P90s for Home Recording? (Thoughts on the Wildkat also welcome)

[Lencias]

I just found a steal deal on an Epiphone Wildkat. I've been looking to get a new guitar recently, mainly for home recording, but for the occasional gigs. Any recording would be done in my bedroom, with the laptop like a foot away from me, along with a variety of other electronics. Will the P90s create noise problems? If so, would a noise gate solve the problem?

 

EDIT: Any general thoughts on the Wildkat are welcome too. I'm a Coldplay, John Mayer, Secondhand Serenade, Killers kind of guy, will it fit my style?

[bynapkinart]

it really depends on your amp, room, mic quality, and if youll have lots of electronics right near the pickups. you can usually minimize hum by getting as far away from electronic interference as you can, or turning away from it. my casino in this video (http://www.vimeo.com/12309173) was facing away from the computer, and my amp and mic were behind the closed door in the other room behind me. that usually gets rid of all hum whatsoever.

 

on stage, its a different story, but most of the time the hum adds a bit of life to the pickups. i love p90s. best pickups ever made.

[pohatu771]

I have one problem, but it's not P-90-related. The only convenient outlet is not grounded, which causes some hum.

 

I've recorded elsewhere with the same equipment with no issues. That's with my Casino and my Spirit.

 

The biggest issues are fluorescent lights and CRT monitors.

[Lencias]

I won't be mic'ing an amp, but instead plugging directly into the interface and its builtin preamps, if that makes any difference...? Bottom line I guess is, would it work without getting a bunch of humming/noise in my recordings? And is a noise gate essential?

[pohatu771]

I never record an amp... I go through the system and the rest is amp simulation and effects. I like it better that way.

[bynapkinart]

i havent had any issues with hum when i plug directly into logic on my mac, as long as i turn the TV off and stay turned from most electronics. if you hear humming, try turning around or moving the guitar in some way...if that doesn't work, mic'ing an amp is a great way to get good sound.

[Hungrycat]

EDIT: Any general thoughts on the Wildkat are welcome too. I'm a Coldplay' date=' John Mayer... Killers kind of guy, will it fit my style? [/quote']

 

I've always associated those acts with Fenders. John Mayer uses Strats, Coldplay-dude uses Teles, and Killers-dude uses vintage Starcasters.

 

From what I understand, the Wildkats are excellent guitars, but I don't know if you could get what you want out of P-90s. I don't have a P-90 guitar m'self.

[bynapkinart]

I never record an amp... I go through the system and the rest is amp simulation and effects. I like it better that way.

 

haha i'm the opposite' date=' i never really use effects. i wish i had a better amp sim, but logic isn't quite organic enough for me and i can't afford a true sim. i like the setup i have now...just need to upgrade the amp soon

 

to each his or her own tho, part of owning p90s on a hollowbody is learning how to control feedback and hum. in my experience, the best method is finding a sweet spot in a turn and turning the amp a certain way. when i plug into the mac, its all about whats facing the pickups...cause they'll pick up everything

[Lencias]

I've always associated those acts with Fenders. John Mayer uses Strats' date=' Coldplay-dude uses Teles, and Killers-dude uses vintage Starcasters.

 

From what I understand, the Wildkats are excellent guitars, but I don't know if you could get what you want out of P-90s. I don't have a P-90 guitar m'self.[/quote']

 

Well, I'm deadset on either a Wildkat or a Dot at this point - would the humbuckers on a Dot serve me better?

 

The thing is I'm looking at either a new MIC Dot ($399) with case for a total of $480

Or a used MIK Wildkat being sold by a professional luthier, already setup and with new strings, in a hardcase for $350...

 

Tough decision?

[sledge57]

Tough decision?

 

Not for me, I've seen new Dots cheaper and that's a good price for a Kat if it's any good.

 

But like they say, you need to play them and see which you like.........

[Lencias]

I've only seen Dots at $399, and the case for it (E519) at $80... =| Care to tell me about your Wildkat, sledge?

[bynapkinart]

p90s are sweet. epi humbuckers are fine, but something about p90s in a semi or full hollow is just mean and gritty and cool. thom yorke loves them, lennon loved them, thurston moore liked them...i just think its an awesome sound.

 

i've personally had more of a "meh" reaction to dots. rivieras and sheratons are faaaaaaantastic tho. (at pretty much the same construction, they just feel better to me).

 

find someplace local and try them all out...who knows, maybe a mim Telecaster is better for you than a semi-hollow.

[BKitten]

Wildkats are awesome. I have one and I love it. Perfect for recording, great for live too, as long as you don't want super-saturated distortion it'll do the job. Be aware it's a warmer sound than the artists you like, but just dial some extra treble into your amp and that will compensate. The Wildkat deal you're being offered is a steal, especially as getting hold of the Kat cases is difficult sometimes. I'd pick it up over the Dot any day. Expect to change out the pickup selector switch in a few years, apart from that the Kat sounds good stock.