D'Angelico EXL-1 versus EX 59

[Bluegrass Bill Ward]

Sorry to be so obsessed about strings but I think I have narrowed down my string choice to try (first anyway) to 3 different options for my Exl-1. 1. Based on a friends recommendation I am considering one round wound string, the Thomastik-infield JazzBe-Bop strings. Next, the Flatwound, Thomastik-infield Jazz Swing strings. And finally the Flatwound D’Addario Chromes. I suspect all these strings would sound good played with an amp. That being the case which of the 3 would likely provide the "best full sound" acoustically? Would "string noise" be a concern for the first choice round wound strings? Any comments on any of these strings based on experience using any of these strings? Thanks! Bill

[lawson-stone]

Regarding P 90s - I think for versatility you are far better off having regular full Humbuckers with a Parallel Push Pull switch to get a clearer thinner sound.

My thinking is unless you have a few Guitars - don't pigeonhole yourself into a bright thinner sound of P90s which you are going to roll back the Tone Control anyway.

P 90's generally have a bright Rockabilly kind of sound especially on Modern Guitars.

I am sure there are examples of Classic Era Tones on P90s with Famous Jazzers using them - but on bigger body deeper Guitars..so I am curious about the
D'Angelico's too ...but a warning on P90s.

For example a 335 barely gets a Jazz Tone IMO ...put P90s on one and even further away from Trad.Jazz tone.

ES 137 actually sounds much closer to a Trad Jazz Tone IMO..but with P90s ...bye bye to the Trad Jazz Tones.

* I don't even Play Trad Jazz but I can hear very well the Tones.
Unless you love P90s they are a specialty IMO.

Puzzling. Jim Hall's ES175 on his earliest albums had P90s, as did Herb Ellis. It wasn't an obscure or fringe pickup. Grant Green didn't use a P90 exactly, but it was similar. I personally prefer the Humbucker sound, but the P90 on full sized archtops has a very distinguished history on albums that set the standard for classic jazz tone.

[Robertkoa]

Puzzling. Jim Hall's ES175 on his earliest albums had P90s, as did Herb Ellis. It wasn't an obscure or fringe pickup. Grant Green didn't use a P90 exactly, but it was similar. I personally prefer the Humbucker sound, but the P90 on full sized archtops has a very distinguished history on albums that set the standard for classic jazz tone.

Interesting...how did they handle the Hum from the Single Coil Design?

Just saying ..if you have a choice and I know more about pickups than Archtops...a Humbucker with a Parallel Switch gets close to a P90 or now we have noiseless P90s.



Also probably MORE IMPORTANT and I anticipated people telling me about past Famous Master Players sounding great on a P90 in Neck for Jazz:

You are comparing a 1 year Player to Herb Ellis ...Jim Hall...

You want to hear some ' regular ' Guitarists playing a ES 175 ( a very dark warm Guitar ) with P 90s or P94s go on Youtube and search. Not too pretty.

A P90 type is one of the most touch sensitive / pick angle sensitive / finger sensitive Pickups there is.

If you can handle it..but a Beginner is just going to end up having to be really careful to work around all that sensitivity...
A nice forgiving Humbucker would be my advice unless someone has a lot of Pick Control, flatwounds
etc.