Paul Reed Smith Guitars McCarty 10 Top

20th Anniversary Model - USA made solid maple 10 top in Amber Violin finish. 22 fret rosewood neck. Volume and tone controls and the tone is also push/pull coil tap feature. Non-locking vintage LP ivory style tuners. McCarty wrap-around bridge. Came in the classic PRS case, one of the best any maker provides.

Overall it fits my style the best. Somehow in the past 10 years I got hooked on humbuckers and I always seem to come back if I wander to Strats. I play through a Dr. Z Carmen Ghia and get all the warm classic sounds I desire. I can be dark and bluesy or bright and jangly. As many already know you can use the coil tap to get a reasonable single coils sound, but I think it gets more Tele like when the bridge is left in humbucker mode.

Every detail was perfect from the factory for 9's, but I play 10 sets. However, it did take long at all to set it up myself and intonation is spot on.

It's a PRS 10 top - so yes, the wood is perfectly bookmatched. No flaws in this beauty and it's my 2nd PRS 10 top. All the hardware and finish work is on the money.

This guitar is built for playing long and hard. Although there are some benefits to nitro based finishes I feel more comfortable with Paul's poly finish knowing it's not as fragile to temperature and bumps as nitro. (I still baby it though.) I have no backup - this guitar is it.

PRS has always answered my email questions and answers the phone as well. However, I've never needed repair or warranty work.

Playing since 1965. I own a Dr. Z Carmen Ghia amp, a Larrivee LV-05E acoustic, lots of pedals and recording gear too.

I'm hooked on PRS for life.

02, 22 Fret, 10 Top, Whale Blue. 1 volume, 1 tone with a splitter.

The sound is increadable. I'm an LP fan but this thing blows me away.

Fit and finish are amazing. Action...I bought mine from Willcutt Guitars (www.willcuttguitars.com) that is owned by some guy that is great at setting up guitars. I don't know if they are all that sweet or not but mine was perfect. Then again, it's the second guitar I got from him (first was a Jackson) and they are both like butter.

I don't play gig's but I can tell you that you only have to tune the thing once. It seems very solid to me.

Again I just deal with the people at Willcutt Guitars. Their customer support can not be beat. Everyone there is VERY helpful. I highly recomend this place to anyone for their next guitar purchase. And NO I'm not related to anyone there. It is top notch though.

I've been playing for 2 years. I have a Marshall amp, a Jackson, a Strat and a Washburn acustic. I went into the store with every intention to by a Les Paul but was blown away but this thing. I haven't touched my other electric guitars in the three months I've owned my PRS. If it were stolen or lost I would have to buy another one.

Here we have a 2004 lefty McCarty , 10 top, moons, Whale blue.3 way toggle. It has the right amount of features for this style of guitar.Pretty killer.

I play in the Satriani and RUSH style and this guitar can handle those applications perfectly. Well, not for the trem stuff. The guitar is voiced perfectly across the spectrum. I am using a Marshall JCM 800 reissue with a Marshall vintage bottom cab with vintage 30's and a Mesa Dual Recto triple channel with a traditional bottom cab with vintage 30's A/B'ing them together..Perfect Les Paul thing. Man, The whole thing is in your hands. If it stays in tune and is built right and you like the combo of the woods...It works and sounds great. Then you can just play music and sound great.. And this guitar is perfect for me.

Out of the case was perfect..I plugged in, tuned to pitch and was up and running. No flaws..Well, it's a PRS..It's supposed to be perfect

Just killer..

I went to a gig and played for two hrs.
I had to retune maybe once..This was my third PRS and they never fail to please me.

I here they really suck. Like, guitar nazi's..

Never had to deal with them

I have been playing for 15 years and I have gone threw more hyped up crap I can shake a stick at. This one is just killer and I will keep it. Side note... Why do people call guitars "she" it's not a boat. You know who you are out there..Stop it..it's a very GAY saying..And you should just stop. Guitars are really an extension of yourself and if you want to call yourself a girly man ??? then go for it...DUDE...

This guitar rocks..just go and play a gig..you'll see

2004 PRS McCarty 10 top; McCarty Burst w/birds. W/F neck; McCarty pickups; 3 way toggle; split coil on tone pot; As mentioned in many other reviews. Did not opt for the rosewood neck; I was advised that it's a bit brighter; I was looking for the vintage vibe anyway :)

This is my second PRS; the other in my stable is a '95 Custom 24 10 top w/birds. The McCarty sounds smooth, almost creamy in comparison to the 24; the HFS pickups seem harsher in texture. Both are a dream to play; I tend to favor the McCarty these days though :) no "gremlins" in this one! the sound is flawless; no scratchy pots or switches; it's a PRS. Played through a vintage JCM800 super lead half stack, Mesa Boogie road king stack, and Marshall MG250DFX combo. This axe sounds great with any amp I plug it in to!

