The PRS Singlecut Salute to the Legendary Ted McCarty
In 1956 — the same year that Paul Reed Smith was born — Ted McCarty introduced the iconic PAF-style pickup into production while at the helm of a foundational Kalamazoo-based guitar manufacturer. Decades later, Ted would play a pivotal role as a friend and mentor to Paul, and this PRS 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Singlecut celebrates their partnership by elevating Ted’s golden-age guitar designs to towering new levels of tone and performance. On paper, this guitar’s maple-topped mahogany foundation comes straight out of the Ted McCarty playbook, albeit with a few significant exceptions found in its comfortable weight relief, enhanced cutaway, and jaw-dropping figuring. Next, the rosewood-topped mahogany neck keeps this guitar’s vintage-inspired vibe rolling with a chunky Pattern Vintage profile that’s sure to thrill players after a full, firm grip. Furthermore, the guitar’s vintage-style tuning machines and stop tailpiece strengthen the stability and performance of an all-time classic design. As for the tone, two McCarty III humbuckers offer a superb sonic meld between the warm, dynamic sound of Ted’s original humbucker design and crisp modern clarity. Topped off with PRS’s Old School Birds inlays, an eye-catching eagle inlay on the headstock, and a 40th anniversary truss rod cover, the PRS 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 simultaneously honors and innovates on its lauded single-cut predecessors.
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Weight-relieved mahogany for playing comfort
The mighty single-cut solidbodies first introduced by Paul Reed Smith’s friend and mentor Ted McCarty are championed by guitarists the world over for their full, fat, and sustain-heavy sound. That said, they tend to clock in with a robust weight to match their robust tone! To offer a lighter feel on your shoulders without compromising on classic single-cut sonics, this limited-edition PRS 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Singlecut sports a weight-relieved mahogany foundation that reduces weight by up to two-thirds of a pound. This process creates cavities in select areas of the mahogany body while retaining key contact points between the body and top to prevent the semi-hollow-style voice that can occur on heavily chambered instruments.
Chunky Pattern Vintage neck profile
This guitar’s Pattern Vintage profile clocks in on the chunkier side of the spectrum, featuring a distinct asymmetrical profile that conforms to your grip, from the base all the way to the neck joint. While it’s a thicker shape, it’s by no means clunky. Sweetwater guitarists across all styles have come to favor the Pattern Vintage profile for its comfortably full feel.
Dual-coil power, single-coil clarity
The McCarty SC56 Singlecut brings forth an onslaught of classic tones thanks to its complement of proprietary PRS pickups. Stationed at the bridge and neck, respectively, are McCarty III treble and bass humbuckers, which were first seen on the limited-run Private Stock 40th Anniversary McCarty Dragon guitar. The McCarty III neck pickup delivers plenty of rich, full-bodied vintage warmth. Throaty but clear, the McCarty III bridge pickup conversely produces a crisp, chimey, clean tone that’s easy to pull grit from with the Volume knob or aggressive pick attack. When overdriven, the tone of both pickups thickens while remaining articulate, perfect for complex chords or searing lead lines.
PRS 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Singlecut Features:
- Limited-edition model, paying tribute to Paul Reed Smith's friend and mentor, Ted McCarty
- SC56 designation honors the first year that Ted introduced the legendary PAF into production, and it also marks Paul Reed Smith’s birth year
- Densely figured maple top supported by a weight-relieved mahogany body for enhanced comfort
- Full, fat, and chunky mahogany neck in PRS’s Pattern Vintage profile
- 10-in.-radius rosewood fingerboard, flush with outstanding Old School Birds inlays and faux bone binding
- Dual PRS McCarty III humbuckers update a classic PRS pickup design, merging the warmth of a PAF-style humbucker with modern clarity and articulation
- High-performing hardware package consists of a PRS 2-piece bridge setup and PRS vintage-style tuning machines
- Crowned with an eagle headstock inlay and a PRS 40th Anniversary truss rod
- Nitro lacquer finish will age in the more you play it, just like the golden-age guitars originally designed by Ted McCarty
