The McCarty is a Les Paul with a lot more tonal variation. I have the more classic LP version by PRS which is the 245. Same pick ups. I tried both these guitars before buying a blemished version of the 245. They are identical 22 fret guitars. The ability to get every LP tone out of both is there and then some. The harmonics are very easy to grab and the tone volume knobs allow you to dial in everything from creamy jazz tones to squeeling metal. I put in the PRS spliter and though this is not a strat it can really sound like one in the band mix. The build quality on the PRS is not seen in a Gibson until you are at the 5+k Custom shop versions. These both are in the classic world of non locking and you will have to go with Gotoh if you want to lock. I am old school and don't find these fall out of tune and the wrap around PRS bridge is brilliant for a quick string change. The new tuneomatic bridge by PRS does not to my ear of feel change the dynamic of the guitar. I just tried one and had the 245 and the 258 back and forth and really if anything prefer the fatter neck of the 245. Seems to sustain better. SRV couldn't get a big enough neck on his strats!

The PRS betters Gibson in tonewoods and build quality. The pickups in these guitars are a reason to own them. I especially like the tone variability with the tone and volume knobs.

Well if you have an ear for a tone I think you can dial it better with the PRS then a Les Paul.

The build quality is better than the Gibson unless you reach up to the custom shop.

Well the price is the best I know of for the quality of instrument that you will play maybe for the rest of your life.

I have called about the ding in my 245 and they are great in terms of getting back to you and offering anything you might want at a price.

Really appealing to my eye. I don't like the tiger striped odd colors that PRS seems to favor. Mine is black with line of Brown edge.

Active muscian with a day job. (eye surgeon)

Rock and lately Mastadon prog