Gibson Les Paul VOS '57 Goldtop: P-90s or Burstbuckers??

[Soochdaddy]

So, I've been checking out Gibsons lately...  I'm down to only my JM for the time being, and I think that with one JM and one 'bucker-equipped axe, I'll be covered for years to come (right, until the 3rd quarter of this year when the new thinskins arrive  )...

From what I've played, I do think the VOS series that have the 50s neck profiles are the way to go for me.  Though a disclaimer is that I'm not sure if the SGs had the 50s neck profiles, but they sounded great!!!  Snappy and bright, but not overly so, and quite crunch and raunchy.  The neck joint petrifies me though, and may be the deciding factor in any internal Les Paul vs. SG debate I'm having.

So, back on topic, of the models I was able to play at different stores, the 57 VOS Goldtops seemed to have "it."  The burstbuckers were very articulate clean, which is what I really love and have come to expect out of a guitar having owned almost exclusively Fenders. 

However, none of the P-90 equipped '57 Goldtops were available to compare side by side.  While I continue to hunt one down, I'm wondering if any of you Les Paul players on the board would have any advice, impressions, recommendations, etc.  This is not so much a "what is better" type of question (or the "what should I buy" question... at all)...  I'm just seeking knowledge through both objective and subjective comparisons from those who know more about Les Pauls than me.  I know in advance the P-90s will be more prone to picking up RF noise.  I'm thinking in terms of versatility, cleaning up or crunching depending on the direction of a volume knob turn, clean tones and crunch tones for P-90s vs. 'buckers, triumphs, tragedies, etc...  I played a couple of the gibby planks with P-90s, but I have to imagine a substantial difference in tone between the planks and a full-blown Les Paul standard with carved maple top, full thickness body, etc.

Let me know what you prefer and why, if you would be so very kind!

Regards,
Sooch

[mezcalhead]

The goldtops with P90s are '56 reissues; the R6 as opposed to the R7.

I have an R6, luau has one also. There isn't really any other LP for me as I can't get on with Gibson-style humbuckers  - I like it when other people play them but in my hands, I dunno why, HBs often sound like they're trying a bit too hard .. they're the cool guy trying to look tough whereas P90s are the aggressive nutcase that is genuinely unhinged and impossible to reason with.

The neck on mine is lovely; a nice thick carve. The P90s give it a cool roots-rock/trashy blues kinda sound, unlike HBs which are more classic rock to my ears; and I've never got any decent result out of rolling back the volume on HBs.

The whole guitar is just a good change of speed from a jazzmaster and complements them nicely. I'm not really a Gibson guy and probably never would've bought one if I hadn't found this one second-hand in a local store, played it and fell in love with it.

So yeah, as you've figured, I suggest you play an R6 before making your final decision.

[Soochdaddy]

The goldtops with P90s are '56 reissues; the R6 as opposed to the R7.

I have an R6, luau has one also. There isn't really any other LP for me as I can't get on with Gibson-style humbuckers  - I like it when other people play them but in my hands, I dunno why, HBs often sound like they're trying a bit too hard .. they're the cool guy trying to look tough whereas P90s are the aggressive nutcase that is genuinely unhinged and impossible to reason with.

Hey mezcal, you are absolutely right on the 56 vs. 57 thing... I was posting during giving myself a "break" after having worked 15 hours straight today.

And that "they're the cool guy trying to look tough whereas P90s are the aggressive nutcase that is genuinely unhinged and impossible to reason with" line...

LOL!!  I think I'd go with the P-90s based on that alone!! Fucking tag-line material, brother!!!

[mezcalhead]

Heh, too much coffee before I wrote that .. thanks though, first time anyone ever sigged me .. !

[mynameisjonas]

here's another vote for the P90s. i haven't compared them in a LP, but last night i did a side-by-side comparison between the GFS '59 (budget burstbucker) i have in my black jazzmaster and the P90s i just put in my SG, and jon's description hit the nail on the head; the P90s are so much more alive and aggressive. and they're much more versatile IMO, if you roll back the tone to about 7 you actually get pretty close to PAF territory, but with more dynamics.

they look better too

[Orang Goreng]

I don't know if this is of any use to you, as I don't have a LP. However, I did pick up a Burstbucker Pro this Saturday to replace the horribly microphonic 80s Gibson humbucker in my '89 SG standard. I must say I REALLY like the burstbucker, especially because it's silent and does not squeal even at insane gain settings (the "pro" is wax-potted, unlike the regular burstbucker). Apart from that it pretty much sounds like a regular humbucker to me. I actually prefer the sound of P90s (had them in my '66 Firebird, which sounded like God but unfortunately played like ass, so I don't have it anymore), but keep the SG just to have a neck-through hardtail with humbuckers at my disposal. Love to get something with P90s again at some point, preferably an SG junior or special.

