Inexpensive, set neck p-90 guitar to mod

[mindwave_21]

Ok, time to fill a niche. I've got a tele and a heritage h535, but I'm looking for a punky ugly guitar I can krang and beat the s*&^ out of on stage. I need suggestions on brands/models of guitars to look into.

I'm looking for a guitar that meets the following criteria:
1. sub-$500 - will be looking at the used & imported market in this range.
1. Set neck, short-scale plank - Preferably mahogany.
2. 2 p-90's
3. fatter neck - 50's taper chunky. 60's slim is a bit too slim.
4. TV Yellow - It's so ugly...but it's so cool!
5. LP Single cut or double cut style.

I realize I won't get the BEST guitar in this price range, but I'm looking for something that can be gigged with after replacing necessary parts (tuners, bridge, nut, pups...basically anything and everything except the neck and body I guess). Plus it would be fun to get a budget guitar with an attitude to mod and fix up. LP Jr's were cheap back in the day, why not find something like that today?

Guitars I'm looking into
1. SX GG1 JR - Haven't played one. Meets all of the criteria, but is this too cheap to be made into a player's axe? I'm just afraid of QC and getting a dead wood dud that goes thud.
2. Gibson double cut faded - Played this at GC. Resonant because of the thin finish, pretty good sound from my limited time with it. I liked everything about this guitar except the slimmer neck. Maybe it was because I was comparing side by side with a Godin LG SP90 with a nice huge neck...For some reason the Godin never really struck a chord with me (no pun intended). I guess playing the Godin felt too "proper and sophisticated" if that makes any sense. Plus, no TV Yellow.
3. Eastwood P-90 Special - I heard the neck is slim, and seeing as how I didn't like the Faded neck, I passed on a pretty good eBay deal.

I guess I'm just looking for owners of these types of guitars to chime in.
Let me know your thoughts!

[lclyman]

I had pretty much the same criteria and ended up buying a used PRS SE Soapbar II for well within your budget...

Great guitar at twice the price and quite a few for sale around here and on the evil bay...

Pretty much satisfies all your criteria above except for the tv yellow color..!

Good luck...!!

[belair]

I had pretty much the same criteria and ended up buying a used PRS SE Soapbar II for well within your budget...

Great guitar at twice the price and quite a few for sale around here and on the evil bay...

Pretty much satisfies all your criteria above except for the tv yellow color..!

Good luck...!!


I couldn't agree more!

IMO unbeatable for the $.

[ScottR]

+1 PRS Soapbar SE

[Trego]

+1 PRS Soapbar SE

I also agree...I have that PRS SE Soapbar II Maple Cap and will be selling it soon because I need to make some other gear purchases, but it is a great guitar, especially for the money.

[echale3]

Sometimes you can find an Epiphone LP Special '57 on ebay for a few hundred bucks. Set neck, TV yellow (it's not exact, but close), decent sized neck, and a pair of P-90s. If you can live w/o the TV Yellow, the singlecut PRS SE Soapbar II guitars are a great value.

I have a faded Gibson LP DC Special, and they are pretty damn nice, but the price has gone up on them. Even used, these days you'd be hard pressed to find one in the price range you are looking at.

[Crazyquilt]

PRS or a used Reverend -- the Roundhouse 290 fits your bill, save for the TV Yellow. Although with either of those choices, you might not need to do too much modding....

[andygio]

I like Agiles... check out this one: The AD-2300 Jr (http://www.rondomusic.com/product1055.html)

http://www.rondomusic.net/photos/electric/ad2300jrwhite6a.jpg

They get them in TV Yellow from time to time.

[Mudder]

You might be able to find a used Hamer studio 90 in your price range as well. I think I found mine for around $550, needed nothing, provided you like how hot the Duncan pickups are.

[mindwave_21]

I tried the PRS SE Soapbar II, but the neck was a bit shallow for me for how wide it was. I guess I'm looking for C-shaped or U-shaped necks rather than D-shaped. It was a good guitar though, may have to reconsider seeing as how I have limited options.

Mudder, is the Hamer Studio p-90 a US made guitar? I looked it up on eBay and only found a used one for around $1500. I did see the Hamer SATP90 sunburst, which is actually a goldtop, that seems like the same guitar going for around $320 new.

I'll have to look into the Reverends. I was eyeing some of their guitars a while back and have heard a lot of good things.

Anyone own an SX GG1 JR? I hear rave reviews, but maybe that's because I only see them talk about it on HC or the Agile forums. I think I'd trust this board's opinions a lot more on this...

[SHM]

As you can see, I have a Epiphone Wildcat, modded with Lollars. Great guitar. Very nice to play, in tune all over the neck. http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r90/Madsen_photos/DSC05432.jpg

[soulohio]

I got one. great...I mean GREAT axe for the money. the pickups are keepers. I did change the pots. I have heard that these guitars come off the same Korean line as the PRS SE II's...and the way slinky string action would confirm. there is also an SX with one pickup and a wraparound bridge-tailpiece for the princely sum of $130...I will buy one and add more pickups!

seriously, this SX is my favorite guitar. Gets played more than my Gibson, fender, Tokai, Ibanez....

1. SX GG1 JR - Haven't played one. Meets all of the criteria, but is this too cheap to be made into a player's axe? I'm just afraid of QC and getting a dead wood dud that goes thud.

