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ThroBak P-90's Are Here!

buyusfear

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Oct 3, 2006
Messages
2,951
Jon,

Excellent work!
Thanks for taking the time to get these right.
I can't wait to get a guitar to put them into.

Well done. :3zone :3zone :3zone

I wasn't expecting the bone and cream variants though. They both look incredible; however, I always thought that 50's plastics were always typically bone and then just naturally aged to a darker tint?

Are your cream plastics pink in any way? (both M69 and p90)?, I ask only because the cream matches with a historic pickgaurd, yet those gaurds, at least the ones I have tend to be a little skin toned.

Its just hard to tell from pictures, and I have no doubt that you've nailed whatever reference you were after.

Thnx
 

jwalker

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Dec 10, 2004
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Jon,


Are your cream plastics pink in any way? (both M69 and p90)?, I ask only because the cream matches with a historic pickgaurd, yet those gaurds, at least the ones I have tend to be a little skin toned.

Its just hard to tell from pictures, and I have no doubt that you've nailed whatever reference you were after.

Thnx

It is hard to tell from internet photos because everything on the internet has indexed color. But my goal for the rings and the covers was to cover the two extremes of the cream/bone color range of vintage plastic. The cream color is matched from a cream P.A.F. bobbin and a cream P-90 cover. The bone is matched from the most bone colored '56 P-90 cover I could find. I sent all of the vintage reference parts to the lab that made the colorant and went through 3 mixes to get the colors right. but the truth is the vintage bone and cream colors are a moving target. There is no one reference color. So I tried to cover both ends of the range.

The 2009 Historic guard is actually not that far off from the vintage bone covers. That was not intentional on my part but it really is a pretty good match once the bone color is aged a bit. Are the ThroBak Bone and Cream colors pink? No. But I do think vintage Gibson bone and cream parts are much less green than many think.
 

buyusfear

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Oct 3, 2006
Messages
2,951
That makes sense.
I've been away from the repro game for a few years since I outfitted my guitars. I'd thought that the new historic guards were starting to look more bone, and your comments support that.

Once again, thanks for going through the efforts here!
Your attention to detail is not unappreciated.

So whats next from Throbak? Perhaps some early '52 diagonal screw soapbars? Or some staple custom p90's?
 

joemags54

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May 17, 2011
Messages
1,275
Hi Joe,

For an ES-330L a set like the P-90 '52/'54 MXV can be ordered custom with a dog ear baseplates for neck and bridge. This set has a clarity and depth that would work great with a ES-330. However I have not yet made a mold for a neck dog ear cover so I would have to work out a price for custom set minus covers. I have the neck baseplate but not the covers yet. Any Gibson brand neck dog ear cover should work fine.

Thanks Jon. So you can provide a bridge cover? I apologize for my lack of knowledge in this area. I'm guessing I can use my stock neck cover?. My 330 is the git I enjoy most to play out. Second is my '65 Casino Elitist. The pick ups in the Casino are a bit brighter (hotter?) with more of the 60's bite. (difficult for me, to describe, sorry). Neither of these guitars are "vintage", and only a couple of yrs old...
photo6.jpg
 
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rockabilly69

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Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Hey Joemags, what is your overall opinion of the epiphone elitist compared to the ES330? Neck feel, pots and switches, tuning stability, etc?
 

joemags54

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May 17, 2011
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1,275
Hey Joemags, what is your overall opinion of the epiphone elitist compared to the ES330? Neck feel, pots and switches, tuning stability, etc?
I'll give it to you straight...(thanks for asking). The Casino was like holding an old friend immediately, easy to play, incredible build quality. (Make sure you check out the difference in features on the '65 Casino Elitist vs a standard Casino). I absolutely loved it. From the very first day, I opened the case, I began gigging with it immediately. As a child of the 60's it offered the tone I grew up with. I use a tube boutique amp, that is a great match. The only drawback is the neck joined at the body at the 16th fret. There are one or two tunes, where I need just a bit more access. That's why the Gibson 330L. However, I was quite surprised at the difference in PU's between the 2 gits, and was a bit disappointed in the 330L (hence why I'm in this thread). I had to turn up the volume control much more on the 330, to match the Casino, and obtain the same level. The necks are close in size to each other, neither as heavy as I usually prefer, but certainly not a deal breaker in my world, ..... Both gits suffer the dreaded bridge rattle, however I don't hear it through the amp, so it doesn't bother me. ...... When playing, You have to be a bit careful as it's easy to bend a chord out of tune while playing with others.(I guess that goes for any git).... Both stay in tune pretty well, and are subject to the same influences I guess any guitar is, changes in temp and humidity. That's why it's the last to pack and the first in the club, and on the stand..... I think the tuners of both guitars, are superior to the white button style of the standard 330 Gib, as well. I had a little static in the Casino selector switch, just needed exercise and a spritz of cleaner. ..... Both are just great guitars with no regrets what so ever. If I could only have one, I would go with the 330L as it does offer a bit more room attached at the 19th fret. I still would have a hard time parting with the Casino. I apologize if this is a bit scatter brained. Hope this helps. If you are near by, sometime, you are welcome to try them both.
 
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jwalker

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Dec 10, 2004
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2,592
Thanks Jon. So you can provide a bridge cover? I apologize for my lack of knowledge in this area. I'm guessing I can use my stock neck cover?..

Yes I can provide the bridge cover but not the neck dog ear cover. Your Gibson neck cover should fit great.
 

TM1

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Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
I just wanted to let everyone know that I had a real good chance to use my R-4 the other night. Ran it thru an old 1965 JMI Domino Bass amp (basically a Vox AC-6). Domino was the budget brand of Vox/JMI in the `60's. Really, this amp is a 6 watt monster head and a 1-12" cabinet that has an old Vox/Celestion Poly Grey 12" Alnico(T1088).
Wide open the pickups scream, roll the volume down to about 8 (on the guitar) and it's so clean! Almost Fender guitar clean but fatter/bigger. I'm still stunned at how great these are!
Thanks again Jon!
 

handwerk

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Mar 13, 2017
Messages
44
Hi Joe,

For an ES-330L a set like the P-90 '52/'54 MXV can be ordered custom with a dog ear baseplates for neck and bridge. This set has a clarity and depth that would work great with a ES-330. However I have not yet made a mold for a neck dog ear cover so I would have to work out a price for custom set minus covers. I have the neck baseplate but not the covers yet. Any Gibson brand neck dog ear cover should work fine.


sorry to resurrect old thread. i may need replacement p90s for a 330. just checking on what is available since the date of last thread. also, do you offer, or can you make them for chrome covers for the 330? thanks
 

jwalker

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Dec 10, 2004
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I can do black plastic covers but not Chrome or Nickel. I still don't know of a source for vintage spaced neck Chrome or Nickel P-90 dogear covers.
 
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