NGD - I know I said no more, but...

[Mark66]

I usually do a string/setup day where I do 5 or 6 guitars at a time.  I just did my acoustics and I have the new BC Rich and my Ric bass to do work on soon.  I go though about 50 sets of strings a year on my guitars (which means that not all of them are being restrung!).  I buy the 25 set D'Addario boxes for setups and also for guitars that are not my main ones (since SOB strings are really expensive!).   The SOB's are on the BK equiped guitars and all my bases.

Been putting it off for weeks, but finally got round to re-stringing/setting up/cleaning the LP today. Feels much better now,
but would still benefit from a fret dress.
Love that amber top by the way tf, thought I'd gone off PRS, kinda fancy one now!

[Twinfan]

Love that amber top by the way tf, thought I'd gone off PRS, kinda fancy one now!

Cheers Mark!

For anyone who's interested, there's a very similar model to mine (but with a two piece top) up for sale at Guitars4You.  Great shop, lovely looking guitar  ;)  It's also a 2001 in Violin Amber, and I'd been tempted to buy it myself recently but thought it was too dear at £1499.  It's just been reduced to £1299.  I've no affiliation with the shop, just passing on the info  :)

http://www.guitars4you.co.uk/guitars/2050.htm

[Mark66]

Dave, do all the McCartys have the push/pull tone pot for coil-split?
& do you like the stock PRS pups or swap them out for BKPs? Either way wouldn't mind soundclips through your new
fendery amp, which I guess is similarly voiced to my Cornell.
I like the look of that guitars4you McCarty, not sure I can convince the wife that I need another guitar though!
I have a Taylor 814 that I never play that would fund it. Problem is, I keep telling myself it's got to go, then take it out,
play it for 5min, then remember how sweet it sounds & can't bring myself to part with it.

How much of a handful is the wide fat neck? My hands are not tiny but hardly huge either. Are the saddles adjustable
on the wraparound bridge/tailpiece, they look fixed to me, just concerned about intonation, but I guess PRS thought
of that so it must be ok?
Mark

[WezV]

As for a white explorer, i'd love one. white guitars are my favourite. i've already considered it obviously, but the thing i'm not so keen on with yours is the 90% body size - i'm relatively tall and would prefer a full size i think. sorry :(

ah nevermind, I quite like compact bodies with long necks - especially when i can do that and still get the guitar to balance nicely.   I might have to respray this one at some point as white does not seem popular

[Twinfan]

Dave, do all the McCartys have the push/pull tone pot for coil-split?

All but the original models from 1994.  In 1995 they added the coil split via a push/pull on the tone pot.

do you like the stock PRS pups or swap them out for BKPs? Either way wouldn't mind soundclips through your new fendery amp, which I guess is similarly voiced to my Cornell.

I like the McCarty pickups just fine.  I think they're Alnico II but PRS don't publish the specs.  If so, they're another PAF variant like a Stormy Monday, SD Alnico Pro II, DiMarzio PAF etc.  Let me know what style you play and I'll see if I can rustle up some clips  ;)

How much of a handful is the wide fat neck? My hands are not tiny but hardly huge either.

It's not that wide and not that fat!  It's the widest and fattest neck that PRS make, but it's like a slightly chunkier Gibson 60s style neck.  Very, very comfortable to play.  I play with my thumb wrapped over the bass side and it's great, but I do have quite long fingers.  I can't imagine may people would object to the way it feels.

Are the saddles adjustable on the wraparound bridge/tailpiece, they look fixed to me, just concerned about intonation, but I guess PRS thought of that so it must be ok?

It's a non-adjustable intontated bridge, but if you're using 9s or 10s with a plain 3rd string it intontates fine.  If you drop tune, or use heavier gauges, then you may need an adjustable bridge.  PRS do one (pricey) or TonePros (cheaper, but still around £100 I think!)

[Philly Q]

How much of a handful is the wide fat neck? My hands are not tiny but hardly huge either.

It's not that wide and not that fat!  It's the widest and fattest neck that PRS make, but it's like a slightly chunkier Gibson 60s style neck.  Very, very comfortable to play.  I play with my thumb wrapped over the bass side and it's great, but I do have quite long fingers.  I can't imagine may people would object to the way it feels.

I've always preferred fat necks, although I don't have big hands (biggish for my size maybe, but I'm only 5'6").  The PRS wide-fat isn't that big at all, but it's different from a Gibson '50s neck - the Gibson is pretty shallow at the nut but gets a lot deeper, whereas the PRS is pretty much the same depth all along, with a hint of a V shape on the first few frets.

[Twinfan]

Great description Phil - spot on.

You still liking the Korina?

[Philly Q]

You still liking the Korina?

 :D Oh yes!  It's not my "first call" guitar, to be honest (my Epi Juniors tend to fill that role), but I'm always amazed just how nice it is when I pick it up.  Still have a bit of a guilt complex spending that much on one guitar though.

[Twinfan]

Try buying two  :roll:

I'm pretty sure my #2 will have to be sold to pay for this new maple top.  I wish it didn't have to go, but needs must  :(  Still keeping #1 though  ;)

Two is just too much of a luxury...

[Philly Q]

Two is just too much of a luxury...

Unless they're sub-£400 Epiphone Juniors! 

But seriously, at least you're gigging, that kind-of justifies the cost of some serious guitars.

[Mark66]

Cheers Dave
I'm sure the neck will be fine for my average sized hands.
I use 10s with an unwound 3rd, almost always standard tuning, so I like the idea of the fixed bridge.
As for my style of play, from what I've seen of your posts, pretty similar to yours, DC, Lizzy, Zep kind of thing, with
some dirty blues thrown in, so any clips would be great.
Wife out of work at moment so not the best time to spend £1k plus on a guitar, but my need for a PRS has been
rekindled, pretty sure it's got to be an amber McCarty, will happen soon. Damn, this is an expensive hobby.
Thanks for that Dave!

[Twinfan]

Sounds like the neck and bridge would be fine for you fella  :)

Here's a few of my usual amateur-level clips.  PRS McCarty straight into my Martamp Deluxe, recorded via A Palmer PDI-09 Junction speaker sim, my soundcard and Audacity.  As raw as it comes!

I think I got all your requests in ;)

Bridge position
Middle position
Neck position

[Mark66]

Thanks mate, sounds great. How you getting on with it?

[Twinfan]

Very well, really liking it.  Tonight is the tester - band rehearsal back-to-back with the McKorina.  Can't wait  :)

[sgmypod]

I like that explorer