New McCarty 594 Core compared to 2007 McCarty

Clive_Bob

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Sep 27, 2024
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Hi everyone! My name is Bob from Iowa. I have played a McCarty since and '07 and really like it. I'm considering a new 594. There is nowhere nearby to play one. I would appreciate any insight from the forum on what differences I would notice between the two guitars as my '07 is the only PRS I have ever played. Thank you in advance for your help!
 
What difference, if any, would I notice between a one-piece stop tail bridge and the two-piece bridge on the 594?
 
I Am Not A Fan Of The McCarty 594 Model. I Prefer The Original McCarty By A Long Shot. That Guitar Is Perfection To Me And Switching The Bridge From The One Piece To The Two Piece, Adding The Cheap Looking Binding And Ruining The Look Of The Guitar By Adding The Toggle On The Horn Is A Disgrace In My Book. I Am Also Not A Fan Of The Bone Nut Being Used On PRS Guitars.

There Is A Feel Difference Between The Bridges On The Hand And I Much Prefer The Warp Bridge. To Me It Is More Comfortable To Play. To Me, The String Tension Is Different On The Two Bridges. While I Can Admit The Two Piece Bridge Design Is Better Than Traditional Gibson Type Design, I Still Am Not A Fan Of It On The McCarty.

While It Is Impossible To Give Absolutes On How Things Sound Because Each Guitar Is Unique And With Its Own Core Sound I Would Say Typically The Two Piece Bridge Would Be Slightly Sharper Sounding. The One Pice Has A Bit Of Warmth And Bloom To It That I Don't Find To Be The Same On The Two Piece. I Have Multiples Of The Same Guitars And They All Sound Different...(Similar But Different). The Original McCarty Was Perfection, IMO They Ruined It By Changing It.

Side Note Worth Mentioning Also Is That I Do Like The Newer Pickups That PRS Is Presently Making Over The Older Stock Stuff From The Earlier Years. Most Of My McCarty Models Have Aftermarket Pickups. I Believe I Left Original PRS Pickups In Only Two Of My McCarty's And They Are Ok For Those Particular Guitars And What I Would Use Them For.

If I Can Think Of Anything Further I Will Add Those Thoughts. I Hope What I Shared Was Helpful And If You Have Any Specific Questions I Would Be Happy To Try And Answer Them Based Off My Collection And Experience. :)
 
Thank you so much for your in depth analysis. I thought of someone who has a couple of 594's and he said I'm welcome to come over and try them. Your expert analysis and Stephen J's comment on the neck will keep me focused and not get distracted by the shiny new finish.

One other question if you don't mind. My '07 McCarty has a rosewood neck in what I would call a satin finish. I really like it but rarely see others that have the natural looking satin finish. How come?
 
I am so glad I found this site. As I do more research here I'm beginning to realize most experienced players prefer the older McCarty's with rosewood necks like mine to the newer models.

I really know very little about these guitars. I bought mine 17 years ago and assumed there would be improvements over time.
 
I am so glad I found this site. As I do more research here I'm beginning to realize most experienced players prefer the older McCarty's with rosewood necks like mine to the newer models.
Um, not really. I’ve been playing since 1967 and prefer the 594 by quite a bit.

BTW, I had a 2007 McCarty with a rosewood neck.

I play guitar as part of my paying gigs in the ad music world. That doesn’t make my opinion worth more, it’s just background.

The two guitars are simply different; one isn’t somehow ‘better’.

I like the two piece bridge on the 594 more. It results in a woodier tone. So what? That doesn’t necessarily apply to what you like.

I like the neck in the 594 more. Not only is the offset carve more comfortable (for me, YMMV), I like the shorter scale length that affects both feel and tone. Again, so what? How do you know you’d agree with me or anyone else?

Pickups, of course that’s a personal taste thing.

I like the older McCarty design a lot, too, so I’m not knocking the choice anyone else might make.

You’re hearing from people on the internet whose music, tastes, amps of choice, playing style, etc., are THEIRS, not YOURS.

I’d ignore anyone else’s opinion about a guitar other than my own.

Play the 594, then decide on what YOU like. The rest is just opinion. Everybody has an opinion. It may or may not have a thing to do with the opinion in your brain!

Be you. Think with your own unique intelligence and don’t rely on the opinions of people you know nothing about.
 
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As long as you are adding a 594 to the mix and not selling the McCarty Rosewood, I don’t think you need to worry too much about it. Diversification is good.
 
I only have an old Mccarty. But IMO the 594 was made to appeal to Les Paul players. As such the 4 control layout and the 2 piece bridge. I didn't come from a Les Paul background so those were not big deals for me. If you're a Les Paul guy the 594 will feel like home. If not, which you like better will be just personal choice. I don't plan on selling my McCarty...
 
Um, not really. I’ve been playing since 1967 and prefer the 594 by quite a bit.

BTW, I had a 2007 McCarty with a rosewood neck.

I play guitar as part of my paying gigs in the ad music world. That doesn’t make my opinion worth more, it’s just background.

The two guitars are simply different; one isn’t somehow ‘better’.

I like the two piece bridge on the 594 more. It results in a woodier tone. So what? That doesn’t necessarily apply to what you like.

I like the neck in the 594 more. Not only is the offset carve more comfortable (for me, YMMV), I like the shorter scale length that affects both feel and tone. Again, so what? How do you know you’d agree with me or anyone else?

Pickups, of course that’s a personal taste thing.

I like the older McCarty design a lot, too, so I’m not knocking the choice anyone else might make.

You’re hearing from people on the internet whose music, tastes, amps of choice, playing style, etc., are THEIRS, not YOURS.

I’d ignore anyone else’s opinion about a guitar other than my own.

Play the 594, then decide on what YOU like. The rest is just opinion. Everybody has an opinion. It may or may not have a thing to do with the opinion in your brain!

Be you. Think with your own unique intelligence and don’t rely on the opinions of people you know nothing about.
I appreciate your comments and agree. I will go in with an open mind. If I had not received the great feedback here I may have not been able to be as objective. I don't know. It's like someone who has only driven one car. It's a really nice car but he's curious about the new models.

Thanks again!
 
As long as you are adding a 594 to the mix and not selling the McCarty Rosewood, I don’t think you need to worry too much about it. Diversification is good.
That is not my intention but that could change. I've always been intrigued by PRS semi-hollow bodies, but I recently bought a Collings i35 LC to fill that void.
 
Thank you so much for your in depth analysis. I thought of someone who has a couple of 594's and he said I'm welcome to come over and try them. Your expert analysis and Stephen J's comment on the neck will keep me focused and not get distracted by the shiny new finish.

One other question if you don't mind. My '07 McCarty has a rosewood neck in what I would call a satin finish. I really like it but rarely see others that have the natural looking satin finish. How come?
The Rosewood Necks Are Far Less Common. I Have Both And Like Both (Rosewood And Traditional Spec). Feel Wise And Sound Wise, Etc I Like Both So That Isn't As Big Of An Issue to Me As The Things I Originally Mentioned.
 
I have 1 594 an HB II , and 3 McCarty's I prefer the necks on the McCarty's.
The rosewood neck was a key reason I bought this guitar. I had to google HB II, LOL. My other guitar is a Collings i35 LC. I was always curious about the HB. Never got to play one. I did get to play a Collings, different HB.
 
That is not my intention but that could change. I've always been intrigued by PRS semi-hollow bodies, but I recently bought a Collings i35 LC to fill that void.
Collings Makes Great Guitars And The I-35 Models Are Superb IMO.
 
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