Need some McCarty help

[dragmeaway]

Hello everyone. Being a grown-up has taken the time I used to devote to my PRS, so I'm going to sell my guitar. It's been in storage (coffin case w/ strings loosened) for 6 years now. I'm looking for help/direction on the following:

1. What is a fair expectation of what I should ask or expect to receive for the guitar?
2. I am bothered by some wear on the bridge and pickup covers. It seems like silver that's faded (if that makes sense). I hope the pics do it justice because I'm not sure how to treat it.
3. What route should I use to ship the guitar to avoid damage? Anyone had success through a certain company that they could pass along?

Thank for any info or time you can give me. I freely admit I don't know anything about this stuff.

Pics at photobucket link:
http://s1323.beta.photobucket.com/user/prsguitarpics/library/

[garrett]

Firstly, what can we do to talk you back into playing again? Playing guitar can be a rewarding hobby to help give you a break from the pressures of being a grown-up.

If you absolutely insist on selling...

1. I think price discussions are verboten on this forum, so don't expect to get any numbers here. My advice is the same anyway, and that's to watch eBay auctions on similar guitars for a while to see what the sellers are asking and, more importantly, what they're actually selling for.

2. Looks typical based on the pics. The nickel finish tarnishes. Doesn't bother some people, but it can be polished out to make it shiny again.

3. UPS, FedEx, USPS. They each have people (some very vocal) who love them and people who hate them. Truth is they're all pretty good (or bad), so just make sure it's packed well and insured.

That's a nice looking older McCarty. I hope you change your mind and start enjoying it again.

[cjmwrx]

+1 on Ebay.

Also, Guitar Center's used web site can be a good gauge on used values.

[]-[ @ n $ 0 |v| a T ! ©]

Selling the guitar kills the dream. Keep it!

That said, the advice (above) is solid.

[Proxmax]

i'd keep it.
for your price request best look at some completed listing on ebay, like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRS-Paul-Reed-Smith-Mccarty-DC-22-Fret-2006-Hang-tags-Case-Candy-PRS-CASE-/121059458357?pt=Guitar&hash=item1c2fb4bd35&nma=true&si=8aQPb09TYT2Jiu%252BLRMJFcvDx7KE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[dragmeaway]

I apologize for breaking forum rules. It's my fault I didn't read ahead on the pricing rule. I appreciate the feedback and help. The auctions go for around what I expected so thanks for the links.

I would love to keep it, but time is short and I feel the money would be better in the kids college fund then in the guitar.

Thanks again everyone!

*one last question*

How can I tell from the serial number what year it was made? I want to include this in the listing.

[docbennett]

How can I tell from the serial number what year it was made? I want to include this in the listing.

Here you go.....from the PRS support site...

Year Identification / Serial Numbers Excerpt from The PRS Guitars Book, written by Dave Burrluck Serial Number Year-Code Prefix All guitars and basses have serial numbers which start with a year prefix. The prefix is the last one or two digits of the production year, and it applies to all models below.


Prefix Number
Year or Years


0

1990
2000


1

1991
2001


2

1992
2002


3

1993
2003


4

1994
2004


5
1985
1995
2005


6
1986
1996
2006


7
1987
1997
2007


8
1988
1998



9
1989
1999



08


2008


09


2009


10


2010


11


2011


Set-Neck Serial Numbers The serial number of a set-neck model is located on the back of the guitar’s headstock.

After the year prefix, the remaining digits indicate the sequential order of set neck models built.


Approximate Serial Numbers
Year


0001 - 0400
1985


0401 - 1700
1986


1701 - 3500
1987


3501 - 5400
1988


5401 - 7600
1989



7601 - 10100
1990


10101 - 12600
1991


12601 - 15000
1992


15001 - 17900
1993


17901 - 20900
1994


20901 - 24600
1995


24601 - 29500
1996


29501 - 34600
1997


34601 - 39100
1998


39101 - 44499
1999


44500 - 52199
2000


52200 - 62199
2001


62200 - 72353
2002


72354 - 82254
2003


82255 - 92555
2004


92556 - 103103
2005


103104 - 114999
2006


115000 - 128400
2007


128401 - 143000
2008


143001 - 157200
2009


157201 - 169000
2010


169001 -
2011


CE Models

Approximate Serial Numbers
Year


7 0001 – 0270
1988


7 0271 – 1830
1989


7 1831 – 3200
1990


7 3201 – 4540
1991


7 4541 – 7090
1992


7 7091 – 8820
1993


7 8821 – 10700
1994


7 10701 – 13000
1995


7 13001 – 14680
1996


7 14681 – 17130
1997


7 or CE 17131 – 19580
1998


CE 19581 – 20749
1999


CE 20750 – 21599
2000


CE 21600 – 23199
2001


CE 23200 – 25389
2002


CE 25390 – 26399
2003


CE 26400 – 27900
2004


CE 27901 – 29377
2005


CE 29378 - 31699
2006


CE 31700 - 32799
2007


CE 32800 - 33600
2008

[docbennett]

