A passive neck P90 that matches the PRail’s P coil?

B

billlorentzen

New member
I bought a Vintage P90 for the neck on a new PPP build, but it isn’t at all what I want. I’ve also tried a Planet Tone Elite Pro and a Reverend P90. The tone I want is the P coil of a PRail (I’ve got 3 other guitars with PRails in the necks. This guitar has a specific design goal: a gold top PPP). So far the only other pickup I’ve tried that comes close (and surpasses it in some ways) is the Fishman Fluence P90 in the hot position. I was just hoping to keep this build passive. Any ideas for a P90 that really matches the tonal properties of the PRail?
 
I imagine your first mentioned Vintage P90 is Seymour Duncan? Perhaps try a different Vintage P90, maybe Tonerider? Neck 7.6k / Bridge 7.9k, Alnico 2.

They also have a Hot P90, Neck 7.8k / Bridge 8.2k, Alnico V.

Then there's the Rebel 90, Neck 8.4k / Bridge 9.3k, Alnico 2, which is humbucker size, so I don't know if that fits with your design concept.
 
You've spent a lot of money and time trying P-90 pups. What is it specifically that you DIDN'T like about those? Don't tell me that they didn't sound like the P-90 coil of the P-Rail...I get that. Tell me specifically what was deficient in each of those. Maybe some magnet swapping could correct at least one of them. In the least, your specific info may help guide us in the right direction to some recommendations for you.

Also, which P-Rail model are you comparing...the neck, bridge, hot (with A8 magnets)?
 
Quite a few people say that the P-Rails P90 doesn't really sound like a proper P90. I'm not experienced enough to judge, but I sold my P-rails set on shortly after I got them and built a thinline Tele with pukka SD P90s instead.

My point is, if you've tried several proper P90s and can't get the sound you're after, maybe because what I wrote above is the case, for you at least.
 
GuitarDoc said:
You've spent a lot of money and time trying P-90 pups. What is it specifically that you DIDN'T like about those? Don't tell me that they didn't sound like the P-90 coil of the P-Rail...I get that. Tell me specifically what was deficient in each of those. Maybe some magnet swapping could correct at least one of them. In the least, your specific info may help guide us in the right direction to some recommendations for you.

Also, which P-Rail model are you comparing...the neck, bridge, hot (with A8 magnets)?
Click to expand...

I’m trying to match the original neck model’s P coil. I have this model in 3 bolt-on, 25.5” scale, 22 fret guitars, and I use these guitars in my regular work, so I’m very familiar with the sound, and also how it is modified by the various different builds. For some time, it’s been my holy grail neck tone.

What I don’t get from other P90s is, a) the same lows, which I perceive to be centered on a different peak frequency, and perhaps not as broad in their peak, and, b) the sparkly highs, which to my ears are sweet, not harsh.

The traditional P90 is known for a “honk”, which is a push in the low mids/upper bass range which I definitely don’t want. To be totally unscientific, there is a sweetness to the P-Rail that is lovely to my ears.

I tried A2 mags in one of my P90s (I don’t recall which one), but it made no appreciable difference in the frequencies the pickup reproduced. Not to say that magnet swapping won’t help in all cases, I just don’t have a lot of experience there.

The obvious differences between the PRail and other P90s are the apparently smaller bobbin, and the proximity of the rail coil and its magnetic field. Perhaps one or both of those is the magic ingredient.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
ThreeChordWonder said:
Quite a few people say that the P-Rails P90 doesn't really sound like a proper P90. I'm not experienced enough to judge, but I sold my P-rails set on shortly after I got them and built a thinline Tele with pukka SD P90s instead.

My point is, if you've tried several proper P90s and can't get the sound you're after, maybe because what I wrote above is the case, for you at least.
Click to expand...

You may be right! There is one, the Fishman Fluence P90 in the 2nd (the hottest) position, that sounds really close, maybe even a little better. Not coincidentally, it is also designed by Frank Falbo, as is the PRail.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
billlorentzen said:
I’m trying to match the original neck model’s P coil. I have this model in 3 bolt-on, 25.5” scale, 22 fret guitars, and I use these guitars in my regular work, so I’m very familiar with the sound, and also how it is modified by the various different builds. For some time, it’s been my holy grail neck tone.

What I don’t get from other P90s is, a) the same lows, which I perceive to be centered on a different peak frequency, and perhaps not as broad in their peak, and, b) the sparkly highs, which to my ears are sweet, not harsh.

The traditional P90 is known for a “honk”, which is a push in the low mids/upper bass range which I definitely don’t want. To be totally unscientific, there is a sweetness to the P-Rail that is lovely to my ears.

I tried A2 mags in one of my P90s (I don’t recall which one), but it made no appreciable difference in the frequencies the pickup reproduced. Not to say that magnet swapping won’t help in all cases, I just don’t have a lot of experience there.

The obvious differences between the PRail and other P90s are the apparently smaller bobbin, and the proximity of the rail coil and its magnetic field. Perhaps one or both of those is the magic ingredient.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

The P-Rail is meant to host a P90 part with a lower inductance than real P90's. If memory serves me, there's 1.5 to 2 Henry of difference or something like that. Not negligible.

Maybe an underwound or "unwound" P90 with not too strongly charged A5 mags would do the job... But before that, I'd try a normal P90 with one of its magnets removed. just be aware that it's not supposed to sound the same if the removed mag is the one towards the neck or the other one facing the bridge. And adjust the height according to the modified magnetic field. :-)
 
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