PRS McCarty 594 10-Top 2016 - McCarty Tobacco Sunburst

This is a first-year 2016 PRS McCarty 594 10-Top in McCarty Tobacco Sunburst—an early example of what would become one of the most successful and highly regarded models in the modern PRS lineup. The 594 was designed to bring the feel and warmth of a great vintage instrument into a much more consistent and refined platform, pairing a carved maple top and mahogany body with a 22-fret Pattern Vintage neck, 24.594-inch scale length, two-piece bridge, and a traditional four-knob control layout.

The top on this one is seriously intense. The flame is deep, tight, and highly dimensional, with movement running across nearly the entire body. The McCarty Tobacco Sunburst finish gives it a warm amber center surrounded by a dark red-brown edge, and the figuring shifts dramatically depending on the angle and lighting. It has the darker, richer appearance that suits the vintage direction of the 594 while still looking unmistakably like a high-end PRS 10-Top.

The original 58/15 LT pickups are a huge part of what made the 594 stand out when it was introduced. They have a lower-output, vintage-voiced character with excellent clarity and separation. The neck pickup stays full and musical without becoming muddy, while the bridge has plenty of bite and definition without sounding overly aggressive. What stood out to me was how composed and clean they remained, even when pushed. They handle gain extremely well without becoming harsh or losing definition.

The control layout uses an individual volume and tone control for each pickup, with push/pull coil splits built into the tone controls. That gives you convincing full humbucker tones, clearer split sounds, and the ability to blend the two pickups much more precisely than on a typical master-volume setup. It is an extremely versatile system, but it still feels familiar and straightforward.

The Pattern Vintage neck has a medium-to-thick feel with PRS’s subtle asymmetrical carve. It has enough substance to feel substantial in the hand without becoming cumbersome, and this particular neck is extremely comfortable. The frets are in excellent condition, the guitar has fresh strings, and the current setup is excellent with low, easy action. Intonation is spot on, and it plays smoothly across the full neck.

At 7.72 pounds on my scale, it is also a very comfortable weight for a carved maple and mahogany guitar. It feels solid and resonant without becoming overly heavy, making it an easy guitar to play for longer sessions.

Condition is very good overall and close to excellent outside of a few specific marks. There is a small ding along the front edge near the controls, along with two small chips on the back and side area. There are also some light surface scratches and normal handling marks visible under direct light. None of these affect the structure, playability, or electronics, and the top still presents beautifully. The neck remains in excellent condition, and the overall guitar has clearly been treated well.

It includes the original PRS hardshell case, the original inspection sheet, and the pictured paperwork.

What stood out to me

• First-year 2016 PRS McCarty 594
• Highly figured 10-Top
• Deep McCarty Tobacco Sunburst finish
• Original 58/15 LT pickups
• Individual volume and tone controls for each pickup
• Independent push/pull coil splits
• Comfortable Pattern Vintage neck
• Excellent fret condition
• Fresh strings
• Low, easy action
• Spot-on intonation
• Current setup is great
• Comfortable 7.72 pounds on my scale
• Original PRS hardshell case
• Includes the original inspection sheet and pictured paperwork
• A few documented edge and backside chips, but otherwise extremely clean

Like all my guitars, this one’s been cared for and dialed in—no guesswork, no surprises, just a great instrument that’s ready to play. I personally inspect and test every guitar before it ships, making sure it’s in the exact condition I’d want to receive myself. These guitars come from me, not a shop—each one gets the kind of attention and care only a real guitar lover gives. Ships fast and insured.

⏳ Quick note: These guitars don’t usually sit. Most are purchased within 1–5 days, and I regularly hear from watchers after the listing has already sold. If this one’s on your radar, now’s the window!