Suffice to say that if you want "Les Paul-ish" in a PRS look/playability/quality control, it might be worth checking out. But as a new model, don't expect to find "deals" on used ones.

http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/neckprofiles.html

[atquinn]

Why get a McCarty when you could get a Hamer Studio? But, yes, as far as neck size, what they said?

-

Austin

[mrjamiam]

8 hours ago, atquinn said:

Why get a McCarty when you could get a Hamer Studio? But, yes, as far as neck size, what they said?

I've got a Studio!  And it's McCarty GAS.  I don't ask why.

Thanks for the responses.  I'm not going to fight the fans for a new one, and I'm guessing I can't count on Guitar Center to load up and blow them out again, so I'm stuck with the used market.  Not easy to find something acceptable in the sub-$1k range, but lots available at $1k-$2k just about wherever I look.

[bubs_42]

I bought both of mine for $1100. 96 was closet classic condition and the 94 is a road dog. I'd like to get a 94/95 Standard McCarty.Good luck with your search. 

[ArnieZ]

Why GAS for a McCarty? The DGT variant of the McCarty seems to gather even greater respect. This may have changed since PRS upped their pickup game!

ArnieZ

[atquinn]

2 hours ago, ArnieZ said:

Why GAS for a McCarty? The DGT variant of the McCarty seems to gather even greater respect. This may have changed since PRS upped their pickup game!

ArnieZ

I have a DGT and it is mighty fine! (third time was the charm :D) Perfect complement to my Studio Custom.

-

Austin

[BubbaVO]

10 minutes ago, atquinn said:

I have a DGT and it is mighty fine! (third time was the charm :D) Perfect complement to my Studio Custom.

-

Austin

I've heard nothing but praise for those DGTs.

[bruce919]

The DGT neck a very narrow (width) compared to the 97 era McCarty I use to have.

[atquinn]

8 minutes ago, bruce919 said:

The DGT neck a very narrow (width) compared to the 97 era McCarty I use to have.

The McCarty's have a wide-fat (or nowadays, pattern) neck. The wide-fat and wide-thin nut width is 11/16". The DGT has the same nut width as the regular carve, which is 1.65". Which happens to be the same nut width as my 2 Suhrs. And my Hamer Studio Custom. Score!

-

Austin

[mrjamiam]

I have heard the DGT love here, but isn't it a trem bridge design?  I like the wraptail.

[django49]

It is hard to find anything negative to say about any DGT I have touched. There are some with hardtails, but not typically.

Back on McCartys, there have been many different iterations. I was not a fan of the earlier ones, in no small part because their pickups have been improved so much in recent years (more or less since 2008, though it depends upon the model).  I am especially keen on the McCarty Singlecuts.This one has "sweetened" versions of the 57/08 pickups. I would stack it up against pretty much any similar (singlecut) guitar I have ever played.