Want a Fender that sounds like a Gibson?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nightfire
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G&L makes something really similar with P90s, I played it and liked it a whole lot. American made and you can probably get it new for 2/3 a Fender (and IMO, a bit nicer of a guitar).
 
Nightfire said:
I was at the music shop the other day and spotted a Fender TC-90. All I can say is WOW. Feels like a strat, sounds like a gibson!
Anyone own one of these or heard of them? They have a unique shape and P-90's, Im seriously considering spending my savings on this one :p
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/8/7/8/269878.jpg

Mike

Very cool-that shape is strikingly similar to an old les Paul Jr. from about 1958, the cutaway is definitely the same!

58lesPaulJr.jpg
 
I've tried a Fender TC-90, and although I'd have to try one again my guess is that it'd sound quite similar to my Gibson Les Paul Faded Double Cutaway (flat top, two P90s). Around the same time frame that I'd tried the TC-90, I'd also tried a Fender Telecaster Deluxe (with the 2 humbuckers), and I'd say it could give a typical (2 humbuckers) Les Paul a run for its money, although I'll admit that when it comes down to the ballsy crunch the Les Paul would win.

Matt
 
Hey I've never heard of G&L's but I checked out their website and I like what I see :)
Yeah the TC-90 sounded a lot like a Les Paul when I played it, but without the chunky neck, really telecaster feel to it, pretty light and has wide frets. Set neck too.
Anfontan, looking at it closely it seems as though Fender tried copying the early Junior :p never seen them in that shape before, thanks for posting the pic.


Mike
 
Nightfire said:
Hey I've never heard of G&L's but I checked out their website and I like what I see :)
Yeah the TC-90 sounded a lot like a Les Paul when I played it, but without the chunky neck, really telecaster feel to it, pretty light and has wide frets. Set neck too.
Anfontan, looking at it closely it seems as though Fender tried copying the early Junior :p never seen them in that shape before, thanks for posting the pic.


Mike


One of my band mates from years ago had one of those L.P. Jrs, his had 2 P-90s on it though so the setup was very close to the TC-90. With the Fender headstock and F-hole on the TC-90 it also sort of resembles a Gibson Trini Lopez model as well, but the Trini had a 335 style body, an diamond shaped f holes. Another friend had one of these Trini Lopez's and it was a cool rock & roll machine!! :eek:
 

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One thing I'd like to point out, though

is the one you're looking at is a semi-hollowbody.

Take that into consideration.

I don't like Thinline Teles, and to me this is sort of a strat-ized one of them.

But to each his own.

And I guess I don't really think of p-90s as the 'Gibson' sound, even though they're Gibbys. It's all a matter of perspective, I guess.
 
one of our guitarist have that fender. its not my favorite distortion sound buts its beautiful clean
 
I do want

the Squire Tele Special II with p-90s though. I just looks rock'n'roll.
 

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$0.02

Want a Fender that sounds like a Gibson? I'm sorry, but I'd rather have a Fender that sounds like a Fender.

The Tele thinline/deluxe are both quite nice humbuckered Fenders, but I'd still rather have a standard 70s Telecaster.
I hate the way that guitar brands get closer to each other as time progresses, and also the way that companies have to either bring out new lines that copy other manufacturers to capitalise other people's markets, or bring out wackier and wackier designs to be 'different' or 'cutting edge'.

In my humble opinion, the Squier Telecaster Special is not Rock & Roll - Rock & Roll is a single Les Paul, Telecaster, or Strat, through a massive Marshall, Fender or Mesa Stack.
 
Elton Bear said:
Want a Fender that sounds like a Gibson? I'm sorry, but I'd rather have a Fender that sounds like a Fender.

The Tele thinline/deluxe are both quite nice humbuckered Fenders, but I'd still rather have a standard 70s Telecaster.
I hate the way that guitar brands get closer to each other as time progresses, and also the way that companies have to either bring out new lines that copy other manufacturers to capitalise other people's markets, or bring out wackier and wackier designs to be 'different' or 'cutting edge'.

