Fender Custom Telecaster FMT HH vs Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s P90: which should I buy?

The Fender Special Edition Custom Telecaster FMT HH Amber has a listed best new price of £999, compared with £2,199 for the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s P90 Tobacco Burst. That makes the Fender £1,200 cheaper: a substantial saving if neither pickup type is essential to you.

The main distinction to audition is the Fender’s HH pickup configuration versus the Gibson’s P90s. Humbuckers generally suppress hum and offer a fuller sound, while P90s typically bring a more exposed single-coil character and greater susceptibility to hum. These are general tendencies, not a substitute for comparing the guitars through your own setup.

On the information supplied, the Fender is the stronger budget-conscious choice. Spend more on the Gibson only if its P90 sound and playing feel suit you better; the higher price alone does not establish that it is the better guitar for you.