Need some McCarty help

[dragmeaway]

Hello everyone. Being a grown-up has taken the time I used to devote to my PRS, so I'm going to sell my guitar. It's been in storage (coffin case w/ strings loosened) for 6 years now. I'm looking for help/direction on the following:

1. What is a fair expectation of what I should ask or expect to receive for the guitar?
2. I am bothered by some wear on the bridge and pickup covers. It seems like silver that's faded (if that makes sense). I hope the pics do it justice because I'm not sure how to treat it.
3. What route should I use to ship the guitar to avoid damage? Anyone had success through a certain company that they could pass along?

Thank for any info or time you can give me. I freely admit I don't know anything about this stuff.

Pics at photobucket link:
http://s1323.beta.photobucket.com/user/prsguitarpics/library/

 

[garrett]

Firstly, what can we do to talk you back into playing again? Playing guitar can be a rewarding hobby to help give you a break from the pressures of being a grown-up.

If you absolutely insist on selling...

1. I think price discussions are verboten on this forum, so don't expect to get any numbers here. My advice is the same anyway, and that's to watch eBay auctions on similar guitars for a while to see what the sellers are asking and, more importantly, what they're actually selling for.

2. Looks typical based on the pics. The nickel finish tarnishes. Doesn't bother some people, but it can be polished out to make it shiny again.

3. UPS, FedEx, USPS. They each have people (some very vocal) who love them and people who hate them. Truth is they're all pretty good (or bad), so just make sure it's packed well and insured.

That's a nice looking older McCarty. I hope you change your mind and start enjoying it again.

 

[cjmwrx]

+1 on Ebay.

Also, Guitar Center's used web site can be a good gauge on used values.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Selling the guitar kills the dream. Keep it!

That said, the advice (above) is solid.

 

[Proxmax]

i'd keep it.
for your price request best look at some completed listing on ebay, like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRS-Paul-Re...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[dragmeaway]

I apologize for breaking forum rules. It's my fault I didn't read ahead on the pricing rule. I appreciate the feedback and help. The auctions go for around what I expected so thanks for the links.

I would love to keep it, but time is short and I feel the money would be better in the kids college fund then in the guitar.

Thanks again everyone!

*one last question*

How can I tell from the serial number what year it was made? I want to include this in the listing.

 

[docbennett]

How can I tell from the serial number what year it was made? I want to include this in the listing.

Here you go.....from the PRS support site...

[h=1]Year Identification / Serial Numbers[/h] [h=1]Excerpt from The PRS Guitars Book, written by Dave Burrluck[/h] [h=2]Serial Number Year-Code Prefix[/h] All guitars and basses have serial numbers which start with a year prefix. The prefix is the last one or two digits of the production year, and it applies to all models below.
[TABLE="class: year"]
[TR]
[TD="class: top, width: 250"]Prefix Number[/TD]
[TD="class: toptwo, colspan: 3, align: center"]Year or Years[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]0[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"][/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1990[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]1[/TD]
[TD="class: even"][/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1991[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2001[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]2[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"][/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1992[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2002[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]3[/TD]
[TD="class: even"][/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1993[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2003[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]4[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"][/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1994[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2004[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]5[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1985[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1995[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]6[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1986[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1996[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]7[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1987[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1997[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2007[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]8[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1988[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1998[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]9[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1989[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1999[/TD]
[TD="class: even"] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]08[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"][/TD]
[TD="class: odd"][/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2008[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]09[/TD]
[TD="class: even"][/TD]
[TD="class: even"][/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2009[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]10[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"][/TD]
[TD="class: odd"][/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2010[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]11[/TD]
[TD="class: even"][/TD]
[TD="class: even"][/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2011[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[h=2]Set-Neck Serial Numbers[/h] The serial number of a set-neck model is located on the back of the guitar’s headstock.

