what next?

[Slartibartfarst42]

Now that I've upgraded the amp and have all the pedals I want, I'm left pondering over my guitars. I'm not like most players as all I want is one acoustic and two electrics. I'm perfectly happy with my acoustic and my Les Paul is perfect. It's exactly what I want and can cover the entire set by itself. That leaves my PRS. I love the SE Custom 24 but I've never bonded with this one and for the extra couple of hundred it cost me, the Gibson is significantly superior so I think I'm inclined to change the PRS. Three options leap to mind:

1) Gibson SG - different flavour but essentially like the LP

2) Sterling JP100D - Looks like a lot of guitar for the money and more of a solo guitar

3) Strat? - Versatile but more on the lighter side. HSS?

Any thoughts?

[Dave Sloven]

I am biased but the Gibson SG would be my choice.  Really they are not much like a Les Paul except for the neck. They have a very distinctive sound and are highly resonant.  An SG would also be the most comfortable guitar to play, unless you get one with really heavy tuners (e.g., Grovers), a fat neck (also adds weight), or are just a small guy who feels like the low frets are too far away due to the strap button and neck placement.  They are finicky with pickups but there is more than enough help on here with regard to advice on that.

I would also highly recommend a P-90 equipped SG.

Small pickguard would be easier in terms of changing pickups.  Large pickguard SGs have the bridge going through the pickguard, and the pickups mounted to the pickguard.  You can change that with a large pickguard P-90 SG if you want to but more difficult (and ugly) on a humbucker one.

Sam Ash have been doing amazing deals on the 2013 Tribute models recently.  The '70s Tribute has Dirty Fingers.

I would have gotten one if I was based in the USA.  Maybe someone has a good deal near you

[Telerocker]

I'm biased too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5PRwWJCzFY

[Kiichi]

I simply still want you to try a P90 guitar, especially one with BKPs, so my judgement is a bit clouded. As you know I imagine they could be a big hit with you.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Much as I love the specification of the Sterling JP, I'm not convinced it's for me as I'm moving to a more melodic style than the mindless noodling I've done in the past so that's out. That Fret-King really looks interesting. It's not a make I've even remotely considered before, probably due to its association with Vintage guitars. Are they really of similar quality to a Gibson Les Paul Studio?

The SG is a safe bet as I love Gibsons but an H-S-P90 Strat style guitar sounds like a guitar you could do a LOT with.

[Alex]

Depends what you want.

SG - different sound but still humbuckers, similar neck to LP.
Strat - quite different playing feel, single coil sounds should be one of the major reasons to get one. I never warmed with the playing feel.
Sterling - this seems to be more of a superstrat to me. There's nothing wrong in having one of these to contrast the LP, plus it has a tremolo that is probably more stable than any strats.

[Telerocker]

Much as I love the specification of the Sterling JP, I'm not convinced it's for me as I'm moving to a more melodic style than the mindless noodling I've done in the past so that's out. That Fret-King really looks interesting. It's not a make I've even remotely considered before, probably due to its association with Vintage guitars. Are they really of similar quality to a Gibson Les Paul Studio?

The SG is a safe bet as I love Gibsons but an H-S-P90 Strat style guitar sounds like a guitar you could do a LOT with.

I think Fret-King is a secret among the guitarbrands. They are nice, wellmade guitars for sure. The same goes for Reverend.
But it will feel and play totally different from an SG. A Gibson will be a better resale, but imho the lower Gibson-line is not that convincing (anymore) compared to other, equally priced, or even cheaper brands. I thinkt that vid is good food for thought.

Another really nice guitar for little money is the Yamaha Pacifica 611VFM.

[gordiji]

 Hi Slar, out of interest what pups have you got in the prs ?

[Dave Sloven]

If you get an SG it's worth chasing down an old stock 2013.

The last two years (2014 and 2015) are nowhere near as good IMHO.  Very gimmicky.  Especially the tuners and now they have widened the nut and installed a brass nut / zero fret which has had very mixed reviews.

Gibson SG Buyer's Guide for 2013 Guitars - Gibson SG 2013

[Slartibartfarst42]

Hi Slar, out of interest what pups have you got in the prs ?

Not sure I can say as I moved away from BKP but the nearest BKP would be Holydivers.

[Telerocker]

Hi Slar, out of interest what pups have you got in the prs ?

Not sure I can say as I moved away from BKP but the nearest BKP would be Holydivers.

Hmm, now you made me curious.

[Slartibartfarst42]

PM sent to satisfy your curiosity   

[Telerocker]

PM sent to satisfy your curiosity   

Thx, I'm satisfied now! 

[BigB]

As far as I'm concerned, there are two guitars any (electric) guitar player should have: a LP and a Telly. You already have the LP so you know what's next ;) (hint: the BG52 are amazing, and with a 4-way switch you do cover a lot of ground).

[Slartibartfarst42]

For some reason, a Tele has just never appealed to me.

I've been finding that an HSH guitar that isn't 'Metal' is relatively rare so instead, if I go that 'Strat' route, I was told by a friend of a guy who can build me a singlecoil-sized P90. I'm just waiting for a reply to confirm that this is the case but I don't see why it shouldn't be possible as I know he's already done a very impressive Tele-sized P90. That nicely opens up anything that has an HSS layout to be used as either a H-S-P90 or H-P90-P90 guitar. The other option remains a Gibson SG with a humbucker in the bridge and P90 in the neck. The next step I suppose is to try a few guitars and see what feels right as well as consider what will best suit what I'm after. My gut tells me that getting an SG would be the path of least resistance but I am intrigued by the tonal possibilities presented by the Strat option. Due to the woods, I imagine the SG would be a bit closer sonically to my Les Paul.