57classic Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 LP Studio 50's Tribute Gold Top. I've wanted a guitar with P90s for years and when those came out I was compelled to get one. What a guitar. Man, from sweet cleans to a hairy roar-nothing comes close. Charlie Brown, that Riviera is absolutely gorgeous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Here's a guitar I built back in 2004. The pickups are some humbucking P-90 prototype rejects I worked on for George Therogood. If you ever wondered how those killer 1950's Gibson P-90s were made then you might like this video. This pickup is out of a mandolin but it's a P-90 with 2 of the poles cut off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I'm P-90 free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 CB - THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!!! That's a real deal '66 Casino, eh? Beyootiful! Thanks, Neo...yeah, it's the "real deal!" '66 is when they went to a more pointed upper bout/horn area. Most Casino's now, are based on the '65 or earlier, versions. Mine has been "refinished" (in 1980 by a Gibson repair /restoration place, in L.A.), when I bought it, because it came from "Seattle," and had been "Grunged to death" (Spray painted, in multiple colors, and "designs." (I bought it, cheap, because of that), but it was structually sound, and so I had it refinished. This was before the "Vintage" craze, so...back then, it was just an "old, very used," guitar. But, I'm not a "collector" per se, anyway, and I think, it turned out nicely. A bit "unique," finish wise, too. ;>) Also, the electronics are all original. The pickguard, is a real Epiphone replacement, and the bridge is a "Nashville." I have the original bridge, but it is in sorry shape. Tuners, and tailpiece are original, too....or, at least original, to when I got it. It's one of "those guitars," that whenever anyone picks it up, they never want to give it back. You know? LOL. Plays effortlessly, and sounds awesome! And...57Classic, thanks, for the kind words. It's a really nice guitar, especially, at that price point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vourot Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 SG, and or a nice Gold Top LP come first. I couldn't buy anything with P-90's till I try a G&L SC-2. That is all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SG FAN Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Nice 66 CB, IMO all Casino's are the "real deal". I wish I could afford a vintage one but that's out of the question right now:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Here's a guitar I built back in 2004. The pickups are some humbucking P-90 prototype rejects I worked on for George Therogood. If you ever wondered how those killer 1950's Gibson P-90s were made then you might like this video. This pickup is out of a mandolin but it's a P-90 with 2 of the poles cut off. great vid searcy. we care about these things. good job saving the coil, too. got a question about the sd designs vid (the zypherblues) did you get that off the internet or you know that guy? what do you think about his stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Nice 66 CB, IMO all Casino's are the "real deal". I wish I could afford a vintage one but that's out of the question right now:) Well, we were just referring, to the old pre-1970 Kalamazoo, Made In USA, versions. No slam, against the Asian made versions, intended...on my part, anyway. ;>) CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SG FAN Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Well, we were just referring, to the old pre-1970 Kalamazoo, Made In USA, versions. No slam, against the Asian made versions, intended...on my part, anyway. ;>) CB Oh, no offense taken CB:) I can't speak for the Chinese ones, but I know the Korean Casinos are finely crafted instruments. Notes Norton has a Korean and a ES-330, and I believe he said that the Gibson was better, but only by a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I've posted this before. P-90s are so nice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvrPkVgejI0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manse Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 My '78 Les Paul Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Oh, no offense taken CB:) I can't speak for the Chinese ones, but I know the Korean Casinos are finely crafted instruments. Notes Norton has a Korean and a ES-330, and I believe he said that the Gibson was better, but only by a little. Oh, I'm afraid I have to disagree on the basis of my Casino (which once looked just like yours, even down to the triangular Gibson pick). Mine's probably a 1994 (bought January 1995) in cherry red, and it certainly looked stunning (though time in storage has given its P90s a rusty patina). But I really don't think that it's in the same league as a Kalamazoo-made vintage instrument or anything loaded with Gibson-made P90s. It was set up just fine when it first arrived, but it developed quirks within the first year. Bear in mind that it was my treasured and most-wanted guitar back then, and so it was seriously babied despite doing the odd gig. I looked after it well! The first problem I had with it was a (non-fret) buzzing which I just couldn't get rid of. Something in the saddles, I think, but I couldn't work out what, and apparently nor could the guitar shop I subsequently took it to for more major repairs. Still I lived with it for a year or so, until I had a real excuse to take it in for repair. Which brings me to the first major problem, when the front pick-up just cut out on me while practising. It duly went in for repair, with instructions to sort out the buzzing too, and it came back working, yet still buzzing. But within six months it had developed its second major problem, a strange pick-up switch tic, whereby it randomly switched itself from neck to middle, and did so repeatedly if I persisted in selecting the front p/up. In fact, mysterious and unpredictable periods of remission aside, it still has this tic, because it cost so much to repair the pick-up in the first place that I decided that any further repairs would outstrip what I'd get if I sold it, and contribute heavily to my increasing lack of pleasure in playing the instrument. (Resale on Casinos is laughably low in the UK... I once took it to Denmark Street for a quote just after it developed its quirk and was offered £200. Given that it was still my best-loved baby, and had cost me roughly double that, I left with the guitar, feeling