New (to me) 2004 McCarty Hollowbody

[Stoopalini]

I've always wanted a PRS, and was lucky enough to recently pick this one up at an auction. Unplayed with all tags and case candy! It'll be a couple of weeks before it arrives though, so I don't have the MODCAT yet, and would like to know more details about it.

What I can gather is, it's a 2004 McCarty Hollowbody with a 10 top, adjustable stop tail bridge, with the piezo option.

But, I don't know if it's a Hollowbody I or a Hollowbody II? Or if this would this be considered a flame top, or a quilt top? Looks like flame to me ...

Also, does the dark headstock, black tuner keys, and black tipped tuner pegs signify anything particular?

Looks like abalone inlays to me, so not an artist package as that would have paua inlays, correct?

Thanks for any info that can be offered, I'm really excited to take delivery of this beauty!

 

[Stoopalini]

Here's a closer look at the headstock

 

[toothace]

According to the website:

McCARTY HOLLOWBODY: 1998 - Current. Hollowbody - carved spruce top with carved mahogany back and sides. Hollowbody I - carved maple top with carved mahogany back and sides. Hollowbody II - carved maple top and back with mahogany sides. All models are 1 3/4" depth at rim, 3" depth at bridge, 22-fret wide-fat mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, PRS adjustable stoptail bridge, and McCarty Archtop pickups with 3-way toggle. Piezo bridge pickup option added in 1999.

So looks like a HB II to me. Looks like it has Ebony tuner buttons, and the black "tip" on the tuning pegs is the locking screw. And I'd call that a flame top...although I think I like the back better!

 

[Stoopalini]

Thanks! I actually have a set of the "Blue Book of Guitars", which gives a great description of the differences as well. For the HB II, there's a note about some having a 10 top flame front, and others having a 10 top flame front and back. I suppose the MODCAT is the only real way to figure that out though. Or would the "10" designation on the back of the headstock have some other identifier if the back was also "10 top" rated?

So the Ebony tuner buttons were just an option on the HB IIs? The blue book doesn't say anything about black tuner keys for the hollowbodys.

What finish would you suppose this one is? It looks like the HB II came in a ton of color options.

 

[rugerpc]

I'm pretty sure that if the top is a 10, the back is a 10 as well...

 

[garrettb]

Hollowbody II, ten top & back, should be Tortoise Shell finish, headstock looks typical for the era, ebony tuner buttons were standard on the HBs at the time, abalone inlays, not Artist package, I'd call the top and back "flilt" (somewhere between flame and quilt).

Very unique woods on that one. Unplayed? What a great score!

 

[bodia]

I'm pretty sure that if the top is a 10, the back is a 10 as well...

I think you're correct on this.

 

[garrettb]

I think you're correct on this.

100%

 

[Stoopalini]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the info!

I got it from the Oct 22 Heritage guitar auction. I had several pieces in that auction, and when I was looking through the other pieces, I saw this PRS. So when I was talking to my Heritage contact, I asked him about it. He said the owner had 3 guitars in the auction, and bought them all new with the intent of learning to play guitar and becoming a "middle aged rock star" LOL! He said there were no signs of wear or play on it, and it had the tags, registration card, etc ... all in the case. So I jumped on it.


According to the blue book (which I certainly know can be wrong from time to time), there was a 10 top flame (without 10 top back) up until 2009. But I agree that the back of this one looks just as good, if not better, then the front!

s an FYI, here's a pic of the page from the Blue Book. This is from the 14th edition (ie: 2012 year)

 

[veinbuster]

Very nice guitar.

 

[garrettb]

The only way it could've had a 10 top (and not back) would be if it were the Hollowbody I, which is a mahogany back, carved out like a canoe, with maple top.

The Hollowbody II is a mahogany ring with maple top and back. If the top is a 10, so is the back.

 

[Alan Manning]

Cracking!! Fair Play To You!!!

 

[Huggy Love]

Welcome to the HBII club.

 

[AP515]

Welcome to the HBII club.

Almost as good as the HB1 club!

 

[Huggy Love]

Almost as good as the HB1 club!

I think they disbanded that organization when the HBII's came out...................................................or maybe they just became a secret society like the Masons.

 

[H2-DGT]

Wow, that is almost a perfect doppleganger for my 05 H2.

 

[Groberts]

Absolutely amazing! God that is beautiful!

 

[Stoopalini]

Thanks guys, I'm anxious to see if the pictures do it justice!

Wow, that is almost a perfect doppleganger for my 05 H2.

I'd love to see pics of your 05,,,

 

[shinksma]

That looks gorgeous!

Sigh, a HB II is definitely on my GAS list (though I want a SC). But since I just bought an SE 277 SH (which I need "functionally" more than a HB II), I will wait until next year to scratch another itch.

 

[vchizzle]

I've always wanted a PRS, and was lucky enough to recently pick this one up at an auction. Unplayed with all tags and case candy! It'll be a couple of weeks before it arrives though, so I don't have the MODCAT yet, and would like to know more details about it.

What I can gather is, it's a 2004 McCarty Hollowbody with a 10 top, adjustable stop tail bridge, with the piezo option.

But, I don't know if it's a Hollowbody I or a Hollowbody II? Or if this would this be considered a flame top, or a quilt top? Looks like flame to me ...

Also, does the dark headstock, black tuner keys, and black tipped tuner pegs signify anything particular?

Looks like abalone inlays to me, so not an artist package as that would have paua inlays, correct?

Thanks for any info that can be offered, I'm really excited to take delivery of this beauty!

Very nice, looks stellar!