Preferred P-90 guitar for Jazz?

**Lux** · 09-05-2012, 04:57 PM

What do you think? What's the ultimate/preferred P-90 guitar for Jazz?

ES 175? 330? 350? ES-5?

I would love to have a Super 400 with P-90s, but I don't currently have $30k burning a hole in my pocket

Lux

**Bill C** · 09-05-2012, 05:16 PM

A good ES-125 will do it if you want the 50's/bebop sound

**mongrel** · 09-05-2012, 06:21 PM

I've always liked the 330's but the old ones have taken quite a leap up in price levels. So a good 175 might be cheaper. I like those with P-90's too.

**Clamps** · 09-05-2012, 07:18 PM

Fender jazzmaster

**SamBooka** · 09-05-2012, 08:53 PM

Lollar late 40s style P90 (non adjustable alnico slugs instead of screws and bar magnets) in an ES165 (although the 125 sounds sweet too and are usually a bargain compared to similar vintage gibsons)

**Philco** · 09-05-2012, 09:05 PM

This sounds mighty fine.

In regard to a Super400 with a P90.

I changed the stock pickup in my L5 for a Biltoft P90 replacement.
Didn't do anything for me and it was changed back a few days later.
It didn't have that midrange power that you hear in the above clip.
Wrong pickup for that instrument (for my ears anyway)

But in the 125 it sounds very good. It's a good match for that instrument.
If that's what pleases you ears.

**pingu** · 09-06-2012, 12:17 AM

Is that a 125 ?

**Stevebol** · 09-06-2012, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by Philco

This sounds mighty fine.

In regard to a Super400 with a P90.

I changed the stock pickup in my L5 for a Biltoft P90 replacement.
Didn't do anything for me and it was changed back a few days later.
It didn't have that midrange power that you hear in the above clip.
Wrong pickup for that instrument (for my ears anyway)

But in the 125 it sounds very good. It's a good match for that instrument.
If that's what pleases you ears.

I love this sound. It doesn't sound too compressed which is typical of humbuckers and it's not too sweet. It's just right. I'm putting a P90 in an old Harmony Patrician at the same location it is in a 125. Hoping to get a sound simmilar to a 125 but still unique. I would say anyone considering doing this should avoid it because I had to do a ton of work- took off the back, reinforced the area of the pickup cutout, new binding, refinishing, new frets, replaced the steel neck rod with ebony, added carbon fiber, new gears......

Never again

**Stevebol** · 09-06-2012, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by Bill C

A good ES-125 will do it if you want the 50's/bebop sound

Yep. It not worth trying to convert something for a P90. 125's sound great and don't cost a fortune.

**Bryan T** · 09-06-2012, 01:05 AM

Perhaps not the most traditional jazz sound, but I love the single pickup ES330 guitars. They are so inspiring to play.

**Philco** · 09-06-2012, 01:28 AM

Not sure if this is a 330......they are not P90's.
But man it's a great sound.

Different altogether than the 125.
There are a few 125's on Ebay right now.

**Philco** · 09-06-2012, 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by Stevebol

I love this sound. It doesn't sound too compressed which is typical of humbuckers and it's not too sweet. It's just right. I'm putting a P90 in an old Harmony Patrician at the same location it is in a 125. Hoping to get a sound simmilar to a 125 but still unique. I would say anyone considering doing this should avoid it because I had to do a ton of work- took off the back, reinforced the area of the pickup cutout, new binding, refinishing, new frets, replaced the steel neck rod with ebony, added carbon fiber, new gears......

Never again

I appreciate what you're trying to do. I would venture to say though, that a lot of the sound in the clip is the body shape and construction of the guitar.
The P90 just brings it on home.
That's not to say that you won't get a great sound though.

Is it just me or can you here "something" kick in at exactly 16 seconds in that Iterson clip?
At first I just thought "oh he's just playing a different position" but he was actually playing in the same spot a few seconds before.
Right on 16 sec, something happens.
Am I hearing things?

