When PRS was developing the McCarty Hollowbody guitars they took a leaf out of Ted's own book and sent the prototypes out to key players to get feedback on improvements. Problem is, nobody would give them back! The beautiful solid curly maple top and back are carved inside and out, producing an acoustic tone and volume far in excess of the instrument's size. The specially wound McCarty Archtop pickups give the Hollowbody the ability to cover many musical bases, from traditional jazz/fusion to '90's rock. Dave Burrluck in the UK's Guitar Magazine puts it, "This guitar is very versatile". He was equally impressed by the way PRS put them together, adding, "This is a guitar of stunning quality" Finish groups: C, D, G. Options: 10 top & backflame, 10 top & back-quilt, abalone bird inlay, adjustable PRS stoptail, gold hardware, LR Baggs/PRS piezo bridge system, patent applied for, individual string voicing, real acoustic guitar modeling.
If you ask Ted McCarty which of his many achievements during the 1950's and '60's he is most proud of he won't hesitate to tell you it was the invention of the thin, semi-hollow electric guitar, introduced in 1958. The McCarty Hollowbody takes the essential element of Ted's original idea--a guitar with the perfect blend of warm, acoustic jazz tones and the rich sustaining character of a solid body--and applies the PRS magic. The result is a solid spruce--not plywood--carved top guitar with a violin style sound post. Dieter Rosberg, writing in Germany's Gitarre und Bass Magazine says, "As a further development of the classic semi-acoustic concept, it provides sound capabilities without any limits". Paul Smith himself says, "I can't think of a kind of music you would not be able to play on this instrument".
The beautifully carved, figured maple top on the McCarty Hollowbody II has the same carved, solid mahogany back and sides as the Hollowbody Spruce. The maple top version is a little brighter. Finish group: C, D, G. Options: 10 top flame, 10 top quilt, abalone bird inlay, adjustable PRS stoptail, gold hardware LR Baggs/PRS piezo bridge system, patent applied for, individual string voicing, real acoustic guitar modeling.
The old "Soapbar" single coil pickups had a clarity of tone--without sounding thin and weak--that had defined the sound of Rock and Roll and small combo jazz guitar playing in the 1940's and 1950's. We wanted to try some on our McCarty Model, but the search for the "right" Soapbar proved difficult. It seems other guitar companies gave up and settled for second best. PRS' R&D Department worked with the experts at Seymour Duncan and between them designed a pickup with all the thick vintage punch of the original with a sparkling definition that's right up to the minute. Andrew Fleming in the UK's Guitarist magazine says, "A fabulously retro take on PRS's established Strat meets Les Paul theme. An absolute cracker". Tom Wheeler says it "looks like an heirloom instrument and a '55 Chevy showcar all at the same time". Finish groups: E & F Options: 10-top flame, abalone bird inlay, rosewood neck (only available with stoptail), gold hardware.
The McCarty Standard has all the features of the McCarty model with a one piece mahogany body. The understated elegance and vintage appearance of a solid, one piece, carved mahogany body has always attracted discriminating players. Check out the beautiful transluscent vintage cherry on the mahogany body for an authentic ‘50’s feel, or in gleaming black like the one shown here. Finish groups: E & F Options: Gold Hardware, abalone bird inlay.
If you ask Ted McCarty which
of his many achievements during the 1950’s and ‘60’s he is most
proud of, he’ll tell you it was the invention of the thin, semi-hollow electric
guitar.
The McCarty Hollowbody takes the essential elements of Ted's original
idea, a guitar with the perfect blend of warm, acoustic jazz tones and the rich,
sustaining character of a solid body, and applies modern PRS innovations.
The result is a carved, solid wood hollowbody guitar with a soundpost that ties
the top and back together. Add McCarty Archtop pickups and PRS stop-tail bridge
and you have one of PRS's most versatile guitars.Finish groups: R & S. Options:
Custom grade figured maple top, 10 top flame, 10 top quilt, abalone bird inlay,
adjustable PRS stoptail, gold hardware.
