Here’s a near-mint 2002 Paul Reed Smith McCarty in a dark cherry burst finish. It’s hard to believe this guitar is 15 years old, because it looks almost new. Ted McCarty is one of the pioneers of the electric guitar; he was the president of Gibson from 1950-1966, and was responsible for many patents and innovations — including the humbucking pickup. This was, of course, Gibson’s golden age. McCarty became a mentor to Paul Reed Smith, and the McCarty model debuted in 1994. The body is slightly deeper than the Custom 22, for enhanced sustain, with a stoptail wraparound bridge, 3 way switch with coil tap on the tone control, and McCarty humbuckers.
The guitar is great to play … the pickups will bark with authority driving a clean tube amp, and pulling the tone control gives you single coils for an extended tone palette. PRS offered these lefty for a brief period but you don’t see very many in this condition. Moon shell-on-shell inlays, natural binding, not a 10 top but a nice top all the same. Comfortable wide fat neck carve — similar to the current Pattern neck today. In all around excellent condition. With PRS hardshell case, the original hang tag and even a 2002 PRS accessories catalog.
Condition: Excellent; Body: Mahogany with carved maple top; Neck: Mahogany, wide fat carve, rosewood fretboard with moon inlays; Color: Dark cherry burst, tinted back, nickel hardware; Pickups: PRS McCarty Bass and Treble; Scale: 25; Lefthanded guitar (of course)