**Ob Com** · 09-06-2012, 07:23 AM

you could drop a P94 into the humbucker slot.

**Philco** · 09-06-2012, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

Lollar late 40s style P90 (non adjustable alnico slugs instead of screws and bar magnets) in an ES165 (although the 125 sounds sweet too and are usually a bargain compared to similar vintage gibsons)

Oh man that's very nice!

**oldane** · 09-06-2012, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Lux

What do you think? What's the ultimate/preferred P-90 guitar for Jazz?

ES 175? 330? 350? ES-5?

Lux

All of those will do fine. The 175, 350 and ES 5 are full hollow bodies, the 330 a thinner body double cutaway (same shape as the 335, but all hollow with no centerblock). The 350 from the 1950s are quite rare these days.

As had been said, the ES125 is also a good choice. The same is the ES150 (in it's second edition from the 1940s and 1950s) - it's has a 17" body and 25½" scale vs. the 16" body and 24 3/4" scale of the 125.

In addition to those vintage guitars, there are quite a few current makers out there making laminate guitars the same way - Sadowsky, Painter, Steve Holst etc. Except the Sadowskies, they can be had with a P90 PU as you wish. The Sadowsky has a humbucker, but it's easy to swap that for a P90 in humbucker disguise.

**jorgemg1984** · 09-06-2012, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by Philco

Not sure if this is a 330......they are not P90's.
But man it's a great sound.

Different altogether than the 125.
There are a few 125's on Ebay right now.

I think it's a 339. And there are tons of other things contributing to that (amazing) sound.

With today's choice of P90s in an humbucker shape almost any "jazz guitar" can be had as a P90. Good days we live in

**reventlov** · 09-06-2012, 12:20 PM

Another vote here for the 125....and if finance is a problem, a good cheaper option is the Epiphone Casino

**mr. beaumont** · 09-06-2012, 12:23 PM

Anything hollow (or even semi hollow) with a P90= potential to be great jazz guitar in my book.

**Doctor Jeff** · 09-06-2012, 01:49 PM

Don't forget the Godin Kingpins! They may be the best bang for the buck with a P90 in a new guitar.

Epiphone also has several Casino models with P90's that might float your jazz boat.

**kid deluxe** · 09-06-2012, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by Philco

Is it just me or can you here "something" kick in at exactly 16 seconds in that Iterson clip?
At first I just thought "oh he's just playing a different position" but he was actually playing in the same spot a few seconds before.
Right on 16 sec, something happens.
Am I hearing things?

P90s are very pick sensitive. Maby your hearing that.
You can change the Tone quite a bit by changing the pick attack and right hand position. I really like that.

I tried the Duesenberg P90 in a few guitars. Sounded great with Flats!

**Jimmy Mack** · 09-10-2012, 07:34 PM

In KR's video, it's just a nice old 335 he's playing. Looks like humbuckers, sounds like HB'ers. Why not? Just no one will know what kind!

And yes at around :16, he kicks on some pedal, U can see him do it, and you can hear the click, but most importantly, it sounds like some kind of mid-boost. The guitar's tone gets immediately thicker with more mids becoming present.
Also has great fingers, for his tone.

**jorgemg1984** · 09-10-2012, 09:32 PM

It's one of those Lehle pedals that control which pedals are on and which are off I think.

**Philco** · 09-10-2012, 09:39 PM

I was actually referring to the Iterson clip.
But....yeah you can see on the Kurt clip where he hits the pedal.

But on the Iterson clip the tone change is more subtle.
Could be my imagination or it could be something the engineer did in the final mix.
Probably nothing but a different pick attack.

**SamBooka** · 09-10-2012, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Philco

I was actually referring to the Iterson clip.
But....yeah you can see on the Kurt clip where he hits the pedal.

But on the Iterson clip the tone change is more subtle.
Could be my imagination or it could be something the engineer did in the final mix.
Probably nothing but a different pick attack.

I am going with the engineer as well