P-90 guitar suggestions?

B

Bianchi Joe

New member
I'm interested in getting a guitar with P-90s, sub $1000 (preferably sub $750). My choices seem to be the Les Paul faded double-cut, the Epiphone Casino, the Reverend Slingshot, or an Epi Wildkat. I hear mixed reviews on all of these--- any feedback or experiences you'd care to share would be appreciated.
 
Univox Hi-Flier, Eastwood Hi-Flier copy, Agile LP and LP jr. You can probably find some SG's and LP's and copies with P-90's too. And of course, the humbucker-sized P-90's are another option, even if they might not exactly be a P-90.
 
I have recently seen Terry C McInturff guitars going used for under a thousand. You will not find a better P90 equipped guitar on the planet than one of his. If you do a little searching on the net, you can find them. There aren't a lot out there, cause they're all hand built and finished off perfectly. I got to sit down a couple years ago with Terry and he explained to me the importance of an absolutely perfect neck joint for maximum sustain and rexonance in a guitar. There is just not a better electric guitar built. Do searches for used Sportster or Royal models. I see the Royals regularly (about 1 a month come up) for 700-1000 used. Sportsters tend to hover just above the 1000 mark used...when you can find them.

This suggestion is a few steps above the guitars you mentioned in quality. It's up to you if you want a piece that will work for you, or if you want a finely crafted top level professional piece of gear. I love P90 guitars, I record with them all the time on rock sessions. I have used everything from vintage P90 Gibsons to P90 Teles and everything else. I also like the P90 GMP guitars, but you will never find one of those under 1000. But also, I think the McInturff guitars still beat GMP's out, even with a better price tag.

H2H
 
I play an Epi Wildkat, and absolutely love the guitar. It has great feel, a wide range of tonal character, and it can absolutely howl, or be very laid back and mellow. I play it through a HotRod Deluxe, and a Garnet Mohawk (both amps having 12ax7 preamps and 6L6 poweramp tubes), and it is sweet, I play it equally with my Strat, and between the two guitars I am happy...but I could always use another.

I am actually surprised that you have heard mixed reviews about it, I can't imagine how anyone could pan it.
 
Hip to the deed

I own the Gibson Les Paul Faded Doucble Cutaway.... It is a great guitar. It is very reminisent of the 50'-60'5 Les Paul Jrs/special that people pay $2000-$5000 for these days. Sure, it may not have all the fancy looks and they skimped a little here and there, but the skimped on those vintage ones to and nobody seems to mind...
 
I dearly love my Les Paul faded double cut. It's not a pretty guitar, but it's got a nice neck for me, and the P-90's make my Peavey Duel 212 sing.
 
I got a Les Paul Jr.{98}used for 750.00...Nice guitar,double cutaway,bound neck..cherry finish...look around for a used one also..good luck
 
Bianchi Joe said:
I'm interested in getting a guitar with P-90s, sub $1000 (preferably sub $750). My choices seem to be the Les Paul faded double-cut, the Epiphone Casino, the Reverend Slingshot, or an Epi Wildkat. I hear mixed reviews on all of these--- any feedback or experiences you'd care to share would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

The Godin LG P90 runs about $450-$500 new. One of the greatest values in electric guits IMO. I love mine.

http://www.godinguitars.com/godinlgp.htm

Reviews:
http://www.godinguitars.com/godinpresslggone.htm
http://www.godinguitars.com/godinpresslggplayer.htm
 
From everything Ive heard about epiphone over the last year, I wouldn't trust them at all. Most of their guitars are made out of very cheap wood, and are rumoured to even use particle board. So unless you could put these rumours to rest, I don't think you should buy a guitar that might be made out of particle board.

I would second the godin lg idea, I play one every time I visit the local guitar store, and they are beautiful guitars. For less than 500 its the best p-90 guitar Ive ever seen. For more money the Gibson Les paul faded double cut is very similar, just with slight improvements all around that you would expect, like nicer pickups, set neck vs. bolt on (on the godin) and generally more solidly built.

I hope what I said helped you out a bit, and even if you decide against both those guitars, Id still advise you to atleast play around with them in the store, even if it is for fun, because as we all know, thats a good way to spend an hour. :D
 
I've visited Gibson Nashville several times and I can tell you first hand, not second hand or internet babble, that Gibsons are made out of solid wood, no particle board. Whoever told you that is an idiot. I will tell them that to their face. I have watched them being built with my own eyes.

