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PRS McCarty Singlecut 594
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
VS
Playability
75
Sound
75
Build
70
Value
58
Score
73
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
68
Value
61
Score
71
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PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 vs Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Specs Comparison
PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
General
Brand: PRS Gibson
Year: 2016 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Core Original Collection
Colors: Gold, White, Black, Blue, Green, Black Burst, Orange, Purple, Yellow, Red Burst, Gold Burst, Dark Cherry Sunburst, McCarty Sunburst, McCarty Tobacco Sunburst Gold, Yellow Burst, Cherry Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: PRS Two-Piece, Cast Zinc ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Vintage-Style Vintage Deluxe w/ Keystone Buttons
Fretboard: Rosewood w/ Faux Bone Binding Rosewood
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Old School Birds Acrylic Trapezoids
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.75"
Shape: Pattern Vintage Vintage 50s
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.88'' (22.4mm) - 12th Fret: 0.96'' (24.4mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" 12"
Nut: Bone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: PRS 58/15 LT + (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson Burstbucker 2 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: PRS 58/15 LT + (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson Burstbucker 1 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Nickel Nickel
Show Diagrams Comparison
PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
PRS McCarty Singlecut 594's switch options
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's switch options

Reasons to Get
PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 over Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s

Neck Profile
Pattern Vintage vs Vintage 50s
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.88'' (22.4mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.97'' (24.6mm) vs 0.96'' (24.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
10'' (254mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s over PRS McCarty Singlecut 594

Release Year
2019 vs 2016
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Vintage 50s vs Pattern Vintage
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.88'' (22.4mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.96'' (24.4mm) vs 0.97'' (24.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 10'' (254mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
61 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 vs Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s

Bridge Pickup
PRS 58/15 LT + vs Gibson Burstbucker 2
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
PRS 58/15 LT + vs Gibson Burstbucker 1
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 vs Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Carved Figured Maple vs Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

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    Hand Size Comfortability

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s favors large hands more than the PRS McCarty Singlecut 594.

    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

    New Player Friendliness

    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Short scale
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Comfortable neck
    • Locking tuners

    Sound Quality Comparison

    The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

    Woods Used in Both

    Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
    Mahogany
    Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
    Rosewood

    Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

    Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

    Winner: Tie.

    Pickup Configuration

    Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

    Pickups Quality

    Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

    Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

    Winner: Tie.

    Versatility Comparison

    Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

    Switch Options

    Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

    Only the PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

    Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

    When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

    Winner: PRS McCarty Singlecut 594.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 75
    Versatility 63
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 75
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 75
    Versatility 53
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 72

    Build Quality Comparison

    When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 compares to the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

    The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

    Winner: Tie

    Nut Material

    If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

    The PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 has a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

    On the other hand, the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

    Winner: Tie.

    Fret Material

    Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

    Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

    Winner: Tie.

    Bridge

    The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

    Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

    Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

    Winner: Tie.

    Tuners

    Both come with regular tuners. The PRS McCarty Singlecut 594's are Vintage-Style while the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's are Vintage Deluxe w/ Keystone Buttons

    Winner: Tie.

    Neck Joint

    Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

    Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

    Winner: Tie.

    Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

    Strengths & Weaknesses
    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594
    • Made in United States
    • Expensive Wood
    • Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Coil Split Pickups
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
    • Made in United States
    • Expensive Wood
    • Ivory Tusq Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    Final Build Quality Scores

    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594
    Quality of materials 55
    Features 55
    Quality Control 100
    Build Quality 70
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
    Quality of materials 60
    Features 50
    Quality Control 95
    Build Quality 68

    Playability Comparison

    Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

    Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

    Nut Width

    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 Nut Width
    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 Nut Width
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Nut Width
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

    Scale Length

    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594's Scale Length
    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594's Scale Length
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's Scale Length
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's Scale Length

    The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

    The Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s has the longest scale: 24.75". The PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 is only 24.6" long. This is a 0.15'' (3.8mm) scale length difference.

    This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

    This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

    Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

    Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

    Neck Profile

    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 Neck Profile
    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594's neck profile
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Neck Profile
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's neck profile

    No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

    In this case, both have different neck shapes:

    The PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 has a Asymmetrical type of neck. Even though this neck shape looks like a poorly-made job, it's, in fact, the neck that most naturally adapts to the arc of your hand when grabbing a guitar neck. You'll notice that the lower part of your palm makes a more pronounced, deeper curve while the upper part makes a more subtle arch. This is the shape that adapts the best to that natural arch your hand makes while playing.

    The Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s, on the other hand, has a V neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

    Fretboard Radius

    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 Fingerboard Radius
    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594's Fingerboard radius
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Fingerboard Radius
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's Fingerboard radius

    Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

    In this case, the PRS McCarty Singlecut 594's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s.

    Fret Size

    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 and Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Frets Size
    Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

    Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

    Final Playability Scores

    PRS McCarty Singlecut 594
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 85
    Solo Playability 55
    Playability 75
    Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 75
    Solo Playability 60
    Playability 73