Looking for an affordable, single P-90 guitar.

[fungusyoung]

Looks like an Epi LP Jr. w/a P90 just popped up there... I had one of these for a very short time (damaged in shipping), and it sounded great & was very light. The only negative was the finish, but if looks don't mean everything......

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by fungusyoung

(check the garage sale...)Looks like an Epi LP Jr. w/a P90 just popped up there...

....but I find it odd to see a red Epi LP Jr w/p90--from an unrecognized poster--show up within a day or so of a regular here saying he's looking for that specific guitar.

I think I'd inquire about the possibility of COD before I'd mail any money.

But that's just me.

[fungusyoung]

Originally Posted by Colo Springs E

....but I find it odd to see a red Epi LP Jr w/p90--from an unrecognized poster--show up within a day or so of a regular here saying he's looking for that specific guitar.

I think I'd inquire about the possibility of COD before I'd mail any money.

But that's just me.

If somebody was looking to take us for a ride I would think it would be for more than 80 bills & they probably wouldn't read every thread that's gone on to 2 pages long. But, absolutely.... better safe than sorry.

[Colo Springs E]

....but I find it to be a mighty strange coincidence.

Some people are just as inclined to steal $1 as $1000.

[tdu]

I am in contact with the guy. I am leary as well as I am looking into any Garage Sale section transaction. I am still new and don't know the posters as well as you guys, so I have no clue who is new and who isn't. I have bought one item off there so far and it went well.

Aren't all user names 'unkown' on the Garage Sale section though? I go by my full name on there, not my user name. I mean, I have been using the forums for awhile and I have only posted one item on Garage Sale. So technically you guys could be thicking the same stuff about me if you saw my ad.

I can tell you he has sent me plenty of photos of the guitar and has been very communicative. As mentioned it's hard to believe anyone would put a ton of effort into an $80 scam.

Also his Epi is NOT the maroon coloured red one I have posted photos of on here. It's a different type of red I haven't seen before. He sent detailed photos of the serial and headstock though and it is indeed on eof the Juniors.

[Colo Springs E]

......maybe I'm a bit jaded, just seemed like a pretty odd coincidence to me.

Good luck!

[tdu]

Ya I don't deny that. The coincidence could also be that the guy was thinking of selling it anyway, saw this thread and decided to post it.

Hah, it could be many things I guess. I really wish there was some kind of feedback system in the Garage Sale section. And something that links you to the person's profile on the forums.

I am leary, but I tend to think from my experience talking to the guy so far that the scenario I typed above is the actual situation. If the guy hadn't sent so many photos, and it was a guitar that cost more than $80 I would likely be more worried.

[petele]

Ya I don't deny that. The coincidence could also be that the guy was thinking of selling it anyway, saw this thread and decided to post it.

Ian & fungusyoung have it right. I saw that Ian was loking for a guitar I had sitting around & thought I'd help. I posted on 12/27 @ 6:57, but thought it too much like an "ad" so I emailed Paul with my apologies, erased the reference, and put it in the garage as instructed. As the thread developed, it seems that weight is the issue, not the model - this weighs 8+ pounds and may not be what's needed. I have better ways to celebrate the holidays than swindle Tele players. Sorry for generating ill will on an otherwise great forum. Ian - it's here if ya want it - Pete

[Colo Springs E]

...sorry if I offended.

Hope you get it sold, and have a great New Year!

-E

[J-man]

These are GREAT guitars, I love mine.

[tdu]

J-man I LOVE those as well. But the problem is I don't like the necks on them very much or the bridge. They are $300 here, which is an amazing deal...but I would have to spend A LOT of money to upgrade one they way I like it. And a couple of them I tried were actually a fairly heavy guitar as well. They are such a great guitar though. I can see why you love yours. The blonde ones are beautiful looking.

So I have 2 options, buy something cheaper with very few parts to mod (the Epi Jr.) or buy something that costs more, already has the parts I want but costs less than I would pay to mod the heck out of it (Melody Maker).

By the way thanks for all the input in this thread guys. Not only has it been helpful but it turned into a thread with a whole bunch of cool photos in it. I love looking at all the guitars posted.

[Tim Bowen]

I have a cherry Epiphone SG Junior with a single P90. Not the most spectacular guitar I've ever played, but not bad at the price point. I don't know if this is a general problem with this model, or if it was specific to my particular instrument, but my guitar had some fairly serious tuning stability issues. I simply couldn't keep it in tune. I replaced the tuners with Grovers, but that didn't do it. I spoke with Epiphone, and they asked me to send the guitar to them. They shipped the guitar back to me with a different (unfamiliar to me) bridge installed, along with the original stock bridge. That did the trick.

The Epi has a thick, chunky baseball bat of a neck, which seems to be the same profile as that of my Gibson SG Classic (which has two P90's). Playability on the Epi is respectable, but is not in the same league as the Gibson, which has an extremely quick neck, with low action and slinky bendability (is that a word?).

I really dig P90's, but have little experience in comparing various models, boutique offerings, and such. So I don't know how the stock pickup compares to other models, although it sounds pretty good to me.

The Epi SG Jr. was originally my guitar for dinking around with various alternate tunings here at the shack. I've since restrung it for Nashville high-strung tuning, and it currently earns its keep as a studio tool.

[tdu]

I am still shopping guys. Found another Rondo offering. This one is listed as only 6.5 lbs though on their site. Not single P-90, but set neck and light!

http://www.rondomusic.net/valkyrieiiip90.html

[J-man]

Originally Posted by tdu

J-man I LOVE those as well. But the problem is I don't like the necks on them very much or the bridge. They are $300 here, which is an amazing deal...but I would have to spend A LOT of money to upgrade one they way I like it. And a couple of them I tried were actually a fairly heavy guitar as well. They are such a great guitar though. I can see why you love yours. The blonde ones are beautiful looking.

