The third Electric Guitar... Les Paul, Telecaster & ...?

[Wise Guy]

When I got my SG with P90's it was a game changer. Never been a huge fan of Strat styled single coil pickups favoring humbuckers. But these P90's seem to be the sweet spot between the two. They clean up for a sparkly tone and can growl when pushed. I find myself now gravitating towards it.

 

[DBDM]

I really do not know why mixing pickups is not more popular except on strats. Really no reason (I can think of) why there cannot be a humbucker and a filtertron in a guitar. Gibson has made a few p90/humbucker guitars but not many. Seems to kind of be only in the Fender world that people mix pickups? Maybe someone can enlighten me as to why?
I received a boutique guitar for Christmas. My wife got it for me. Although it was ultimately a surprise, I had a hunch and let it be known at the shop I would have liked it to come with TV Jones/Humbuckers mixed (they offered both). Alas, when it arrived it had to (SD Seth Lover) pickups which are great but I still may swap one of them. Maybe more people play the middle position than I do? I do not play it that often and no where near as often as I would play the different models of pickups in the neck and bridge. I have never played a guitar with Humbucker/TV jones so I have no idea what the middle would sound like?

 

[Wes T]

I have a 2018 bfg with P-90s. Definitely a different and enjoyable tone. If you really are looking for something apart from what you have, that would be something to think about. It wouldn't have to be an arch top, but that would be good for your mix, also. It's all a learning experience, and your ears are the only ones that count.

 

[blouie]

Music Man Luke III HSS - you get it all.

 

[efstop]

I have a Les Paul and two Teles. I have 12 "third" guitars including headless and semi-hollow
P-90s, lipstick tube, humbuckers and Broad’Tron, Jazzmaster etc.
Get whatever sounds good to you when you play it.

 

[Village Idiot]

I believe you should add a Schecter LP knock off. Hey, they say they’re better than an actual Les Paul…why not

 

[DHJB]

Hello

What would you consider the ideal third electric guitar, if you want to cover as many tones as possible.
At the moment I own a
Fender Telecaster with three Single Coils (Tele Neck+Bridge and Strat Middle)
and a Gibson Les Paul with two Humbuckers.

With these two guitars one already covers a whole range of sounds...
What guitar model would be the third Guitar, that would be different enough to both of these?
Which guitar would sound totally different to the Tele/Strat and Les Paul Sound?


Semi Hollow with TV Jones?
PRS with a 25" Scale Length?
SG with P90's?
Danelectro with Lipsticks?

Let me hear your ideas!
Would love to hear your opinion.

Thank you.

Merlyn

I was looking for a sonic change from a Les Paul, went with a 339 and I absolutely love it. Gets knarly with distortion, ofcourse, but the cleans on the neck pickup are beautiful, and the resonance from the semi hollow build adds something special no matter how much gain I play with.

 

[Jay4321]

I believe you should add a Schecter LP knock off. Hey, they say they’re better than an actual Les Paul…why not

I have/had a Schecter LP knockoff, Solo 2 custom, specifically the ones with the Pasadena pickups, that was an excellent guitar and will probably get another one since it seems to be permanently on loan to a teenager. Their version of satin on the neck back is great and that Pasadena pickup set are about as good as anything I've come across stock in a guitar

Looking again now they're up to $1k, temped to cry about the increase but what isn't $1k+ anymore. I can't have paid more than $700 new 3 years ago.

Of course that's true of just about every other piece of gear I bought 3 years ago too, especially the Gibson stuff. I think I can hear my J-45 appreciating from inside its case behind me right now.

Schecter makes decent instruments but most of their line is taken up by crap with bat inlays and that sort of thing. They were a solid go-to if you wanted a decent guitar with an EMG 81 for $300 not long ago

 

[Jay4321]

Another approach, stick with the two guitars and get a different amp. My current setup goes A/B from a Fender combo to a Mesa head/cab which for me goes a lot further than switching out guitars

 

[bluesoul]

I'm guessing you THINK you've got it covered with a three single coil Tele, but the Holy Trinity is not complete without a stock-"ish" wiggle Strat!

I was thinking the same!

 

[reedrainey]

As much as it pains me to say it, you should get a Strat too. I think they sound like a nail rattling around in a coffee can but some guys can make it work.

You also need a Les Paul Special with P90s. The new red ones I've recently played were damn nice.

If you want even more versatility, order some 4 wire humbuckers in the hot vintage output area and put a Jimmy Page harness in your Les Paul.

With those four guitars you would have most of the tones you would ever need.

Then just a HD-28 Martin, and a Gibson Jumbo acoustic, and a Rickenbacker 12 strings, and a semi-hollow body of some sort and.........

