Hello,
Forgive me if it’s been asked before, but was hoping some people could weigh in on their opinions of the older McCarty 594s vs the post-2020 ones with the updates / changes. I’m aware the main differences are nitro finish, TCI Pickups, tuners, and maybe the bridge. Do you think a used 2020 one would be worth $500+ more than a 2017 used one? Thanks
2020+ 594's are slightly different a 'revised' 594 if you want incorporating 'minor' tweaks inc a change in Finish (Nitro over CAB), Vintage non-locking tuners and the TCI process applied to the 58/15 LT's.
I have a 2016 594 DC and a 2019 (2020 spec without the Vintage Tuners) 594 HBii DC but I can't tell you what 'difference' the 'new' TCI process or Finish makes because you have subtle differences between guitars due to the 'natural' materials used, there is a difference between a Solid body and Hollowbody tone etc and I also have a 2018 HBiii with 58/15 LT's too but can't tell if the subtle difference in tone is related to the TCI process, different finish, different scale length, different bridge etc...
The only way to tell if a guitar is 'worth' paying more for to you is to try both together and decide if one sounds, plays and/or feels that much better that to you, its worth paying more. You may prefer the older style - even if its for something as simple as 'locking tuners' - not that it makes any difference to tuning stability if you know how to wind strings properly but does make string changes a bit quicker/easier. But that may influence your decision as swapping to locking tuners will make the 'newer' model even more expensive.
Anyway, the point is unless you yourself try these guitars, you'll never know whether you could of saved money on the 'older' version or maybe should have paid more for the newer version - that difference in price could be more down to condition/age too of course, more than the difference in specs. But I can't tell you if you will be 'happier' with the older or newer spec as that is only something you can decide - but I can tell you that they are superb instruments and if you really don't like one, you'll not find one you do like regardless - at least not 'stock spec' because they are incredibly similar and consistent.