Like glass; every single detail, flawless! the factory setup is perfect! I've owned a number of les pauls in last 25 year of playing; still a big fan; but not all LPs are created equal. Will my McCarty pull me completely away from my beloved LPs? probably not; but it'll certainly get equal billing! :)

It's a PRS! when you play one you know you have a quality instrument at your fingertips.

NA

After years of Gibson LP snobism; my guitarist decided to get a PRS Custom 24; after playing his new PRS for just 5 minutes; I knew I needed to get one too! This was the beginning of my love affair with PRS (sound, quality & playability); there are some people out there claiming they have better instruments (Ed Roman Guitars); I can't imagine better quality than a PRS! To play one is to want one.. :)
Go ahead, treat yourself !

This is a 2002 PRS McCarty ten top. it has a THICK chunk of beautiful flamed maple and I think the official finish color is "honeyburst" or something like that. Volume and tone controls with a push/pull coil tap. Like all Paul Reed Smith's it made in the USA.

22 jumbo frets, has a neck that feels a lot like the Les Paul necks, but seems a little less crowded. The scale is slightly longer.

The stop piece for the bridge is a very dense nickel-coated brass on very dense nickel-coated pegs that makes for an extremely stable stop piece, which makes for TONS of sustain.

Came with a very nice case.

I play mostly rock, lead guitar stuff with singer/songwriters. I play a lot with a slide. I also sometimes do solo electric stuff with loops and ambient sounds. This guitar is extremely tonal, warm, and resonant. I couldn't be more happy with it. Even in the treble pickups, it keeps a warmth and body that is missing in many (most) Les Paul style guitars. I had been searching for a good Les Paul when I picked this up and fell in love with it. I've had it for a year, and it's become the only electric I play. I've compared it side by side with an old LP custom that a friend who runs a studio owns, and we both agreed that the depth of the tone and sustain on the PRS was better.

The guitar came with 9's, which is just plain stupid on a guitar built for tone like this. Take them off right away and have a tech set it up for 11's or 12's. The Bridge seems goofy, like it might be hard to set up, but it wasn't hard for my tech. Finish and wood quality is impeccable.

I've used it on many gigs without backup, and I think it could take any punishment that normal live playing could throw at it. At the same time, It's a $2000 plus guitar - treat it well.

A lot of people seem to complain about customer service, but I've never had any trouble with PRS. I emailed regarding setup for this guitar and got a prompt, friendly response.

As I recall, the workmanship has a lifetime warranty (the glue won't come undone, etc.) And the components had a one year warranty, but I doubt it would need anything.

I've owned a dozen or so guitars, this is by far the best Les PAul style guitar I've ever played or heard. THe tones are all I could ask for. If you want a LP, play a McCarty.

April '01 made in the USA baby!

Mahogany neck with Rosewood fretboard; 22 frets w/ abalone "crescent moon eclipse" inlays

Mahogany body with beautiful royal blue "10" flame top; entire guitar finished in royal blue

one volume and one tone control with push/pull pot

Stop tailpiece, nickel hardware;Gibson/Kluson-style non-locking tuners

Wide/Fat Neck w/ medium jumbo frets

Black molded TKL case w/ black plush lining

This is the perfect guitar for me. I play in an indie rock/emo kinda band which has some more heavy and more more melodic parts. This being a Les Paul-type, it is made for rock n' roll- It can do anything I need it to- the push/pull pot helps a lot- sometimes I like to get a good strat or tele sound; it comes in handy especially in the studio. So you can get a pretty good variety. I have had the guitar for almost 3 years and I am just now really exploring the creamy clean tones of the neck pickup. Very nice. I can get a nice sparkly clean tone out of the McCarty Pickups (modeled after '57 classics I am told), and they dirty up very well as well. This is just the right balance. Even the single coil sounds you get from splitting them aren't too noisy. The only thing I had to get used to was having just the two knobs. I had an old LP copy that has since been retired that I had a few more options. Like I could have the neck pickup split and switch to a the full humbucker in the bridge in the middle of a song. It's not that big a deal tho.

I run it through a Peavey Triple XXX halfstack with a dbx 31-band EQ (makes a world of difference) and I can get all the sounds I want, clean or dirty. Close your eyes and you'll think you're in Heaven.

Everything was good when I picked it out at the store, but I had them set it up w/ .11 gauge Slinkies. Also, the selector switch pot was kinda scratchy so I had them clean that up too. Otherwise, everything you would expect from a high end guitar. There is a minor flaw in the flame top which you really have to get up close to notice- in the wood itself, not a scratch. It's like a small greenish strip. Doesn't bother me. I got my money's worth.

