PRS Guitars Wildwood Wood Library S2 McCarty 594

The Wonders of the Wood Library

In a corner on the second floor of the PRS factory, there is a place that contains infinite potential for six-string savagery. Though it may look like a few racks filled with wood (not an uncommon sight in a guitar factory), reverent guitar players the world over speak its name in hushed tones: the Wood Library.

Essentially, the Wood Library is where PRS hands the reins over to Wildwood when it comes to picking wood. They allow us to customize their core line of electrics with whatever woods we want. We hand-select different tops, fingerboards, and bodies to create guitars that are totally unique to Wildwood. Once we pick the wood, our friends at PRS use their wizard-like powers of lutherie and obsessive attention to detail to turn them into some of the coolest instruments we've ever laid eyes on.

You might find, say, a CE 24 with a quilted maple top a semi-hollow McCarty 594 with an artist-grade top and a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, or an SC-594 with a solid Indian rosewood neck and a flamed maple 10-top. The sky is the limit within the Wood Library, and we are always switching things up to create exciting and unique experiences for our customers, so be sure to check back regularly for delightful new offerings. We invite you to browse through our selection of Wildwood-exclusive Wood Library instruments and find one that inspires you.

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.

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.