I need help in my decision
- Thread starter EpixDE
- Start date
Tony M.
New Member
Welcome to the forum.
You can do both at once. No decision needed.
The S2 McCarty 594 thinline is the PRS version of the Gibson SG.
That being said and having been an SG player for over 50 years,
at this point in time I would lean towards the PRS.
I still own 3 SGs and they are very good guitars indeed but
at this point in time PRS is just dong a better job making guitars.
The dollar to quality ratio between the 2 brands heavily favors PRS.
You can do both at once. No decision needed.
The S2 McCarty 594 thinline is the PRS version of the Gibson SG.
That being said and having been an SG player for over 50 years,
at this point in time I would lean towards the PRS.
I still own 3 SGs and they are very good guitars indeed but
at this point in time PRS is just dong a better job making guitars.
The dollar to quality ratio between the 2 brands heavily favors PRS.
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CandidPicker
Tone Matters. Use It Well.
The folks on this forum will suggest the S2, for various reasons.
1) The Gibby will have neck dive (the headstock will feel weighted because of the heavier unbalanced neck/headstock)
2) The quality workmanship is more evident with a PRS S2.
3) The Gibby may require additional luthier work before you are happy with it (fret-leveling/rounding, intonations or truss rod adjustments)
4) The PRS S2 may cost slightly more initially, but you'll find the versatility of the S2 will make for a better instrument.
5) The Gibby will have brighter tone response that may not work well with certain amps. This may limit your choice of amp if perhaps you may need to choose one.
6) The S2 is amp-friendly no matter what amp you choose.
7) There's nothing wrong with owning a Gibby, except this is a PRS Forum that will encourage you to learn about all things PRS and lighten your wallet load.
8) The S2 covers just about all genres of music, save for acoustic, perhaps. PRS also makes SE model piezo-equipped guitars you may find might suit your tastes better.
9) "Better" is a subjective term, used when you feel your opinion outweighs someone else's.
10) Resale value is about the same if purchased new. Rule of thumb is that you can reasonably expect to receive 55 to 70% of your original purchase price, based on how well you've cared for your purchase.
11) Comfort is usually based on neck profile and weight, how much you like the feel of the neck vs hand fatigue and how heavy the guitar is over time. Weight can be mitigated with S2 semi-hollow options, not so much the Gibby.
P.S. Welcome to the PRS Forum.
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ViperDoc
Plugged In.
FIVE.NINE.FOUR.GONOW.
bodia
Authorities said.....best leave it.....unsolved
Good choice!
SinSir
Mad Scientist
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2020
- Messages
- 5,413
Good choice! As someone who is down to just one SG. I'd do the same. I'm good with one SG but not one PRS
Draconomics
Fearless Papa of The Brethren of the Crust
PRS S2 vs a SG? Well, it depends. If you want to convert it to a headless guitar down the road, SG all the way.
I've got a vintage '65 SG that's been in my family since new. I haven't played it for more than a few minutes since getting into PRS.
I've been a PRS player since 1991. So, I've played the SG for a few minutes, total, in 29 years. The new ones hardly compare tonally to a '65. All of which says something to me about which guitars I'd choose over a new SG.
My SG is currently hanging out with my vintage guitar enthusiast son. I think you made the right call.
I've been a PRS player since 1991. So, I've played the SG for a few minutes, total, in 29 years. The new ones hardly compare tonally to a '65. All of which says something to me about which guitars I'd choose over a new SG.
My SG is currently hanging out with my vintage guitar enthusiast son. I think you made the right call.
RickP
Established 1960, Still Not Dead
I’ve got an SGJ, and I could make do on it if I had to. The neck on the one I have is huge, and accordingly, it rarely gets out of the gig bag. It was acquired from a close friend, so I won’t sell it... always a reminder of a great friendship. I don’t have a S2 594, but I do have three of the core models And they are all masterful instruments. Were I in the market for an SG, I’d either get the CME Custom one (the olive drab color is awesome) or an S2 594, they are about the same price. An SGJ would not be in the top 10 SG options.
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Tahlee
Tollywood Rhode Island
I have a 1976 SG Custom. It was my number one for many years. I’ve owned it for about 25 or 30 years. It’s tattooed on my forearm, nine inches long. I still have it. Oh, and Dweezil Zappa signed it. He was so nice. After I came home from meeting him, I was really excited about it and my wife said that she thinks I might be gay now. I’m not. It didn’t take. Hahahaha
That being said, I don’t like playing it anymore because of the major neck dive. The McCarty is very well balanced. I have two of them. The Mira is another model that is similar to an SG. Also, the build quality and the feel of a PRS is far superior to Gibson. That is not an attack. I am simply stating what I’ve experienced. I even had a $5000 Gibson Ace Frehley Custom that was just...meh. I ended up trading it for a 1981 Corvette.
That being said, I don’t like playing it anymore because of the major neck dive. The McCarty is very well balanced. I have two of them. The Mira is another model that is similar to an SG. Also, the build quality and the feel of a PRS is far superior to Gibson. That is not an attack. I am simply stating what I’ve experienced. I even had a $5000 Gibson Ace Frehley Custom that was just...meh. I ended up trading it for a 1981 Corvette.
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Well, of those two guitars mentioned, only one of them ever had something nicknamed "the fatal flaw".
It was an original design flaw which caused the neck of the guitar suddenly fall off the body. Not enough tenon surface area or something like that and then to make it worse, further weakening when the body was routed for the neck pickup. Sometimes even in the factory while hanging on the assembly line the body would fall off leaving the neck just hanging there. But I'm told Gibson has since fixed the SG design.
If you like the idea of an SG, why not get a "S2 McCarty 594 Thinline" instead?
DISTORT6
NJ Devil
My ‘08 Mira is my “SG”. 
sergiodeblanc
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2012
- Messages
- 28,605
Used to love SG’s... but, c’mon.
This! (Even though I just sold my Mira
)
My ‘08 Mira is my “SG”.
This! (Even though I just sold my Mira
)
Draconomics
Fearless Papa of The Brethren of the Crust
Here ya go. That S2 should be lookin like a real fine choice now.
bodia
Authorities said.....best leave it.....unsolved
Tahlee
Tollywood Rhode Island
Here ya go. That S2 should be lookin like a real fine choice now.
Someone must have snapped the headstock off and this is how they salvaged the guitar. Pretty clever. But ugly.
Draconomics
Fearless Papa of The Brethren of the Crust
If I recall right, the dude that did this had the headstock snap off twice, and finally it was a total loss. With nothing to lose, he did this. I love the SG body shape but half the people i know that have owned one have had the head snap off.