abused. I now wish I'd taken the money, as I've never been offered as much for it since...) Other problems which I began to notice increasingly in the light of Switchgate are that its P90s just don't have the legendary power and cut that the dog-ears are supposed to have, or that I can hear on recordings. There is a thread on ES 295s in the hollowbody section, where several of us discussed the phenomenon of underpowered Epi P90s. I'm glad yours sound great, and I'm sure many of those made by Epiphone do, but I'm afraid that mine are among the many which don't. More dog and pig's ear than dog-ear. And that's before they got to storage... Obviously others have suggested changing to better p/ups, and this is a mod which I would consider if all other things were equal, but changing anything out on a Casino is a faff, just as it is on a 335. I'm not competent to do the job, so it would mean employing somebody, as well as laying out on p/ups. If the guitar were really well made in all other respects, I'd not mind the expense, but to be honest it's not that well-made. It has a really ugly join between the neck and the headstock which creeps scarily far down the neck proper. Its trapeze is fragile and never quite straight. And the final factor has to be the ridiculously narrow neck. I've never been able to fret it comfortably for the purposes of fingerstyle playing, and pull-offs on the first string frequently involve literally pulling the string off the fret. I could consider having the nut recut, but I suspect that to make the spacing comparable to that on a 1 11/16 nut, the tech would also have to cut a tree down and make a wider neck. There simply isn't scope to add a significantly wider nut. All in all, not worth shelling out on improvements. But perhaps worth sprucing up in the hope that one day one of my kids will benefit from learning on it while their hands are still relatively small... I still hold a torch for both hollow bodies and the perfect P90 sound though. If I could, I would now go for an LP 50s tribute Gold Top. Would need to be a 50s and not a 60s Tribute, as I've learned from my current squeeze that I appreciate a 50s Les Paul neck profile. One such instrument appeared here in Hungary last month so it wouldn't necessarily be too late (unless that was a 60s version which got advertised wrongly). But I love my Howard Roberts, and I have to say that a Gibson acoustic is far higher on my list than a second Gibson electric. Once that is bought there will be nothing left for GAS attacks for some time, so it will be too late to purchase said Gold Top in Budapest... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I like the P90 on my '97 SG Jr. I sometimes like to pretend I'm Pete Townsend. Too bad I sound nothing like him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre S Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 There were some 1950 something creme Gibson P-90's on Marks guitar loft for $500. I always regret not buying them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SG FAN Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Oh, I'm afraid I have to disagree on the basis of my Casino (which once looked just like yours, even down to the triangular Gibson pick). Mine's probably a 1994 (bought January 1995) in cherry red, and it certainly looked stunning (though time in storage has given its P90s a rusty patina)....................... I'm sorry you got a dud, but you can get a dud with a 2,000+ dollar Gibson Les Paul Standard. I've heard the early MIK Epis were hit or miss. However, I stand by my statement about mine, It's got that p90 "bite" that they are famous for. Now I'm through defending my Casino, like it or don't, but I think it's the "bee's knees" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Neo that Guild is really something else great looking guitar. I love p90s, they are my favorite pickups for almost everything (the only thing I don't like them for being metal). Sadly I have no guitars with p90s right now... I'm GASsing for anything with p90s, but I'd preffer a solid body with les paul kind of shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 How about P-94s? They are P-90 big brother Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenced Fred Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Evol- thats sexy looking. The black fits in well with the finish and pickguard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Evol- thats sexy looking. The black fits in well with the finish and pickguard Thanks! Wiring was a little over my head, but I got through. The old 490R only had one wire. The P-94R had four. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenced Fred Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Thanks! Wiring was a little over my head, but I got through. The old 490R only had one wire. The P-94R had four. What the ****? I don't get that at all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 What the ****? I don't get that at all... It was one white (connect or ground), one black (connect or ground), one green, one bare, and one red. The red is nothing so you cut it. The green and bare you solder together. The other two depend on the polarity. I think I soldered them backwards because when I use both pickups together they sound a little thin. Right now I don't feel like opening it up and re-soldering. I connected the white to the pot and using another wire I connected the black to the ground (ground is up under the pickguard). Took longer too because the tip of my soldering iron is shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Simply the best sounding pickup -- ever. Tonal bliss for sure!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dponzi Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I have a Les Paul studio with P-Rails. Does that count? I love the way they sound. I would like to get a 60's tribute Les Paul with P-90's, but I blew my yearly guitar allowance on an ES-339 a few weeks ago. BTW, that's a self imposed guitar allowance. If I didn't try to control myself, I'd be living in a tent, but I'd have a few hundred guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 ES330 and LP Junior D/C All P90 freaks should also play a Fender Jazzmaster... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenced Fred Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 ES330 and LP Junior D/C All P90 freaks should also play a Fender Jazzmaster... V Jazzmasters are sexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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