P90, Collings vs Gibson vs Quantity over Quality dilemmas

bubblecar

I have a dilemma probably brought on by too much time on my hands. I’d like to buy a P90 guitar tried them once loved them but usually go back to my Strat and Tele. I have a few guitars that look pretty on display but barely get played. My other half also is understanding but says quality over quantity wins the day. My dilemma is do I consolidate a few of my display guitars into either a Collings 290, a Krautster II or take complete leave of my senses on a £5K Gibson M2M 54. Also made more challenging by lockdown not really being able to try anything properly. Has anyone experienced similar consolidation thoughts, opinions on the brands I mentioned? Waiting for the right Used instrument vs New purchase. Sorry probably too many questions. Thanks

meltedbuzzbox

Not the same type of guitar but I drastically reduced the number of guitars I had to buy a 345 and a Cs jag.
Both were new (345 and the jag), so I put my deposit down on them (after playing them and being blown away) and moved on a lot of guitars, some I never thought I would sell.

I also did the same when I bought my acoustic.
Since that day, almost 3 years ago,  I've never bought another guitar or even looked in the classifieds for one.

I did miss any of the guitars I sold and I am please to have less clutter and better instruments 

Sassafras

If they're for display does it matter what they sound like?
  

deadgrateful

I’ll throw in my 2’cts. I think Gibson’s P 90’s are a bit shit, although I have heard some that sound better than others. Perhaps the historic division use nice ones these days, somewhat akin to Custombuckers (anyone know the answer to this?).

I ended up with a lovely B&G Little Sister Private Build recently and the P90’s in that are just stunning. So open and warm but with tonnes of top end clarity and sweetness. Maybe they sell their pickups separately so you can try a pair in a nice historic LP Junior or something 

bubblecar

deadgrateful said:

I’ll throw in my 2’cts. I think Gibson’s P 90’s are a bit shit, although I have heard some that sound better than others. Perhaps the historic division use nice ones these days, somewhat akin to Custombuckers (anyone know the answer to this?).

I ended up with a lovely B&G Little Sister Private Build recently and the P90’s in that are just stunning. So open and warm but with tonnes of top end clarity and sweetness. Maybe they sell their pickups separately so you can try a pair in a nice historic LP Junior or something 

It’s a good shout, Monty’s P90’s are some of the best I’ve heard, I did consider a nice junior and adding a set but equally I’d love a Goldtop.

Vintage

deadgrateful said:

I’ll throw in my 2’cts. I think Gibson’s P 90’s are a bit shit, although I have heard some that sound better than others. Perhaps the historic division use nice ones these days, somewhat akin to Custombuckers (anyone know the answer to this?).

I ended up with a lovely B&G Little Sister Private Build recently and the P90’s in that are just stunning. So open and warm but with tonnes of top end clarity and sweetness. Maybe they sell their pickups separately so you can try a pair in a nice historic LP Junior or something 

On mine 54 aged, the P90 report on the back the script "AGED P90". I think they are unpotted and more airy. 

markj

bubblecar said:

deadgrateful said:

I’ll throw in my 2’cts. I think Gibson’s P 90’s are a bit shit, although I have heard some that sound better than others. Perhaps the historic division use nice ones these days, somewhat akin to Custombuckers (anyone know the answer to this?).

I ended up with a lovely B&G Little Sister Private Build recently and the P90’s in that are just stunning. So open and warm but with tonnes of top end clarity and sweetness. Maybe they sell their pickups separately so you can try a pair in a nice historic LP Junior or something 

It’s a good shout, Monty’s P90’s are some of the best I’ve heard, I did consider a nice junior and adding a set but equally I’d love a Goldtop.

Gibson P90’s are okay but there’s a lot better pickups out there. My two Gibson les Paul’s have been upgraded to Wolfetone P90’s. Absolutely superb pickups, one of the best there is.

merlin

I have Lollars on my Collings 290. They are superb, and the second set of Lollars P90s I've had. The first set replaced the crappy ones on a Gordon Smith that I used to own. 

Cranky

I have Gibson p90s on a Casino and love them.  I think they're better than the Fralin p90s I have on a Tele.  I've read that p90s sound different on a hollow compared to solid body.

Also, I'm for consolidating.

Tadragh1

Maybe you'll find TPS Mick to be inspiring with regard to P90s:

stickyfiddle

My take is I don't want to own any guitars that don't spark something creative in me. I'm also done with buying unseen* for the most part. Assuming you can reasonably afford it, it's much better to wait till you find that guitar that sparks joy (thanks, Marie Kondo), then sell the other stuff. I have a few things that I'd like to own at some point, and specific builds I'd like to get built, but I have a bunch of guitars that are the core of everything I've ever done, so for me it's about the freedom to try stuff in shops when I get the chance, knowing that I probably won't buy anything but that I might find something really special and giving myself permission to jump on it if it happens.

(*yes, I realise the irony saying that when I've had a bass from an MJT kit and a remote-buy ES-330 in the last couple of months..)

**

As for P90s, I agree there's quite a range. Gibson and Epi always seem to fit these really hot P90s in everything - they sound great for more punchy blues/rock and punk sorts of styles, but lack subtlety for anything else. With @Mojopickups now doing dogears to fit hollowbodies I'll be giving him a call when I build up the strength to do another 

meltedbuzzbox

@stickyfiddle has hit the nail on the head. Gibsons are typically really hot.
Mojo make the best p90 I have ever played. Just so consistent and articulate and all round excellent. 

Curtis novak also makes a nice p90 too.

I wouldnt worry about the pickups too much in that I wouldnt let it shape which guitar I bought. I would try all the options first and go with the one I like playing the most. The pickups can be changed for fairly low money compared to swapping a gibson for a Collins etc

bubblecar

@stickyfiddle thanks for the reply really like that philosophy, like many I’m probably missing being able to get out and try and trying to fill the void remotely which will probably lead to more problems than fixes

HAL9000

I'd agree that quality trumps quantity every time. I've got five electrics but really only enjoy two of them; the others only get played out of a misplaced sense of duty. Better IMHO to have one or two good instruments than half a dozen mediocre uninspiring ones.

stickyfiddle

bubblecar said:

@stickyfiddle thanks for the reply really like that philosophy, like many I’m probably missing being able to get out and try and trying to fill the void remotely which will probably lead to more problems than fixes

Yeah, I definitely know that feeling - I think we've all been there to some extent, but this year especially. 

johnhe

I can’t really comment on the respective pros and cons but having to choose between a 290, a Krautster and a CS R4 sounds like you have no “bad” choices!

Danielsguitars

Can't go wrong with mojo, the one's I've had are just superb, the junior refinish i recently sent back had a mojo pick up swap, that thing could do anything, all from using volume and tone, looked fantastic too and i need to make another one asap 

A guy bought my special and he was playing a collings before, he said mine sounded clearer, they were mojo soapbars 

Collings

Danielsguitars said:

Can't go wrong with mojo, the one's I've had are just superb, the junior refinish i recently sent back had a mojo pick up swap, that thing could do anything, all from using volume and tone, looked fantastic too and i need to make another one asap 

A guy bought my special and he was playing a collings before, he said mine sounded clearer, they were mojo soapbars 

As Darren states above I have a Special he built with Mojo,s and a Collings 290. The Mojo,s are very clear open sounding pickups which work really great on light crunch tones and I tend to use the Daniels for when I need a cleaner articulate tone. The Lollers on the 290 are much hotter compared to Mojo's fitted to my Daniels and as such push the amp harder.