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Here I go again...which of these models should join my Gibson SG Standard?

1) Gibson Les Paul Standard
2) Tokai Love Rock LP
3) Gibson '56 Goldtop with P90's
4) PRS SoapbarI initially favored the p90's axes, but I am so nuts over the early Clapton/ZZ Top/Zep mojo that I am starting to favor an LP with buckers (I'll probably toss Seths or Pearly Gates in it). I know the Tokai's are great values, but I'm under the impression that they won't appreciate like a Gibson will. Lastly, if I go the Gibson route, I am buying used. Are there any particular years in the last decade that I should avoid?

thanks...jonny

what about an lp and stick a fat cat in it? then you can get a bit of both.

Why not go for a les paul and stick a phat cat in the bridge? That way you'll still have a neck humbucker for those kinds of tones, but you'll be able to dial in the growl and mids of a P90 when you feel like it.

I say, get a Les Paul and put a Phat Cat in there!
Originally Posted by KacI say, get a Les Paul and put a Phat Cat in there!Interesting...thing is, I had a Phat Cat in the neck of my SG (that's her on the left) and I teamed it up with a CC in the bridge. For some reason it didn't sound like a p90. It was too hot and the tones weren't varied enough when I fiddled with the guitar's knobs. Maybe it was just the SG though...who knows?


Originally Posted by jonnymangiaInteresting...thing is, I had a Phat Cat in the neck of my SG (that's her on the left) and I teamed it up with a CC in the bridge. For some reason it didn't sound like a p90. It was too hot and the tones weren't varied enough when I fiddled with the guitar's knobs. Maybe it was just the SG though...who knows?
I think the Phat Cat works better in the bridge because it's brighter and less middy than other P90s I've played with. Try it in the bridge with a vintage style humbucker in the neck.

I would get a love rock les paul, they also have p90 lp's too. This is my choice cause I don't care about value at all, I just care about quality and the tone. The value concern is just because I plan just keep a few guitars and not sell any. Another reason for the choice is the lower price, but if I was loaded I would get the lp 56' goldtop.

i'd go with the '56 Goldtop

almost bought one earlier this year,
but settled with Dean

Go with the Goldtop. P90s kick ass! I'm sorry guys, but Duncans quot;Phat Catsquot; won't sound close to the real thing, once again, I'm sorry, but it's true. They have their own unique voicing, but ask anyone who has a real P90 equipped axe and they just don't cop the vibe.

Clapton/ZZ Top/Zepp were the people/bands that defined what a good PAF equipped Gibson can sound like. Unfortunately, I can't say I've ever played a pickup that absolutely nails the tone and complexity of the real PAFs (and yes, I have a friend that actually has the real thing and it really is amazing). I'd actually be a humbucker fan if I could find someone who designs something just that good (of course, I've never tried Timbuckers or Tom Holmes, so if they deliver I may just have to get another Les Paul or an ES-335).

I love both the 56 goldtop ri and the PRS mcCarty soapbar. It's all down to what tone you're after. The PRS will be a tad more articulate, not to mention nicer to play.

For value, I'd go for the PRS Soapbar SE. Those are killer guitars for the cash.

I'd personally go with the '56 reissue.


Originally Posted by the_ChrisGo with the Goldtop. P90s kick ass! I'm sorry guys, but Duncans quot;Phat Catsquot; won't sound close to the real thing, once again, I'm sorry, but it's true. They have their own unique voicing, but ask anyone who has a real P90 equipped axe and they just don't cop the vibe.
.

What really turned me on the P90's was what Townshend did with them on Live at Leeds and the Isle of Wight Shows. Just by fiddling with the knobs he attained so many different sounds. When I had the Phat Cat in the neck of the SG, no matter how much I rolled the knobs off/on, there wasn't much tonal variety. I also had an SG Classic (Guitar Center version) where I encountered the same lack of tonal variety,but I chalked that up to the guitar just being junk.

i would go for the LP standard---
JJ

Q: quot;Are there any particular years in the last decade that I should avoid? quot;

A: Yes, any of the years in the last decade after 1960Seriously, if you want the LP thing, get a LP. Don't try to make it into something it's not, put some of Seymour's best humbuckers in there and just rock on.

Then get a P90 guitar for that sound too...

GS

I'd go for a Les Paul Standard or a high-end Tokai Love Rock. Then spend some cash on new pick-ups and electronics and stuff (fun to mod a little ...) and you don't have a crazy expensive guitar that you almost don't play, just baby it :P

If u can afford the 56'get it, but if not get the tokai


Originally Posted by the_ChrisGo with the Goldtop. P90s kick ass! I'm sorry guys, but Duncans quot;Phat Catsquot; won't sound close to the real thing, once again, I'm sorry, but it's true. They have their own unique voicing, but ask anyone who has a real P90 equipped axe and they just don't cop the vibe.

Clapton/ZZ Top/Zepp were the people/bands that defined what a good PAF equipped Gibson can sound like. Unfortunately, I can't say I've ever played a pickup that absolutely nails the tone and complexity of the real PAFs (and yes, I have a friend that actually has the real thing and it really is amazing). I'd actually be a humbucker fan if I could find someone who designs something just that good (of course, I've never tried Timbuckers or Tom Holmes, so if they deliver I may just have to get another Les Paul or an ES-335).

I work real close with a guy (Cris Mirabella) who does a lot of vintage restorations of the old stuff. I have played many guitars that have the real PAF's in them. You are right they are amazing. I have also played a lot of other brand PUPS that supossedly nail the PAF sound. The closest PUP that I have heard to the real deal is the Alnico 2 pro. It is a very warm sounding pup yet it can rock as good as anything else out there. IMO it would be a great choice to put in a LP to get the early vibe. Out of the guitars listed above I would go with a Standard. I have a 1990 standard and I just got a 2004 Studio. Of these two I prefer the Standard, but the studio is a good guitar also.


Originally Posted by BludaveI work real close with a guy (Cris Mirabella) who does a lot of vintage restorations of the old stuff. I have played many guitars that have the real PAF's in them. You are right they are amazing. I have also played a lot of other brand PUPS that supossedly nail the PAF sound. The closest PUP that I have heard to the real deal is the Alnico 2 pro. It is a very warm sounding pup yet it can rock as good as anything else out there. IMO it would be a great choice to put in a LP to get the early vibe. Out of the guitars listed above I would go with a Standard. I have a 1990 standard and I just got a 2004 Studio. Of these two I prefer the Standard, but the studio is a good guitar also.
My mom has a Gibson hollowbody from the mid 50's with the original humbuckes. A friend of mine has a les paul classic with alnico 2 pros. The character of the bridge pickups are pretty similar. Very warm, a bit flat almost, not agressive. But the neck pickups are very different. The les paul has the right sort of vibe, but it lacks this kind of complexity that the gibson PAFs have. Some people have used the word quot;hollowquot; to describe pickups like original PAFs and seth lovers. I'm not sure if it applies, but it does sound like there are layers to the sound that I don't hear from the les paul.

Of course the two guitars are very different, so it's not a fair comparison. Given that the bridge pickups are very similar perhaps the neck pickups are more similar than I know and the differences come from the guitars.

Not so much hollow as quot;airyquot; would be my description of the tone.

An A2P bridge and a 59 neck works out really good. The A2P neck is just a little too soft for me.