ANEGD! (Another new Edwards Guitar Day) w/pR0n)

[cheeseflavor]

I've got the Edwards bug bad. Just took delivery of this one on Friday. This is the one that I really wanted to see to compare to the Studio 50s Tribute that I just got earlier this week.

It's an '08 that I scored on another forum. Essentially a brand new guitar. Still had all the protective film on it, and (ugh) the original strings. Solid, one piece mahogany back with maple top, mahogany neck, all Gotoh hardware, Seymour Duncan SP90-1 pickups both bridge and neck. Super workmanship throughout again.

So, how does it compare to the gibson? Well, with shitty 2 year old plus strings and no setup, not bad at all, but the Gibson won initially. After some investigation, I see that it had 250k pots and ceramic .047 caps whereas the Gibby had 500k pots and .022uf orange drops. So, the last shots show the upgrade I just performed on it yesterday.

Now some pROn:







After playing for an hour or two and comparing it to the 50s Studio Tribute, the Edwards wasn't doing so good. The Gibby just had *that* sound. So, as some of you know, I opened it up and found it had 250k pots and .047uf ceramic disc caps where the Gibby had 500k and .022uf orange drops. No wonder... apples and oranges you know?

So, luckily I had the parts to fix it up! It now has CTS 500k audio taper pots and mil-spec .022uf PIO caps. I also changed the knobs and added pointers while I was at it. Now for some pics:

First the harness all wired up:


Before I load everything back in, a shot of the neck pup pocket showing the long neck tenon:


Everything wired up! Ready to put the cover on it:


Now some glamor shots. Damned knobs I ordered were supposed to have silver reflectors, but these will do for now until the replacements arrive:




So, how does it sound now? In a word GREAT! I understand why they would use 250k pots on a single coil, but it was way too tame. It's brighter (in a good, non ice-pick way) and definitely hotter sounding. It compares well sound wise to the Gibson now. Enough so, that maybe I'll have to sell the gibson :bigthumb:

Steve

[booster]

Looks absolutely beautiful.

Congrats on your new guitar.

[wulfman]

Congratulations on a great guitar.

I was looking at one of these yesterday at a shop here and noticed the 1-piece back after looking in vain for the seams on the side.
I compared it to its Japanese cousin in the store, a Tokai Goldtop which had a 3p back. So what if the basic body work is done in China, Edwards guitars are simply well-made and a good value.

Thanks for the great pics and description of work. I have an Epi Japan that is very plain sounding and I wonder if it needs similar changes.

[Udonitron]

The 0.022uf are a decent farad but I still prefer 0.01 myself Nice guitar man...someday I will get another Edwards for sure.

[Kølabrennern]

Nice pictures and nice write-up - and congrats! I need one of these someday.

[cheeseflavor]

Originally Posted by Kølabrennern

Nice pictures and nice write-up - and congrats! I need one of these someday.

Thanks! Me too

Steve

[cheeseflavor]

Originally Posted by Udonitron

The 0.022uf are a decent farad but I still prefer 0.01 myself Nice guitar man...someday I will get another Edwards for sure.

Thanks! You don't think .01uf would be too bright on a P-90?

Steve

[Udonitron]

It does seem so to my ears. Do you have one on hand to test out?

[WalderNo1]

Man i love this gold tops. I got to have me one of these...
And i see that your avatar Cheese, also have the gold top, Mike Ness... I love his sound as well. But he uses 70`s Gibson, but i think they not far away from the sound on your Edwards after the mods?

[SingeMonkey]

Looks fantastic. Especially with the reflectors. So what are the similarities/differences now between it and the Gibson?

[cheeseflavor]

Originally Posted by WalderNo1

Man i love this gold tops. I got to have me one of these...
And i see that your avatar Cheese, also have the gold top, Mike Ness... I love his sound as well. But he uses 70`s Gibson, but i think they not far away from the sound on your Edwards after the mods?

Mike uses SD SP90-2 hot P-90s in his, these are SP90-1 in this guitar. It sounds very good, however. I'm pleased with the sound, but wouldn't mind a bit more of a fatter sound from it. Thinking of trying a more overwound P-90 at least in the bridge.