So I have 2 options, buy something cheaper with very few parts to mod (the Epi Jr.) or buy something that costs more, already has the parts I want but costs less than I would pay to mod the heck out of it (Melody Maker).

By the way thanks for all the input in this thread guys. Not only has it been helpful but it turned into a thread with a whole bunch of cool photos in it. I love looking at all the guitars posted.

I love the neck on mine, and the bridge is great, not traditional in any way, but it's very solid and simple.

Mine isn't heavy either, my Strat actually weighs more! :)

I guess like all Squiers, you have to play a few, as some are really good and some aren't so good. Thankfully the good ones are VERY good. 8)

[David Barnett]

Originally Posted by tdu

Ihttp://www.rondomusic.net/valkyrieiiip90.html

Aah, it's just barely too expensive to smash on stage after playing "My Generation". :(

[David Barnett]

Originally Posted by Tim Bowen

I have a cherry Epiphone SG Junior with a single P90. Not the most spectacular guitar I've ever played, but not bad at the price point. I don't know if this is a general problem with this model, or if it was specific to my particular instrument, but my guitar had some fairly serious tuning stability issues. I simply couldn't keep it in tune. I replaced the tuners with Grovers, but that didn't do it. I spoke with Epiphone, and they asked me to send the guitar to them. They shipped the guitar back to me with a different (unfamiliar to me) bridge installed, along with the original stock bridge. That did the trick.

The Epi Jr. is a set-neck, right?

Does it have a separate tune-o-matic and stop tailpiece arrangement, or a single wrap-around bridge/tailpiece? And what is the difference between the original bridge and the replacement one?

That's great customer service from them, for a budget instrument too.

I used to have a '69 SG Special, and it had serious tuning issues too. I always just chalked that up to the fact that its mahogany neck might as well have been made out of rubber.

[tdu]

Dave the Epi Jr is not set neck and it doesn't have a 2-piece bridge.

Just an update guys, I bought that used Gibson Melody Maker! It's a 2003. I think I got a good deal on it for $299 US. It's well below what they cost on musiciansfriend.

I have some photos, but I am going to wait till it arrives and take some of my own. The previous owner had a goofy pickguard on it. I am ordering one of my own, THEN I will take photos :)

I got it from Chris's Guitars which from everything I have heard is a great place to buy from.

Best part is it only weighs 6 lbs!

[txspreacher]

Hope that works for ya, pard. Congrats on the new axe....I look forward to seeing the pics!

[Tim Armstrong]

Darn it, Ian, now I have to try to not buy the Junior on the Garage Sale page!

Congrats on the new guitar, hope it does it for ya!

Cheers, Tim

[Tdot]

Originally Posted by tdu

Just an update guys, I bought that used Gibson Melody Maker! It's a 2003. I think I got a good deal on it for $299 US. It's well below what they cost on musiciansfriend.

I hope you're as happy with it as I am with mine. My local shop dropped the Gibson line a few months ago and blew out his remaining stock (the MM was $299).

Here's an in store shot of the last two before I brought the red one home.


The only warning is not to be disappointed in the appearence by first impressions. Overall they sort of look like a high school shop project coated with house paint. But they feel nice, play well, sound good, and best of all for you, they are very very light weight (I use a tiny mandolin strap on mine). This little guy is probably #2 on my favorite list, after my Hwy1 of course. :D

[fungusyoung]

Originally Posted by tdu

Just an update guys, I bought that used Gibson Melody Maker! It's a 2003. I think I got a good deal on it for $299 US. It's well below what they cost on musiciansfriend.

I have some photos, but I am going to wait till it arrives and take some of my own. The previous owner had a goofy pickguard on it. I am ordering one of my own, THEN I will take photos :)

I got it from Chris's Guitars which from everything I have heard is a great place to buy from.

Best part is it only weighs 6 lbs!

Awesome choice all around! Congratulations! Let us know what you think after testing it out.

[Tim Bowen]

[quote="David Barnett"]

Originally Posted by Tim Bowen

I have a cherry Epiphone SG Junior with a single P90. Not the most spectacular guitar I've ever played, but not bad at the price point. I don't know if this is a general problem with this model, or if it was specific to my particular instrument, but my guitar had some fairly serious tuning stability issues. I simply couldn't keep it in tune. I replaced the tuners with Grovers, but that didn't do it. I spoke with Epiphone, and they asked me to send the guitar to them. They shipped the guitar back to me with a different (unfamiliar to me) bridge installed, along with the original stock bridge. That did the trick.

Originally Posted by David Barnett

The Epi Jr. is a set-neck, right?

Does it have a separate tune-o-matic and stop tailpiece arrangement, or a single wrap-around bridge/tailpiece? And what is the difference between the original bridge and the replacement one?

That's great customer service from them, for a budget instrument too.

I used to have a '69 SG Special, and it had serious tuning issues too. I always just chalked that up to the fact that its mahogany neck might as well have been made out of rubber.

Hi Dave, sorry for the slow response. As tdu said, it's not a set neck. Epiphone basically replaced one [one-piece] bridge with another. The replacement is a rather funky looking beast, and I can't say that I've seen a "Gibson" bridge that looks quite like it (but hey, it 'works'). The SG Classic that I mentioned earlier has exhibited superb intonation and stability since jump street.

I have a double cutway Gibson LP Special that's a bit funky as to tuning stability, but nothing to the effect that the stock Epi SG Jr. was. I spoke to my tech about the LP Special, and he said that he's noticed a big difference in stability between single and double cut LP's. His hypothesis is that the single cut offers more support to where the neck joins the body, given that gutar's weight. I personally have no idea, although it sounds reasonable enough to me.