PRS McCarty - Is This PRS Most Underrated Guitar?

Ive been looking for a P90 guitar for some months. Ive been deliberating over many different brands and models, but then this showed up on Reverb the other day and I couldn't resist,
The PRS McCarty P90 has had mixed reviews over the years, mainly down to people not really liking the Seymour Duncan P90 pickups. As soon as I plugged this in i was blown away with how great this guitar sounds.
The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.

[@riccovrea841]

By far the best I’ve been playing them since 1999 my favorite year for some reason is 1997 something magical about that year with McCartys. I’ve literally owned well over 25 of them from 1994- 2006 and every configurations they offered.

[@stevenrehfeld5939]

I currently have 4 McCartys. 2000, 2001, 2003, 2015 and they are all incredible instruments

[@sigsfast]

To be fair, your favorite PRS has been each new one you’ve tried. DGT, Studio, and now....... They’re all great.

[@biffelliotforpresident]

Exactly what I was thinking! And Paul, why were you looking for a P90 guitar when you had fallen in love with the P90 Gibson Les Paul R6 and the Custom Shop Strat?

[@sublyme2157]

Stunning playing at the 1:07 mark!

[@TheRedSpecialPlayer]

In this video you can hear quite clearly how fanatical this PRS with P90 pickups sounds! Congratulations, dear Paul, on this also visually very beautiful instrument. And the video shows us that one has to be very careful with the statements of reviews and ratings, because the same can at best only give us a clue about how the gear might sound - no more and no less. Moreover, I find that in many cases it is irrelevant whether a guitar (or an amp) is judged as "good" or "bad" by the reviewer. At the end of the day, it's your own taste in sound and personal preferences that decide anyway. That's why the prestige that some manufacturers carry around with their chests puffed out with pride can't bother us, because in the end it's all about the personal sound, not about the company logo emblazoned on the guitar or amp. Not to mention the price. With this in mind, best regards from Germany to the UK. Mic 🙂

[@DoubleDguitar]

Caught some of this at lunch. Great stuff, PRS are great guitars and some great people there.

[@darrengill]

Picked one up recently, 22 years old in near mint condition. Sounds sweet with the original pickups.

[@TheBluesyPea]

outstanding review Paul! Great playing!!!

[@SDisonYT]

I have been such a huge Gibson and Fender guy for decades. But when I bought my first PRS last year, my eyes opened. They are crazy expensive, but so is Gibson, and I’ve been more impressed with the build quality and clarity of PRS than with my Gibson’s usually. And honestly, even the PRS SE line is really good for the money. The best part is that it has made me venture out and try lots of other amazing guitar brands as well. (EVH has also been impressive, and Paoletti’s make me want to sell my house to buy about 10 of them! :)

[@sixslinger9951]

I have 2 PRS's and a Gibson Les Paul and Fender American made Strat. I love them all\

[@juliochingaling5824]

Cant beat the Mccarty, very under rated because most people want the fancy birds n trem,etc. I had many PRS guitars but always come back to the early Mccartys. Excellent video and playing. God bless.

[@edwardstone198]

Great video thank you. I have an SC594 soap bar and likewise love the sound especially the neck. Congratulations on getting yours.

[@ilmisxx2]

p90's are a spectacular studio pickup, live they can be a bit fussy with noise but in the studio they are gorgeous, all the clarity of a single coil and all the body of a humbucker. I love them. An in my experience most PRS's with that compensated stopbar are really good, very successfull design imo

[@JohnnyRoggio]

I am in awe of the tasty playing & the tone ... Seriously, Fantastic Playing and a even more Fantastic Channel. You have inspired me to Re-imagine my career playing again. DO tel on this beautiful Reverb you have going on in the clean part of this demo. I'm getting close with a Boss RV-6, but your sound is glorious clean !!!

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Johnny I’m using a Lexicon 224 that you can get with the Universal Audio Apollo platform

[@johngreen6118]

It sounds amazing Paul. I’m glad you got it. If it’s a keeper it may be worth considering revealing the full glory of that flame. If you only strip the top you don’t have to worry about black guitar fatigue with constantly cleaning the finger prints off it.

[@LLVG83]

Thanks for sharing Paul, I have a 2001 McSoapy and it's probably my favorite PRS too, positioning it between a Tele and Les Paul I very much agree with. I replaced the pickups on mine as well haha, to my ears the pickups lack character and are too hot. Not wanting to be PRS fanboy, but replaced the neck pickup on my DGT standard too, only the Silver Sky was perfect for me out of the box. We seem to have a similar taste in guitars somewhat. Enjoy your new guitar!

[@dennyclosser8456]

Stunning ax, killer sound form those p90 s Nicely done New one to my list for sure..

[@nicholastobin8168]

I had the three P90 pickup with trem version a while back. I did find the Seymours a little hot, but could have lived with that. It was the middle pickup being in the way of how I attacked the strings which saw me move it on. Would love another go at the two pickup version. Much prefer hard tails as I get older.

[@soofitnsexy]

me too

[@BaltimoreRockGuitar]

My favorite PRS model by far!

[@youKnowWho3311]

Wrap around with a p90 is definitely a type of magic. Great sounding guitar!

[@bobbychubb6913]

That would be a dream guitar for me p90s are all I want a core model korina one with birds and trem of course

[@HuguesDUROIR]

This guitar sound punchy, clear and articulate. I prefer this one to yours studio one. Great video again.

[@TheStudioRats]

Yeah me too.