Ted McCarty has been a great teacher at PRS, passing on the philosophy which made Gibson Guitars* a legend during his Presidency in the 1950s and 1960s. The ES335*, the tune-o-matic bridge and the humbucking pickup were all conceived and developed on his watch. Some important people are saying some very nice things about the model PRS named for Ted, and which embodies much of his thinking about guitar design. Pete Prown, Editor of Guitar Shop magazine says, "the McCarty is the master of the lead tone." Guitar Player magazine adds, "It may be the quintessential humbucker-equipped solid body." Our McCarty Sunburst finish, shown opposite, is often copied but never equaled! Finish Groups: C, D, and G Options: 10-top flame, abalone bird inlay, rosewood neck (only available with stoptail), gold hardware.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it". We agree, and there have been some things which weren't broken which we tried to fix but in the process broke (don't ask) so we did learn from that, but none of this age-old wisdom stopped PRS from making a few cool tweaks to their famous Custom range. The hallmark "Wide-Fat neck" and 22 fret fingerboard remain unchanged but Custom 22s now come with great sounding new Dragon II pickups with nickel covers and the option of our three way toggle plus master volume and tone controls instead of the traditional five way rotary. Choose between a beautifully designed stop-tail bridge or the famous PRS tremolo system. Shown here in the beautiful Emerald Green finish. Finish Groups: E & F Options: Gold hardware, 2-way toggle pickup selector with push/pull modified coil tap on tone control 10 tio flame, 10 top quilt, abalone bird inlay, artist package.
This is the original PRS guitar and it remains the heart of the PRS line. It includes dozens of little improvements over the years but the basic design remains the same as the instrument Paul conceived and developed after hours in his original attic workshop. If you need a versatile 24-fret instrument that will cover all the musical bases, the Custom 24 is for you. The PRS tremolo system and locking tuners are standard; the stop-tail bridge is an option. Pictured in Cherry Sunburst finish. Finish groups: A, B and G Options: Gold Hardware, 3-way toggle pickup selector with push/pull modified coil tap on tone control, abalone bird inlay 10 top flame, 10 top quilt, artist package, Semi-Hollow 22 fret, right hand only.
This is the Standard model, made with a carved mahogany body, 22 fret mahogany neck made with a 10" radius, rosewood fretboard, having pearl and abalone "moon" inlays. You can get it in standard or wide-thin carving configuration. The headstock is finished in satin, and the guitar can come with a PRS stoptail or tremolo, 14:1, with low mass locking tuners. The electronics are Dragon II pickups with covers, 5-way rotary pickup selector, volume control and tone control. OPTIONS: gold hardware, 3-way toggle pickup selector with push-pull modified coil tap on tone control, and/or abalone bird inlays. See Finish Group E and F. Options: Gold Hardware, 3-way toggle pickup selector with push/pull modified coil tap on tone control, abalone bird inlay.
Some of Paul's earliest hand built guitars had mahogany necks and one piece mahogany bodies, 24 frets and tremolo bridges. They established him as a guitar maker and paved the way to our present position as one of the world's top manufacturers of fine electric guitars. The original guitars Paul made by hand are now highly prized collectors pieces, but the model which evolved from them has been in unbroken production to this day. It's called the Standard 24. The neck has the Regular profile, with the Wide-Thin as an option, and HFS and Vintage Bass pickups. It comes with a patented tremolo system and locking tuners for tuning stability and rich tone. The sound is thick and full, but with plenty of high end bite. Pictured here in Royal Blue Metallic. Finish groups: E & F. Options: Gold hardware, 3-way toggle pickup selector with push/pull modified coil tap on tone control, abalone bird inlay.
All the fat tone of our regular CE 22 with the added bonus of the famous PRS curly maple two piece top. The Dragon II pickups fitted to all of PRS' 22 fret Customs, Standards and CEs now come with cool nickel covers. Shown here in traditional Orange. Finish groups: K, M, G. Options: Gold hardware, 3-way toggle pickup selector with push/pull modified coil tap on tone control 10 top flame, 10 top quilt.
