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PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard
VS
Playability
75
Sound
73
Build
65
Value
66
Score
71
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Playability
73
Sound
75
Build
72
Value
58
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut vs Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard

Reasons to Get
PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut over Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard

Release Year
2020 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Pattern Vintage vs Lee Roy Parnell Custom 59 Profile
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
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)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
66 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard over PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut

Neck Profile
Lee Roy Parnell Custom 59 Profile vs Pattern Vintage
Comfortable neck that works for most people
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

Other Key Differences
PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut vs Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard

Bridge Pickup
PRS 58/15 S vs Gibson 57 Classic Plus
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
PRS 58/15 S vs Gibson 57 Classic
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
PRS Propietary vs Nylon
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut vs Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard

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
Maple vs 2-Piece Figured Maple, Hide Glue Fit
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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut's 71 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut Overview

  • From PRS's 2020 S2 series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood w/ Faux Bone Binding fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: PRS 58/15 S (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: PRS 58/15 S (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • PRS Two-Piece bridge
  • Pattern Vintage Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight around 8.1lbs (3.7kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard Overview

  • From Gibson's 2019 Artist Collection series
  • Lee Roy Parnell Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 2-Piece Figured Maple, Hide Glue Fit top
  • Mahogany body
  • 1 Piece Mahogany neck
  • Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson 57 Classic Plus (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson 57 Classic (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • No-Wire ABR-1 bridge
  • Lee Roy Parnell Custom 59 Profile Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Kluson Single Line, Single Ring tuners
  • Compare Specs >

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.

However, the Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

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: Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard.

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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut 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.

PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut pickups switch and push knobs diagram
PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut's switch options
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard's switch options

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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut.

Final Sound Quality Scores

PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 63
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 73
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard
Pickups 100
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 75

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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut compares to the Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard.

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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut has a PRS Propietary nut. It's similar to TUSQ nuts, but they're not as hard, and the tone is not as bright. However, the material is self-lubricating, and it's usually well cut, so they have good tuning stability.

On the other hand, the Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard comes with a Nylon nut. It used to be one of the highest quality materials for nuts (and still is), but it's rare to find nowadays because it's hard to work with. It's a very resistant material with very low friction, so it will keep the guitar in tune and will last for a long time

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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut's are Vintage-Style while the Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard's are Kluson Single Line, Single Ring

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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • PRS Propietary 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 Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Nylon 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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut
Quality of materials 50
Features 55
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 65
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard
Quality of materials 65
Features 50
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 72

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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut Nut Width
PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut Nut Width
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard Nut Width
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard 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 Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard, 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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut's Scale Length
PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut's Scale Length
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard's Scale Length
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard'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 Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard has the longest scale: 24.75". The PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut 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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut Neck Profile
PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut's neck profile
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard Neck Profile
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard'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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut 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 Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut Fingerboard Radius
PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut's Fingerboard radius
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard Fingerboard Radius
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard'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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard'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 Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut favors large hands more than the Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard.

PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut and Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard 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 S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 85
Solo Playability 55
Playability 75
Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut vs Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard
General PRS S2 McCarty 594 Singlecut Gibson Lee Roy Parnell 59 Les Paul Standard
Brand: PRS Gibson
Year: 2020 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: S2 Artist Collection
Colors: Blue, Green, Gray, Red Burst, Dark Cherry Sunburst, McCarty Sunburst Sunburst Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: PRS Two-Piece No-Wire ABR-1
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Vintage-Style Kluson Single Line, Single Ring
Fretboard: Rosewood w/ Faux Bone Binding Indian Rosewood
Neck Material: Mahogany 1 Piece Mahogany
Decoration: Birds Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid
Scale Size: 24.6" 24.75"
Shape: Pattern Vintage Lee Roy Parnell Custom 59 Profile
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.97'' (24.6mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" 12"
Nut: PRS Propietary Nylon
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: PRS 58/15 S (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson 57 Classic Plus (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: PRS 58/15 S (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson 57 Classic (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Speed
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 2