Paul Reed Smith 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Limited Edition - McCarty Sunburst

The Paul Reed Smith 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Limited Edition – McCarty Sunburst is a masterclass in tone, elegance, and heritage—a limited-edition instrument built to honor four decades of innovation and artistry at PRS. With only 400 pieces being produced worldwide, this is not only a guitar, but a rare piece of PRS history, crafted for those who appreciate both sonic excellence and collectible prestige. It’s a celebration of legacy, executed with the kind of meticulous attention to detail that has defined Paul Reed Smith guitars since day one.

This striking single-cut model begins with a solidbody mahogany back, carved for resonance and comfort with strategic weight relief, giving players a lighter instrument without sacrificing tone. It’s topped with a beautifully figured select flame maple top, finished in a rich and timeless McCarty Sunburst. The violin carve adds sculpted elegance and a tactile appeal, making the guitar as inviting to hold as it is mesmerizing to behold.

The one-piece mahogany neck, carved to the coveted Pattern Vintage profile, delivers a substantial yet refined feel—thicker in hand for sustain and grip, but perfectly tapered for smooth playability. Paired with a rosewood fretboard with binding, and adorned with Old School Birds inlays, the neck feels like a familiar classic from the moment you wrap your hand around it. It's a neck that captures the spirit of vintage instruments while benefiting from PRS’s modern precision and finishing.

Under the hood, the SC56 is loaded with a pair of McCarty III pickups, PRS’s newest humbucker design that balances warmth and clarity with dynamic response. These pickups are exceptionally versatile, offering full, articulate tones that excel across clean, edge-of-breakup, and overdriven settings. The controls—individual volume and push/pull tone knobs for each pickup, and a 3-way toggle switch placed on the upper bout—give players access to coil-split single-coil tones, delivering a wide tonal palette that responds beautifully to every touch.

Hardware is thoughtfully selected for performance and tone: a PRS 2-piece cast zinc stoptail bridge provides resonance and rock-solid sustain, while PRS Phase III vintage-style tuners with wing buttons ensure smooth, reliable tuning stability. The nickel hardware completes the look with a soft, classic sheen that will age gracefully alongside the instrument.

Weighing in at a well-balanced 8 lbs even, the SC56 offers the best of both worlds—solid, sustaining tone in a comfortably contoured body. It comes housed in a PRS ATA D1 case, offering top-tier protection worthy of such a limited and finely crafted guitar.

With only 400 units available globally, the PRS 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 is not just a top-tier guitar—it’s a piece of the PRS story. Bold, beautiful, and built to inspire for generations, this limited edition is destined to become a treasured part of any serious collection.

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