PRS McCarty 594 - Core vs S2. Is there a $2000 difference?

In this video Brian compares two PRS McCarty 594 guitars - one from the 'Core' line and one from the S2 line.

These two guitars feature many similarities, but also a few distinct differences. PRS is making incredibly good guitars at a variety of price points. These two are both extremely high quality guitars.

Which one do you like better?

Table of Contents:
00:00 - Intro/Setup
02:18 - Clean tones comparison
03:22 - Drive tones comparison
04:11 - Lead tones comparison
05:02 - More details about how the guitars are different and final thoughts

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[desisernaguitar]

My 594 is the highest quality guitar I own, but I didn’t think the pickups worked well for worship. There was extended low and high end that didn’t sit well in a mix. I changed the pickups to Seymour Duncan 59s and it was a match made in heaven. The 594 is now my main worship guitar. I tried the 59s in several guitars and wasn’t crazy about them, but they really came to life in the 594. One worship set was all it took.

[dominicklicciardone]

While I was researching, PRS had confirmed that the S2 pickups are better quality than the SE pickups however they’re both made overseas. The S2, while built in USA, has all electronics from abroad.. Doesn’t make it bad… but buyers should know. It’s nowhere mentioned in their catalogue therefore one has to assume they prefer you don’t know.

[VenancioPortalatin]

The differences while apparent are subtle at best. While I thought the Core had more mid range clarity and overall sounded better to my ears the amount better was hardly $2000 better. The S2 still sounded amazing and it would be difficult to really hear any differences in a full band mix. Great video!!

[LeMans]

I think with some knob twiddling you could make them sound so close you could tell them apart. The Core has great clarity.

[jerrymckenzie]

I have an S2 594. I agree that the pickups lack a bit of clarity compared to the core model, but tweaking the amp knobs or playing through a brighter amp will give you all the clarity that you need or want. The coil splits really do sound like great single coils and not tapped humbuckers. Unfortunately, they use cheap electronics on the S2. I had to replace both volume pots right out of the box because they were scratchy and cutting out. I also replaced the sloppy pickup selector switch with a nice Switchcraft that I already had. Fortunately, the seller sent me 2 new PRS pots and it's working great, though I would have preferred to be playing my brand-new guitar rather than working on it. The last thing for me is that the neck finish was a bit sticky so I GENTLY sanded it with fine grit sandpaper and scotch brite and it's nice and smooth feeling now. In spite of some issues it has turned out to be a great guitar, although for $1700 I should not have had to do anything to it.

[m.d.]

Hello,
"dark blue metallic" on the Core594 is beautiful!

[AbcDino]

The fact that the two guitars, years apart in production, using roughly similarly wound pickups, same bridge and saddles at identical amp settings, sound marginally different, is a testament to what really counts when it comes to the sound of guitar.

[isaiahj]

The color for S2 is insane, what a cool, rock style color.

The tone is the key🎸🎸🎸

[bryanmchugh]

I like the way the S2 sounds. Just like the OP says. The S2 sounds warmer and rounder. The S2 is my next guitar I have already made that decision. I am just stuck on what color to get? They are all good. The only things I do not like about the S2 is the low buck Kluson style tuners and the black nut breaking up the bound look. Aesthetics I know. The rest of that S2 is amazing.

[ShamanicSavant]

All of these YT guitar tone comparisons ought to come with a disclaimer. YouTube compresses the crap out of ALL audio down to a medium quality mp3. The compression algorithm also isn't optimized for guitars, making it difficult to determine the real tonal difference between them. How can you make a legitimate tone comparison when YouTube's compression filters out half the tones before we even hear them?

[pearcearrow]

Brian Ewald said the S2 594 is a nitro finish at last year's NAMM. Sorry if I spelled his name wrong.

[MicahChaney]

Hey, I can answer some of these!

The S2 and Core 594 share the same tuners, bridge, and tailpiece. The Core has a bone nut and the S2 uses the same PRS nut that we use across both the Core and S2 line. The electronics in the S2 aren’t the same as the Core and the pickups are indeed made elsewhere to PRS specs.

The finish is currently the same on both lines. The 2017 you have was before the McCarty line got vintage style tuners which is why they still have the Phase III.

[RickMcCargar]

Great comparison! I have the S2 McCarty 594 in Whale Blue and have been considering changing out the pickups for Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers because I love lower power, unpotted pickups. I don't play much high-gain music and no longer stand in front of a big amp so that's not an issue. Thanks for the video!

[donharrold]

Core sounded a bit brighter and more articulate? Probably pickups mainly? On balance I prefer the look of the S2. The figured top looks great.

[Guitarverse]

Yeah I can here the highs are more pronounced and harmonic. But they both sound great. I am a fan of my core model.

[Newbyrock]

I have a core McCarty 594 with p90s. It’s an absolute beast. I love mine to pieces.

Truth be told, I almost bought the S2, but the deal I got on mine was too good, and I prefer P90s.

After time with the S2 however, I’d happily play one at gigs. They are fantastic.

[gregmullins]

That was an enjoyable and excellent review, you need to do more my friend, I preferred the S2 the lovely grained top, I couldn't hear the difference between the two, these beauties are definite 'Gibson Killers'.

[cucumberboy]

Recently had an opportunity to play both of these back to back. They both sound amazing but I haven’t stopped thinking about the core.... My wallet is in trouble

[mwc]

Prefer the Core by a slim margin, but I think you could definitely tweak the AxeFx III to get them even closer. In the end I don’t think the Core is worth $2k more from a tonal perspective, it would have to come down to how it plays and feels.

[jbert]

They both sound great. If you can fit the bill for the core go right ahead. If your budget only allows you the S2...there you go.
I have a S2 custom 24 and it does the job for what we do at church.
Blessings....