EG Models The year of manufacture is determined the same way for the EG models. Like the CE models the serial number is located on the neck plate on the back of the guitar. The following number determines the model: 5 or EG for the EG models, then the sequential number for that particular model.


Approximate Serial Numbers
Year


5 0001 – 0920
1990


5 0921 – 1290
1991


5 1291 – 2070
1992


5 2071 – 2870
1993


5 2871 – 3190
1994


5 3191 - 3300
1995


Swamp Ash Special Models The year of manufacture is determined the same way for the Swamp Ash Special. Like the CE and EG models the serial number is located on the neck plate on the back of the guitar. The following number determines the model: 8 or SA for the Swamp Ash Special, then the sequential number for that particular model * the first 200 Swamp Ash Specials were given a CE serial number.


Approximate Serial Numbers
Year


8 00001 – 00410
1997


8 or SA 00411 – 00760
1998


SA 00761 – 00969
1999


SA 00970 – 01179
2000


SA 01180 – 01399
2001


SA 01400 – 01899
2002


SA 01900 – 02099
2003


SA 02100 – 02287
2004


SA 02288 – 02700
2005


SA 02701 – 02800
2006


SA 02801 – 02900
2007


SA 02901 – 03000
2008


Bolt-On Bass: Sequential Serial Numbers After the year prefix, these models use a code digit of "4", indicating a bolt-on neck bass. This is followed by the sequential number for that particular model. The serial number will be located on the neck plate on the back of the bass.


Approximate Serial Numbers
Year


4 0001 – 0030
1989


4 0031 – 0140
1990


4 0141 – 0200
1991


Set-Neck Bass: Sequential Serial Numbers After the year prefix, these models us a code digit of "9", indicating a set-neck model bass. This is followed by the sequential number for that particular model. The serial number will be located on the back of the headstock.


Approximate Serial Numbers
Year


9 0001 – 0230
1986/87


9 0231 – 0350
1988


9 0351 – 0680
1989


9 0681 – 0730
1990


9 0731 – 0800
1991


Electric Bass: Sequential Serial Numbers After the year prefix, these models use a code of "EB", indicating Electric Bass. This is followed by the sequential number for that particular model. The serial number will be located on the back of the headstock.


Approximate Serial Numbers
Year


EB 00007 – 00072
2000


EB 00073 – 00199
2001


EB 00200 – 00422
2002


EB 00423 – 00501
2003


EB 00502 – 00650
2004


SE Model Serial Numbers The serial number on SE model guitars can be found on the back of the headstock.
The year of manufacture for SE guitars can be determined by the letter prefix prior to the sequence of numbers that follow.


Prefix Letter
Year


A
2000


B
2001


C
2002


D
2003


E
2004


F
2005


G
2006


H
2007


I
2008


J
2009


K
2010


L
2011


Acoustic Serial Numbers The serial number of an acoustic is located on the label inside the sound hole of the guitar.
All acoustic serial numbers begin with the letter "A", and are followed by the two digit year prefix.


Prefix Letter
Year


A09
2009


A10
2010


A11
2011


The remaining digits indicate the sequential number of acoustics built to date.


Approximate Serial Numbers
Year


0001 – 0190
2009


0191 – 0517
2010


0518 –
2011

[sleary]

And when the kids are done college then no guitar and a huge regret. I'd keep it. Time will become more.

[Proxmax]

my cu24 ap from 2008 has a 8 not 08.

[dragmeaway]

last question. If I wanted to shine up the bridge/pickup covers what could I use to safely restore some finish?

[garrett]

A lot of people use a polish called Blue Magic on their nickel parts. Somebody else might have other suggestions, though. I personally don't bother with polishing the nickel.

[Rango]

One comment on the ebay pricing - Keep in mind you will lose about 15 Percent of that amount to fees. What I've done is take than number nock about 10% off (to leave you some barganing room) and list it on the Vintage Rocker Forums and the Gear Page Forums. Both are very active. I find them easier to deal with than Ebay. I use Ebay as a last resort....