The Guitar That, When All's Said And Done, Is 'Most You'.

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Only Human
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I've got some wonderful PRSes (in fact, all I have are PRSes, and even then I only have a handful). Each suits a particular creative mood, each inspires different ideas, and they're all great to own. I love playing them, no exceptions.

Last night I happened on an interview of Jimmy Page where he showed off his #1 Les Paul. It was interesting. He really couldn't explain why he felt that way about it, other than to say something to the effect of it was 'his sound'. Well, that's enough, right? Then I re-watched a Bonamassa video I posted a link to. Today I saw the Bernie thread, also an interesting read.

Could there have been more of a push in the direction of what I was gonna play today?

How could I not grab my McCarty Singlecut and give it a go? So that's exactly what I did.

Mine's part of that 2014 PS run. The body's a little thicker than other PRS Core Singlecuts. The scale length is 24.5. It has 57/08 pickups that I was told were wound for the model. I've had several PRS SC models. I went ga-ga for this one, so it's been here a while. Every time I pick it up thinking I know its capabilities well, it surprises me with just one more.

It's not my most gorgeous sounding guitar for all seasons and all reasons; that honor goes to the 2016 20th PS Anniversary model.

But it's the one that's 'most me', the one that speaks to the sound I hear most in my head. Moreover, it sounds wonderful with all of my amps, Tweed style, Fender style, Marshall Style and who-knows-what-the-heck-style the DG30 is.

I'm occasoinally asked why I didn't just buy a fancy Les Paul and call it done. The answer: I can do more with this one, and its tone is perfect for me. I can't elaborate further, it just sounds and plays right. The usual disclaimers apply, YMMV, etc.

But I've been blathering on, as usual. Lots of us have a guitar that's 'most us'. I'm interested in other folks' instruments and why they have them. What's the guitar that's most you? Doesn't have to be a PRS.
 
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Oh man, this one gets personal!

For me, it’d be my S2 Standard 22, with the Mann bridge and 59/09 bridge pickup, stock #7S in the neck. Certainly my core models have tones with a level of refinement that only a core build can achieve, but the S2 Standard is the one that almost without fail, just works with everything. Any amp, pedal, whatever. It has slightly more mid push, but never gets honky, the bridge pickup has some depth, the neck is never muddy.

Sometimes I feel that my core models have such refined, personality-laden tones, that they almost limit themselves into narrower set of uses than some SE and S2 models. Which, don’t get me wrong, that’s not a bad thing. I bought those guitars because every detail was addressed to make certain, specific tones, and I wouldn’t want them to be generic sounding. Looking at it the other way, the S2 Standard may not make a
“Hey, that’s a ______” tone, but it just always sounds great. I can’t lose!
 
In ‘72 I bought a ‘69 Gibson ES125 single cutaway cherry sunburst hollow body. Didn’t really bond with the P90s or the tort pickguard, so I installed Les Paul pups and tossed them and the pickguard. The sustain was lacking so I glued in some wood pegs under the bridge studs and upgraded the bridge. It had some feedback issues, so I dampened the area under the pups with packing material. Oh man was that a sweet guitar. Everyone who played it wanted it. I wore out the frets and didn’t want to invest in a refret. Big mistake. Another big mistake was not holding onto the pups and pick guard. That model is bringing in some bucks now and more every year. I traded ‘Lady Gibson’ for my SE Custom 24, which I also modded into a guitar that everyone who plays it wants. So ‘Paulie’ is my new ‘most me’ guitar.
 
Oh man, this one gets personal!

For me, it’d be my S2 Standard 22, with the Mann bridge and 59/09 bridge pickup, stock #7S in the neck. Certainly my core models have tones with a level of refinement that only a core build can achieve, but the S2 Standard is the one that almost without fail, just works with everything. Any amp, pedal, whatever. It has slightly more mid push, but never gets honky, the bridge pickup has some depth, the neck is never muddy.