After the year prefix, the remaining digits indicate the sequential order of set neck models built.
[TABLE="class: year"]
[TR]
[TD="class: top, width: 291"]Approximate Serial Numbers[/TD]
[TD="class: toptwo, width: 103, align: center"]Year [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]0001 - 0400[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1985[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]0401 - 1700[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1986[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]1701 - 3500[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1987[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]3501 - 5400[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1988[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]5401 - 7600[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1989
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]7601 - 10100 [/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]10101 - 12600[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1991[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]12601 - 15000[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1992[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]15001 - 17900[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1993[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]17901 - 20900[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1994[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]20901 - 24600[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1995[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]24601 - 29500[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1996[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]29501 - 34600[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1997[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]34601 - 39100[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1998[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]39101 - 44499[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1999[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]44500 - 52199[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]52200 - 62199[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2001[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]62200 - 72353[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2002[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]72354 - 82254[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2003[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]82255 - 92555[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2004[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]92556 - 103103 [/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]103104 - 114999[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]115000 - 128400[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2007[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]128401 - 143000[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2008[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]143001 - 157200[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2009[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]157201 - 169000[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2010[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]169001 - [/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2011[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[h=2]CE Models[/h] [TABLE="class: year"]
[TR]
[TD="class: top, width: 250"]Approximate Serial Numbers[/TD]
[TD="class: toptwo, width: 36, align: center"]Year [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]7 0001 – 0270[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1988[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]7 0271 – 1830[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1989[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]7 1831 – 3200[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]7 3201 – 4540[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1991[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]7 4541 – 7090[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1992[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]7 7091 – 8820[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1993[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]7 8821 – 10700[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1994[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]7 10701 – 13000[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1995[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]7 13001 – 14680[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1996[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]7 14681 – 17130[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1997[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]7 or CE 17131 – 19580[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1998[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]CE 19581 – 20749[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1999[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]CE 20750 – 21599[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]CE 21600 – 23199[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2001[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]CE 23200 – 25389[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2002[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]CE 25390 – 26399[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2003[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]CE 26400 – 27900[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2004[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]CE 27901 – 29377 [/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]CE 29378 - 31699[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]CE 31700 - 32799[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2007[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]CE 32800 - 33600[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2008[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[docbennett]

