jonnymangia
New member
Here we go...
I've been GASSING for an R6 for over a year. Fell in love with P90's and I always thought the goldtop was the nicest looking Paula. So I've been following R6 auctions on Ebay and watched them go from an average of around $1750 last year, to about $2100-2300 since late last year. Last week I notice a guy with a BIN at $1950 with free overnight shipping. Thing was virtually new (an 05) and looked great. I jumped on it and the axe came a few days later along with COA, hardshell case from Custom Shop, etc.
I opened her up last night. When I opened the case I nearly let out a gasp. I could not believe how beautiful it was. I picked it up and was surprised about the weight - did not weigh a ton (it's 9.4) and it was in INCREDIBLE condition. There wasn't one scratch, ding, pick mark anywhere! I then proceeded to plug in and here's how it goes....
First impression of finally playing a real LP - the resonance was insane. Being an SG player, this was night and day. As I cranked the Traynor, every chord I played was felt in my chest. It feels so damn POWERFUL. I picked up the SG afterwards and felt like I was playing a banjo.
Tone
Bridge pup made me think "Tele on Steroids". Very twangy at times, did the Johnny Cash thing, rockabilly etc. NO PROBLEM. That was clean. I then dirtied it up and it snarled like a cornered animal. Nasty. Favorite tone thus far is through bridge pup, master volume on amp down to 1 or 2 (others in the house:smack: ) and volume in the clean channel cranked. Great dirty sound ,think early Freddy King or Hubert Sumlin. It also gets a GREAT Malcom Young, vintage AC/DC rythym thing going on.
Neck pup has been great. Got an insane "Woman Tone" by rolling down to 1 or 0 and cranking the amp.Think the solo in "American Woman". When played clean, the neck pup rolled back approaches jazz box territory. When playing in the Traynor gain channel, the thing does metal. It's very heavy and if you don't believe me listen to the latest Social Distortion record, where they are blasting powerchords on P90 driven goldtops.
The P90's are wonderful, but as of yet I have not been able to get that warm, smooth vintagy-PAF tone (I am trying to nail the Clapton/Cream tone in "Sleepy Time' on the Fresh Cream record). Of course I haven't been able to try everyting yet so maybe it is attainable. The P90's defintely have a bottom, but the emphasis is def the mids and top. A very raw sound, yet maybe the combination of the the LP's mass and fiddling with knobs and amp settings can tame the P90 "over-the-topness". Actually, I know it can because there are guys playing this that don't do rock/blues (the guitarist in Sade used a goldtop with p90's for one) and sound smooth.
Now here are the negatives.
1)Price - It was a good deal relative to the Ebay market, but in hindsight I'm thinking maybe I could have just bought an Epi Elitist or an Edwards for $900-1100.
2)The P90's hum LIKE MAD. Especially in the high gain channel.
3)Somewhat uncomfortable to play as I am use to an SG. How the hell do you play in the upper register?! Also, the gtr keeps falling off my leg.
4) The guitar does not sustain well unless I'm in high gain. This was very surprising. Any ideas?
All in all, she's a beauty and I'm sure I will work out the kinks as I adjust from playing an SG and strat (I did't mention my JV - thanks for the advice Christian!) to an LP.
Now the pics...
I've been GASSING for an R6 for over a year. Fell in love with P90's and I always thought the goldtop was the nicest looking Paula. So I've been following R6 auctions on Ebay and watched them go from an average of around $1750 last year, to about $2100-2300 since late last year. Last week I notice a guy with a BIN at $1950 with free overnight shipping. Thing was virtually new (an 05) and looked great. I jumped on it and the axe came a few days later along with COA, hardshell case from Custom Shop, etc.
I opened her up last night. When I opened the case I nearly let out a gasp. I could not believe how beautiful it was. I picked it up and was surprised about the weight - did not weigh a ton (it's 9.4) and it was in INCREDIBLE condition. There wasn't one scratch, ding, pick mark anywhere! I then proceeded to plug in and here's how it goes....
First impression of finally playing a real LP - the resonance was insane. Being an SG player, this was night and day. As I cranked the Traynor, every chord I played was felt in my chest. It feels so damn POWERFUL. I picked up the SG afterwards and felt like I was playing a banjo.
Tone
Bridge pup made me think "Tele on Steroids". Very twangy at times, did the Johnny Cash thing, rockabilly etc. NO PROBLEM. That was clean. I then dirtied it up and it snarled like a cornered animal. Nasty. Favorite tone thus far is through bridge pup, master volume on amp down to 1 or 2 (others in the house:smack: ) and volume in the clean channel cranked. Great dirty sound ,think early Freddy King or Hubert Sumlin. It also gets a GREAT Malcom Young, vintage AC/DC rythym thing going on.
Neck pup has been great. Got an insane "Woman Tone" by rolling down to 1 or 0 and cranking the amp.Think the solo in "American Woman". When played clean, the neck pup rolled back approaches jazz box territory. When playing in the Traynor gain channel, the thing does metal. It's very heavy and if you don't believe me listen to the latest Social Distortion record, where they are blasting powerchords on P90 driven goldtops.
The P90's are wonderful, but as of yet I have not been able to get that warm, smooth vintagy-PAF tone (I am trying to nail the Clapton/Cream tone in "Sleepy Time' on the Fresh Cream record). Of course I haven't been able to try everyting yet so maybe it is attainable. The P90's defintely have a bottom, but the emphasis is def the mids and top. A very raw sound, yet maybe the combination of the the LP's mass and fiddling with knobs and amp settings can tame the P90 "over-the-topness". Actually, I know it can because there are guys playing this that don't do rock/blues (the guitarist in Sade used a goldtop with p90's for one) and sound smooth.
Now here are the negatives.
1)Price - It was a good deal relative to the Ebay market, but in hindsight I'm thinking maybe I could have just bought an Epi Elitist or an Edwards for $900-1100.
2)The P90's hum LIKE MAD. Especially in the high gain channel.
3)Somewhat uncomfortable to play as I am use to an SG. How the hell do you play in the upper register?! Also, the gtr keeps falling off my leg.
4) The guitar does not sustain well unless I'm in high gain. This was very surprising. Any ideas?
All in all, she's a beauty and I'm sure I will work out the kinks as I adjust from playing an SG and strat (I did't mention my JV - thanks for the advice Christian!) to an LP.
Now the pics...
