Within the PRS range, the McCarty 594 stands out as a reference for guitarists seeking a classic tone, precise intonation across the neck, and a guitar that "feels right under the fingers." This 2024 version retains the McCarty family philosophy while adopting redesigned tuners with "Wing" buttons, engineered to transfer more energy to the strings and extend resonance.
The PRS McCarty 594 is aimed at intermediate to advanced guitarists looking for a premium electric guitar equally comfortable in rhythm and lead playing. Its palette naturally covers blues, rock, pop, and jazz, with a very musical response to playing nuances and guitar volume. Its shorter scale length offers a flexible feel, ideal for bends and expressive vibrato.
The mahogany body and carved maple top duo balances warmth, sustain, and definition: mahogany provides rich mids and a nice thickness, while maple adds attack and clarity, especially in chords. The PRS 58/15 LT pickups deliver an authentic, full, and articulate humbucker tone with very "vintage" dynamics. Thanks to the two volume and two push/pull tone controls, you can switch from a full, thick sound to more airy and nuanced single-coil-like textures, while maintaining excellent coherence between the 3-position selector positions. The PRS two-piece bridge (zinc) contributes to stability and note sustain, for long and singing sustain.
To stay as close as possible to the original feel, opt for electric strings gauge 10-46 (original gauge). This gauge maintains the tension/attack balance intended for the instrument and respects its dynamic response.