I'm interested in a P90 guitar

[Rushfan2112]

I'd love to get a nice P90 guitar. My price range is about $600-800, maybe a little more if it's for shipping. I would prefer two pickups, just for a little versatility. I'd also prefer set neck, although it really doesn't matter for me. I've been looking at a few:

Gibson Les Paul Junior. Pros: I've played it, and it played great. Loved the neck, even if it was a little thin. Great P90 tone, too. I'm diggin' the finish as well.
Cons: What's up with the black on the back/neck? Probably covering up a 3 or 5 piece body/neck. Only one pickup.

Edwards Les Paul Special. Pros: Two P90s (Duncans!!), groovy yellow finish, I've been told that Edwards makes great guitars.
Cons: That's the thing. I've been told that. What happens if I don't like it? What happens if there's something wrong? Can I ship it back to Katana guitars? I'd actually have to request that they get it, too, and shipping is pretty expensive.

Edwards Les Paul Goldtop. Same pros and cons.

I guess this boils down to an American vs. Japanese debate. I can get that Gibson for 650 shipped, and know that I can send it back if there's anything wrong. But (my opinion) there's probably a bigger chance of something being wrong with it. The Edwards look nice, but not playing it before is a big thing, and shipping isn't exactly the lowest. Any other things I should look at? Opinions? Rants?

Thanks,

Robert

 

[kjrocks]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

Be sure to check out Godins too. Great guitars and great prices.They put SD's in their P90 guitars too.

 

[TheJangus]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

Gibson Les Paul Junior. Pros: I've played it, and it played great. Loved the neck, even if it was a little thin. Great P90 tone, too. I'm diggin' the finish as well.
Cons: What's up with the black on the back/neck? Probably covering up a 3 or 5 piece body/neck. Only one pickup.

Can't speak to the other two guitars as I've never played them, but I do own a MF Junior. Mine is a two piece body. I got mine from MF when they had them on sale for $599 about a year ago. I haven't changed a thing yet and I don't plan to either. The stock Gibson P90 sounds great! It's the most resonant guitar I own. You can feel the body resonating against your ribs. Sounds great acoustically. Pretty loud unplugged. Alot more versatile than I imagined being a one pickup fiddle. The one pup one volume one tone is freeing though. I can't recommend these guitars enough.

 

[dgk2448]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

Check out gibsons faded double cuts. I just purchased one about 1 1/2 months ago. I love it.

 

[greendy123]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

I got my 56' goldtop from katana too and they actually have one up there right now at ebay. The quality is very good and I'm pleased with the wood. If you have problem with it you can send it back, paying for the shipping yourself, for a refund. Also check out those PRS soapbar guitars they can be had for around your price. I tried one before and it was nice. Katana has Les Paul specials on ebay very often so I don't think you need to worry about availiablity much.

 

[ES350]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

You can get used single cut 90's Gibson LP Specials for 600-800 bucks. Not exazkly vintage korrect with a TOM and typically seen with the unripe funky green banana finish, but it does a real good job for me gigwise (my other P90 guitars are a R6, a mid-50's ES350, a 50's Guild, and a beater PRS SE II---and the Special stacks up pretty good).

 

[cream123]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

there's an sg classic on mf for 850 if that turns your crank. tow p-90's and it's a gibson. or you could get the dc, just not the faded yellow.

 

[Rushfan2112]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

Not a big fan of the SG. I'm diggin' the Gold top, but I also like the Specials/Junior. Only thing is I'm looking for a bit of versatility, so I don't think I'll be going the Junior route. Now it's just flat top vs. arch.

 

[FretFire]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

In that price range I'd look for a used USA Hamer, they'll blow most anything else you're looking at out of the water. You should be able to find a P90 Special for that much cash.

 

[Rushfan2112]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

Can't find any Hamers... their website has a Korina special which looks AMAZING, but I'm really liking the two pickup idea, just for a bit more versatility. I'm thinking about a Gibson Les Paul Special used, but the Edwards LPS looks great in that nasty old TV Yellow. And I don't know if I'm set on the Gold top finish.

 

[FretFire]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

Check ebay, and here:

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/index.php?act=SC&c=2

 

[dd12939]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

If you want a little fatter open sound, try a Gibson Blueshawk. They can be had reasonably cheap on Ebay. As an added bonus you get the Varitone for lots of tonal variation.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

Be sure to check out Godins too. Great guitars and great prices.They put SD's in their P90 guitars too.

+1

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

I've got one and it gets a SMOKIN tone. It already has SD's in it too.

Luke

 

[loudriver23]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

I know this is UNDER your listed price range, but you might want to check out the PRS SE Soapbar II. I own one of them and can vouch that is plays like a much finer and more expensive instrument! Even the stock P90's aren't half bad.
I don't have personal exp with the other axes you mentioned....
Just thought I'd throw in my .02c:banana:

 

[MikeRocker]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

For a little less, check out the Reverends: www.reverendguitars.com

 

[loudriver23]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

For a little less, check out the Reverends: www.reverendguitars.com

I'm kinda diggin them Charger HB's.........:27:

 

[Rushfan2112]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

I'm kinda diggin them Charger HB's.........:27:

Yeah, I was thinking about the Jetstream 390, but none of the finishes really call to me. Plus I was thinking about putting a Bigsby on whatever guitar I get. They just have this vibrato feel that I can't get with a Strat trem. The Club king looks pretty cool.

 

[Rushfan2112]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

What's the difference between a P-90 and a P-100?

 

[3Tone]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

Look at a Les Paul Studio Gem series guitar from the mid '90s. They sell on Ebay for prices that fall within the upper end of your price range.

 

[spacecaptain21]

Re: I'm interested in a P90 guitar

What's the difference between a P-90 and a P-100?

P-90 is the 'real deal'. P-100s are supposed to be less noisy P-90s, but apparently they lose a lot of the P-90 goodness.