zigzag Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 Two of my favorite jazz guitarists played with P-90s- Grant Green and Kenny Burrell in his younger days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted May 1, 2021 Author Share Posted May 1, 2021 12 minutes ago, zigzag said: Two of my favorite jazz guitarists played with P-90s- Grant Green and Kenny Burrell in his younger days. Funk in France: From Paris to Antibes (1969-1970) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John P Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 I've got 3 Gibson guitars with P90s and I wouldn't give any of them up! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 22 hours ago, mihcmac said: Nothing wrong with trying something different. (Patent Applied For) PAF's are early Gibson Humbucker style, that a lot of people like.If your Black Epiphone LP Standard has humbuckers in it, PAF's will fit. Oh, thanks Mac. I'll make a note of that. The reason I want to mode the Epiphone is because it and my Gibson Standard sound so close to one another. I love playing the Gibson more, Well, Because it's a Gibson. LOL. So I want to turn the Epiphone into a Blues Machine. Maybe, I'll play it more? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 11 hours ago, Larsongs said: A set of real vintage Gibson PAF Humbuckers will cost into the Thousands of Dollars... Fralin makes some amazing Pickups for very reasonable $$$. The new Epi Coronet & Wilshire are inexpensive, very cool & sound great Stock! These Guitars List at $399.00 & $499.00... 10-15% off & they're smokin’ Deals! Yeah, I did read that too, I thought, Deb will have a hissy fit, Lol. Want to hear something funny though? In 8 years now being retired, She has had me take out about 10 to 15 thousand of My 401-K for her to use and I haven't taken out 1 penny of it for me. I truly won't be spending that much to put in a cheap guitar. But I really love the songs and sounds of Gregor Hilden. He also has a couple of pedals made for him too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 (edited) 9 hours ago, Retired said: Yeah, I did read that too, I thought, Deb will have a hissy fit, Lol. Want to hear something funny though? In 8 years now being retired, She has had me take out about 10 to 15 thousand of My 401-K for her to use and I haven't taken out 1 penny of it for me. I truly won't be spending that much to put in a cheap guitar. But I really love the songs and sounds of Gregor Hilden. He also has a couple of pedals made for him too. Rest easy my friend! Arguably, Thro-Bak makes the most authentic PAF type Humbuckers you can buy.. They own & use the original Gibson Kalamazoo Winding machines to produce them.. Very much worth considering if you want, as close as you can get, PAF Sound... Here’s a YouTube of their PAF Machine.... Edited May 2, 2021 by Larsongs 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted May 2, 2021 Share Posted May 2, 2021 (edited) I'm lucky. My wife plays guitar and if I get GAS she encourages it. 😄 The bad part about that is having discipline myself. 😞 Edited May 2, 2021 by Notes_Norton speling misteak 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted May 2, 2021 Author Share Posted May 2, 2021 (edited) 7 hours ago, Notes_Norton said: I'm lucky. My wife plays guitar and if I get GAS she encourages it. 😄 The bad part about that is having discipline myself. 😞 My GAS went out of control in October last year when Epiphones new 339 with the new/old headstock showed upon my radar, so I ordered it. Before it arrived the new Wilshire/ Coronet/ Crestwood were released, so I ordered a Wilshire. When the Wilshire got here it exceeded my expectations and I had also been Jonesing for the Black and White Coronet. So fearing that the Wilshire/Coronet/Crestwood series may be limited I ordered a Coronet, but having severe GAS anxiety from buying 3 new guitars in the same month, I sent the Coronet to a friend who was suffering from COVID isolation lockup syndrome and it seems to have helped pull him out of the doldrums. No new guitars this year so GAS under control, sort of, I did buy 2 new hard cases this year. Anyway the moral to this for me was buying 3 new guitars in the same month cured my GAS for a while.. Note that I did install Mean 90's in the 339 and the Wilshire and Coronet came with P90 Pro's. So I'm on track for my P90 addiction.. 