Going to Look at These Tomorrow...

smitty_p said:
Yeah, they are very nice guitars. But PRS does put their switches in odd locations on some models. It would drive me nuts. But, I think they are exceptionally nice guitars and wouldn’t mind having one. Every now and then I drool over the McCarty model.
Click to expand...

Funny you mention that. More than anything it was the control layouts that made me give up on the PRS’ that I owned. They were just not intuitive at all, and if I have to think about a knob before turning it or a switch before whacking it then I am distracted. Gorgeous, great-playing guitars though.
 
gball said:
Funny you mention that. More than anything it was the control layouts that made me give up on the PRS’ that I owned. They were just not intuitive at all, and if I have to think about a knob before turning it or a switch before whacking it then I am distracted. Gorgeous, great-playing guitars though.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it’s kind of sad to me. Living in Maryland, you see them in every music store and there is an emotive part of me that is drawn to them for that reason. I also remember seeing them in guitar magazines in the ‘80s when they very first hit the market. I thought they looked great, and I liked the body style, as well.

But, that control layout just gets to me! Since I already know and really like Les Pauls, the McCarty model would be pretty intuitive.
 
gball said:
Funny you mention that. More than anything it was the control layouts that made me give up on the PRS’ that I owned. They were just not intuitive at all, and if I have to think about a knob before turning it or a switch before whacking it then I am distracted. Gorgeous, great-playing guitars though.
Click to expand...
That‘s a pet peeve of mine on my LPs. Why does the toggle switch go up/down instead of left/right? On all my Warmoth builds I orient the toggle switch for neck pup, switch towards the neck, for bridge pup, switch towards the bridge.

1674004E-BC41-4446-9671-20A8E371F7B9.jpeg
 
Sp8ctre said:
I'm specifically staying away from the McCarty model because it's too Les Paul like. If I wanted that much of a Les Paul style, I'd buy a Gibson.
Click to expand...

gball said:
Funny you mention that. More than anything it was the control layouts that made me give up on the PRS’ that I owned. They were just not intuitive at all, and if I have to think about a knob before turning it or a switch before whacking it then I am distracted. Gorgeous, great-playing guitars though.
Click to expand...

Chris, Maybe there are some Mccarty's with LP layout of the pots. BUT if I am not mistaken, the ones like my buddy who has the N4 plays, is older. It is more like a CU22 or essentially a CU 22 with Mccarty Pups.

Mccarty MMMM.jpg

1640190802051.png
 
Last edited:
Don O said:
That‘s a pet peeve of mine on my LPs. Why does the toggle switch go up/down instead of left/right? On all my Warmoth builds I orient the toggle switch for neck pup, switch towards the neck, for bridge pup, switch towards the bridge.
Click to expand...
Honestly, I think so you can switch easily on an up- or downstroke while playing. That’s how I do it, just brush the togggle with the meaty part of my thumb. I learned how to play on a Les Paul so its very intuitive and I am able to hit all three positions that way.

Unfortunately its also the reason I have trouble with the controls on anything that is not a Les Paul.
 
Don O said:
That‘s a pet peeve of mine on my LPs. Why does the toggle switch go up/down instead of left/right? On all my Warmoth builds I orient the toggle switch for neck pup, switch towards the neck, for bridge pup, switch towards the bridge.

View attachment 77423
Click to expand...

Dono. My 3 Knob SG has the selector go north south like up North to the neck pup and South to the Bridge.

All the other SG's go sideways across the body direction.
 
gball said:
Honestly, I think so you can switch easily on an up- or downstroke while playing. That’s how I do it, just brush the togggle with the meaty part of my thumb. I learned how to play on a Les Paul so its very intuitive and I am able to hit all three positions that way.

Unfortunately its also the reason I have trouble with the controls on anything that is not a Les Paul.
Click to expand...

G. this was my guess on why, too. AND I learned on an LP as well. But my return to guitars came on Strats. So I got used to those too. Then came SG's which were like a hybrid LP/Strat.

1987 3 knob SG.jpg
 
smitty_p said:
Yeah, they are very nice guitars. But PRS does put their switches in odd locations on some models. It would drive me nuts. But, I think they are exceptionally nice guitars and wouldn’t mind having one. Every now and then I drool over the McCarty model.
Click to expand...
My Artist Series came with their 5 way rotary switch, I ditched that bugger right away and installed a regular 3 way and that was even in a weird spot.

