1999 McRosie Fret ends/glue disappearing

[CaptainK1993]

Hello All,

I recently acquired my third PRS guitar and first McCarty. 1999 McRosie with an Amber tiger flame top IRW neck.

I have an 07 BRW emerald CU22 that is great, but with this McCarty I have found my number one . Used to own a sc250 Matteo artist that I regret selling.

The guitar plays and sounds fantastic with the stock pickups. The neck is just a hair slimmer than my cu22 and feels excellent.

The only issues so far are needing a new nut as the high e buzzes slightly when open, and when I put a piece of foil in the nut slot it completely went away.

Long story short, underneath the edges of the frets on the bass side appear to have some gaps under the fret wire. Almost like the super glue in the channel has disintegrated over the past two decades. None of the frets are lifted, it is just on the edges underneath the teeth of the frets.

Is this normal? How soon do you think I will need a refret, or can this be fixed without a refret? I couldn't immediately find any posts like this exact issue.

Thank you in advance for your help, this forum has helped me out so much over the past few years.

 

[dmatthews]

Here's both sides of my 2001 McRosie.
Seems OK I think.

 

[CaptainK1993]

This looks extremely similar to mine. So the 7th fret has that little space under the fret edge. Where there was glue or some filler. I also haven't had a problem I was just curious as my 07 does not look later or this at all.

 

[CaptainK1993]

I am posting my 3rd post so I can add a picture link.

 

[CaptainK1993]

 

[CaptainK1993]

 

[dmatthews]

Beautiful axe!
Well I've had no issues with mine play or wear wise. Should be fine.
Here's mine...

 

[WEDGE]

I miss my McRosie(s).

 

[Herr Squid]

That fret situation doesn't look unusual to me.

 

[Boogie]

That’s normal. Pay no attention to it. As long as it plays great, that’s only a nit to pick. And with a beautiful guitar like that, you need to focus your energies on the positive aspects. Welcome to the forums!

 

[CaptainK1993]

Thanks to everyone for the welcome to the forum and great advice. I guess the phrase "if it ain't broke don't fix it" applies here.

I was really surprised at how awesome the stock McCarty pickups are. Not muddy or dark sounding at all, they are very articulate and versatile. The bridge to me seems somewhere in between the hfs and dragon ii. Although I only had a hog guitar with the hfs, so maybe that is not a fair comparison. My dragon ii bridge is definitely darker sounding than the McCarty treble. Pickup and pole piece height are almost identical on both my guitars.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Hi @CaptainK1993 welcome to the forum. Stunning guitar.

As Boogie says, this doesn’t look like anything to be concerned about.

You’re probably aware that when the fret slot is cut, it is deeper than the fret tangs.

During finishing the gap is filled (on the side of the neck) It looks like the filler has dropped out, probably due to the neck drying, as it is 20+ years old.

As long as the fret has not risen above the board you’ll be OK.

You may get away with the frets being stoned, to get rid of the wear. I did for several years on a non PRS instrument, which I gifted (edit - gigged) a lot.

Enjoy the heck out of that beauty!

 

[Alan Manning]

Congrats and welcome. That's a beauty. as you mentioned If it ain't broke don't fix it.
As Boogie's quote.!!! Ti's but a flesh wound.!!! enjoy.

 

[bodia]

Man, that’s a great looking axe. Congrats, and welcome to the forum.

 

[gush]

Welcome, nice guitar there!!!

 

[CaptainK1993]

Hi @CaptainK1993 welcome to the forum. Stunning guitar.

As Boogie says, this doesn’t look like anything to be concerned about.

You’re probably aware that when the fret slot is cut, it is deeper that the fret tangs.

During finishing the gap is filled. It looks like the filler has dropped out, probably due to the neck drying, as it is 20+ years old.

As long as the fret has not risen above the board you’ll be OK.

You may get away with the frets being stoned, to get rid of the wear. I did for several years on a non PRS instrument, which I gifted a lot.

Enjoy the heck out of that beauty!

Thank you so much for the insight!

 

[CaptainK1993]

This is my former #1

 

[Alnus Rubra]

This is my former #1

That should be an equal no.1, that is saweeeet!!

 

[dmatthews]

This is my former #1

KILLER!!

 

[danktat]

That fiddle is completely ruined. I suggest you send it to me immediately and get yourself another one more suited to daily play