[straightblues]

Yeah get a Hamer Special or Eclipse. Both USA models. You can find them if you are patient. The Eclipse comes stock with mini humbuckers and a medium neck (P90's will fit in the minihumbucker routes if you find you don't like the mini's). The Specials come with either humbuckers or P90's. You can find them used if you can live with a couple of dings in your price range. They are great. I have them both. I paid $300 for a beat Special and really modified it.

[Bhodie]

Interestingly enough, I went out this weekend on a similar quest. I now have a job in a cubicle where I wanted to keep a guitar that I could leave out and not worry about someone bagging it... and since I have humbucker and singlecoil guitars, I figured .. go for P-90's.

I ended up with a Godin LG P90.. for $300 you get Seymour Duncan P90's (not duncan designed.. the real things) Nice wood assembled in the USA! Schaller Bridge, through body strings with a brass plate on back.. 24 fret neck with a 24.75 inch scale.. awesome mahog body and neck with rosewood board (ok.. it's a bolt on like the PRS CE.. but it has a really nice shaped heel).. and Godin used to make necks for Fender.. so it has a great feel to it (16" radius.. but it works)

Sounds great through the amp, plays nicely, made in USA for $300.. got to be the sleeper of the year...

[RussB]

Another vote here here for the PRS SE Soapbar II. I got mine for $190 from GC over the July 4th wekend. I wents nuts, and added a set of Fralin's (stock wind bridge, -10% neck) and upgraded the electronics. This made a good guitar outstanding.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/RussBert/PRSFralin003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/RussBert/PRScavity1003.jpg

If the neck ain't your thing though, I rekon you need to look elsewhere. Myself, I love the neck and fretwork on this guitar

[RadackGuitars]

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=423767
This guitar is far from being a "junker".
It's a great guitar. I'd sell it without the pickups and bridge for $500.
Featherweight, super resonant, thin nitro finish, fat-C neck profile.

[straightblues]

Here is a Hamer Eclipse for $500. This would be a great guitar for you. I love mine. http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=23107 I am not the seller but the seller has a great reputation.

[xStonr]

I like Agiles... check out this one: The AD-2300 Jr (http://www.rondomusic.com/product1055.html)

http://www.rondomusic.net/photos/electric/ad2300jrwhite6a.jpg

They get them in TV Yellow from time to time.

+1 on the Agile. I have a AL2500 with P90's that's one of my favorites.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/xStonr/Agile3.jpg

[solarbean]

I have one of those LP DC Specials. It does indeed have a slim neck, but it is fine. I am having fun with it. I am a fingerstyle type of amateur and it works surprisingly well with this style. Easy guitar to play coming from an acoustic background. I bolted on a bigsby for giggles. Here's a pic and sound sample for you.

http://www.fretdoc.com/pub/noodling_lp_special.mp3

http://wwww.fretdoc.com/pub/IMG_5554.jpg

[baddmann28]

+1 on the agile AD2300 JR. I have one with the Gibby style headstock - Great Guitar for the little cash. I bought mine used for 180 shipped and paypal'd, haven't changed out the pickups yet, but might just to see. Can't decide if I need to yet. I was going to get the 3000 LP style - and still may. Either one - you'll have a killer guitar.

You may also want to check out guitar fetish. He has some tele style p90 guitars, and has some Gibson styled guitars coming this month with p90's as well.

[mindwave_21]

Thanks for all the replies people.

I think I'm going to try my luck with the SX GG1 or an Agile 2300 (heard this was a slim taper neck, which is turning me off). I originally said sub $500, but I kinda meant everything including mods to get a playable guitar, so something like $300-350 for the guitar and the rest of the cash for mods...Yeah yeah, I know, cheap of me, but hey, worst case I learn my lesson and stick with the higher price range. Then I get to hear "I told you so" from a lot of people =).

Still open to hearing some suggestions, but just leaning towards the cheapies.

PS - Anyone know where to look for the older Agiles (Gibson DC body and not the newer one)?

[stormin1155]

Guitars I'm looking into
1. SX GG1 JR - Haven't played one. Meets all of the criteria, but is this too cheap to be made into a player's axe? I'm just afraid of QC and getting a dead wood dud that goes thud.



I have one of these that I bought on impulse for $70 (b-stock). My thought was to use it as a modding platform. I got as far as changing strings, installing a bone nut, and tweeking the intonation, and decided to leave it like that. It plays great and sounds way better than any $70 guitar has a right to. I will probably put better quality pots/caps and tuners, but the pups sound good. The neck is nice and chunky. It has jumbo frets that are finished very nicely. The biggest drawback is the thick poly finish. The mahogany used appears to be higher quality than you normally see on budget guitars. I'm sure the body is 2-3 piece, but I can't find the seams.

[Mike9]

I have this Epi '57 reissue LP Jr for sale - it's been totally MoTone-ized. I pulled the frets, leveled and radiused the fretboard to a true 12", glued in jumbo's, level/crown/dress, added an original Leo Quan Badass bridge with Tone Pros locking studs, Lollar P-90, RS volume, CTS tone and a PIO cap. Nothing to mod here - $500 shipped to you.

http://www.deanguitars.tv/userpics/lib9/LPJr1.jpg

[stormin1155]

PS - Anyone know where to look for the older Agiles (Gibson DC body and not the newer one)?

Try ebay or the Agile forum.... http://www.agileguitarforum.com/