ES175-style guitars with P90's?

I like my Gretsch 2622 ...

600 bucks and free shipping ...


I could really do without the Bigsby, and the gold hardware, but in these times, you have to take what you can get .... I really wanted an Epiphone 339 w/ P90s
... hundred bucks cheaper....

 

I've always been on the lookout for a budget one of those myself. I think the closest options are the Epiphone Thorogood signature or a Guild X175b Manhattan.

 

Epiphone ES 295 Premium. Nitro finish, Gibson USA pickups. Gotta be the 'Premium' model though.

 

Nice Gig Bag you have there rangercaster.

 

ES135? maybe, are they as thick as ES175's? Too much $ I guess. Check out the many many Ibanez.

Option 2: many archtops have room under the strings for P90's with risers/rings. Those rings will cover the width of a HB cutout.

 

I would have 50 or 60 guitars, if not for budget, and storage issues...

And amps and and effects boxes, along with a PA, and all the cords and power supplies and other peripherals...

 

No pics ?

 

The one I am using is the Godin Kingpin II with P90's....and love it. Seriously, this thing fits me like a freaking glove. It just all works for me, the shorter scale, neck profile, thinner body than the Gibson ES-175...just everything.

 

I see quite a few older hollow bodied guitars cross my bench. This was a 1953 Guild X175




A couple more Guilds, don't remember the models and I think that was a Godin 5th avenue in the far back. (I could go out to the shop and look at my notes)



Lots of odds and ends from the Gibbie line, an ES-225




Some poor thing, maybe an ES125 or something



There are others with a single P90, the Epi 1966 Century and Guild T-50, but neither of those have the florentine cutaway.

I've also built a couple in the ES-175 image. No P90's but it would sure be easy to do.

 

Not an exact match, but the Epi Sorrento reissues used Gibson USA minibuckers with the P90 sized ring. When I bought mine I thought I would put a set of P90s in, but the minis are keepers for sure. The 90s reissues did have P90s.
Great guitars, obviously not exactly what you're looking for, but ballpark.

 

Like this. great guitar!

 

You could check out:
Reverend PA-1 (P90 version)
Dean Palomino
Alvarez (not sure of the model #, I don’t think they make them anymore)
Eastman (maybe? I think they have one with just a neck pickup)
Peerless (295 clone)

These may be close but no cigar.

 

I built my take on an ES 175 but with mini buckers that I can change over for P 90's if I want.

 

That last one was originally an ES120T, the model that had the big 'bubble' moulded pickguard with a Melody Maker pickup installed on it. Those old guards get very brittle with age and if they get dinged they tend to fall apart rather dramatically so quite a few get converted like this one. They made them with both Gibson and Epiphone on the headstock and I have the Epiphone branded version, and I did away with a magnetic pickup altogether on mine - I made an acrylic pickguard in the shape of the original and built a Baggs Element into the bridge. It's a really fun guitar!

 

ES135 has a slim body like the 335. Pickups are P100 which have a pair of stacked coils. I like them, but a lot of folks don't.

 

The P90 + hollowbody formula is a recipe for domestic and public happiness. I am happy with a slightly upgraded Standard Casino. You might consider the whole ES-330/Casino side of things, they are exceptional guitars. The family of es-125s (thin or full-depth) is also worth considering… the 1966 Century is a cheap option but to me it sounds and looks great.

In the ES-175 family, I see many close models but none is exactly that… the Eastman is non-cut, etc. I wonder: are original 175s with a P-90 out of your range? They seem to cost less than those with humbuckers. ES-125 DC could be a cheaper alternative. I also seem to recall that they were reissued at some point?

 

Guild Newark St Manhattan. Marvellous guitar.