🙂 Edited May 2, 2021 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 21 hours ago, Larsongs said: Rest easy my friend! Arguably, Thro-Bak makes the most authentic PAF type Humbuckers you can buy.. They own & use the original Gibson Kalamazoo Winding machines to produce them.. Very much worth considering if you want, as close as you can get, PAF Sound... Here’s a YouTube of their PAF Machine.... Interesting, When I look them up, they come in all sorts of prices. The most expensive around 7 grand to 1 thousand. Even found a pair at GC for $199.00 so that can't be right? Used ones have had cheaper prices. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 12 hours ago, Notes_Norton said: I'm lucky. My wife plays guitar and if I get GAS she encourages it. 😄 The bad part about that is having discipline myself. 😞 You are lucky there. Actually Deb is pretty understanding. I have never told her what she can do or not and she has a great level head. We've ben married now 42 years, working on 43 next November and she tells me if I really want something , then get it. They have a good Luthier over at Dietze, so maybe I'll go over there and have a talk with them. But if I'm going to spend a grand or a little over, I'm putting them in my Gibson Gold Top. I'd rather it sound better then a cheap Epiphone. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 10 minutes ago, ghost_of_fl said: That's a lot of bread for pickups. What amp(s) do you use? The reason I mention it is because (IMO) you will get WAY better bang for your buck upgrading your amp vs. pickups. That is unless you already have a really nice tube amp. I have 2, A Fender Mustang 2 which I never use anymore, Just too many heavy metal effects on it. And a : Fender Super champ X2 Tube Amp. I love it. Mostly play on Channel 1, or it says; Volume 1. Once in a great while I'll switch over to 2. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 2 hours ago, Retired said: Interesting, When I look them up, they come in all sorts of prices. The most expensive around 7 grand to 1 thousand. Even found a pair at GC for $199.00 so that can't be right? Used ones have had cheaper prices. Unfortunately, Everybody uses the PAF name.. the holy grail Gibson PAF Humbuckers were between 1957 & 1959... Arguably, Some say 1960 & 1961’s.. Everything else is a reissue re-creation trying to duplicate those 57-59’s... If not all, almost all fail.... Most sound nothing like the Originals.. They range from absolutely awful to very close.... Like the Thro Bak’s which even uses the original Gibson Kalamazoo Winding Machines... Hence the wide range of Prices.. Gibson moved from Kalamazoo & they Guys who stayed bought the factory & Gibson Guitar building equipment. They became “Heritage”. They build beautiful variations of Gibson designs. Anyhow everyone has been trying to reproduce a serious reproduction of the original PAF’s including many attempts by Gibson... A few sound close.. I owned a 1959 Gibson ES 345 with PAF’s.. It was in Mint condition when I bought it in 1986.. And remained so, even after playing for a thousand hours until I foolishly sold it in 1997.... The biggest regret of my Music Career! I would buy it back if I could... I’ve played hundreds of Guitars & bought 50 or so since then chasing that Sound.. I’ve come close but nothing sounds as good as that ‘59 ES345 with those Holy Grail PAF Humbuckers..... 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrdinaryNimda Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 (edited) On 5/1/2021 at 10:42 PM, mihcmac said: Funk in France: From Paris to Antibes (1969-1970) Incredibly good music, never heard these guys before! The sound, the rhythm, the jazz, the bass solo, everything... 😁 Edited May 3, 2021 by OrdinaryNimda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted May 3, 2021 Author Share Posted May 3, 2021 (edited) Zigzag originally commented on them, I looked them up and liked what I heard, so I posted the video On 5/1/2021 at 10:28 AM, zigzag said: Two of my favorite jazz guitarists played with P-90s- Grant Green and Kenny Burrell in his younger days. 9 hours ago, OrdinaryNimda said: Incredibly good music, never heard these guys before! The sound, the rhythm, the jazz, the bass solo, everything... 😁 Glad you liked it too... This 97 Junior DC with an 05 Gibson P90 started me down the P90 domination path.. 🙂 Edited May 3, 2021 by mihcmac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrdinaryNimda Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 Well, I started with the P90 and also with Gibson less than a year ago with this one - the cheapest Gibson in the catalog - and I love the look, the feel, the sound, everything about it. How does one know if it's a great guitar? You can never stop playing it, that's how. 