Many top players use our CE Maple 24 in favor of the more expensive Custom 24 because of its versatility and distinctive tone. A favorite since PRS introduced it in 1989. Shown here in Cherry Sunburst with optional Dragon II pickups. Finish groups: K, M. G. Options: Gold hardware, 3-way toggle pickup selector with push/pull modified coil tap on tone control, 10 top flame, 10 top quilt.
The tone of a Swamp Ash guitar with a maple neck needs no introduction to most players, but when that guitar is a PRS fitted with McCarty bridge and neck pickups and a Seymour Duncan Vintage Rails in the middle, you would be right to expect something Special! A push-pull switch on the tone control activates the center pickup and converts the neck humbucker to single coil operation, allowing many combinations of pickup tones. Shown in killer new Platinum metallic. Finish groups: J & P. Options: Abalone bird inlay, gold hardware.
Imagine you have the same two or three guitars for live and recording work year in and year out for 15 years. You custom ordered them from an unknown guitar maker in Maryland. You've grown to depend on them for your unique tone. Then they get stolen. The guitar maker has since grown into a major manufacturer. Can he repeat the magic, or has he fallen victim to the quality compromises that often come with volume production? The story is true and the artist is Carlos Santana. And the answer to the question? Carlos ordered new replacements straight off the production line and still uses them, even though his stolen originals were found and returned! We continue to offer, on a limited Special Order Only basis, this unique guitar designed by Paul in the old West Street, Annapolis workshop. Finish group: E & F. This model is "special order" only, once ordered it is non-cancellable, non-refundable, and non-approval. Options: Gold hardware.
PRS has always wanted to make a single cutaway guitar,
so when they were ready they turned to their friend, Ted McCarty for guidance
and inspiration. After all, it was Ted who introduced the very first carved top,
solid body, single cutaway to the world, back in 1952.
The PRS Singlecut is
built to uncompromising standards, giving guitarists the opportunity to play a
tried and true design, refined and improved by our years of accumulated experience.
The thicker body, stiffer neck and specially developed pickups in the Singlecut
deliver all the rich, vibrant tone you would expect from this style of instrument.
Finish group: A, B, C and G. Options: Quilt, 10-top flame, 10-top quilt,
abalone bird nlay, gold hardware, artist package.
An electric bass is not "a big guitar
with four strings". It's a unique instrument, and when PRS decided to make
one they thought long and hard before embarking on the project. They talked to
the bass players in the factory and some of the finest pro players in the world
about how they might proceed. The result combines classic bass features with technological
and design innovations. PRS believes it is very comfortable and sounds great.
The PRS Electric Bass has many traditional features like a bolt-on rock maple
neck, alder body and passive pickups, but they are all brought together with our
unerring eye for detail. The newly designed high inductance, passive pickups required
over a year of research and development. The whole pickup is radiused to follow
the arch of the strings, and has a clever built-in thumb rest. A solid brass bridge
provides enough mass to produce rich harmonics, solid tone, perfect intonation
and sustain to the 34” scale.Finish group for the alder body: F or W . For the Swamp Ash version finish group is J or F
Electric Bass Maple Top. Finish group: T or F
List Price
FINISH GROUPS:
Group A: Translucent finish on maple with natural maple edge.
Amber, Black Cherry, Black Sunburst, Cherry Sunburst, Dark Cherry Sunburst, Emerald Green, Gray Black, Natural, Orange, Purple, Teal Black, Tobacco Sunburst, Tortoise Shell, Turquoise, Vintage Sunburst, Vintage Yellow, Whale Blue.
Group B: Translucent finish on maple with matching maple edge.
Royal Blue, Scarlet Red, Violin Amber, Violin Amber 'Burst.
Group C: Translucent finish on maple with natural maple edge.
Amber, Black Cherry, Black Sunburst, Cherry Sunburst, Dark Cherry Sunburst, Gray Black, McCarty Sunburst, McCarty Tobacco 'Burst, Tealk Black, Tortoise Shell, Turquoise, Vintage Yellow, Whale Blue
Group D: Translucent finish on maple with matching maple edge.
