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P-90's.. pros & cons

DjangoDjango Posts: 152
edited May 2008 in Musicians and Gearheads
Anyone know their P-90's??

I have a AM strat (1993 special edition) which has a seymor duncan custom humbucker in the bridge position. Just for a change I thinking of getting a gibson P-90, dog ear or soap bar I'm not sure

Should I? What ya think of P90's in general.

Anyone?


http://www.thomann.de/ie/gibson_p90_dog_ear_creme.htm
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    you're not going to be able to do it without routing. You'll want to go with a humbucker sized P90 if you don't want to do the extra routing required for the P90.

    If you're going the gibson route I'd say P94's but they aren't my favorites.

    You could stay with Seymour Duncan and get the Phat Cat with no mods.

    Rio Grande has a nice one called the Fat Bastard.

    Harmonic Design's Z90 is one of my favorites for that application

    and there are a few others....out there I'm sure, but those are worth checking out.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-90

    the dog ear vs soap bar config has to do with mounting, in a dog ear it's got the flaps on the sides like on a Casino and the mounting screws are on the outside. Dog ears have the mounting screws in the middle of the pole pieces..


    Pro's Fat Fabulous loud rude tone that's clear and articulate like a single coil but thicker with more balls.

    Con's Depending on the application and the EMI they can buzz like the dickens.

    To me, it's worth it. I love the way they sound.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    Definately going to have some work to get it to fit.

    Tone wise, I can never go without having a P-90 pick-uped guitar. Currently only have one, but I think a second one is in my near future for certain!
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

    https://www.facebook.com/aghostwritersapology/
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    the dog ear vs soap bar config has to do with mounting, in a dog ear it's got the flaps on the sides like on a Casino and the mounting screws are on the outside. Dog ears have the mounting screws in the middle of the pole pieces.


    Paco knows this was just a brain freeze, but the SOAPBAR P-90's have mounting screws in between the pole pieces. Dog-ear P-90's are for surface-mounting, usually on a hollow-body guitar, jazz-box, etc, while the soapbars are for recessed mounting, which is what you would have to do with a Strat (albeit with some major body routing and modification, as already mentioned).

    A humbucker-sized P-90 should fit a strat if it was routed for humbuckers (yours already is, many are today). But one other option to mention is the Harmonic Design Super 90 Strat, which is a strat-sized pickup that is ready to drop in. I had an S-90 for Tele once, and loved it. Not quite the same as a true P-90, but close. More output, more beefy tone, but still plenty of bite and clarity. You would need a new pickguard, but it would be a more traditional strat look, and would be appropriate for a strat player with an S-S-S configuration.

    As far as regular P-90's, I'll never be more impressed than with my Fralin's. Damn do I love those pickups.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • DjangoDjango Posts: 152
    Thanks folks......I'm going to stew on it a bit.

    The size thing is a good point. I want to avoid any routing if possible. I do want to be able refit the humbucker if need be, without any visible difference to the guitar.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    mccreadyisgod wrote:
    Paco knows this was just a brain freeze, but the SOAPBAR P-90's have mounting screws in between the pole pieces. Dog-ear P-90's are for surface-mounting, usually on a hollow-body guitar, jazz-box, etc, while the soapbars are for recessed mounting, which is what you would have to do with a Strat (albeit with some major body routing and modification, as already mentioned).

    A humbucker-sized P-90 should fit a strat if it was routed for humbuckers (yours already is, many are today). But one other option to mention is the Harmonic Design Super 90 Strat, which is a strat-sized pickup that is ready to drop in. I had an S-90 for Tele once, and loved it. Not quite the same as a true P-90, but close. More output, more beefy tone, but still plenty of bite and clarity. You would need a new pickguard, but it would be a more traditional strat look, and would be appropriate for a strat player with an S-S-S configuration.

    As far as regular P-90's, I'll never be more impressed than with my Fralin's. Damn do I love those pickups.

    yup. sorry about my error. In my new project (brother in laws old mexican strat with a nice neck) I got the strings off last weekend, cleaned up the frets and opened it up to see what's under the hood. Routed with humbucker slots for all 3 but I think I'm staying skinny. I'm goign to go with some kind of rails (OR QP's) in the neck and middle and an S90 at the bridge. I love everything I've ever heard from Lindy Fralin I think. Just one mans opinion. but.. They really are good. So are the lollars.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/progressive/prails_shpr1/


    whoa, hey.. P rails? Never seen this one before.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/progressive/prails_shpr1/


    whoa, hey.. P rails? Never seen this one before.

    Very very cool, bound to happen sooner or later, that's for sure!
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

    https://www.facebook.com/aghostwritersapology/
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    whoa, hey.. P rails? Never seen this one before.