LOL

I agree wholeheartedly with adding a JP wiring to his LP, as I've done. Something with P-90s would be good, indeed. Maybe an ES-335 or ES-style with P90s like the Epi Casino? I modded my Strat for a HSH combination with switching options. If you widen the trail, a Gretsch 6120, a 6 and 12-stiring Ric, and even a PRS could fill the stable in. If you're into the metal side, you'll have to add stable stalls. An Ibanez JEM? And wherever possible, get ebony boards on everything.

 

[Ed Blue]

Hello

What would you consider the ideal third electric guitar, if you want to cover as many tones as possible.
At the moment I own a
Fender Telecaster with three Single Coils (Tele Neck+Bridge and Strat Middle)
and a Gibson Les Paul with two Humbuckers.

With these two guitars one already covers a whole range of sounds...
What guitar model would be the third Guitar, that would be different enough to both of these?
Which guitar would sound totally different to the Tele/Strat and Les Paul Sound?


Semi Hollow with TV Jones?
PRS with a 25" Scale Length?
SG with P90's?
Danelectro with Lipsticks?

Let me hear your ideas!
Would love to hear your opinion.

Thank you.

Merlyn

Has anyone tried an HH Tele? Seymour Duncan pick ups, set neck, beautiful, maple top! For $1000. No offence guys, but from pictures, this guitar looks as nice as the ones you’re paying $4000 for from Gibson. I am thinking of picking one up, but wanted to find out if anybody else had tried one.

 

[dspelman]

I have one of almost every "third" guitar I could imagine, with my most recent a couple of Gretschs (a 2420T hollow body and a G5222 "Malcolm" guitar. The latter got a Filtertron (TV Jones Classic Plus) swapped into the bridge position.

But honestly, if you're going to get a "third" guitar, go find a Line 6 Variax JTV-89F. These things model about 25 different guitars, including doing a great job on an ES-335 and a Tele, as well as a pretty good job on various Rics and Gretschs and even some acoustic 12-strings. 25.5" scale, 16" radius fretboard with jumbos, an OFR Floyd Rose and much more. By itself, with the James Tyler magnetic pickups, it's a great superstrat. But with the modeling firmware built in, it's pretty awesome. In addition to the various guitar models (including 12 strings and acoustic models), it can provide almost any tuning, from blue grass staples to downtuning up to an octave below standard. The Workbench software for the computer will further allow you to change pickups, modify them, EQ them, etc., on any guitar model. And if you have an HD500 or a Helix, it will allow you to set up whole user presets so that a single stomp will change guitar models, alternate tuning, amps, cabs and FX in a single stomp. One that knocked over some bandmates was my use of an IR that modeled a Taylor 314 acoustic miked in air, and I could switch from that to an LP with a hard-driven Marshall with a single stomp.

 

[moreles]

For you, probably something with P90s, or a Jazzmaster. Personally, I'd begin with a Strat, add a Les Paul, and then consider a third.

 

[Leee]

If price is a consideration (instead of a valid assessment of value) then your choices may not be as free.

In the value category, similar to an ES 335, I would say that a Taylor T-3 is a good choice. I’ve had two of them.
You can find nice ones all day long for less than $2000.

A lot of very nice Gretsch stuff from Japan would be in that price range.

A nice 335 is going to cost another grand on top of that.
I’ve had mine for over 20 years, and I will never part with it.

I’ve wanted an ES 175 for 20 years, but the prices of always kept me from picking one up.
They are incredible, but definitely not cheap.

 

[Old Dog Learning]

I couldn’t stop at three, but if I had played the Yamaha Revstar 2 RSS20 I may have. The new Revstar amazes me. The humbuckers have a clarity and articulation I don’t hear in other HH guitars, while delivering the warmth I expected. The build quality and playabilty are excellent. There are many balanced reviews on YouTube and in this forum. Unfortunately, you may be ready for
guitar #4 before you find one in a store to play.

 

[Duane_the_tub]

 

[rtogs]

Hello

What would you consider the ideal third electric guitar, if you want to cover as many tones as possible.
At the moment I own a
Fender Telecaster with three Single Coils (Tele Neck+Bridge and Strat Middle)
and a Gibson Les Paul with two Humbuckers.

With these two guitars one already covers a whole range of sounds...
What guitar model would be the third Guitar, that would be different enough to both of these?
Which guitar would sound totally different to the Tele/Strat and Les Paul Sound?


Semi Hollow with TV Jones?
PRS with a 25" Scale Length?
SG with P90's?
Danelectro with Lipsticks?

Let me hear your ideas!
Would love to hear your opinion.

Thank you.

Merlyn

Robben Ford’s Gene Baker

 

[blee57]

P-90’s

 

[O.D. Tubes]

PRS Special 22 Semi-Hollow