Aster1 Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 Hi Everyone, I have a standard MIC Epi Casino and am interested in changing to better sounding PUPs. Has anyone changed out to Gibson made (USA made?) P90's or especially GFS P90 pups? I would like to get that 1964-65 Beatles sound out of the Casino. Have the Vox tube amp already. Thanks in advance for the help Aster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I have Duncan P90s in my MIK Casino and they sound better than my 1970 Kalamazoo ES-330. They are hotter and are a little fuller sounding, but the difference isn't radical. Personally, I think the Beatles sound might have more to do with an amp than different versions of the P90 - but I'm no guru (correct me if I'm wrong). Insights and incites by Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 That "Beatles" tone, is The Beatles! Their phrasing, dynamics, not only to the song, but wiithin their individual blending, of volume and tone (guitars and amps), on stage. And...You're listening to a variety of RECORDED music, be it the original records, tapes, CD's ("new remastered/improved" CD's) or old film and videos...and that (tone) has all been shaped in the studio. Please, don't forget that. The amp, as Bob said, will have more to do with the "live" tone, than the pickups. Their pickups were USA Gibson P-90's. Vox amps (Live, anyway) until they quit touring. But... even the standard Epi P-90's are quite decent. Work on adjusting tone controls (on the guitar), and the amps various tone and eq controls, as well. That will get you much closer, than changing pickups...IMHO. The other thing is...if you listen to the DVD "Concert for George," you'll hear all kinds of "Beatles Tone,"coming from all varieties of amps and gutars. It's because those musicians, played with George (and the other Beatles, too) and KNOW that stuff, backwards and forwards... the phrasing, warbles, blends, etc. I'd work on all that, first....before running to change out the stock P-90's. Also, I have a Riviera P-93LE (3 stock "Asian" P-90's) that sounds as good as my '66 Vintage Gibson made, Epiphone Casino pickups. With the added advantage of almost "Gretsch like" tones because of the added tonal possibilities, from the 3rd pickup. Plenty of those "Beatle" tones, from that non-Beatle guitar, I can tell you. Anyway...that's just my 2-cent's worth. ;>) Cheers, CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 If you want that "1964-65" tone, you're looking at the wrong guitar. John and George weren't using Casinos until 1966 and Revolver. They were using Rickenbackers and Gretsches still, for the most part, with the Strats and the Gibson acoustics on occasion. The only Casino would be Paul's, which was of limited use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 If you want that "1964-65" tone' date=' you're looking at the wrong guitar. John and George weren't using Casinos until 1966 and Revolver. They were using Rickenbackers and Gretsches still, for the most part, with the Strats and the Gibson acoustics on occasion. The only Casino would be Paul's, which was of limited use.[/quote'] That too! LOL! ;>) Some FYI: http://beatles.ncf.ca/guitars.html CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aster1 Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 Thanks everyone for the tips. Will hold off on the pup change on the Casino. Others have suggested a pot and wiring change that makes for a better sounding guitar. Will look into that as well before doing anything. I'm looking into some GFS Memphis pups for my Gretsch to get as close to the Ric sound as I can for the "early Beatles" sound thru Revolver. Hope they do the trick. If not, I'm only out $45 and may like the sound of the pups anyway. Thanks for the advise and info!!! Aster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuvash Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 A quick question and observation......Have you tried that guitar with a number of other amps yet? I have found if I mess with it until I get the right combination of strings and the amp factors in here,sometime changing out the pu or pots will just be different and still not where yoy wnt to be....but then I'm an old goy and I like to mess with all the componants. Kuvash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuvash Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 To add to the previous post...one of my guitars will sound killer on an amp and another miss it completely on that same amp yet be great on a different amp....and yet another guitar sound even better through an amp that is mic'd and played through a second amp................Just an observation. Kuvash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AS90 Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 We have just been through this on another thread but have you considered upgrading the pots and caps? A high quality lead can also dramatically improve your tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicester35 Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 If you're looking for an easier fix, you might want to take a look at one of these: http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/characterseries.html A guy I'm in a band with at the moment is using it with a Casino to get the mid-period Jam / Paul Weller tone. It has that retro quality I think you're looking for. I reckon it would nail "I Feel Fine" etc, etc, perfectly. ...btw, I know b*gger all about the Beatles (always way preferred the Kinks) - so "I Feel Fine" was just an example (before someone reminds me that "I Feel Fine" was actually played on a Grestsch, Stratocaster, J160E, kazoo, stylophone, Jew's Harp, or whatever. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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