Steve

[cheeseflavor]

Originally Posted by SingeMonkey

Looks fantastic. Especially with the reflectors. So what are the similarities/differences now between it and the Gibson?

Gibson still has a fatter tone. Not sure, but I suspect it has to do with the chambering on the Gibby. That thing is a fine sounding guitar. Don't get me wrong, the Edwards sounds great, and I enjoy playing it more than the Gibson, but love the tone on the LP.

Steve

[Gabriel]

I'd throw a set of Lindy Fralins in it. Overwound.

[cheeseflavor]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

I'd throw a set of Lindy Fralins in it. Overwound.

Think that would be a better fit than the SDs that are in there? I had a Fralin P-90 in a PRS SE One that I had, but that was long ago, I can't recall how it sounded.

Steve

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by cheeseflavor

Think that would be a better fit than the SDs that are in there? I had a Fralin P-90 in a PRS SE One that I had, but that was long ago, I can't recall how it sounded.

Steve

I had the SD's from another Edwards in my PRS SE hollow body P90 and they seemed a bit thin with more treble than I wanted. I went with the fralins and got a much fuller sound body.

I had noise cancelling in the middle position and it worked great too.

[cheeseflavor]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

I had the SD's from another Edwards in my PRS SE hollow body P90 and they seemed a bit thin with more treble than I wanted. I went with the fralins and got a much fuller sound body.

I had noise cancelling in the middle position and it worked great too.

Good to know, Gabriel. I appreciate the feedback. Where these the overwinds? Stock neck, 5% over bridge or higher?

Steve

[Gabriel]

I had 5% underwound neck and +10% overwound bridge to get warmer clean sounds and more crunch at the bridge position. It's recommended to have a 10-15% winding difference between the two positions.

[JIM'S GoldTOP]

Sweet!

[cheeseflavor]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

I had 5% underwound neck and +10% overwound bridge to get warmer clean sounds and more crunch at the bridge position. It's recommended to have a 10-15% winding difference between the two positions.

Great! Thanks for the tip! Now if I can find a pair not at retail prices

steve

[MTA61]

cheeseflavor, how does the neck shape, feel, fretwork and playability compare between the Gibby and Edwards?

[cheeseflavor]

Originally Posted by MTA61

cheeseflavor, how does the neck shape, feel, fretwork and playability compare between the Gibby and Edwards?

The fit and finish is noticeably better on the Edwards. The necks are similar, with the Gibby having a slightly chunkier neck. The Edwards is the '59 profile and the Gibson is a 50s profile. The frets on the Edwards are lower profile which I prefer.

The one area that the Gibson really shines though is sound. It has, to me, the perfect P-90 tone. Very fat, very nice especially in the bridge and middle position. In the neck, it's a bit too dark, but still very usable.

Playability though, for me at least, goes to the Edwards.

Steve

[jeego]

Cheese, your pictures always make me want to spend money.

[slapshot]

Originally Posted by cheeseflavor

Mike uses SD SP90-2 hot P-90s in his, these are SP90-1 in this guitar. It sounds very good, however. I'm pleased with the sound, but wouldn't mind a bit more of a fatter sound from it. Thinking of trying a more overwound P-90 at least in the bridge.

Steve

have you tried one yet?

[GammyBird]

Nice guitar Cheese!!!

[cheeseflavor]

Originally Posted by slapshot

have you tried one yet?

Hey Slapshot!

Yes, what I ended up getting was a pair of Heywood P-90s (2nd pair I've had). The neck is 8.4k and the bridge a whopping 12.2k. The bridge doesn't actually sound as hot as the rating, but noticeably hotter than the SDs that were in there. But, where the guitar REALLY stands out is in the middle or neck position. Very fat, smoky sounding pickups. I'm liking them so far.

Steve

[korus]

Originally Posted by cheeseflavor

Gibson still has a fatter tone. Not sure, but I suspect it has to do with the chambering on the Gibby. That thing is a fine sounding guitar. Don't get me wrong, the Edwards sounds great, and I enjoy playing it more than the Gibson, but love the tone on the LP.

Steve

I think it has to do with the different wood species guitars are made of. At least this is my experience with Edwards. Not that is bad at all. Just brighter then Gibson, both Gibson USA and Gibson Custom & Historic. (And it seems to me even brighter than Epi.)