Violin Amber, Violin Amber 'burst.
Group E: Translucent toner on solid mahogany
Black Sunburst, Natural Mahogany Translucent Blue, Translucent Orange, Translucent Purpole, Translucent Turquoise, Translucent Vintage Cherry, Translucent Walnut.
Group F: Opaque colors
Antique White, Black, Cabernet Metallic, Old Gold Metallic, Platinum Metallic, Seafoam Green.
Group G* (*deduct $200 off the list price if you choose groups G, P or S). Opaque Colors with natural maple edge.
Antique White, Black (Custom Black), Cabernet Metallic, Old Gold Metallic (Gold Top), Platinum Metallic, Seafoam Green.
Group H: Double stained translucent finish on maple with matching maple edge.
Amber, Black Cherry, Gray Black, McCarty Sunburst, Teal Black, Tiger's Eye, Turquoise, Violin Amber, Violin Amber 'burst.
Group J: Translucent Toner on Solid Ash
Black Sunburst, Natural Ash, Trans. Emerald Green, Trans. Turquoise, Trans Vintage Cherry, Tri-color sunburst, White Wash.
Group K: Translucent finish on maple with natural maple edge.
Amber, Black Cherry, Black Sunburst, Cherry Sunburst, Dark Cherry Sunburst, Emerald Green, Gray Black, Natural, Orange, Maple Edge Purple, Teal Black, Tobacco Sunburst, Tortoise Shell, Turquoise, Vintage Sunburst, Vintage Yellow, Whale Blue.
Group M: Translucent finish on maple with matching maple edge.
Royal Blue, Scarlet Red
Group P*: (*deduct $200 off the list price if you choose groups G, P or S). Opaque colors on Swamp Ash
Antique White, Black, Seafoam Green
Group R: Translucent finish on spruce.
Black Sunbust, Tobacco Sunburst, Tri-color sunburst, Vintage Natural
Group S*: (*deduct $200 off the list price if you choose groups G, P or S). Opaque colors with natural spruce edge
Antique Whtie, Black (Custom Black)
Group T: Translucent finish on maple for Bass with Inset Top
Amber, Black Cherry, Black Sunburst, Cherry Sunburst, Dark Cherry Sunburst, Emerald Green, Gray Black, Natural, Orange, Maple Edge Purple, Royal Blue, Scarlet Red, Teal Black, Tobacco Sunburst, Tortoise Shell, Turquoise, Vintage Sunburst, Vintage Yellow, Violin Amber, Violin Amber 'burst, Whale Blue.
Group W: Translucent toner on solid alder
Black Sunburst, Translucent Emerald Green, Translucent Vintage Cherry, Tri-color Sunburst, Translucent Turquoise
Group X: Santana Yellow
Option Prices:
Gold Hardware. . . $390
Quilt . . . . $
10-top Flame. . . $590
10-Top Quilt. . . $790
Abalone Bird Inlay . . . $320
Artist Package - Flame . . . $1380
Artist Package - Quilt . . . $1580
Rosewood Neck . . . $600
Adjustable PRS Stoptail. . . $160
Custom Grade Figured Maple Top. . . . $
PRS Tremolo/Locking Tuners. . . $
LR Baggs/PRS piezo bridge system. . . $650
Semi-hollow 22-fret, right handed only. . . . $
Figured Rock maple neck & fingerboard. . . $300
Important note: After January 1, 2005 we will no longer be able to order a guitar in the following colors: Raspberry (offered on Mahogany only) Vintage Sunburst Violin Amber Tobacco Sunburst Teal Black Turquoise Purple Cherry Sunburst Tobacco Wrap around Translucent Turquoise, Blue, Walnut, Green, and Translucent Purple Crème Metallic Red and Green
Check each model to see which options are applicable to that model. Mandolin Brothers is not responsible for typograpical errors; all prices throughout our Catalog and Vintage News are subject to change without notice if a manufacturer has a price increase. For further information you may check the PRS website at : http://www.prsguitars.com/
12-14-04