By the way, I still say find a used McInturff. Once you play one, you'll have GAS for one until you buy one!:)

H2H
 
I've visited Gibson Nashville several times and I can tell you first hand, not second hand or internet babble, that Gibsons are made out of solid wood, no particle board.
Click to expand...
does the same thing go for epiphones too?
p.s. im not trying to make an argument or anything because this is just from what ive read.
 
I have never been to Korea, so I dont know about epiphones first hand. The one internet account I know of was of a "Epiphone Les Paul Custom" that ended up being a cheap fake. I have owned a couple Epis, and I know one Les Paul for sure was solid wood, cause I routed in it. Any of the hollow or semi hollow guitars are probably laminated, but this exists in $200 and $2000 or more, guitars. It's a regular building practice.

H2H
 
This Godin retails less than $500CAD. Excellent well made Can/US make that feels and plays costing much more. Check out the Godin line before making final decision. I tried a Godin Exit 22S one day and bought it the next, but their entire line is top quality. Same folks that make seagull, A&L, etc.


http://www.godinguitars.com/godinlgp.htm
 
Thanks for the responses!

Thanks for all the great feedback, folks. I have indeed seen some Godins going for bargain prices, and I was able to get ahold of a Wildkat and a Casino at a local shop. Unfortunately, I can't find a LP DC faded to play. To clarify, the main complaint I hear about the Gibson is that the frets are poorly finished and the neck is big. The main gripe against Epis seems to be the electronics. For whatever it's worth, the Epis I played seemed very solid in terms of construction--in fact, I was damned impressed, to tell you the truth. I'll withold judgement and my decision until I've had my hands on all the contenders, but those of you who reported back have confirmed that I'm at least looking in the right direction. And thanks for the Godin tip, especially-- it's always good to see what the smaller guys are putting out there. All of the input here is very much appreciated.
 
I have an Epi Firebird with mini-buckers in it and it seems to be solid wood (I can see the grain under the sunburst). They guitar is a fantastic player, but the stock pickups were shitty, somewhat microphonic. I swapped them for a Duncan Custom Mini in the bridge, and a Duncan Vintage Mini in the neck. Sounds like a dream now. I have a buddy who bought an Epi SG off the rack, and got it home and cranked it and the pickups were microphonic, as well. They were buckers but they howled something awful. Took it back to the store and they swapped the pickups for another Epi's pickups on the rack, they sounded a lot better. I guess it's luck of the draw.
 
on the subject of epiphones wierd pickups, my friend has a cheap one pickup sg that cost less than 200 canadian, and while playing around with it i discovered that if u swing it towards the amp (pickup facing towards the amp) and then back again, it makes a sound like a girl screaming. quite creepy sounding really. this was with a light distortion and the amp was at a very low volume.
 
Agile 2300 double cutaway w/P90 clones

I bought one of these guitars from Rondo Music for $250 a while back. I love it.

I am an older guitarist and I am sensitive to the weight of a guitar. This has to be one of the lightest guitars that I own. It is also somewhat smaller than the rest of my guitars, although the scale length is a normal 24.75" or so.

Additionally, it sounds and plays great.

I would put it on par with one of my best Epiphone guitars, none of which were made from particle board.

It is an Asian import, but that alone does not make it bad.
 
Sorry to ressurect an old thread...

I just got one of these and it is indeed great. I am thinking of going with more "pro" pups though. Any thoughts on the Rio Grandes or Seymour Duncan p-90s?

Thanks,

J
 
yeah......

gusfinley said:
I own the Gibson Les Paul Faded Doucble Cutaway.... It is a great guitar. It is very reminisent of the 50'-60'5 Les Paul Jrs/special that people pay $2000-$5000 for these days. Sure, it may not have all the fancy looks and they skimped a little here and there, but the skimped on those vintage ones to and nobody seems to mind...
Click to expand...

Can't say enough good about my Faded Les Paul DC. I pickeed it up for $750 with a case and I gotta so it is my favorite guitar. Mmm yeah, those P-90's. I am always wanting a hollowbody guitar and I'm having a lot of trouble deciding between the Gibson ES-330 and ES-335. THe ES-330 uses P-90's and the ES-335 uses the '57 classics.

If you can find a faded DC in the store give it a test drive. There were also some shinier looking ones that Gibson put out a few years ago, with small trapazoidal inlays - some of those may have P-100's though.....
 
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