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted May 3, 2021 Author Share Posted May 3, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, OrdinaryNimda said: Well, I started with the P90 and also with Gibson less than a year ago with this one - the cheapest Gibson in the catalog - and I love the look, the feel, the sound, everything about it. How does one know if it's a great guitar? You can never stop playing it, that's how. 😁 Very Nice DC by the way.. For me right now the one I can't stop playing is my Wilshire, something about its Medium C neck that is so comfortable, it seems smaller than my Slim Taper D necks but the exact same width. Like taking a D profile and rounding it. Then there is the way its P90's sound. 🙂 Edited May 3, 2021 by mihcmac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted May 4, 2021 Share Posted May 4, 2021 21 hours ago, Larsongs said: Unfortunately, Everybody uses the PAF name.. the holy grail Gibson PAF Humbuckers were between 1957 & 1959... Arguably, Some say 1960 & 1961’s.. Everything else is a reissue re-creation trying to duplicate those 57-59’s... If not all, almost all fail.... Most sound nothing like the Originals.. They range from absolutely awful to very close.... Like the Thro Bak’s which even uses the original Gibson Kalamazoo Winding Machines... Hence the wide range of Prices.. Gibson moved from Kalamazoo & they Guys who stayed bought the factory & Gibson Guitar building equipment. They became “Heritage”. They build beautiful variations of Gibson designs. Anyhow everyone has been trying to reproduce a serious reproduction of the original PAF’s including many attempts by Gibson... A few sound close.. I owned a 1959 Gibson ES 345 with PAF’s.. It was in Mint condition when I bought it in 1986.. And remained so, even after playing for a thousand hours until I foolishly sold it in 1997.... The biggest regret of my Music Career! I would buy it back if I could... I’ve played hundreds of Guitars & bought 50 or so since then chasing that Sound.. I’ve come close but nothing sounds as good as that ‘59 ES345 with those Holy Grail PAF Humbuckers..... Ok, I completely understand now about these pickups. Sort of like trying to find my cousin Fred's, Gibson from the 60's. Even if I did find it, it would be worth thousands of dollars. They don't make them like that anymore, Right? Lol. Too bad, So the cheaper ones I'm seeing are just that, Junk or you get what you pay for. Thank you so much for explaining that to me Lars. Yes, I am a tone chaser too, Once I get a sound, or Tone in my head I try and find it. Years ago, I did just that. Debbie took me to Dietze Music and told me to shop and find any guitar in the store I wanted, and that was my Birthday present. She said, don't pay attention to the price. So I did. I had a tone in my head that day from listening to some song. That was what I was chasing. They had a Gibson black Lucille on the wall and I always wanted one. Of course that was the first guitar I played. I then played about every guitar in the store and that Lucille didn't really impress me, so guess what I bought? I was shocked. I came home with a Gretsch Streamliner model, G2622/WS in, (I think they called it a,) Walnut Red. I just couldn't put it down in the store. I still love the BBKing Lucille but guess it just wasn't meant for me that day. Can you believe it? I walked away from a $3,000. and some dollar guitar & settled for a $500.00 guitar. Still have the Gretsch. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted May 4, 2021 Share Posted May 4, 2021 The 2nd best Guitar I ever owned I bought in a Pawn Shop in Wash. D.C. a really long time ago. I was a kid with no money.. I’d almost given up buying an Electric Guitar as I couldn’t afford any of them... As we were leaving the last Pawn Shop I spotted a Neck sticking up behind some stuff back in the corner... I asked, what’s that.. The Storekeeper said, it’s an old Guitar that’s pretty beat up. I asked to check it out.. I had no idea what it was but it played ok. I asked how much? He said, how much do you have? I said, $73.00. He said, that’s exactly how much it is! LOL, naive me.... Turned out to be a 50’s Gibson Les Paul Jr. with P90. It was one of the best sounding Guitars I’ve ever owned. But, once again I had no idea what I had.. I foolishly sold it a short time later for $100.00. Which went to buy a Vox Phantom 6 string.. That’s another story..... I love Gretsch Guitars.. I have an older Korean G-5120 that is a great Guitar.. I paid about $400.00! I also have a Gretsch George Harrison Duo Jet that cost a bit more than that. I love that one too.. I think one of the coolest Guitars out right now is the Epi Wilshire with P90’s... Awesome sounding, cool Vibe & $449.00.... Guitars at any price can be awesome... