The McCarty 594 stands as PRS's answer to the guitarist seeking vintage character without sacrificing modern playability. Bolt-on construction with a 22-fret Pattern Vintage neck and slightly thicker body yields improved sustain and tonal colour, whilst the zinc two-piece bridge and revised tuning machines–redesigned for lighter weight and extended resonance–anchor the instrument with tonal authority. Paul Reed Smith's collaboration with legendary designer Ted McCarty in the late 1980s established a design philosophy that balances historical guitar craftsmanship with contemporary build standards.
The 58/15 LT pickups undergo PRS's TCI (tuned capacitance and inductance) process, allowing seamless navigation between full humbucking saturation and nuanced single-coil articulation. Dual volume controls and push-pull tone switches provide circuit flexibility for shaping response across genre territory, whilst the revised Wing-button tuners–introduced in 1982 and now reimplemented across the Core range–reduce mass loading on the headstock for measurably longer sustain and clearer harmonic content. The neck plays true across its entire length, with intonation stability that requires minimal setup work upon arrival.
This configuration suits recording musicians and gigging performers who need a single instrument capable of delivering both warm, vintage humbucker character and transparent single-coil definition without switching guitars. Singer-songwriters benefit from the McCarty's balanced output and natural sustain, whilst studio work rewards the tonal flexibility the pickup system provides. The hard case inclusion ensures protection during transport, making this a complete package for musicians prioritising reliability and sonic versatility in a traditional, approachable design.
Features
- 22-fret Pattern Vintage bolt-on neck with bound profile and period-correct proportions
- 58/15 LT pickups with TCI process for humbucking and single-coil voicing capability
- Dual volume and push-pull tone controls for switchable circuit topology
- Zinc two-piece bridge with vintage-style tuning machines and lightweight Wing buttons
- Thickened body construction for enhanced sustain and tonal character development
- Intonation stable across entire neck length with minimal setup requirement
- Dark Cherry Sunburst finish with multi-ply binding on body and neck
- Hard case included for transport and storage protection
- Mahogany back w/ Maple top & Violin top carve
- Mahogany One-Piece Pattern Vintage neck w/ 24.594” scale
- Rosewood w/ Faux Bone Binding fretboard w/ 10" radius & Birds inlays
- 22 frets
- 1 11/16" Bone nut
- Vintage-Style tuning machines
- PRS Two-Piece bridge
- 58/15 LT bass and treble pickups
- Two Volume and Two Push/Pull Tone controls, & 3-Way Toggle Pickup switch on Upper Bout
- Hardshell Case



