Tell me about mid-90s Les Paul Specials

[brewbaker]

The faded models with humbuckers. I saw one for sale locally and am interested but don't know any history on these. Also, when I think about having a LP Special my first inclination is to want one with P90s. After all isn't that what a Special is all about? Anyway, anyone who has or had one please chime in--thanks!

 

[brewbaker]

Someone must have experience with these...

 

[djw]

Hmm, I have a 1996 double-cut LP Special, but it's black and has the stock P90s... doesn't seem like quite what you're looking at, so I don't know if my input applies. Were the buckers added on?

I love the hell out of mine. Stays in tune, rocks like a mofo, easy on the shoulder. It's a rock'n'roll machine. I've heard some people complain about the neck being a little skinny, but I don't think of mine as being emaciated or anything... it's just about right for me (I have medium-sized hands I guess). Ever-so-slightly neck-heavy, but that's about the only "problem" I can think of, if forced to come up with one.

Always happy to have an excuse to show it off...

 

[brewbaker]

That one's great looking and I bet it does rock. The one I'm looking at is a single cutaway and the HBs are original. Thanks for posting.

 

[morglan]

I don't think the ones you're thinking of were faded. Also, I want to say they were called Special SL's, but I could be wrong. I have a single cut p90 special from 1997 and it is a phenominal guitar--i would kill for a single cut from that period...

 

[jkats]

I have a 1993 LP Special single cut you can try out sometime for comparison right here in Portland -- it's not for sale, but gives you an idea what the guitar plays/sounds like. One-piece mahogany body and slim taper 60s neck. I replaced the P-100s with a Gibson P-90 in the rhythm and a Duncan Vintage P-90 in the treble, so the middle position is that T-Bone Walker out-of-phase,sound, but humbucking! (A happy accident.)

 

[boost]

I have a 1993 LP Special single cut you can try out sometime for comparison right here in Portland -- it's not for sale, but gives you an idea what the guitar plays/sounds like. One-piece mahogany body and slim taper 60s neck. I replaced the P-100s with a Gibson P-90 in the rhythm and a Duncan Vintage P-90 in the treble, so the middle position is that T-Bone Walker out-of-phase,sound, but humbucking! (A happy accident.)

Whoa, I have the same guitar, same year, Gibson P-90 in the neck, except I have a Duncan Hot P-90 in the bridge wired normally. It's also not for sale.

To the OP, Does the one you're looking at have the little trapezoid inlays and a bound neck? If it's a good deal you can always swap out the humbuckers for humbucker sized P-90's. I imagine the build quality wouldn't be much different than the others.