Need some McCarty help

dragmeaway

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Joined
Jan 25, 2013
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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/
 
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.
 
Selling the guitar kills the dream. Keep it!

That said, the advice (above) is solid.
 
Last edited:
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.
 
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.
Prefix NumberYear or Years
019902000
119912001
219922002
319932003
419942004
5198519952005
6198619962006
7198719972007
819881998
919891999
082008
092009
102010
112011
[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.
Approximate Serial NumbersYear
0001 - 04001985
0401 - 17001986
1701 - 35001987
3501 - 54001988
5401 - 76001989
7601 - 10100 1990
10101 - 126001991
12601 - 150001992
15001 - 179001993
17901 - 209001994
20901 - 246001995
24601 - 295001996
29501 - 346001997
34601 - 391001998
39101 - 444991999
44500 - 521992000
52200 - 621992001
62200 - 723532002
72354 - 822542003
82255 - 925552004
92556 - 103103 2005
103104 - 1149992006
115000 - 1284002007
128401 - 1430002008
143001 - 1572002009
157201 - 1690002010
169001 - 2011
[h=2]CE Models[/h]
Approximate Serial NumbersYear
7 0001 – 02701988
7 0271 – 18301989
7 1831 – 32001990
7 3201 – 45401991
7 4541 – 70901992
7 7091 – 88201993
7 8821 – 107001994
7 10701 – 130001995
7 13001 – 146801996
7 14681 – 171301997
7 or CE 17131 – 195801998
CE 19581 – 207491999
CE 20750 – 215992000
CE 21600 – 231992001
CE 23200 – 253892002
CE 25390 – 263992003
CE 26400 – 279002004
CE 27901 – 29377 2005
CE 29378 - 316992006
CE 31700 - 327992007
CE 32800 - 336002008
 
[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.
Approximate Serial NumbersYear
5 0001 – 09201990
5 0921 – 12901991
5 1291 – 20701992
5 2071 – 28701993
5 2871 – 31901994
5 3191 - 3300 1995
[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.
Approximate Serial NumbersYear
8 00001 – 004101997
8 or SA 00411 – 007601998
SA 00761 – 009691999
SA 00970 – 011792000
SA 01180 – 013992001
SA 01400 – 018992002
SA 01900 – 020992003
SA 02100 – 022872004
SA 02288 – 027002005
SA 02701 – 028002006
SA 02801 – 029002007
SA 02901 – 030002008
[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.
Approximate Serial NumbersYear
4 0001 – 0030 1989
4 0031 – 01401990
4 0141 – 02001991
[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.
Approximate Serial NumbersYear
9 0001 – 02301986/87
9 0231 – 03501988
9 0351 – 06801989
9 0681 – 07301990
9 0731 – 08001991
[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.
Approximate Serial NumbersYear
EB 00007 – 000722000
EB 00073 – 001992001
EB 00200 – 004222002
EB 00423 – 005012003
EB 00502 – 006502004
[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.
Prefix LetterYear
A2000
B2001
C2002
D2003
E2004
F2005
G2006
H2007
I2008
J2009
K2010
L2011
[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.
Prefix LetterYear
A092009
A102010
A112011
The remaining digits indicate the sequential number of acoustics built to date.
Approximate Serial NumbersYear
0001 – 01902009
0191 – 05172010
0518 – 2011
 
And when the kids are done college then no guitar and a huge regret. I'd keep it. Time will become more.
 
last question. If I wanted to shine up the bridge/pickup covers what could I use to safely restore some finish?
 
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.
 
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....
 
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