SteveFord Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 I had P100s in a LP Special back in the 1980s, I think the guitar was advertised as the 78/55 for made in 1978 to be a 1955 replica. Great guitar, dead sounding pick ups. I would go with a Firebird V and jump right past the Studios. Save the Studios for Les Paul and 335 and the like. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Gibson USA P90's are the best & most versatile Pickup ever made... Casino's, ES330's & Les Paul's sound amazing & can do anything... I must say it again, the Mini Humbuckers in the Firebird are somewhere between a Humbucker & a P90. They are the best of both Worlds.. Truly a wonderful sounding Guitar... You've got to try one... If you want P90's or Humbuckers why bother with a Firebird? Plenty of SG's, Les Paul's, ES335's & others that sound amazing? Those Guitars are much easier to find & some are probably less expensive... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 I put aftermarket (Guitar Fetish) P90s on an LTD Faux LP. One was reverse wound, reverse polarity. We gigged in one place where there was something wrong with the wiring, hum was everywhere, especially in the guitar. So I switched to both pickups and the hum from the guitar was gone. Why? When you have one P90 RW/RP and use both pickups, it turns it into a giant humbucker. It's the only venue I've ever had a problem with, and speaking with other musicians, they have problems there as well. I'd put P90s on just about anything. But I really don't care for the shape of the Firebird - nothing wrong with it, it's just not for me. If I were to buy a Gibson P90 guitar, I'd probably get a red SG. Insights and incites by Notes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 I bought my latest Gibson Les Paul (BFG) and my Gibson SG Naked with the P-90's. I have a lot of guitars with humbuckers, and to be honest, I just love/prefer the harmonic textures that the P-90's give me when playing live and at stage volumes. All my previous Les Pauls featured humbuckers, and though I loved them all, their tones just never really grabbed me by the guts and squeezed me tight. The P-90's do. Call me a girl, I am okay with it. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 (edited) Yesterday, while playing my Explorer at my weekend jam, it seemed to be making a lot of noise, which it shouldn't because it has a reverse wound coil at the neck. So I switched to my Blueshawk and it was making noise too, which is very unusual.. So I started looking for another source and when I removed my Vox wha pedal, it stopped. Looks like my Vox pedal has succumbed to humidity induced oxidation and corrosion.. The last time this happened the battery connector was very corroded.. But that was a couple of years ago.. May be time for a new pedal... My P90's screamed for the rest of the day.. Edited October 13, 2019 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallas Posted October 13, 2019 Author Share Posted October 13, 2019 What is everyone's thought on the 2019 Firebird Tribute? It has the reverse headstock, mini hum buckers, and mini grovers. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Scales Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 My old Epiphone has a mini humbucker and it's a high output pickup that cuts through well if other guitarist uses either single coil or (full size) humbucker. They are well worth checking out as an option IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 I'd look for a nice, used Firebird V instead of a Studio or Tribute. You might have to pay a little more but I think you'll be glad you did so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 (edited) Because the 2019 Firebird Tribute has mini's, I think it makes it a "you better try it first" situation. Great looking guitar though.. sounded better in my headphones than I expected.. Edited October 13, 2019 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 That did sound good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 39 minutes ago, SteveFord said: That did sound good! do you think they modified the mini's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 For my playing style, the P90 equipped ES-330 equals perfection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 The spec sheet did say something about changes to the pick ups so I suppose they did mess around some. You'd really need to compare it to another model with everything kept at the same settings to see what you've got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 I would recommend getting whichever Firebird or Guitar with the Original Gibson USA Mini Humbuckers... They are proven great Pickups.. Seems every time the new & improved whatever comes along it turns out it isn't... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Natural Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 On 10/13/2019 at 7:55 AM, sparquelito said: I bought my latest Gibson Les Paul (BFG) and my Gibson SG Naked with the P-90's. I have a lot of guitars with humbuckers, and to be honest, I just love/prefer the harmonic textures that the P-90's give me when playing live and at stage volumes. All my previous Les Pauls featured humbuckers, and though I loved them all, their tones just never really grabbed me by the guts and squeezed me tight. The P-90's do. Call me a girl, I am okay with it. 