PRS Guitars Wildwood Wood Library McCarty 594 - Brazilian Rosewood, 10 Top

Paul and Ted's Excellent Adventure

In the 1980s, Paul Reed Smith’s obsession with golden-era vintage guitars led him to the U.S. Patent Office, where he combed the records for clues about what made those old guitars so inspiring. One name kept popping up over and over on these old patents: Ted McCarty. Paul did a bit more digging and found that Ted McCarty was Gibson’s president from 1950 to 1966. During that time, he used his considerable engineering experience to help develop dozens of innovative designs that shaped the electric guitar into what it is today. Over the course of the McCarty era, Gibson went from selling 5,000 instruments a year to 100,000 a year.

Ted clearly knew a thing or two about building guitars and about running a guitar company. So, Paul decided to reach out to Ted and ask for an interview so he could pick his brain a little. Ted obliged him, and that interview blossomed into a decades-long friendship. They became such good buddies that Paul decided to honor Ted by designing a guitar using all of the tips and techniques he’d gleaned from their conversations. Naturally, he named the guitar after his friend. The PRS McCarty had arrived.

Ever since its birth in 1994, the McCarty model has inspired countless players with its blend of vintage tone and modern playability. It’s also a fitting tribute to Ted McCarty and his friendship with Paul Reed Smith. Throughout the years, Paul’s tireless drive to innovate has produced several delectable additions to the McCarty line: the McCarty 594, the McCarty SC-594, and the McCarty 594 Hollowbody II. After all, you can’t rest on your laurels when you’ve named a guitar after one of the greatest six-string innovators ever to live! We believe that each model combines the best qualities of old and new in one art museum-worthy package.

Wildwood Guitars is proud to showcase the fruit of Paul and Ted’s excellent adventure: the PRS McCarty. The McCarty’s excellence is a testament to the powers of collaboration and friendship. It’s proof that when two brilliant people who enjoy one another’s company roll up their sleeves and get to work, magnificent things happen. We invite you to try out this fabulous 594 and see how it inspires you. Be forewarned: once you take one for a spin, you’ll be hooked for a long, long time.

Pickup Rundown

This gorgeous PRS comes equipped with a set of TCI-Tuned 58/15 LT humbucking pickups that sound absolutely magical as a result of Paul Reed Smith's tireless dedication to his craft. Paul is a bit of a madman when it comes to guitar tone (that's putting it lightly!), and the 58/15 LTs are the culmination of his decades-long effort to wind the perfect vintage-style pickup. Basically, it's his attempt to capture the best parts of vintage single-coils AND vintage humbuckers in one pickup. Astonishingly, he pulled it off!

How does that sound? Well, the 58/15 LTs do indeed have the sugary, sparkly tonal qualities of a great single-coil, and they're also remarkably touch-sensitive. But, they have the depth, richness, and punching power of an amazing PAF humbucker from the fifties, too! Furthermore, they're incredibly dynamic, and you can really alter their tone by varying your left- and right-hand techniques. In the attack, there's juuuuust the right amount of vintage-style sag and compression before the note blooms into its full resonance. They also have a three-dimensional, almost atmospheric openness to them, and they have excellent balance across the board. However, perhaps the most shocking thing about them is how articulate and clear they sound despite their expansive sound. All in all, the 58/15LTs deliver a remarkably expressive, inspiring playing experience!

Both the neck and bridge pickup are glorious, too. The bridge packs a focused, snarling punch in the midrange with rich, sparkling trebles and taut, muscular lows. It's an immaculate rhythm guitar sound, and single-note leads cut through the mix like six-foot-tall Ginsu. By contrast, the neck pickup is as thick and sweet as a river of caramel, which gives lead lines immense weight. However, the neck pickup's excellent clarity and openness make it a superb choice for rhythm work as well.

The PRS 58/15 LTs are some of the finest pickups ever wound, and they really make this guitar sing! We have no doubt that they will bring you all sorts of musical joy and inspiration.