dallasblues Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I love Gibson archtops! I've got an '07 ES-335 (if that could be considered an archtop) but am really wanting to get a bigger, fully hollow, jazz box. I most definitely prefer the single coil tone of Gibson's P-90's, but in order to get an archtop with em in there, I've got to buy a vintage guitar. Let's face it... a vintage Gibson archtop costs as much or more than many used cars! Don't get me wrong, I really like the tone of a good '57 Classic humbucker... but I just can't believe that Gibson doesn't offer ANY new archtop loaded with P-90's. For pete's sake... you can at least get a cheap Epiphone version of the ES-295! But I'd like to find a good quality, American built gem that I'd be proud to own for decades. Obviously, Gibson doesn't mind putting the old style pickups in many of their solid body guitars. Why won't they make an ES-5, 175, 350, 295... etc... with P-90's? I'm sure I already know the answer... they've deemed that there just isn't enough demand to justify building these guitars in their production line. So... I guess this was just a frustrating rant. Anyone else share this opinion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Just yank out the humbucker & drop in a P94. But got to agree, a jazz box already loaded with P90s would be ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Maybe go for the 330L? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 As already implied, the reason is low demand for specialist products IMO The original ES 175 had a single P90, played by Herb Ellis, Jim Hall et al And they thought it too noisy and welcomed the PAF and subsequent H/B upgrade The slimline ES 330 is a great offering today with probably just enough demand to sustain production(I haven't heard of any 'Casino' jazz players) And the ever wildcard Fender Jazzmaster(cf Joe Pass) Offering an interesting 'P 90' alternative.... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldane Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Pickup swapping is not hard. Gibson has a P90 in humbucker disguise. Also,there are lots of boutique pickup winders selling all kinds of pickups in humbucker fitting - among them P90s and CC types - so they can go straight into a Gibson. Personally I wouldn't let a pickup get between me and an otherwise good guitar. That said, there's nothing wrong with the 57 humbucker, which i think most people prefer, though I too prefer single coil pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamBooka Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 not all vintage guitars are that expensive. The last 3 ES150s I have seen go on ebay for under 1400$US. Try to buy a new Gibson for that much. In fact the price of a new ES175 from Musicians Friend is 3600$ A 1950s es 175 (with a P90) sold recently on ebay for 2900$ I paid 1900$ for a 96 ES165 and that was a budget model!!! Buy a new guitar and you have to absorb an immediate depreciation. Both my ESes (125 and 165) are similar in size and construction. The 1964 ES125 sounds better unplugged and is lighter. I am selling it only to get an ES150. Only keeping the 165 because it has a beefy neck and sometimes I need a humbucker. If I find a 150 with a beefy neck the 165 might go too!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Pickup swapping is not hard. Gibson has a P90 in humbucker disguise. Yes, it's the P94 as I mentioned in an earlier post. One in the neck position is often enough to satisfy clean jazz tone cravings, and there are other very good drop-in low cost alternatives like SD Phat Cats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 not all vintage guitars are that expensive. The last 3 ES150s I have seen go on ebay for under 1400$US. Try to buy a new Gibson for that much. In fact the price of a new ES175 from Musicians Friend is 3600$ A 1950s es 175 (with a P90) sold recently on ebay for 2900$ I paid 1900$ for a 96 ES165 and that was a budget model!!! Buy a new guitar and you have to absorb an immediate depreciation. Both my ESes (125 and 165) are similar in size and construction. The 1964 ES125 sounds better unplugged and is lighter. I am selling it only to get an ES150. Only keeping the 165 because it has a beefy neck and sometimes I need a humbucker. If I find a 150 with a beefy neck the 165 might go too!!!! Totally agree that there are lots of good bargains to be had in the vintage market with some of the entry level Gibson jazz boxes. The ES 125 is one that's worth checking out, and it came in many forms: full body, thin body, single pickup, two pickups, cutaway, non-cutaway. I'm certain my thin body '66 was sprinkled with special Kalamazoo mojo shop dust to enhance the tone, and you can't find that just anywhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I have never done it, but I have heard (read) that to have Gibson make a guitar to spec for some things is actually cheap as far as cost. If you wanted a model that came with a humbucker to have a P-90 instead, it is not something you can't get, and you don't really need to have a full custom made guitar to have it. It is like you said, a demand thing. Why not ask? