P90 guitars

[thefsb]

All P90-equipped guitars sound pretty much the same so choose what looks and feels best to you.

[Charlie Bernstein]

I had a 1940s Gibson ES-150 with a single P-90 for a few years. Don't know where the mojo came from — the pickup? the f-holes? the arched top and back? the baseball bat neck? — but what a sound.

Never played another electric like that, and I suspect I never will.

I also suspect that Godin's Fifth Avenue guitars are at least worthy of a test drive.

[FingahPickah]

Years ago, I picked up an inexpensive back-up guitar: a Xaviere Tele Thin-line (semi-hollow) parts-caster with 2 x Guitar Fetish P90s that sounds awesome. I replaced the neck with a Fender licensed Mighty Mite (maple fretboard).

Reverend Guitars makes several "9A5" (Reverend's proprietary P90) equipped guitars that sound awesome.

I am awaiting delivery of a new Airwave 12 String.

https://reverendguitars.com/guitars/

[abn556]

I have a SG Special with P90s and a short Maestro that is a screaming little guitar.


IMG_3104.jpg

[rockabilly69]

Here's mine...

2023 USA Gibson LP Special and 2010 Gibson Historic SG Special



2020 Gibson Historic 1954 LP Reissue



1965 Gibson ES125T



Heritage H535 with P90s (first one built)

[redir]

P-90 in the neck position is one of my favorite tones. My 'Tele' has a P-90 in the neck. I had one in the bridge but replaced it with a tapped p-100 for humbucking tone.

If you can find a guitar that has reverse polarity and wind on the two P-90's it makes for a good mid position tone.

[arwhite]

Originally Posted by thefsb

All P90-equipped guitars sound pretty much the same

I have enough experience with P90 pickups to know that is not true. Thanks for playing though.

[FrankHudson]

My two favorite P90 guitars:

Epiphone 339 P90 from the 20-teens. Doesn't look like this model is still sold, and it may have even been a Guitar Center/Musician's Friend exclusive. The smaller 335 shaped body is easy to handle, and the stock pickups were a revelation, moving me away from a couple of other P90 equipped guitars I'd owned/played before. It is very responsive to picking dynamics and the volume knob, so can get the classic clean to crunch without necessarily stepping on a pedal. This model was inexpensive, and it's not the sort of instrument that has every little detail perfectly finished. It also has an odd neck carve, a bit chunky U shape, which doesn't bother me, but I could see why others wouldn't care for it.

Guild Starfire I Jet P90. Oh man, what a guitar. Full of character. Like the Epi this is an inexpensive build without careful little details like bound F-holes and has non-gloss satin finish as well. Sweetwater often seems to have "demos" with minor finish issues too. So not a guitar for the admire the fine woodworking crowd. The tuners on mine aren't the smoothest either.

None-the-less I think it would look great on stage, and the non-gloss finish from a distance just adds to the vintage guitar vibe without needing a "relic" treatment.

It says P90 in the name, but the 3 soapbars here are also called Guild Franz style. They sound different from other P90s, a little more "single coily," but they sound great. The pickups may be slightly microphonic* in a wonderful way, since this thinline responds an acoustic resonance that is equal to or greater than the larger laminated full depth hollow-bodies I've played. Nice feeling neck. Bigsby. 6, count'em, 6, pickup selections (all the "Stratocaster" positions plus a neck+bridge position as a bonus.

Weight seems to vary on Sweetwater's examples, but mine feels tolerably light, balances well though even with the big headstock. Between the sound, those sonic variations of the pickups, and feel of it, it's a joy to play.

[$ongWriter]

I love p-90's...I have 2 Colings that are amazing...one for sale on this forum...I also have a PRS that my son spoke for the minute he played it...P-90s are magical...they are actually the "sound" people hunt for....the only reason the hum bucker was invented was to cut down on noise...it wasn't for the improved tone....the hum buckers being made today...cut out much of the noise....to me they are the perfect balance between a single coil and a hum bucker....I love the little extra edge the sound they produce has over a hum bucker...

[dilver]

Les Paul Junior. One Wolfetone Meaner 90. If you’re just going to have one pickup, make sure it’s a good one.

What’s the draw? If you’re able to play it through a good amp, you can coax all sorts of tones out of it. From searing, vocal lead tones, power crunch, jangly rhythm, even jazzy tones. Not for the beginner though. You need to be comfortable constantly adjusting your volume and tone controls. Or, if you’re just after one tone, crank it up and bang away.

[CASD57]

My main Electric is a Epiphone ES339P90 Pro Limited... I've been into P90's for about 20 yearrs

[jay42]

I built up a parts guitar with P-90's. Strat body, 24.75" conversion neck, 12" radius. In retrospect, I would stick with the 25.5" scale.
Pickups are Lollar low winds. I might rethink those into Fralins, but basically, it's a great piece.

[CASD57]

Originally Posted by jay42

I built up a parts guitar with P-90's. Strat body, 24.75" conversion neck, 12" radius. In retrospect, I would stick with the 25.5" scale.
Pickups are Lollar low winds. I might rethink those into Fralins, but basically, it's a great piece.

My second P90 guitar is a Squire Affinity Strat(Burst)..That I put a Stew-Mac 2-P90 Pickguard(Cream) and 2-Mighty-Mite P90's..
I used 13-56's on this Affinity for years when I was playing out and it's in its case right now... Never to leave me

[arwhite]

Some really cool guits shared here, but those gold top LPs...my goodness!

[Organic Sounds Select Guitars]

This one came in on a trade, and I am keepin' it! (at least for now - one of the perks of owning a guitar shop!).

Gibson ES-125, built in 1956. The P-90 is original, and the sound through my Princeton is ridiculously wonderful!