Why the desire for two of them? Simply because it's that good?
It's a pyschological thing. And yes, I know my head is screwed! I'll try and explain...
I've always liked the tone and simplicity of SGs/Miras but I've hankered after an all-mahogany LP for a while for that fatter tone. Lately I've realised that a singlecut doesn't do it for me, the lack of access annoys me. Plus I've always fancied a korina solid body too. Enter the first McCarty Korina, #1, which suited me perfectly. It's 'my' guitar. That particular McCarty (on the right in the pic I posted) has a lovely sweeping grain pattern and a one-piece body. It's quite distinctive and I love it to bits. I wanted to use it for gigs in my new band but I was very nervous of something happening to it. How could I replace it? Will PRS produce them for long? What if it gets damaged? I decided I couldn't risk it so I needed an alternative for gigging with.
Enter McCarty #2! I started hunting around for another one and was hoping I could find a used one in the near future. I ended up finding a seller on eBay who had one in stock down in Kent. Brand new, all the tags, cased etc for a CRAZY price. Roughly the same price as a new Mira and 2/3rds of the price I paid for my #1 :o I still don't know how he could sell it it so cheap.
An overdraft was swiftly arranged and the deal was done, after haggling him down a bit more (!) and going outside of eBay to avoid fees. #2 is slightly less desireable to me (two-piece body, plainer grain, slightly darker colour) but after a couple of little tweaks it plays and sounds identically to #1. Just the job for gigging with then! As I have #1 tucked away nicely, #2 will be used as Paul Smith intended and I won't have a heart attack when the dings and relicing appear.
Part of the deal to myself in buying #2 was that a couple of my other guitars had to fund it and pay off the overdraft. Watch out for a Gibson Les Paul, Fender Strat and Jackson Dinky up for sale soon.....