[@goodtimes6204]

Thanks for your cool review of this cool guitar. Got one from 02 and love it. Magical sound and fantastic to play, a joy everyday. Guess this guitar is underrated, and after set the amp after sc oder humbacker it has a little bit to twicken in and the sun goes up :) Fantastic playing by the way

[@TheBlackzat]

Thank you!! Great review

[@acmeyakko]

I've got a 2017 McCarty 594 with P90s. It's a great guitar, sounds very similar to yours, although I will say I still prefer my '99 McCarty with humbuckers slightly, especially cleans with the coil split.

[@noahtenshen]

Beautiful guitar, beautiful playing. Well done. Stay Well Groovy One.

[@acespark1]

New guitar ? Are you cutting down again ! Fantastic piece of Kit sounds wonderful

[@shaharbar]

She’s a beaut Paul, and sounds great, congratulations! I imagine you are playing either through your Amp1 or GT-1000.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers man, the Amp1

[@murky9554]

great guitar, love PRS stuff. Btw depends on what a player wants to hear from the guitar, but the lack of clarity can refer to less presence, say less signal hitting around 10k Fq or so in comparison to other pickups. To be honest hearing your review, I would also clarify this guitar as rather dark sounding. But it sure sounds great :)

[@chrisbrown644]

My one internet purchase regret was a used 98 Goldtop I ended up giving to my brother. I'm not sure about lack of clarity, I found its upper midrange unpleasant. It does that NuMetal grind sound really well, though. Strangely enough, I think its best attribute was its tone control - really useful.

[@DeekJohnson]

Now I gotta get one....wish people would say what amp they’re using. Great review

[@carsgunsandguitars]

Damn that thing sounds great! I"m thinking about a McCarty 594 Soapbar.

[@paulorr7471]

I e been looking for a Gibson gold too with p-90’s I had no idea prs made these. I like custom 22’s and mccarty’s the hunt begins!

[@dreamscuba]

Great video. I love PRS guitars. I also would like a guitar with P90s... I will have to check one of these out if there are any around here...Thanks

[@allenbundy4650]

I just picked up the 2006 gold top just like the one you have there

[@mparkerdrums]

I’m literally melting over this guitar… can anyone point me in the right direction to get hold of one? Or, would I have to have it custom built? Also, MSG pickups in these things… For an alround happy medium for all genres - what pickups would you recommend people?. Many thanks.

[@allenbundy4650]

Prs does make their own p90s

[@ZosoOfZep]

Yeah, an amazing guitar. I have the gold top version with the bird inlay.

[@johnoakleymusic]

Paul do you still own this? If not why? If so do you still love it and would you change anything about it please? 🙏🏻 seriously looking at one of these as fancy a p90 guitar and love my core McCarty and core custom 22. Cheers

[@dgmg1578]

Love my prs soapbar se 2

[@NunoXavierguitar]

Souds incredible, what a cool guitar.. Bad Prs? There's no such thing..

[@davidolsen9425]

Hi Paul. Are you using the Ir200 in this vid?

[@soofitnsexy]

ALSO how do you compare it with your prs DGT? neck etc?? thans again

[@frankscheno8042]

Looking into buying one of these, are they extremely noisy for live setting? Would I need some type of a noise gate to Get it under control? Thanks!

[@TheStudioRats]

No more than any other single coil guitar

[@rjlane3475]

how does this compare to your DGT ? If someone already has a DGT, is it worth switching to this P90 version ?

[@TheStudioRats]

It’s definitely different, more aggressive. I love the DGT the McCarty p90 guitar is more like a hyped telecaster.

[@ThatDarnCat]

I've got two of them soapies. Both 'core' McCartys, one with mahogany neck and one with solid rosewood neck. I put after market adjustable bridges with locking posts on them, adds to your sustain.

[@MaxPower-js1sk]

I think that the PRS Core Mira might be more underrated than that.

[@billydelacruz1500]

Have a 08 Core Mira that’s 🔥🔥🔥Single coil split sounds like a great 60’s Tele!!! Very sharp lookin in black/ black guard and was a steal at $600!!

[@MaxPower-js1sk]

@@billydelacruz1500 I have a black 08 Mira. They sell for over $3,000 here in Australia. I bought mine for $1000AUD ($650USD) because the owner tried to relic it. He realised that he’d made a mistake, so he stripped it and got his mate to spray paint it metallic blue with a spray can. I’m sanding it and will have it refinished. Mine sounds like a Strat in single coil mode. It’s a great guitar and it’s light. It’s way better than my CE24, which is a limited edition Swamp Ash Special. I was going to sell the Mira, but maybe I’ll keep it. I wish I could send you some photos. Aesthetically, it’s ruined but it plays well. The guy replaced the pickups with S Duncans, replaced the pots with cheap Asian pots, and replaced the lampshade knobs with cheap amp-style knobs.

[@billydelacruz1500]

@@MaxPower-js1sk They are great playing and sounding guitars. I actually gifted it to my teenage Son to learn guitar on. Why former owner, would treat a PRS like that is crazy? No parts needed replacing and I love PRS’ solid colors! Stunning!! Wish you well on restoring her!! ✌️❤️

[@MaxPower-js1sk]

@@billydelacruz1500 thanks Billy. I found a set of the right PRS pickups from 08. All I have to do now is finish the sanding. I was going to sell it, but I think I’ll keep it. It’s one of the best guitars I own. It’s better than my Les Paul, 335 and my CE24. Take care mate. 😁👍

[@sixslinger9951]

does PRS even make these anymore?

[@soofitnsexy]

also does this guitar have a maple cap???

[@TheStudioRats]

It does and it’s very different to the DGT. Both great just different

[@dadmadforgot4050]

Something about these all in black. The only ‘cool’ PRS imho

[@ronsiegel1084]

Is this live?

[@TheStudioRats]

not live just a premier listing