I have had this as my main gig axe ever since I've bought it. Very dependable and heavy duty. Stays in tune (very important!) I normally gig w/o a backup except on tour. I'm kind of in a catch-22, cuz this thing is a Corvette. Next to it, every guitar I've ever played is a distant 2nd. My LP copy is pretty much unplayable anymore and now I'm looking at getting a good solid backup. I've put a few nicks and dings this guitar already, and I really am starting to get paranoid about taking it everywhere I go. So I need to get a good backup/alternate axe, but it is hard to look at anything in my budget since I have been playing this so long!

never dealt w/ them. i think it was like a one year warranty, and by the time I needed to get it worked on that was out. I just had my local guys take care of it cuz I can't bear to part with it for very long at a time!

Been playing for 6.5 years; I own a non-functioning Les Paul copy, G&L Tradition Bass, Takamine EG045SC acoustic; I would never lose this thing, I guard it with my life. If someone stole it I would cry as if they had stolen my first born child...then I would do everything within my power to make sure the culprit got the jolly good thrashing they so richly deserved....then I guess I'd buy an SG or something that I know would be solid but I could afford- no way I'm buying another $2200 guitar after I had one stolen!

There is no other guitar that compares to this. It is truly the love of my life. It is worth every penny I spent and more. I actually went like $700 over budget and took out a loan to pay for it...the color lured me in- love at first site- and when I first laid my hands on it it was all over from there!

I treated myself to a PRS McCarty 10 Top, 2000 after 18 years of not playing. It has 22 frets, solid top, beautiful finish. I have 2 dials for neck and bridge pickups - only problem is I sometimes hit the neck volume control and turn it down. The guitar is the best. Unfortunately, I only have this one guitar and need to use it to perform live. Has a rosewood neck, which I think really adds to the tone. Neck is great and rarely needs tuning. Finish is flame top. I play the PRS through a Cyber Twin and CT footswitch. Variety of sounds is too extensive. I use 4 distinct sounds which took some work to develop, but the options and capability between guitar and amp is available in this combination. I will be adding a Fulltone Drive 2 which is all I will need to get the perfect sound peformance and punch I am looking for. I would recommend this guitar to anyone who appreciates quality. I was originally in the market for Les Pauls as this is what I always exclusively played. When I discovered the PRS, I immediately considered it a step up, and have not regretted the purchase. Cost was $3,450, and is 10 Top with gold hardware, rosewood neck and flame top. Love it!! If I lost this guitar I would be in pain for a long time. If someone stole it, I would find the culprit and drive over their face with a '72 Cadillac DeVille.....slowly. I rate this guitar a 9.5 in all catagories except service. They seem to be very slow in responding.

Sound is terrific and versatile. Has a lot of presence.

Excellent action, fit and beautiful finish.

So far, (after 8 months owning), guitar stays in tune and have no problems. Finish is so nice, I am afraid to beat on it.

Not very friendly. OK but not what you would expect for customer service with a purchase of $3,450 item.

Playing for about 10+ years. Overall rating for PRS is 9.5. It is a great guitar and I am so happy I have it.

This is PRS McCarty Model 10 top, made on 6/24/02. It has 22 frets, birds, with the gold hardware, and rosewood neck, wide fat. The color designation is Teal Black, but its more like an emerald green with a flamed top. Im glad I spent the extra cash on the gold hardware, it really brings the Teal to life.

Since I play mostly TexMex, I can get a solid clean tone out of the guitar. As for rock, what can I say, its very suitable, sustain is great and the overdive is clean coming from this guitar. I'm a firm believer that an amp is only as good as the signal it gets, and this guitar delivers. I also play Jazz, I just flip to my neck pick-up for a fatter warmer tone. The tone control actually does its job, it rolls off and boosts, it just doesn't cut the highs. The range is evenly spaced from dark to bright, and gives you more tone color than your regular tone control. I use a setting of 4 or 5 for Jazz, though it doesn't sound like a real hollow body, it gets your tone in shape. Turn it up to ten and flip to the bridge pick-up I can cut through the mix.

The push-pull switch knob is different. Dont't expect that Strat single-coil sound. It's more like an edgier or brighter humbucker. I guess the rosewood neck gives you a warmer sound, so if your looking to get that classic clean bell like twang forget it, unless you want to spend some time tweaking your EQ.

The switch selector starts off being noisy, like a bad chord. I have to wiggle and play with it so the clicking stops, I dont know if the switch has to be broken in but its a distraction. After 20 minutes of playing it goes away.

Im usuing my old Line6 AX2, I know some of you aren't too hip on modeling amps, but I've plugged into a TopHat, Fender Custom Series, Matchless and a Flextone III. I'm going for the Flextone, just on flexibily and tone variety. My favorite amp was the TopHat, warm classic sound that would have been great, but I'm limited on sounds and effects. The Fender was clean and bright, the Matchless was great for classic rock. But I had to get the Flextone for cost effectiveness. If I'm impressed coming thru a AX2, then I'll be a happy camper when my Flextone III gets here on order.