PRS.jpg
 
gball said:
Honestly, I think so you can switch easily on an up- or downstroke while playing. That’s how I do it, just brush the togggle with the meaty part of my thumb. I learned how to play on a Les Paul so its very intuitive and I am able to hit all three positions that way.

Unfortunately its also the reason I have trouble with the controls on anything that is not a Les Paul.
Click to expand...
I agree on the mechanics of switching, but in my brain I gotta think, is up neck or bridge ?
 
gball said:
Honestly, I think so you can switch easily on an up- or downstroke while playing. That’s how I do it, just brush the togggle with the meaty part of my thumb. I learned how to play on a Les Paul so its very intuitive and I am able to hit all three positions that way.

Unfortunately its also the reason I have trouble with the controls on anything that is not a Les Paul.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it’s pretty instinctive for me with either a Strat (just flick the switch with my pinky) or a Les Paul (just flick the switch with my thumb). My Jackson, on the other hand, was bad. The switch was obscured by the volume knob, so had to do my “Les Paul-izing“ of that guitar a few years ago and put a pickup selector in the upper horn, similar to the PRS McCarty double-cut.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
YUP. I hear you guys on the PRS switch locations
Click to expand...

But, Chris mentioned the other day that he's at the point of starting to really learn to use the controls. Perhaps this is a golden opportunity for him to buy the perfect guitar, bond with it, and make those control locations second-nature?

I mean, if the controls on a Les Paul imprinted so manifestly in my brain all those years ago that it screws me up on every other type of guitar then I am sure it can happen with everyone. The only reason Strats, SGs, PRSs, etc mess me up is that in my brain they are WRONG! Y'know.
 
gball said:
But, Chris mentioned the other day that he's at the point of starting to really learn to use the controls. Perhaps this is a golden opportunity for him to buy the perfect guitar, bond with it, and make those control locations second-nature?

I mean, if the controls on a Les Paul imprinted so manifestly in my brain all those years ago that it screws me up on every other type of guitar then I am sure it can happen with everyone. The only reason Strats, SGs, PRSs, etc mess me up is that in my brain they are WRONG! Y'know.
Click to expand...

G, I agree, and understand what Chris is looking for plus understand a bit from his past preferences, purchases and sales.

I totally know what you mean about the imprinting, MY drum teacher and friend, John started me out with MUSCLE memory education. He said, once you get it, it is like tying one's shoes. We don't have to think about it.

I kind of think about Gibson guitars various positions of Switches, Pots, Tuners, Jacks and how myself and various players get used to the differences. For example, LP's, SG's, ES135, ES 335-355's, Byrdland, all have the same Pots layouts, but their jacks are either side mounted of face mounted near the knobs. AND, their switches are in different places. LP in Upper bout, ES and SG among the knobs usually, and Byrdland in the cut out horn. Somehow, their players get used to where stuff is and either stick to that preferred guitar, or adapt if certain features are in other places on others.

I am sure Chris will make a nice decision and get an amazing guitar.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
Chris, Maybe there are some Mccarty's with LP layout of the pots. BUT if I am not mistaken, the ones like my buddy who has the N4 plays, is older. It is more like a CU22 or essentially a CU 22 with Mccarty Pups.

View attachment 77426

View attachment 77427
Click to expand...

You are right, there is a McCarty version still in production with the wrap tail. The 594 is the LP style. But, I also don't want a wrap tail with this guitar.

It's going to be a Custom 24 or possibly a Custom 22. I have a 10:30 appointment to play a few. I'm going to see if they'll fire up the Joe B. Dumble for a hack guitarist to make a sale! Ha Ha
 
gball said:
Definitely play both to decide. The placement of the neck pickup makes a pretty big difference. I personally prefer the 24 but a lot of people don't seem to like the tone of the pickup there and opt for the 22.
Click to expand...

That's what I've been reading. I'm not looking for a Les Paul sound with this guitar. I already have a Les Paul. I'm looking for something different, so the 24 is on top of the list.
 
I really like my 24 fret Santana SE if that matters. Perfect heft of neck, Not skinny or narrow nut. PRS Trems are great too.

Somehow they stay in tune too, even without locking nut. PRS does have one style Locking tuner that I really liked too. MY Santana 2 had the harder to get strung Wing type. My Santana 3 had ones like in this 2nd clip.


 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top