A Question about Gibson P90 pups

[MK-Ultra]

Hi,

I was in a shop yesterday, and I played 2 Epi Casinos and an Epi Custom LP w/P90's. Both of these guitars were within my range, but the €3,000.00 Gibson LP w/P90s wasn't. The pups on the Korean Casinos were chrome dog ears, and the ones on the Epi and Gibson LPs were the cream soapbars.

So, the question is, are these the same pickups, or are there differences in quality between the cheaper guitars' pups and those of the €3,000.00 Gibson?

The reason I ask is that the sales guy told me that if I switched out the pups on the Epi LP, I'd have a hard time telling the difference between that and the Gibson. In any event, I'd have a hard time telling €2,300.00 worth of difference. That Epi LP was extremely easy to play, and sounded pretty good. Not, however, as good as the Gibson SG Junior I just bought.

Thanks,

MK

 

[daav]

Not an answer to your question exactly, i don;lt know the exact pickup models. But i went through a similiar search recently, here are some additional things to consider:

I played an EPI gold top 56 reissue thing (throuhg a epi valve junior) and loved the tone, played well, totally screeched with the volume turned up. I have seen them used here for US 300.

I ended up going with a Gibson SG Classic. I am sucker for the "real" version of these kinds of guitars and the ones i played were perfect for me, easy to play, nice feel (light) and the great P90 sound, i just loved it. Guitar center and the like had them new for about 999 US, and i watched ebay and local calssifieds and saw used version go for about 650 to 850 US. I held out and got mine for $500.

i almost pulled the trigger on the epi gold top a couple times though, the one i played at a store locally was really nice and felt solidly built from what little time i spent with it.

Perhaps this thread wil be useful to you as well:
http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=254614

Daav

 

[MK-Ultra]

Thanks for your reply. If I had been living back in Canada, I would definitely have ordered one of those SG Classics! They weren't/aren't being sold here in Europe, but ONE shop was selling SG Juniors, and I seem to have nabbed the last one they had in stock. So, until they are again re-issued, they aren't to be had here. I've had the bug for a P-90 SG since I first played one, around 1978, or so. My Junior is great, though I would've loved the versatility of two pups, and the bound fretboard. Still, my Junior rocks my world. I felt the same way when I got a semi-hollow Artcore a few months back. The semi-acoustic sound set off some nerve cells in my Nucleus Accumbens, and so does the SG Junior.

I do have to say that I was really impressed with the Epi LP Custom with the P-90s. I tend not to like LPs, but I wouldn't mind that one. In fact, now I want all of my next guitars to have those pups.

And be hollow/semi-hollow - hence the Casino research.

Congrats on your Classic, man! I hope you enjoy it as much as I am enjoying my Junior!

Cheers,

MK