Announcing their latest masterpiece, PRS Guitars pays a profound tribute to legendary guitar designer Ted McCarty with the limited edition McCarty SC56. This single-cut electric guitar, celebrating PRS’s 40th anniversary, promises the coveted tones of vintage “Golden Era” instruments coupled with contemporary playability and reliability, all without the astronomical price tag of a true vintage classic.
PRS Limited Edition McCarty SC56
Paul Reed Smith, the visionary founder of PRS Guitars, has once again fused tradition with innovation in the McCarty SC56.
This meticulously crafted instrument is a direct nod to Paul Reed Smith’s mentor, Ted McCarty, whose groundbreaking “humbucker” pickups first appeared in guitars in 1956 – a year that also holds personal significance for Smith, marking his own birth.
“The SC56, signifying Singlecut and 1956, model is our most recent tribute to my late mentor Ted McCarty and his impact on the guitar industry,” stated Paul Reed Smith. “We started with our take on a classic late ‘50s singlecut body. 1956 marks the year that Ted first had guitars made with his newly coined ‘humbucker’ pickups. It also happens to be the year I was born.”
40th Anniversary
This release is part of PRS’s ongoing 40th Anniversary celebrations, which have already seen the return of the cult-classic CE22 bolt-on in April and a limited edition SE Exotic Veneer makeover for its SE models in March, further cementing PRS’s legacy as a leading innovator in the world of electric guitars.
Vintage Voice, Modern Precision
The McCarty SC56 is designed to deliver warm, clear, and articulate vintage tones, courtesy of PRS’s specially designed McCarty III humbucking pickups.
These pickups, meticulously engineered to offer exceptional note separation and dynamics, are controlled by individual volume and tone pots for each, alongside a traditional three-way pickup selector.
In a commitment to pure vintage sound, PRS has opted for no coil-splitting, presenting the humbuckers just as nature intended.
Patterned Weight Relief
Underneath its stunning finish, the McCarty SC56 boasts a substantial mahogany body topped with a thick figured maple cap – a classic tonewood combination that forms the heart of its rich voice.
Addressing the potential weight of such a design, PRS has incorporated “patterned weight relief,” strategically chambering the body while retaining essential wood blocks to connect the top and bottom.
This innovative approach shaves approximately 2/3 of a pound off the guitar’s total weight, ensuring a lighter instrument without compromising the solid-bodied resonance.
Attainable Excellence
While PRS guitars are synonymous with quality and craftsmanship, making them an investment, the limited run of 400 McCarty SC56 units offers a more accessible path to “dream guitar” territory compared to the exorbitant prices of genuine vintage instruments like a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard.
“It reminds me of some of the best Golden Era instruments that I have had the honour of playing, but with the reliability, playability – and most importantly – the consistency of PRS’s modern manufacturing,” noted Bryan Ewald in a demo video. “Dare I say it, it is much more attainable than the original instruments that inspired it.”
Key Features and Availability
Further enhancing its allure, the McCarty SC56 features a glued-in Pattern Vintage mahogany neck, a rosewood fingerboard adorned with PRS’s signature bird inlays and a 10″ radius, and a distinctive 40th Anniversary truss rod cover.
Hardware includes an avian headstock inlay, Phase III non-locking tuners, and a two-piece bridge, all contributing to the guitar’s exceptional playability and tuning stability.
The McCarty SC56 is available in three captivating finishes: McCarty Sunburst, Translucent Black, and Faded Blue Jean, (plus Faded Whale Blue Wraparound Smokeburst in the US) and is priced at £5,289 / $4,950.
There is also an exclusive Sweetwater Black Gold Burst version.
PRS at Andertons
PRS at Sweetwater
- PRS 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Limited Edition in McCarty Black Gold Burst Sweetwater Exclusive
- PRS 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Limited Edition in McCarty Sunburst at Sweetwater
- PRS 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Limited Edition in Faded Blue Jean at Sweetwater
- PRS 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Limited Edition in Translucent Black at Sweetwater
- PRS 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Limited Edition in Faded Whale Blue Wraparound Smokeburst
More Information
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