Need Comparison Between A PRS McCarty vs Original Version Singlecut

[hardys]

I just bought a 2006 non-weight relieved PRS Singlecut on Ebay. While it's a beautiful looking & playing guitar, there are a few things about the sound I'm not that keen on. It has some nice low end, but the mids are scooped, is very focused/closed sounding with not a lot of harmonic content (kind of bland/flat sounding) and it is very smooth & compressed without much bark. It also doesn't have much woodiness to the tone.

Does the McCarty improve on any of this? Is it any more open/less focused, woodier & less smooth with more bite?

It could be the pickups causing this sound (stock #7s), but I just wanted to get some opinions before I start swapping pups or trying to sell it to get a McCarty. I had a McCarty many years ago, but I really can't remember what it sounded like. I do remember that there wasn't enough low end chunk on the bridge pup, but I put something else in there that beefed it up. The reason I sold it was it had a painted back/neck that just bugged me. I wanted a stained back/neck.

My acoustic memory is that good, but I do remember liking the general sound of the McCarty. From what I remember, it had a woodier tone than any PRS I had played up until that point.

[hardys]

bump

[hardys]

Nobody?

[sixstring531]

Change those #7s!!!!! I had them in my Singlecut Goldtop from 2001 and changing them to a nice PAF ( I did burstbuckers) turned it into my favorite guitar ever (though I don't have it anymore -- amp trade).

[BarryJ]

I have both at the moment (a 97 McCarty and a 2001 Singlecut). The Singlecut doesn't have the stock pickups, however - it has a set of old Dragon I's, and its a hard rock/metal machine. Those qualities that you described above are a good thing in this instance.

The McCarty is far more 'woody' and vintage sounding in my case, and I think that would remain no matter what pickups you put in the SC. I would like to try another Singlecut with different pickups, however - I'm actually looking to possibly trade my McCarty for another SC!

[c_mac]

The McCarty is far more 'woody' and vintage sounding in my case

A 25 in. scale guitar sounding vintage? Surely you jest! :mob

[hardys]

Change those #7s!!!!! I had them in my Singlecut Goldtop from 2001 and changing them to a nice PAF ( I did burstbuckers) turned it into my favorite guitar ever (though I don't have it anymore -- amp trade).

Did your singlecut sound something like I described when you had the #7s installed? How did the burstbuckers change the tone? More open, woody, more bark, harder attack, more harmonics?

I have a Wolfetone Dr. Vintage neck and a Wolfetone Marshall head bridge that I'm thinking of putting in there for a more vintage vibe. I just wanted to keep it stock and un-tampered with in case I wanted to sell it.

[sixstring531]

The 7s sounded way too "modern" if I may use that term. They were open, airy, not alot of bite at all, big mids and bass -- the neck pickup was ok, the bridge was underpowered and lacked the Mojo that is needed when matched with a boomer like the neck. I prefer ROCK/PAF style sounds (like LPs) so I changed to the BB pros, which had the attack, the bite, could be backed off on the volume and OD with the volume -- just a better choice. There are reasons they don't put #7s in the guitars anymore - -cause they aren't that useful in a dual humbucking guitar setup like a Les Paul. Put those Wolftones in and you'll have a whole new beast - I promise.

[hardys]

The 7s sounded way too "modern" if I may use that term. They were open, airy, not alot of bite at all, big mids and bass -- the neck pickup was ok, the bridge was underpowered and lacked the Mojo that is needed when matched with a boomer like the neck. I prefer ROCK/PAF style sounds (like LPs) so I changed to the BB pros, which had the attack, the bite, could be backed off on the volume and OD with the volume -- just a better choice. There are reasons they don't put #7s in the guitars anymore - -cause they aren't that useful in a dual humbucking guitar setup like a Les Paul. Put those Wolftones in and you'll have a whole new beast - I promise.

Thanks for the tips sisxtring. One other question, did you have any problems fitting the BB Pros into your SC? I was read a couple of threads over at the Birds & Moons forum and some guys complained the legs on the Wolfetones are longer than PRS pups and had difficulties making them fit. I've had Wolfetones (including a Timbre Wolfe) in my CU22 without any problems. The CU22 is a 2005 and my SC is a 2006.

[sixstring531]

No problems with the BB pros - never had a wolftone, but if it's standard PAF size and made to sound like a PAF, you'll enjoy it over the 7s.