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P90 Guitar Recommendation


surfpup

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I sold a Les Paul to a friend last night, so now I naturally have $ burning a hole in my pocket! What I'm wondering about are P90 equipped guitars because I have never owned one. Seems like something I really need to have.

 

Currently leaning toward one of the SG 60s tributes, since I love my SG Special Faded but keep it set up a little high for slide. Might need to investigate a Jazzmaster as well though. Then there's always a LP Special...

 

 

Can you owners of P90 guitars can toss some recommendations my way?

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The tributes are GREAT.. I have a 60s Tribute Goldtop..

 

I also have a LP Double Cut faded with p90s and a Firebird Studio 2011 with three coil tapped P90s.. All are amazing..

 

Also you may want to wait till the new Junior Specials come out.. You get a choice of satin or gloss finish, multi-ply pickguard, pearloid tuners and neck binding (and some nice colours).. Amazing for the price.

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Les-Paul-Junior-Special-P90.aspx

 

As always though the best advice is to just try as many as you can.. One always seems to stand out and jump in your face ;)

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I just saw an SG tribute in white at the local GC, brand new on sale for $650, I was tempted.

 

I also noticed a MIM Fender Jaguar with P90's , I had not seen that model before but it was very well built. The 24" scale may put you off though.

 

My Casino is gone and I have been looking for a P90 axe for the last couple of months, the P90s on Epiphones are surprisingly nice but the hollow body in the Casino made it useless for me.

 

I am waiting for Epiphone Wildkats to be back on stock, for $300 you can't go wrong.

 

After seeing George Thorogood live I feel my P90 axe must be a semi-hollow body [biggrin]

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^^^ nice axe Axe

 

I was surprised how well the USA models that came out recently are built, (yellow and pelham blue finishes), the necks are just exacly how I like them, 60's but beefy at the first frets and mild taper all the way down the neck, a nice D shape.

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I've heard that the JazzMaster pups sound different from the Gibson P90s. I don't know if that is true or not, but I'd investigate that before buying one. If it is true, you might like the Fender or the Gibson sound better.

 

I own 3 guitars with P90s, a Gibson ES330, an Epiphone Casino and an ESP/LTD Faux-Les Paul that had humbuckers in but I replaced them with Guitar Fetish Mean 90s (almost a P90 is a humbucker sized housing). I love the P90 sound and think every guitarist should own a P90 guitar.

 

What puts me off on most Fender guitars is the short radius on their necks. I like a 14" radius, but can live with a 12 if I have to. I don't have any trouble playing chords on a flatter fretboard, and I do find that when the strings near the bridge are flatter, it's easier for me to pick the occasional fast run I want to play. It's also easier to bend strings on a flatter fretboard and they don't fret out if your action is low.

 

But admittedly, these are personal preferences and a guitarist with different hands and different experiences might find the opposite true. I know Jeff Beck does great with a short radius fretboard.

 

I actually thought about a JazzMaster once myself. I went to the music store and picked one up (1) it was heavy and (2) it had that darned short radius neck. So I never even plugged it in. In retrospect, I should have played it amplified so that later when I heard their soapbars don't sound like Gibson's, I would know from experience if that is true.

 

Notes

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Thanks!

 

But that's not a USA model.

 

57 RI. *wink*

 

I knew that, when I said USA and pointed out the finishes I was referring to it was my way to make the differentiation.

 

I bought an R8 couple of years ago since then I know the difference... [thumbup]

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Cool.

 

And you are spot on about the necks.

 

Very comfortable.

Yeah there still seems to be ablot of discussion on necks.. I know its personal preference but ive had a LP with a 60s neck since 2002 and just cant go back now. A few years ago I got one of the Gary Moore BFGs (the normal ones were sold) and I LOVED everything about that guitar, Burstbucker at the bridge and P90 at the neck and the finish was unique.. BUT i had to sell it cos I just couldnt do that 50s baseball bat..

