The PRS SE McCarty 594 (2026 model) is PRS’s vintage-style single-cut guitar in the SE (import) line. It’s designed to deliver Les Paul–style tone and feel but with several PRS engineering tweaks that make it play and intonate more consistently.
Below are the core specifications and then how it differs from competing guitars like a Gibson Les Paul, ESP/LTD EC-1000, or other mid-range single-cuts.
PRS SE McCarty 594 — Key Specifications
Body
- Solid mahogany body
- Maple top with flame maple veneer
- Shallow violin carve
Neck
- Set neck construction
- Bound mahogany neck
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Scale length: 24.594" (where the “594” name comes from)
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Neck shape: Pattern Vintage (full, slightly chunky)
- Rosewood fingerboard with PRS bird inlays
- 22 frets
- 10" fretboard radius
Electronics
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Pickups: PRS 58/15 LT “S” humbuckers
- Vintage-voiced “low turn” pickups for clarity and lower output
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Controls:
- 2 volume
- 2 push/pull tone (coil splits)
- 3-way toggle switch
Hardware
- PRS two-piece bridge (zinc/brass)
- Vintage-style tuners
- Nickel hardware
Case: Gig bag included
Typical Weight
Usually around 8–9 lb, depending on wood selection (similar to LP-style guitars).
What Makes the McCarty 594 Different
1. The 24.594" Scale Length
This is PRS’s biggest differentiator.
- Slightly longer than a Gibson’s 24.75"
- Slightly shorter than Fender’s 25.5"
Result:
- Slightly tighter bass than a Les Paul
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Easier bending and slinkier feel than Fender scales
- Better intonation accuracy across the neck
Players often describe it as the sweet spot between Gibson and Fender feel.
2. More Versatile Electronics
Unlike most Les Paul–style guitars, it has coil splits on both tone knobs.
So you get:
- Full humbuckers
- Single-coil tones
- Mixed combinations
This gives 8+ usable tones without complicated switching.
Most competitors (LP Studio, EC-1000) either have no coil splits, or split both pickups with one switch.
3. PRS Neck Carve & Playability
The Pattern Vintage neck is designed to mimic late-50s Gibson necks but with:
- smoother shoulders
- slightly asymmetric carve
- modern fretwork
Players often find it less fatiguing than a typical '59 Les Paul neck.
4. PRS Two-Piece Bridge
PRS uses a two-piece stoptail bridge system with brass/zinc mass.
Advantages:
- strong sustain
- simpler design than TOM + stopbar
- easier setup and intonation stability
5. Consistency and Quality Control
- PRS guitars (including SE models) are known for:
- very consistent fretwork
- stable tuning
- excellent factory setups
This is one reason many dealers say the SE line has one of the lowest return rates in the industry.
