Muddslide
Joined: Mar 25, 2009
Posts: 76
Gypsy Caravan
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 10:31 AM
Hello, All. Forgive a gremmie....I have a deep love of surf and other instrumental rock music, and I have 30+ years experience playing guitar and bass.
I am aware that the Big Names in surf guitars are the Fender Strat, Jaguar and Jazzmaster, with some Mosrites thrown in now and then.
I am looking for a dedicated surf guitar. Right nowI own a Tele and a Les Paul.
I was hoping for something with single coils and a trem. My budget is very tight.
So, I'm thinking seriously about the Squier Jagmaster. I can afford one (will probably be trading some gear towards it as well.)
So, I get the offset body, the trem, but--it comes stock with humbuckers.
I read some posts on here about this guitar and upgrading to Jazzmaster pups. I realize a little body and pickguard routing would be called for, and I've done some of this kind of work.
However, I know of several sources for humbucker-sized P-90 pups that would probably drop right in, so my question is, how are P-90s for surf?
I realize I won't be getting my longed-for Strat or Jag or Jazzmaster tonalities from them, but does anyone here use P-90s for surf-type music, or have any experience, advice, suggestions?
It's just that I could make the change to P-90s cheaper and easier than going with Jazzmaster pups.
I'd appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.
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kenposurf
Joined: Feb 23, 2007
Posts: 1650
Santa Rosa, CA
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 10:51 AM
They work for me...I have a JM stlye guitar with Lollar P-90's in the neck and bridge and one of his Strat blackface models in the the center. Nice bite
www.myspace.com/northofmalibu
— www.northofmalibu.com
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zak
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 11:00 AM
This post has been removed by the author.
Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 22:45:34
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skeeter
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 2065
Virginia, USA
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 11:30 AM
I'm not a Strat guy either, and I think I've recommended this before, but those Squier Classic Vibe Strats look like a whole lotta guitar for $350.
Alder body, AlNiCo p'ups, no mods necessary.
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-CLASSIC-VIBE-Stratocaster-60s-Electric-Guitar-?sku=519339
— Paul
Atomic Mosquitos
Bug music for bug people is here!
Killers from Space
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Muddslide
Joined: Mar 25, 2009
Posts: 76
Gypsy Caravan
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 12:28 PM
Yeah, for the sake of expediency, availability and cost, I may just have to go with a cheap Strat.
As to the P-90s, while I don't want to get into an argument about whether or not The Ventures were a surf band, don't the Mosrites they played for a while have P-90s or something similar?
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zak
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 12:40 PM
This post has been removed by the author.
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mad_dog
Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Posts: 349
Montclair, NJ
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 01:26 PM
I've long been curious about HB sized P-90s myself. In part because they are different from regular P-90s (due to size constraints and construction), and would therefore have different flavors.
Finally got my hands on a set, Harmonic Design Z-90s. Put these and a Bigsby on a vaguely LP or Guild Bluesbird type guitar (Dearmond M-72.) It was worth the weight. These pickups start at P-90 but go other places, sometimes sound like strat p/us, other times Gretsch types. Hot, loud, wonderful clarity on the bridge especially.
If you're curious, jump. There's no right way to do anything, no certified "this is the only approved sound" for any type of music. IMO.
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PhatTele
Joined: Jun 05, 2006
Posts: 445
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 02:56 PM
I'm not sure what your "all in" budget is like, but you might also want to consider the TV Jones Magnatron pickup (see link):
http://www.tvjones.com/pickups/magnatron.html
TV Jones produces these with a humbucker mount (follow the link on the left hand side of the window when it opens). The Magnatrons I use (and my friends use) seem to be sort of a cross between the DeArmond single coil PU and a Jazzmaster PU. Very clean and warm but with plenty of twang...certainly capable of surf.
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Muddslide
Joined: Mar 25, 2009
Posts: 76
Gypsy Caravan
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 03:08 PM
zak
I would say that an external Fender reverb tank is a crucial ingredient if the traditional 60s surf sound is what you're after, and it will blur the differences between specific guitars to some degree.
True, but man, I don't know when or IF I'll ever be able to afford one of those.
I'd probably have to settle for one of those Danelectro pedals or something...just to cheat it. I'm really only doing home recording at te moment anyway...
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Muddslide
Joined: Mar 25, 2009
Posts: 76
Gypsy Caravan
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 03:14 PM
Okay, waitaminnit....I think I need some schooling on the external reverb tanks. I found a bunch cheap on eBay, but do these have to be soldered into your existing amp or something?
I have owned some reverb-drenched Fender amps in the past but admit I know nothing about the external tanks.
Please to explain?
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zak
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 03:19 PM
This post has been removed by the author.
Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 22:42:18
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Surfabilly
Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 03:19 PM
I'm planning to surf with my Gibsons - a Les Paul Melody Maker, and a Les Paul Faded Double Cut (cheap Special). I don't yet have a tank, but my amplification choices are a Peavey Classic 50/212, or a Line6 Guitar POD 2.0 (tweaked as close to the Classic 50, or a Vox AC30 tone as I can get). I do have my 2 Fender Stratocasters, as well, and it's even entirely possible for my Fender Telecaster to make it into a song or two.
In the future, I'll have a couple of partscasters to chose from - Tele with P90s & Strat trem, Jagcaster Tele and Jagcaster Strat (2 Jag pickups & Bass VI style switching). I also have future plans for a 3x P90 partscaster Strat. So pretty much I've found my preferred "voice" in P90 guitars, for original creations, but I've also got the possibility for "what everybody else uses" options, for recording covers.
Matt
— Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 03:53 PM
Supposedly the GFS hum-sized dream 90's sound a lot like regular single coils. That's just hearsay - I haven't tried them myself.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk
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newey
Joined: Feb 06, 2009
Posts: 10
Ohio
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Posted on Mar 31 2009 08:37 PM
Supposedly the GFS hum-sized dream 90's sound a lot like regular single coils. That's just hearsay - I haven't tried them myself.
I have one of these that's going into a travel guitar I'm building. But since it isn't anywhere near finished, I can't comment on the pickup yet. Anyway, it's quite a different use than in a Jag/JZ/Jagstang/offset whatever we're discussing here.
But hey, a pair is only going to set you back about $65 or so, and if you don't like 'em, you probably could recoup about half that selling them as "lightly used" on EBay. So it's a pretty cheap gamble if you go that way, and no routing/drilling required. 
— If I wax pot my pickups, will they work underwater?
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radiac
Joined: Nov 22, 2008
Posts: 15
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Posted on Apr 03 2009 12:41 AM
I really liked the Jagmaster i tried at Manny's, just couldn't adjust to the short scale. Seemed like a very well built guitar and the humbuckers actually sounded OK.
Also, I have GFS dream 90's (in a tele) and they sound great. Very clear spanky single coils, and hum cancelling when both pups selected.
+1 for the the Squier CV 60 strat. Truly outstanding instrument. No mods necessary!
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