    Yeah, I saw that a couple weeks ago, and was intruiged. It's not a bad configuration. I especially like the triple-threat of a humbucker, P-90, and strat-ish in one pup. The only question is how any of the three sound....
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • who's_pearljam?who's_pearljam? Posts: 2,104
    Cons: They're noisy when you're not playing them. Hum, buzz, etc.

    Pros: They're even noisier when you ARE playing them, in a glorious raucous beauteous way! :D

    This is a great use of p-90's - Starting at 2:50:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTwtSiOXlyg


    I too, like the Fralins.

    I too haven't heard the seymour duncan triple thingy, but I'm gonna get one and try one out! :cool:
    Be kind, man
    Don't be mankind. ~Captain Beefheart
    __________________________________
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    who's_pearljam? wrote:
    Cons: They're noisy when you're not playing them. Hum, buzz, etc.

    Pros: They're even noisier when you ARE playing them, in a glorious raucous beauteous way! :D

    This is a great use of p-90's - Starting at 2:50:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTwtSiOXlyg


    I too, like the Fralins.

    I too haven't heard the seymour duncan triple thingy, but I'm gonna get one and try one out! :cool:


    Noisy for sure. It's a big complaint by a lot of people when they use them. I just happen to think that's why the boss tuner is for. As soon as I'm done playing, I click it on to mute it
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

    https://www.facebook.com/aghostwritersapology/
  • PaukPauk Posts: 1,084
    All Those Yesterdays wrote:
    Noisy for sure. It's a big complaint by a lot of people when they use them. I just happen to think that's why the boss tuner is for. As soon as I'm done playing, I click it on to mute it
    Or get some circuit breaker cables. They're my life saver.
    Paul
    '06 - London, Dublin, Reading
    '07 - Katowice, Wembley, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Nijmegen
    '09 - London, Manchester, London
    '12 - Manchester, Manchester, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    who's_pearljam? wrote:
    Cons: They're noisy when you're not playing them. Hum, buzz, etc.

    Pros: They're even noisier when you ARE playing them, in a glorious raucous beauteous way! :D

    This is a great use of p-90's - Starting at 2:50:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTwtSiOXlyg


    I too, like the Fralins.

    I too haven't heard the seymour duncan triple thingy, but I'm gonna get one and try one out! :cool:


    That clip there pretty much somes it up!
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

    https://www.facebook.com/aghostwritersapology/
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    The only thing to add to the clip would be a clip of P-90's slight tube break up and open chord strums. That to me is perfect.
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

    https://www.facebook.com/aghostwritersapology/
  • who's_pearljam?who's_pearljam? Posts: 2,104
    All Those Yesterdays wrote:
    The only thing to add to the clip would be a clip of P-90's slight tube break up and open chord strums. That to me is perfect.

    After the long intro and screaming at about 2:20! Good old Leslie West again.

    Or like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30ktWPrWPDc

    P-90's sure made a showing at the first Woodstock!

    Canned Heat:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V55FfDnkQ6o&feature=related

    Santana's first set up. SG with P-90's:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnamP4-M9ko



    Man, everyone's sold out of the Seymour Duncan p-rail p-90/humbuckers but they definitely have potential!
    Be kind, man
    Don't be mankind. ~Captain Beefheart
    __________________________________
  • All Those YesterdaysAll Those Yesterdays Posts: 2,723
    who's_pearljam? wrote:
    After the long intro and screaming at about 2:20! Good old Leslie West again.

    Or like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30ktWPrWPDc

    P-90's sure made a showing at the first Woodstock!

    Canned Heat:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V55FfDnkQ6o&feature=related

    Santana's first set up. SG with P-90's:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnamP4-M9ko



    Man, everyone's sold out of the Seymour Duncan p-rail p-90/humbuckers but they definitely have potential!

    Crap, I think I'm going to have to come down with something, so I can get off work, go home and plug in.
    E. Lansing-98 Columbus-00,03,10 Detroit-00,03 (1&2),06, 14 Cleveland-03,06,10 Toledo-04, Grand Rapids-04,06 London-05, Toronto-05, Indianapolis 10, East Troy (1&2) 11, Chicago 13, Detroit 14

    https://www.facebook.com/aghostwritersapology/
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    who's_pearljam? wrote:
    Cons: They're noisy when you're not playing them. Hum, buzz, etc.

    Pros: They're even noisier when you ARE playing them, in a glorious raucous beauteous way! :D

    This is a great use of p-90's - Starting at 2:50:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTwtSiOXlyg


    I too, like the Fralins.

    I too haven't heard the seymour duncan triple thingy, but I'm gonna get one and try one out! :cool:


    ha ha, It reminds me of those Peavey Steve Cropper jobbies kind of. Cool. Makes me crave some green onions... yum.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
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