Any idea which SD pickup this is?

[wallewek]

A number of years ago, I wanted a brighter-sounding pickup for my '59 Gibson archtop, and a tech installed this SD 2BJ type. But it was never as bright-sounding as I wanted. I now suspect he screwed up, because the 2BJ is apparently intended as a bridge pickup, and this guitar has only a single pickup, at the neck position.

But they also say that single-coil pickups have a brighter tone, and I do think it's probably single-coil. I can't tell for sure, as I cannot figure out exactly what it is. I'd really appreciate some help figuring this out. Here are a few pics.

​​​​​​​Any idea what this pickup is?

 

[idsnowdog]

What is it's resistance reading?

 

[wallewek]

I have received info that this is a "Hot P90" made pre-2002. Apparently those are not humbuckers. But it's intended as a bridge pickup. I'm really not interested a "bridgey" sound, or Tele twang. I want clean, clean, clean, good for acoustic tone and finger picking. It's an arch-top hollow body, and I want it to sound like one.

 

[wallewek]

What is it's resistance reading?

14,820 ohms, measured out of circuit with a DVM.

 

[Benjy_26]

That's pretty dang hot for the sound you want.

Look into the Vintage P90 or the Antiquity P90. Another option is to look at Bootstrap pickups. He winds his P90 pickups with alnico rod pole pieces, which tend to give a brighter, snappier tone.

 

[Benjy_26]

You'll probably be looking at his Squeaky Clean P90.

https://bootstrappickups.com/products/single-p90

 

[idsnowdog]

A hot P90 in the neck of full hollow body wouldn't be my first choice. In the bridge of a solid body DC would be a better place for it.

 

[wallewek]

Those sound like good ideas. I'm not a "shredder", not looking to rip it up with a heavy electric tone. And believe me, I could do it -- I build my own amps.

No metal, no distortion, no tele twank, no jazz mush. I want bright, clear, clean sound, good for roots, bluegrass, folk, and finger picking. I want to hear everything that comes off the strings, not muck it up.

Hmm, got some searching to do. I appreciate those suggestions.

 

[Benjy_26]

Those sound like good ideas. I'm not a "shredder", not looking to rip it up with a heavy electric tone. And believe me, I could do it -- I build my own amps.

No metal, no distortion, no tele twank, no jazz mush. I want bright, clear, clean sound, good for roots, bluegrass, folk, and finger picking. I want to hear everything that comes off the strings, not muck it up.

Hmm, got some searching to do. I appreciate those suggestions.

Check out zhangbucker pickups, as well. He builds stuff for clarity, more than output. I have a set of his pickups in a thinline tele and they are VERY woody and clean.

 

[Benjy_26]

http://www.zhangbucker.com/jazz-90.html

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

It is not the pickup. It's the position in the guitar. Neck pickup sounds dull and warm no matter what. If you want bright, clear sound, move it to the bridge position.

 

[wallewek]

It is not the pickup. It's the position in the guitar. Neck pickup sounds dull and warm no matter what. If you want bright, clear sound, move it to the bridge position.

Thanks, I know neck position is more neutral or flat-sounding, as compared to the twanginess of bridge pickups. But that's fine. I want higher frequency openness and clarity of tone, not loud twanky midrange. And anyway, this is a vintage '59 Gibson archtop that was made with only a neck pickup, and there's no way in hell I'm going to damage it to put in a bridge pickup now.

The zhangbucker site is interesting. I noticed a mention of "humbuckers, particularly vintage output models intended for the bridge position, is a midrange scoop that exaggerates the treble". I don't know, even though the writer calls it an icepick in the ear, it might be exactly that I want for a neck pickup.

The Bootstrap P90 Squeaky Clean, though... hmm. Sounds interesting.

 

[Benjy_26]

Thanks, I know bridge position is more neutral or flat-sounding, as compared to the twanginess of bridge pickups. But that's fine. I want higher frequency openness and clarity of tone, not loud twanky midrange. And anyway, this is a vintage '59 Gibson archtop that was made with only a neck pickup, and there's no way in hell I'm going to damage it to put in a bridge pickup now.

The zhangbucker site is interesting. I noticed a mention of "humbuckers, particularly vintage output models intended for the bridge position, is a midrange scoop that exaggerates the treble". I don't know, even though the writer calls it an icepick in the ear, it might be exactly that I want for a neck pickup.

The Bootstrap P90 Squeaky Clean, though... hmm. Sounds interesting.

Dave at Zhangbucker has great ears and makes great pickups. I'd maybe talk to him about what you want and what he can do for you. The Bootstraps are pretty danged nice as well.

 

[wallewek]

Dave at Zhangbucker has great ears and makes great pickups. I'd maybe talk to him about what you want and what he can do for you. The Bootstraps are pretty danged nice as well.

Pardon, I meant to say NECK position is more neutral than bridge -- pretty sure you knew that. Anyway, I have send an inquiry to Zhangbucker, so now I'm hopeful.

 

[wallewek]

Pardon, I meant to say NECK position is more neutral than bridge -- pretty sure you knew that. Anyway, I have send an inquiry to Zhangbucker, so now I'm hopeful.

I've reached out to Zhangbucker (as stated above) and received zero response, from either the initial web form query or email follow-up a week later. I'm very disappointed, and now questioning whether they are even someone I would want to do business with. Not impressed at all.

Can anyone here comment on whether that is typical for them?

 

[JamesPaul]

Pre-pandemic that would not be typical. It used to be only Dave producing the pickups. There are other members here who will be more familiar with the current situation. Still, one guy could just be taking a vacation. Maybe wait until Tuesday to account for a vacation return and email catch-up.

 

[zionstrat]

Back to the neck pickup.. any classic p90 will give you much closer sound to what you are looking for... 7.5k alnico.. your current pickup is twice as hot and has ceramic magnets.. that translates to fat and muddy.. not clear and clean.

Considering the way p90s are made, for classic sounds, nothing else matters so extremely inexpensive p90s can work as well as expensive p90s. Take a look at GFS or Wilkinson..two p90s for $25.

As far as position, the style you describe often includes a bridge pickup a neck pickup and a mixture of the two. Again if you get classic resistance p90s you should get exactly the sound you're looking for.

 

[wallewek]

OK, I tried again to reach out to Bootstrap this Tuesday. Still zero response. I'm done, time to move on. Too bad...

I note SD sells both neck and bridge Hot P90 pickups. My current SD Hot P90 Bridge pickup was mounted by a guitar tech some years ago in the neck position of my Gibson archtop, which only has a place for a single neck pickup. He assured me I would get a brighter tone that the original P90. I’ve never been happy with it, so I'm finally going to replace it.

If I were to replace this SD Hot P90 Bridge pickup with an SD Hot P90 Neck position pickup, how much difference would that make? So you think it would sound significantly cleaner and clearer?

Note, I do NOT want that classic "smooth muffled jazz" sound that these archtops were apparently popular for. I want a bright, clean, clear sound where I can hear every string, every pluck clearly -- where I can finger pick if I want.

 

[idsnowdog]

If your "tech" thought he would get a brighter sound by using a bridge pickup in the neck he doesn't understand physics. If he thought a hot P90 would be brighter than the stock P90 that also shows he doesn't know electronics either. Moving from a hot P90 bridge to hot P90 neck wont do much for you either. I would go with a vintage P90 neck, 50's wiring and a treble bleed on the volume. If you don't use the tone you could convert that into a bass cut.