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted May 4, 2021 Share Posted May 4, 2021 You can bet I have no clue what I'm talking about, but it seems to me it is kinda funny someone can claim that imitation PAFs sound nothing like the originals, even though they're made with the same materials and approximately the same number of winds, when apparently, no two original PAFs sounded the same. Can the same be said for P-90s? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted May 4, 2021 Share Posted May 4, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, zigzag said: You can bet I have no clue what I'm talking about, but it seems to me it is kinda funny someone can claim that imitation PAFs sound nothing like the originals, even though they're made with the same materials and approximately the same number of winds, when apparently, no two original PAFs sounded the same. Can the same be said for P-90s? While I’ve heard that said, I’ve never heard a Guitar with a bad 57-59 PAF Humbucker Original Vintage Pickup. I have played & even owned some modern Guitars with so called Reissue or Tribute or whatever Vintage Correct PAF’s that sound nothing like the Originals... I’m sure there are exceptions given those Guitars are from 60 years ago & could be the result of poor care or any number of things..... Asian P90’s sound nothing like USA Gibson, Fralin, Lollar, Duncan & other high quality P90’s. I own Gibson’s & Epi’s with USA P90’s which sound great... I also own a Peerless Epi Casino. While a wonderful Guitar the Asian P90’s sound harsh & I need to change them... All the Asian, except Terada Epi’s, , with Asian P90’s I’ve played sound Harsh... Changing them to one of the Boutique builder P90’s would make them wonderful sounding Guitars.. Pretty easy & inexpensive mod to have done.... Edited May 4, 2021 by Larsongs 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted May 4, 2021 Author Share Posted May 4, 2021 One of the best things about the P90 is tonal versatility using the controls on the guitar, they don't turn to mud when you use the tone control and if they need to be cleaned up you just turn the volume down a bit. 😃 I prefer mine un-nuetered to have as much range as possible. 🙄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted May 5, 2021 Author Share Posted May 5, 2021 (edited) Edited May 5, 2021 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted May 5, 2021 Share Posted May 5, 2021 On 5/4/2021 at 1:16 PM, mihcmac said: One of the best things about the P90 is tonal versatility using the controls on the guitar, they don't turn to mud when you use the tone control and if they need to be cleaned up you just turn the volume down a bit. 😃 I prefer mine un-nuetered to have as much range as possible. 🙄 That's all pickups, that's what good ones do. Along with good pedals. rct 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted May 5, 2021 Author Share Posted May 5, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 (edited) This is my modified 2011 Epiphone Limited Edition 50th Anniversary 61 SG Special. These came with Epiphones a P90 Classic, not the P90 Pro, the Classic is also used in a few other specific guitars like the WldKat and one of the MIC Casinos. I'm not sure the exact difference between the P90 Classic and the P90 Pro, but does sound different. My SG's P90 Classics are said to be built to capture the original 61 SG sound. The P90 Classics are very hot and tended to produce a little more line noise than my P90 Pro's, so I reversed the coil and magnets on the neck pickup which considerably reduced the hum. At this time I also had a 2005 Gibson LP DC that was also very noisy so I did the same mod to it as well. I have found that the stock Gibson P90's sound Great but tend to be noisier than the stock Epiphone P90 Pro but sound more like the P90 Classic. To me anyway.... This 50th Anniversary model was built to be as close to the 61 Gibson SG as Epiphone could. Note that the P90 is slightly farther away from the bridge than on other early P90 SG's, it just happens that the poles are right under a hot harmonic. Mine is no longer stock after modding the the neck pickup adding the StetsBar Trem and Tortoise Shell pickguard. But I don't care it sounds incredible and is so much fun to play. Edited May 6, 2021 by mihcmac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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