[h=2]EG Models[/h] The year of manufacture is determined the same way for the EG models. Like the CE models the serial number is located on the neck plate on the back of the guitar. The following number determines the model: 5 or EG for the EG models, then the sequential number for that particular model.
[TABLE="class: year"]
[TR]
[TD="class: top"]Approximate Serial Numbers[/TD]
[TD="class: toptwo, align: center"]Year [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]5 0001 – 0920[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]5 0921 – 1290[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1991[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]5 1291 – 2070[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1992[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]5 2071 – 2870[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1993[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]5 2871 – 3190[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1994[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]5 3191 - 3300 [/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1995[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[h=2]Swamp Ash Special Models[/h] The year of manufacture is determined the same way for the Swamp Ash Special. Like the CE and EG models the serial number is located on the neck plate on the back of the guitar. The following number determines the model: 8 or SA for the Swamp Ash Special, then the sequential number for that particular model * the first 200 Swamp Ash Specials were given a CE serial number.
[TABLE="class: year"]
[TR]
[TD="class: top"]Approximate Serial Numbers[/TD]
[TD="class: toptwo, align: center"]Year [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]8 00001 – 00410[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1997[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]8 or SA 00411 – 00760[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1998[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]SA 00761 – 00969[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1999[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]SA 00970 – 01179[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]SA 01180 – 01399[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2001[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]SA 01400 – 01899[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2002[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]SA 01900 – 02099[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2003[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]SA 02100 – 02287[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2004[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]SA 02288 – 02700[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]SA 02701 – 02800[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]SA 02801 – 02900[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2007[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]SA 02901 – 03000[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2008[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[h=2]Bolt-On Bass: Sequential Serial Numbers[/h] After the year prefix, these models use a code digit of "4", indicating a bolt-on neck bass. This is followed by the sequential number for that particular model. The serial number will be located on the neck plate on the back of the bass.
[TABLE="class: year"]
[TR]
[TD="class: top"]Approximate Serial Numbers[/TD]
[TD="class: toptwo, align: center"]Year [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]4 0001 – 0030 [/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1989[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]4 0031 – 0140[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]4 0141 – 0200[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1991[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[h=2]Set-Neck Bass: Sequential Serial Numbers[/h] After the year prefix, these models us a code digit of "9", indicating a set-neck model bass. This is followed by the sequential number for that particular model. The serial number will be located on the back of the headstock.
[TABLE="class: year"]
[TR]
[TD="class: top"]Approximate Serial Numbers[/TD]
[TD="class: toptwo, align: center"]Year [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]9 0001 – 0230[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1986/87[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]9 0231 – 0350[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1988[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]9 0351 – 0680[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1989[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]9 0681 – 0730[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]1990[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]9 0731 – 0800[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]1991[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[h=2]Electric Bass: Sequential Serial Numbers[/h] After the year prefix, these models use a code of "EB", indicating Electric Bass. This is followed by the sequential number for that particular model. The serial number will be located on the back of the headstock.
[TABLE="class: year"]
[TR]
[TD="class: top"]Approximate Serial Numbers[/TD]
[TD="class: toptwo, align: center"]Year [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]EB 00007 – 00072[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]EB 00073 – 00199[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2001[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]EB 00200 – 00422[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2002[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]EB 00423 – 00501[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2003[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]EB 00502 – 00650[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2004[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[h=2]SE Model Serial Numbers[/h] The serial number on SE model guitars can be found on the back of the headstock.
The year of manufacture for SE guitars can be determined by the letter prefix prior to the sequence of numbers that follow.
[TABLE="class: year"]
[TR]
[TD="class: top"]Prefix Letter[/TD]
[TD="class: toptwo, align: center"]Year [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]A[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2000[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]B[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2001[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]C[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2002[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]D[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2003[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]E[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2004[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]F[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2005[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]G[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2006[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]H[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2007[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]I[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2008[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]J[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2009[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]K[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2010[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]L[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2011[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[h=2]Acoustic Serial Numbers[/h] The serial number of an acoustic is located on the label inside the sound hole of the guitar.
All acoustic serial numbers begin with the letter "A", and are followed by the two digit year prefix.
[TABLE="class: year"]
[TR]
[TD="class: top"]Prefix Letter[/TD]
[TD="class: toptwo, align: center"]Year [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]A09[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2009[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]A10[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2010[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]A11[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2011[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
The remaining digits indicate the sequential number of acoustics built to date.
[TABLE="class: year"]
[TR]
[TD="class: top"]Approximate Serial Numbers[/TD]
[TD="class: toptwo, align: center"]Year [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]0001 – 0190[/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2009[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: evenone"]0191 – 0517[/TD]
[TD="class: even"]2010[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: oddone"]0518 – [/TD]
[TD="class: odd"]2011[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[sleary]

And when the kids are done college then no guitar and a huge regret. I'd keep it. Time will become more.

 

[Proxmax]

my cu24 ap from 2008 has a 8 not 08.

 

[dragmeaway]

last question. If I wanted to shine up the bridge/pickup covers what could I use to safely restore some finish?

 

[garrett]

A lot of people use a polish called Blue Magic on their nickel parts. Somebody else might have other suggestions, though. I personally don't bother with polishing the nickel.

 

[Rango]

One comment on the ebay pricing - Keep in mind you will lose about 15 Percent of that amount to fees. What I've done is take than number nock about 10% off (to leave you some barganing room) and list it on the Vintage Rocker Forums and the Gear Page Forums. Both are very active. I find them easier to deal with than Ebay. I use Ebay as a last resort....