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dallasblues Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Thanks for everyone's thoughts and inputs. I hope to get a high quality electric archtop this fall at the Arlington Guitar Show. I've been trying to weigh my options and take a look at several different guitars. My first choice would be an early 50's ES-5, 175, 295, or 350 with P-90's. However, as I said... these come with a fairly hefty price tag. My budget will be between $3-5k. Hopefully, I'll be able to find one of these models within that price range that feel and sound good to me. I'm also considering other guitars like early Epiphones and Guilds. Of course, I'll take into consideration putting P-94's into a guitar if it comes with humbuckers if that guitar has that certain "take me home" magic. I was just mainly curious to see if anyone else was hungering for new production archtop models from Gibson that came stock with P-90's. I wasn't aware that Gibson would custom build an archtop to individual specs. It's definitely worth looking into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 The slimline ES 330 is a great offering today with probably just enough demand to sustain production(I haven't heard of any 'Casino' jazz players) I used to play jazz on my mid-90s Casino - both mainstream/trad and acid. Didn't think the P90s were up to much, but one bassist from another band obviously liked them, as he commented on my sound and asked if I was playing through a jet phaser when I was just using a cheap, borrowed Fender transistor amp. Also once did an acoustic gig with a serious manouche jazzer who had an ES 175 for electric stuff, but who had really loved his Korean Casino before finding the Gibson. So some variance in opinion as to their suitability. Anyway, perhaps no famous Casino jazzers, but at least one very famous 330 jazzer: Grant Green. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0N_hd0drIc&feature=related Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Jazzer Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Hey Dallasblues. You're the same guy posting at LTG. You can post your Guilds in your signature. I don't think anyone will care. RM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 I'd sure like to see em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dallasblues Posted July 14, 2011 Author Share Posted July 14, 2011 @ Old Jazzer... Yep... that's me on LTG too. I don't have any Guilds... yet! So far, I'm looking at early 50's Gibson archtops, but am also considering a Guild x500. So many guitars... so little cash!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.w.adix Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I love Gibson archtops! I've got an '07 ES-335 (if that could be considered an archtop) but am really wanting to get a bigger, fully hollow, jazz box. I most definitely prefer the single coil tone of Gibson's P-90's, but in order to get an archtop with em in there, I've got to buy a vintage guitar. Let's face it... a vintage Gibson archtop costs as much or more than many used cars! Don't get me wrong, I really like the tone of a good '57 Classic humbucker... but I just can't believe that Gibson doesn't offer ANY new archtop loaded with P-90's. For pete's sake... you can at least get a cheap Epiphone version of the ES-295! But I'd like to find a good quality, American built gem that I'd be proud to own for decades. Obviously, Gibson doesn't mind putting the old style pickups in many of their solid body guitars. Why won't they make an ES-5, 175, 350, 295... etc... with P-90's? I'm sure I already know the answer... they've deemed that there just isn't enough demand to justify building these guitars in their production line. So... I guess this was just a frustrating rant. Anyone else share this opinion? How about a Byrdland with Alnico V. Got one that was built in 2002. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 sort of with you. an ES295 with P90s and a Bigsby is about the coolest machine around. If Gibby would reissue them, it would be hard to not spring for one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 How about a Byrdland with Alnico V. Got one that was built in 2002. That's one I'd like to see! Great topic, love my P90s! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesdj Posted March 1, 2013 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Has anyone tried the ES390? Not quite p90's, but mini humbuckers instead... Guild Aristocrat M-75 would be a good one, Guild version of lower powered P90's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny W. Posted March 1, 2013 Share Posted March 1, 2013 This one dates from 1994: It's a beautiful instrument, but I prefer to gig with one with humbuckers. Danny W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted March 1, 2013 Share Posted March 1, 2013 With the revival of this old thread, got to put in a plug for the new ES-330 VOS. A good one can be jaw dropping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted March 1, 2013 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Another for the ES 330... IMX the perfect complement to an ES 335 With the added advantage, for some, of more 'versatility' than a big hollow box (wonderful though they are)... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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