🙂 I like P90s. Just don't post that picture again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 9 hours ago, bobouz said: For my playing style, the P90 equipped ES-330 equals perfection. Ditto, and the Casino comes in second. But since I have a weekly gig on a quay over a salt water lagoon I am reluctant to bring a hollow body guitar to the gig. Too much damp, salty air. So I use the Parker with the P-Rails Custom made for me at the old USA factory. P-Rails plus a Ghost Piezo pickup under the bridge. I can blend the Piezo in with the mags to put more twang into the sound when needed. Notes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelT Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 I have guitars with P-90's and guitars with single coils and guitars with humbuckers. I'm good with any of them. My Goldtops with P90's are a couple of my favorite guitars plugged into my Marshall. It was fairly noisy on stage the other night but it usually isn't too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 (edited) 38 minutes ago, MichaelT said: I have guitars with P-90's and guitars with single coils and guitars with humbuckers. I'm good with any of them. My Goldtops with P90's are a couple of my favorite guitars plugged into my Marshall. It was fairly noisy on stage the other night but it usually isn't too bad. I'm probably not telling you anything new, P90's start out a little dirtier than humbuckers. If you listen the noise your Goldtop is generating and back off a bit of gain/ OD/ treble on your amp and effects settings while increasing the master volume. You may find you are getting as much drive as you humbuckers with higher settings. Also because your P90's are so hot, backing off on the guitars volume/ tone a bit will help as well. The Goldtop has plenty to spare.. If your amp is tweaked for your humbuckers, the settings may be overkill for your P90's. Edited October 17, 2019 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallas Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 On 10/14/2019 at 9:07 AM, Larsongs said: I would recommend getting whichever Firebird or Guitar with the Original Gibson USA Mini Humbuckers... They are proven great Pickups.. Seems every time the new & improved whatever comes along it turns out it isn't... On 10/13/2019 at 12:06 AM, SteveFord said: I had P100s in a LP Special back in the 1980s, I think the guitar was advertised as the 78/55 for made in 1978 to be a 1955 replica. Great guitar, dead sounding pick ups. I would go with a Firebird V and jump right past the Studios. Save the Studios for Les Paul and 335 and the like. Ok, after a LOT of research, I am determined to find a Firebird V with mini hum buckers. I just want to find that sound that is a Firebird. So, any special year that I should be looking for? Any that I should stay away from? I have been looking at reviews from model years from the 90's up to the present. Thanks for all the advice 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 I've had 07, 13 and now a 2014 Firebird V. The 2013 and 2014 have lower frets than my 07 did. I don't miss the 2007 one, the 2013 was a beauty, my 2014 is my favorite guitar. There was a nice 2014 on eBay that just went for $950, I thought about getting it but I'm buying two (as in two) used motorcycles soon - one Triumph, one Buell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallas Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 Great! Thank you, the search is on 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 I hope you find what you are looking for and it exceeds your expectations! Notes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 On 10/14/2019 at 12:09 PM, Mr. Natural said: I like P90s. Just don't post that picture again. Sorry, I just saw this. 😂😂 Ha ha!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallas Posted October 22, 2019 Author Share Posted October 22, 2019 5 hours ago, Notes_Norton said: I hope you find what you are looking for and it exceeds your expectations! Notes Thank you, so do I👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelT Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 On 10/17/2019 at 4:57 PM, mihcmac said: I'm probably not telling you anything new, P90's start out a little dirtier than humbuckers. If you listen the noise your Goldtop is generating and back off a bit of gain/ OD/ treble on your amp and effects settings while increasing the master volume. You may find you are getting as much drive as you humbuckers with higher settings. Also because your P90's are so hot, backing off on the guitars volume/ tone a bit will help as well. The Goldtop has plenty to spare.. If your amp is tweaked for your humbuckers, the settings may be overkill for your P90's. I think it was something in the lights or something that caused more noise. I usually back off the volume on the P90's and crank it up for a solo or something. I also keep the gain down a bit for a nice crunch. They work well for a lot of the songs we do and have a killer clean sound as well. I make due with whatever guitar/pickup/amp I have that evening. I do like my P90 guitars as much as the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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