PRS Guitars S2 McCarty 594

A Marvelous McCarty

Wildwoodians, we're proud to present the S2 McCarty 594, a guitar that blends the sweet sound of the carved-top guitars of yore with modern clarity, versatility and playability, all at a player-friendly price point. Though it's certainly an exceptional value, the tonesmiths at PRS use the same uber-resonant cuts of mahogany and maple they use for other guitars, giving the S2 McCarty 594 supreme acoustic resonance. That resonance is further aided by the nitrocellulose lacquer, which allows those premium woods to breathe like a vintage guitar.

The magic continues with the electronics. The S2 McCarty 594 sports two awesome 58/15 S humbuckers. They have an open, three-dimensional sound with the touch-sensitivity and clarity of a single-coil and the fatness of a humbucker. Though vintage-inspired, they have a little more in the low-end and trebles, and they have excellent string separation. The bridge 'bucker is muscle-bound and snarly but with excellent high-end chime, and the neck pickup is beefy and warm but clear enough for chord work. Additionally, you can tap the coils to grab some awesome jangly, sparkling single-coil sounds. It's truly remarkable how full-bodied these pickups sound when tapped!

The pattern vintage neck is unbelievably comfortable—not too fat, not too skinny! The precision with which the S2 McCarty 594 is built also ensures an immaculate fit and finish.

We have no doubt these marvelous McCarty's will inspire you just as much they do us. For more about the S2 series and the McCarty model in general, read on!

Monster Tone and Incredible Value

Back in 2013, Paul Reed Smith shook up the guitar world yet again with the S2 series of guitars. For years, Paul had dreamt of building American-made PRS guitars that were accessible to the average guitar picker without sacrificing the impeccable build quality and spectacular sounds that built the PRS name in the first place. A lofty goal, certainly, but the PRS team delivered the goods when they unveiled their new creations.

The main goal of the S2 series was to build dependable, versatile guitars that played well and sounded gorgeous without bank-busting prices. To say that they succeeded is an understatement. PRS's S2 guitars play like butter coated in Crisco, and they speak with rich, full voices that work wonders live and in the studio. For working musicians, they are inspiring tools that can handle grueling gigs and sessions with great aplomb. For beginners and hobbyists, they are sweet-sounding guitars that play easily and enrich the music-making experience. And, they're also a great way to dip your toes into the wonderful world of PRS for the first time!

However, focusing on the incredible value the S2 series provides sells these guitars short, because they also look gorgeous! They sport simple, elegant finishes with subtle, stylish cosmetic appointments that will ensure you walk with a little extra swagger in your step with your S2 slung over your shoulder.

The bottom line is simple: if you're looking for a reliable, sweet-looking guitar that sounds magnificent, stays in tune, and plays like a dream, you should browse our selection of spectacular S2 models. We're sure you'll find one that will help you make all sorts of joyous noise!

For more information about this specific S2 model, read on!

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.

Now, they've introduced the S2 McCarty 594, which gives more players a chance to access the magical sounds that arose from Paul and Ted's friendship. It offers the magic feel and tone of the McCarty at an exceptional value, and we have no doubt it will inspire you endlessly.