The guitar when played unamplified resonates. After it arrived I picked it up and found the D string to be out of tune. I did my usual harmomics and when I turned the tuning key I actually FELT the beats coming through the tuning key. I don't know, maybe I've used a locking nut for so long that I forgot how it felt tuning a guitar at the headstock instead of tremelo.

The factory sends out PRS with 9 guage. I asked the shop if they can adjust the guitar for 10 guage, no problem. There was some rattling along the 10-12 frets but it was because I wasn't applying enough pressure. I was playing 9 on my other axes so I was the one do adjust. The frets are not jumbo (like I used before), I didn't notice till I actually looked and inspected the neck. There was some sympathic vibration within the bridge pick up when A's are played, though it doesn't come out through the amp, I did hear it unplugged. After I rocked the pick up back and forth it went away. but its something to keep an eye out for.

I like the unfinished rosewood neck. I tried other McCartys with a finished neck, but fell in love with that silky smooth feel of the rosewood.

The position of the swithch selector takes some time to get used to. The push pull knob can get a bit cumbersome especially when switching on a live performance. I'll probably just end up ignoring the single-coil settings anyway.

The guitar overall is well built, plays like a dream. I can pick up this baby and play on it all day. Kind of makes me worried cause I don't want a scratch, bruise or bump on it! The only flaw I found (and it may be only in my case) is that darn switch selector and a sympathic hum in the pick up. These may be gremlins that came from the factory and hopefully go away with some use.

N/A

The best features are its tone production, tone control, feel and action. I've tried Gibsons in the past and they just wore me down, and Strats are a bit thin tonewise for me. I've tried other McCartys on the market and they are made pretty much consistant from the factory. I like the looks, that 10 top trim around the body complements the gold hardware. The electronics are good, great humbucking sound, single coil is much to be desired...but I bought it for its humbucking sound. I guess you can get a variety of tone color, even more with amps and effects.

Bought it 2001 brand spankin new. 22 Frets. 10 top cherry sunburst. McCartys all come with the McCarty pickups which have a lot fatter jazzier sound than the 22s or 24s. 3 way switch with the coil tap so you get that nice single coil sound. Stop tail bridge. Only thing i wish that i had gotten the birds, but hey i dont sell drugs.

This guitar is perfect for my music since I like to play jazz as well as rock and then really crazy rock and a variety of other styles. It's really versitile especially because of the tap-coil deal. I've heard a lot of people say that it can go from strat to les paul, which isnt exactly true but i like the prs better than both. The only effects i use are are Boss DD-5 and an original Cry Baby. Most of the time I use a Marshall 412 DSL.

It was set up very well when i bought it. so far i havent had to mess with anything on it.

Live this guitar is one of the best ive used. The tuners work real nice. It hardly ever goes out of tune live, even when you play it pretty hard. This is way better than the Gibsons which i have seen constantly go out of tune. The only thing ive had any trouble with is the nickel hardware which is hard to get clean. It is the bost dependable guitari have ever played.

I haven't had any problems with it that i needed to call the company so i dont know.

If i lost it i would crap on myself. If it were stolen i'd crap on them.

2000 PRS McCarty, rosewood/mahogany wide-fat neck, abalone bird inlays, black cherry 10-top finish, silver hardware. Has 22 frets, PRS stop tailpiece, McCarty pickups with three way toggle switch.

Did not opt for (1)gold hardware or (2)full rosewood neck.

Sounds like a PRS. Has excellent variety for one guitar, using the split coil pick-ups. Doesn't sound like either a Fender or a Les Paul. Sounds like a PRS.
Played through digitech effects processor and Peavey 212 stereo chorus amplifier.

Absolutely beautiful finish. Wood grains book-matched nicely on the body, neck smooth, sounds great out of the box. No flaws seen.

Best played live. This guitar feels dependable and solid. The finish seems good enough to last, and is without a blemish (after two years of ownership and playing). Not too heavy, easy to play two hour show without straining shoulders.

Haven't had a problem here (thankfully). All I can say is that it took nearly 4 months between ordering the guitar and having it in my hands.

I have been playing guitar for ten years. My other axe is made by Samik, and was a great starter guitar. This one is my first premium guitar. I bought it thinking that it would be the perfect hybrid between a Strat and a Les Paul. Although it sounds like neither, it sounds terrific on its own merit, and has given me all that I need at present.

This is the best guitar that I have seen that hasn't come out of a custom shop. Having seen this guitar, with its attention to detail and superb craftmanship, my future Fender and Gibson purchases will be through custom shops or re-issues.

Excellent playability and looks beautiful, just has a hefty price tag. So nice that I told my girlfriend that if she ever scratches it, I'm breaking up with her!