hymnsandharmonies
New Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2018
- Messages
- 4
Hello all,
I was lurking here for a few weeks trying to do some research on a potential purchase (nice forum btw, seems like a really solid and supportive community) and after some negotiations went my way, today I bought what has for a long time been my dream guitar; a 1999 McCarty Archtop II.
This is my first PRS and WOW am I in love with this guitar. I'm 30 years old and have always been a huge fan of PRS, but never bought one because I was so much more focused on acoustic/nylon guitar and other styles (and honestly, their cost was a major factor as well.) I'm finally in the family and it feels amazing, it really does.
I have some practical questions for you guys:
1. The guy I bought it from had it strung with .11 flatwounds. I'm taking it to my tech on Monday and am definitely switching over to roundwounds, but I'm really torn on whether to stick with .11's or go with .10's (not really interested in going to .12's or .13's.) I kind of want this to be my "go-to" guitar for all things electric so that's why I'm leaning towards .10's, buuuuut I would like to keep some of the warmth and tone that the heavier strings will bring combined with the archtop's resonance.
Does anyone here have experience setting hollowbodies/archtops up with .10's and .11's? Will .10's be too slinky and counter-intuitive to the nature of having an archtop? I'd like to go with .10's but I'm worried I'll set it up with them and not be happy with the sound afterwards. Maybe set it up with mixed-gauges? Idk...
2. What are the general characteristics of PRS Archtop pickups (bright/warm, hot/not, etc?) There's not much information out there... I know playing it and finding out for myself is the obvious answer but I really just want to know what these pickups compare to if I end up wanting to change/upgrade them later on.
I have several more questions but those are the two big ones that are on my mind now. Thanks in advance for any feedback, I look forward to being an active member of this forum.
Enjoy some pics -
I was lurking here for a few weeks trying to do some research on a potential purchase (nice forum btw, seems like a really solid and supportive community) and after some negotiations went my way, today I bought what has for a long time been my dream guitar; a 1999 McCarty Archtop II.
This is my first PRS and WOW am I in love with this guitar. I'm 30 years old and have always been a huge fan of PRS, but never bought one because I was so much more focused on acoustic/nylon guitar and other styles (and honestly, their cost was a major factor as well.) I'm finally in the family and it feels amazing, it really does.
I have some practical questions for you guys:
1. The guy I bought it from had it strung with .11 flatwounds. I'm taking it to my tech on Monday and am definitely switching over to roundwounds, but I'm really torn on whether to stick with .11's or go with .10's (not really interested in going to .12's or .13's.) I kind of want this to be my "go-to" guitar for all things electric so that's why I'm leaning towards .10's, buuuuut I would like to keep some of the warmth and tone that the heavier strings will bring combined with the archtop's resonance.
Does anyone here have experience setting hollowbodies/archtops up with .10's and .11's? Will .10's be too slinky and counter-intuitive to the nature of having an archtop? I'd like to go with .10's but I'm worried I'll set it up with them and not be happy with the sound afterwards. Maybe set it up with mixed-gauges? Idk...
2. What are the general characteristics of PRS Archtop pickups (bright/warm, hot/not, etc?) There's not much information out there... I know playing it and finding out for myself is the obvious answer but I really just want to know what these pickups compare to if I end up wanting to change/upgrade them later on.
I have several more questions but those are the two big ones that are on my mind now. Thanks in advance for any feedback, I look forward to being an active member of this forum.
Enjoy some pics -
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