 

So as far as im concerned 60s neck ALL THE WAY :) (and asymeterical which are quite similar but that didnt seem to take off for some reason?)

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My advice is to go all the way and go deluxe with an SG Classic. I've played a few of the 60s tribute SGs and was disappointed. Outside of the fact that I do not like the flat, broad sixties necks, the edges were not as polished as other Gibsons I've played in that price range. The Classic has a bound fretboard, dark cherry stain, full nitro finish, and the meaty baseball bat Gibson neck. As the proud owner of one I cannot recommend them enough.

 

Regarding Jazzmasters, those pickups are different than P-90s. I find them to be mellower and closer to a P-94r; they just don't have that P-90 bite on the highs. Still love them and will have one in my arsenal someday.

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I love the gold top LP with 2 P-90s. Classic

hehe i have a tribute like that..

 

its weird, I always loved the fat humbucker sound and wasnt even that aware of P-90s until about 3/4 years ago so I always assumed I was a humbucker type.. i now have three guitars with P90s and only two with humbuckers.. so it turns out all these years later that I am more a P90 person. Who would have guessed :P

 

Ive also heard it said that the taste for the sound of P90s only comes with experience and usually its only the practiced ear that appreciates the sounds they make ;)

 

(not saying i hate humbuckers, cos they still rock, just two totally different beasts :))

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I too, Love P-90's (obviously)

 

'60's Tribute Gold Top Studio (Pre-Dark Back)

DSC_0044-1.jpg

1966 Casino

DSC_0014-2.jpg

Faded Double Cut LP Special

DSC_0027.jpg

LP "Junior Lite" 2001 (modded with TP6 and Tulip tuners)

DSC_0016-2.jpg

LP "Junior Lite" 2001 (modded with TP6 and Tulip tuners, metal parts...in "gold")

DSC_0011-1.jpg

 

The "Junior Lite" has been discontinued, for years...but, you can find them, now and then, on E-bay. There are other double cut Specials, and Juniors, available currently. The '60's tribute is still available, in the natural and dark back version, there's the LP Jr., and '60's Tribute SG, as well as the SG Junior (Single pickup P-90 dog ear), Epiphone P-93 in 3 different colors. On the costlier side, there's the R-6, ES-330L (long neck), and even a special version of the ES-335 w/P-90's, and a Les Paul "Traditional Pro," with "split coil" P-90's, and even Melody Makers, with P-90's, now. So, lots to choose from!

 

Good Luck!

 

CB

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How much are you looking to spend? Used R6s are in the $2,000 range. Obviously, I'm biased. [biggrin]

If you want another SG, SG Classics can be really good guitars and they don't break the bank.

 

I can't recommend the SG Classic enough. It would be a great guitar at any price, but the fact that it's relatively inexpensive makes it all the more alluring. It is absolutely my favorite electric guitar to play.

 

IMG_0635.jpg

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I can't recommend the SG Classic enough. It would be a great guitar at any price, but the fact that it's relatively inexpensive makes it all the more alluring. It is absolutely my favorite electric guitar to play.

 

IMG_0635.jpg

 

Jazzmaster pickups only look like P90s, different animals. Another vote for the SG Classic.

 

Great minds sure do think alike, eh?

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Lots of excellent advice. Thanks! I sold my LP Classic for $1800 but am not really looking to spend it all on another so something like the 56 RI is gonna be out. $799 for the 60s tribute SG sounds sweet! That would leave me money to spend on other stuff. I'll take a look at the SG Classic too. Are they similar I price to the Specials? I didn't see them on Gibsons site. I really like the Faded SG Special I bought a lot and was seriously thinking about buying another - keep one set up for slide one not. Then I figured it would make more sense to get one with P90s. I'll be in Orlando for a couple days with the family. Maybe I can find a store that carries some SGs while I'm down here.

 

Edit: I see the Classic SG on Gibby's site now. Looks nice ... P90s and an ABR-1 bridge. Nice price too!

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