Sometimes I feel that my core models have such refined, personality-laden tones, that they almost limit themselves into narrower set of uses than some SE and S2 models. Which, don’t get me wrong, that’s not a bad thing. I bought those guitars because every detail was addressed to make certain, specific tones, and I wouldn’t want them to be generic sounding. Looking at it the other way, the S2 Standard may not make a
“Hey, that’s a ______” tone, but it just always sounds great. I can’t lose!
I'm a standard 22 guy myself...I have 3 S2s and a core...all with different pups!! Bks. Duncans....simple rock machines that play and sound great and are lightweight...I have other PRS as well but love me some standard 22s!!
 
McCarty 594 HBII is me ;~)) The light weight, the tones, the fit to my current repertoire, it has it all for me and feels like an extension of my musical soul! I like my PS and Core CU24's a lot and will never sell them by choice, but at this point (and since I acquired it in Feb '21) the HBII is exactly what I need!! That said, I played my EBMM Stingray bass last night for a couple of hours and had a blast. I don't think I have played it more than 15 minutes in the last 18 months or more and every time I pick it up, I go WOW (and then it's weight starts kicking in, which I feel remnants of today in my shoulder area)!!! Hope to someday get a spruce top PRS HB ;~))
 
For me, I will say the original style McCarty model in general. The feel and the resonance and attack that model has just works with the I play.

The McCarty was my first foray into the PRS world and made me fall in the love with the brand. Since then, I have owned various models and still do, that play and sound amazing and inspire. But the McCarty is like an old friend and kind of a benchmark. I currently own two McCarty models; the Robben Ford and a 2015 Artist package. Both are essentially my #1's and I doubt I will part with either.
 
I’ve thought long and hard on this. Even then I’m not sure of the validity of my answer because there are 3 worthy contenders: R9, 594 and Fender Tele Deluxe TM2. Consequently my answer is based on one criterion. Which guitar do I grab first when I’ve been away from home for more than a few days. It’s almost always the R9. So that’s my answer.
 
Probably have to give that to the Dirty 100.

It might not be the last electric I keep, but it best reflects what I consider my sound. It is the one I am most likely to play after the moon comes up...with the lights out...pre sleep zen. Through the Boogie MarkIII.

Side note: I liked it so much more than everything else I played the day I thought I was going to buy a 25th Anniversary SAS that I said I didn’t even need to try the Paul’s 28.
 
I've got some wonderful PRSes (in fact, all I have are PRSes, and even then I only have a handful). Each suits a particular creative mood, each inspires different ideas, and they're all great to own. I love playing them, no exceptions.

Last night I happened on an interview of Jimmy Page where he showed off his #1 Les Paul. It was interesting. He really couldn't explain why he felt that way about it, other than to say something to the effect of it was 'his sound'. Well, that's enough, right? Then I re-watched a Bonamassa video I posted a link to. Today I saw the Bernie thread, also an interesting read.

Could there have been more of a push in the direction of what I was gonna play today?

How could I not grab my McCarty Singlecut and give it a go? So that's exactly what I did.

Mine's part of that 2014 PS run. The body's a little thicker than other PRS Core Singlecuts. The scale length is 24.5. It has 57/08 pickups that I was told were wound for the model. I've had several PRS SC models. I went ga-ga for this one, so it's been here a while. Every time I pick it up thinking I know its capabilities well, it surprises me with just one more.

It's not my most gorgeous sounding guitar for all seasons and all reasons; that honor goes to the 2016 20th PS Anniversary model.

But it's the one that's 'most me', the one that speaks to the sound I hear most in my head. Moreover, it sounds wonderful with all of my amps, Tweed style, Fender style, Marshall Style and who-knows-what-the-heck-style the DG30 is.

I'm occasoinally asked why I didn't just buy a fancy Les Paul and call it done. The answer: I can do more with this one, and its tone is perfect for me. I can't elaborate further, it just sounds and plays right. The usual disclaimers apply, YMMV, etc.

But I've been blathering on, as usual. Lots of us have a guitar that's 'most us'. I'm interested in other folks' instruments and why they have them. What's the guitar that's most you? Doesn't have to be a PRS.
I think Jimmy Page placed a lot of importance on how he got that guitar. To me that seemed a big factor in why he likes it.
 
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