[luau]

I played a couple of the gibby planks with P-90s, but I have to imagine a substantial difference in tone between the planks and a full-blown Les Paul standard with carved maple top, full thickness body, etc.

It seems to me that the maple cap and/or extra mahogany helps them clear up some. My R6 is a bit more versatile in that department than my SG Classic is. It doesn't have the unadulterated roar that the SG has though. As Jonas says, twiddling the knobs goes a long way, especially in the middle position. P90s are really responsive to varying pick attack too.

I've never had the chance to play an R6 and an R7/8 side by side but I have played a few R7/8s in stores as I love some of the plain tops. I've got a Custom and a Deluxe (probably a future P90 recipient) to compare with as well. In all cases I just prefer the P90s. I've got a RAT on 99% of the time and prefer jagged chainsaw tone so it's no surprise I guess.

[Mr. Peabody]

I have a Les Paul Jr with a P-90 and it's great. It is the loudest and lightest guitar I own. Everyone who plays it loves it.

Unless you are looking for a super saturated metal sound, I think P-90s are preferable.

[stevejamsecono]

Tough call man, I think you should get one of each. There's something to be said for the sheer responsiveness of P-90s to digging in and moderate gain, then again, there's also something to be said for the warm crunch of a humbucker or just a pickup that will be damn quiet when you want it too.

and not to hijack, but humbucker in one of your JMs, Jonas? Photos?

-Steve

[Soochdaddy]

Super-saturated is not what I'm going for, typically, though it's fun to play in that park sometimes.  I have no fear of stepping on the Metal Zone for a variety of distortion, from fuzz to metal.  My JM just seems to handle it all so well, from clean to dirty, I think I might be spoiled or at least in fear of investing in a one-trick-pony if I choose incorrectly.

If this helps, my amp is a 59 Bassman LTD Reissue.  My favorite tone from it is simply when it's dialed to 12.  It's got such great natural distortion.  I'm sure either the burstbuckers or P-90s will sound good through that amp, but I have to imagine the P-90s will kick more ass.

I also imagine P-90s will be more familiar to me having dwelled in the world of single coils for so long...

[Soochdaddy]

Tough call man, I think you should get one of each. There's something to be said for the sheer responsiveness of P-90s to digging in and moderate gain, then again, there's also something to be said for the warm crunch of a humbucker or just a pickup that will be damn quiet when you want it too.

and not to hijack, but humbucker in one of your JMs, Jonas? Photos?

-Steve

One of each... hmmm... someone had to say it...

Honestly, I've been seriously considering how much I really did like the burstbucker equipped SGs... Leaving the door wide open for the '56 goldtop...

I was checking out MF online and there are the "Custom Classic" LPs that are basically standards with some really dark yellow binding and a bit of bling that come in Ebony, and either with HB's or P-90's... about a grand less than the VOS which would make pulling off the SG / LP combo easier...

But the Custom Classics have that damn "slim" neck profile that turned me off for so long...

[mynameisjonas]

and not to hijack, but humbucker in one of your JMs, Jonas? Photos?

no photos, but i managed to fit it under the JM cover so you can't really tell by looking at it. i put it in the bridge position and it matches the JM neck pup really well, now i don't lose any bottom end when switching to the bridge pickup, something that really bugs me with JM bridge pickups. since i never use the tone knob i used that pot for dial-a-tap function, which has turned out to be a very useful feature. i use it in split or semi-split mode most of the time, and crank it up to full humbucker mode when i want to get a more mid-heavy distortion without hum.

I also imagine P-90s will be more familiar to me having dwelled in the world of single coils for so long...

definitely, especially on the neck pickup. the bridge HB can handle the 'single coil settings' on your amp and pedals fine, but if you use the neck pickup a lot you might find that you need to change the settings to avoid muddiness. at least that's what i experienced with my SG. with the P90s i can go back and forth without having to change anything.