In my humble opinion, the Squier Telecaster Special is not Rock & Roll - Rock & Roll is a single Les Paul, Telecaster, or Strat, through a massive Marshall, Fender or Mesa Stack.

Mr. Richards and his humbucker-equipped Tele might beg to differ.

But that's cool if you don't like it. I don't want manufacturers to blend together, either, but I do like variety. And as far as coming out with 'wackier', that's how we got Explorers, Firebirds, and Flying Vs.

I say, 'bring 'em on'. Not in a W kinda way, of course.
 
Explorers and V's are cool, but what the fuck was the Showmaster about??

Good point about Keef though.
 
beats me, I never liked it either.

I think it was Fender's attempt at a shredder, but I thought it looked like it was designed by committee. Either that, or most of the changes they had made got vetod by the boss, and they just had to put out what was left over.

Oh, wait. That was a Stagemaster, I think. The Showmaster was the flashier version with the fancy top and all. I think that was them trying to be PRS. there are probably guys who think they're just beautiful strats, but they never appealed to me either.
 
Anfontan said:
One of my band mates from years ago had one of those L.P. Jrs, his had 2 P-90s on it though so the setup was very close to the TC-90. With the Fender headstock and F-hole on the TC-90 it also sort of resembles a Gibson Trini Lopez model as well, but the Trini had a 335 style body, an diamond shaped f holes. Another friend had one of these Trini Lopez's and it was a cool rock & roll machine!! :eek:

A friend of mine who recently died had a trini lopez, but it didn't look like that picture. It was a 335 shaped body with diamond soundholes. It had the fender headstock, too. I think it was a hollow body even though it was shaped like a 335. It's been a long time since I touched it.

I have a squier strat with the bathtub rout that I put two chrome humbuckers in. It kinda sounds like an explorer or SG (can't really cop a les paul sound). It plays like a fender, though.
 
notCardio said:
the Squire Tele Special II with p-90s though. I just looks rock'n'roll.

Gotta love the looks of that Tele! :D
You know, I tried to talk the rhythm player in my old band into getting one of those as he had a white les Paul Custom he was always bitching about how heavy it was-I thought is was the perfect alternative. Same switching and knob layout-and would be light as a feather compared to the Paul-instead he got a Hamer that was about as heavy~ :rolleyes:
I played a Fender Tele deluxe back in the 70's that made me fall in love with the Fender neck-it was gone by the time I got the cash together though~ :mad:
 

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Have you checked out a Line 6 Variax 600 or 700? Thats one way to get the sound of a Strat, and various Les Pauls, Ricks, Gretsches, Teles, 335's etc etc. Don't be afraid of the modelling stuff if you are looking for a variety of guitar sounds but cant afford all your favourite guitars or are doing gigs / sessions where you need to change guitars alot. If you are just into 'real' Strats and Les Pauls then save your $ and find a great Strat and a great LP and enjoy each one for what it is :)
 
I've got a vintage tele deluxe. Its basically the tele les paul w/ 2 hums, switch on the upper 'bout, 2 volume knobs and 2 tone pots. Its as close to a LP as you'll get, but its not really close. I own two les pauls, one w/ P90s and a custom and they sound like les pauls, even the P90 equipped one. Theres a big difference in tone, feel, and really everything besides the layout. If you can get a fender to sound just like a LP, I'd like to see it. But, I always thought the reason to get a fender or a Gibson was for THAT sound.
 
I was looking for the same thing. I just bought a Reverend Club King, these guitars have the neck, feel and scale length of a good strat and the body and pickups just like a 335. Just a great guitar I highly recommend them.

Here is some links.
The Dual Coil Model http://www.reverendguitars.com/reverend/guitars/bolt_on_series/club_king_hb.html

The P-90 Model
http://www.reverendguitars.com/reverend/guitars/bolt_on_series/club_king_290.html

The Filtron Model
http://www.reverendguitars.com/reverend/guitars/bolt_on_series/club_king_rt.html
 
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