Question about rosewood necks...is this one BRW or IRW??

[docbennett]

While I wait for my question to be answered by customer service, perhaps I can pass this on to the entire forum.

I was questioning whether the guitar whose serial number I sent in had an Indian or Brazilian Rosewood neck. the seller insists BRW. He tells me that the PRS website indicates that IRW necks did not start until 2003. this is a 2001 McCarty...here is the hang tag...

The tag just says "Rosewood". The serial number is 58028, from 2001 (8-10-01). I can't post pictures of the guitar, but the neck is definitely rosewood...I just want to verify that it's Brazilian. The guitar has been purchased already, but is awaiting final verification of the status of the neck wood prior to being shipped/paid for.
PRS Customer service...if you see this before my email from yesterday is replied to...feel free to reply via the forum for everyone to see. thanks!

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Do we get to see pics of the neck? I'm betting it's IRW.

 

[cjmwrx]

Do we get to see pics of the neck? I'm betting it's IRW.

+1 Brazzy necks that I have seen always say Brazilian on the hang tag.

 

[prsguitarman101]

It is Indian Rosewood. On your modcat code the letter "I" in the eighth position indicated Indian, had it been Brazilian it would have been a "B"

 

[Twinfan]

^ yep, what the man said

http://www.gearacquisitionsyndrome.com/2008/04/deciphering-prs-modcat-hang-tagcase.html

 

[prsguitarman101]

I need to correct myself it is the 9th letter, or the third one from the right.
22::408::408mt:

 

[Mike Duncan]

That guitar was completed on my birthday...so cool.

 

[docbennett]

Here is the guitar....sold, but payment pending confirmation....it seemed too good to be true...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/320997524653?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

[slowro]

listed in the pre 1980 section? thats a good start

 

[Brewer]

It is likely that the guitar was misrepresented, based upon what has been presented here. It appears to be a standard Indian rosewood neck McCarty. Very nice guitar, but significantly overpriced if it is IRW. Sorry for the potentially bad news, but I'd want to know and I'm sure you do, too.

 

[docbennett]

It is likely that the guitar was misrepresented, based upon what has been presented here. It appears to be a standard Indian rosewood neck McCarty. Very nice guitar, but significantly overpriced if it is IRW. Sorry for the potentially bad news, but I'd want to know and I'm sure you do, too.

That's why I love the forum. I emailed PRS customer service yesterday morning and have yet to hear back. I realize they are extremely busy, and that's why I find the forum so useful....valuable information..... and from guys I trust. Anyway, payment was held, contingent upon verification of BRW, so I guess this guy is going to have to list it again...and hopefully represent it correctly this time. I know the dealer, so I am very surprised by the turn of events. "Toys from the Attic' has been around for nearly 20 years that I can remember, and they were always straight shooters. Anyway, I saved 3 grand and potential heartburn as well.

 

[prsguitarman101]

That is why it is almost essential to be able to decipher the MODCAT codes for PRS guitars. The neck and the fingerboard are IRW. Still a very nice guitar! I know I would be proud to own it.
Here is the MODCAT for this particular guitar in case you want to save it for future refeference:
Model=McCarty
Top Wood=Maple
Frets=22
Top Spec=Figured
Top Spec=10 Top
Neck Wood=Indian Rosewood
Neck Carve=Wide/Fat
Fingerboard=Indian Rosewood
Inlay=Birds
Bridge=Straight Stoptail
Color=Tortoise Shell
Hardware=Nickel
Treble Pup=McCarty
Bass Pup=McCarty

 

[Brewer]

It is probably an innocent mistake. A reputable dealer would not likely jeopardize their reputation by deliberately misrepresenting IRW as BRW.

An unethical dealer might get away with something like that once or twice, but word spreads quickly. Hopefully, they will apologize and lower the price to you and/or offer to cancel the sale, no questions asked.

Of course, if they then relist it as BRW (especially after it was questioned), I would smell a big festering rat at the other end of that deal, unless they can produce documented proof it is BRW!

 

[docbennett]

I know the dealer and he has already apologized. The deal was contingent on it being BRW, so I never paid and he was able to recoup his Ebay final value fee as well. However, someone else, who does not have access to the fund of knowledge here...and who wouldn't know to contact PRS customer service....would have gotten screwed. As it is, no harm done.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

That is why it is almost essential to be able to decipher the MODCAT codes for PRS guitars.

That's true but it gets tricky with guitars that had custom options around the time the MODCAT was being developed (1999'ish?).

This Gold Top, as an example, pre-dates the limited run of Brazilian Rosewood (neck) McCartys. The MODCAT says it has an Indian Rosewood neck but it is certainly Brazilian.

 

[docbennett]

That's true but it gets tricky with guitars that had custom options around the time the MODCAT was being developed (1999'ish?).

This Gold Top, as an example, pre-dates the limited run of Brazilian Rosewood (neck) McCartys. The MODCAT says it has an Indian Rosewood neck but it is certainly Brazilian.

Wow....nice dark chocolate neck!! :rock:Whaddya want in trade for it???? That's the "MOAB's" If I recall correctly!!!:adore:

 

[Artist]

I know the dealer, so I am very surprised by the turn of events. "Toys from the Attic' has been around for nearly 20 years that I can remember, and they were always straight shooters. Anyway, I saved 3 grand and potential heartburn as well.

I know Toys from the Attic, think I have bought some things from them. Those guys have been online sellers almost since the beginnings of Ebay too. Apparently they are using a new account as I've always had this one as my faved sellers http://stores.ebay.com/Toys-From-The-Attic-Inc

Good they resolved it nicely.

 

[Twinfan]

That's true but it gets tricky with guitars that had custom options around the time the MODCAT was being developed (1999'ish?).

This Gold Top, as an example, pre-dates the limited run of Brazilian Rosewood (neck) McCartys. The MODCAT says it has an Indian Rosewood neck but it is certainly Brazilian.

How do you know for sure?

 

[Aldwyn]

Hey Hans... I'll trade you my prototype 305 for that BRW McCarty.

 

[docbennett]

How do you know for sure?

That is the "MOAB" McCarty.:adore: If he told you, he'd have to kill you!!