Best P-90s

[super rad stuff]

Re: Best P-90s

Take off the cover; if it has a metal cover you'll probably need to cut the two blobs of solder (I use a dremel). The 2 magnets are between the base plate and coil. Pull one out halfway & check orientation (sides attract). Put the over back on, and resolder if it's metal. Only takes minutes.

i think he meant what magnets..
blueman has told me that he uses a5/a3 or a5/a4 in the neck(i also use a5/a3) and a4/a8 or a5/a8 in the bridge(i think?). a5/a3 is a cool combo for the neck, very chimey and clear, handles distortion really well, as in it doesn't mud up one bit and is very clear. it's note definition with distortion is insanely articulate!

 

[Huntermb]

Re: Best P-90s

i think he meant what magnets..
blueman has told me that he uses a5/a3 or a5/a4 in the neck(i also use a5/a3) and a4/a8 or a5/a8 in the bridge(i think?). a5/a3 is a cool combo for the neck, very chimey and clear, handles distortion really well, as in it doesn't mud up one bit and is very clear. it's note definition with distortion is insanely articulate!

Thanks, that is exactly what I was looking for! I'll give it a try.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Best P-90s

i think he meant what magnets..
blueman has told me that he uses a5/a3 or a5/a4 in the neck(i also use a5/a3) and a4/a8 or a5/a8 in the bridge(i think?). a5/a3 is a cool combo for the neck, very chimey and clear, handles distortion really well, as in it doesn't mud up one bit and is very clear. it's note definition with distortion is insanely articulate!

My excuse is it's late.

Right, A5/A3 is clear, articulate, & chimey in a SG, slightly warmer in a LP and 335 (still has some chime). Very nice alternative to a (darker) neck HB. No mud at all. This is the closest I've gotten a Phat Cat to sound like a Strat neck SC.

A5/A4 in the neck has more crunch factor, more midrange punch, and still a good amount of treble for bite. A gutsier tone. The single coil sound still comes thru. Very good for solos too.

In the neck, I initially tried A5/A2 pairs, which were a big improvement over twin A2's, much more definition & clarity. I decided to take that a step further and use something with more treble than an A2, so that the neck would sound more like a warm bridge PU, than a typical neck PU. I think an A5/A2 pair is very usable & a lot of players would be pleased with that.

For the bridge I've used an A8/A4 pair so far, wanting strong mids and output, knowing that with a bridge single coil, I'll automatically get enough treble to cut thru. This has worked well enough so far that I haven't felt a strong urge to experiment further. I think the A8 part of the formula is needed for warmth & output, to balance with the neck. For the other magnet, an A3 or A5 would add more treble, which might be what some players would prefer. I like what the A4 adds (in addition reinforcing the mids & low end), which is just enough treble for bite. To my ears, the stock A2's give a bridge sound that is thin & weak, and easily overpowered by the neck PU. The A8/A4 pair puts the bridge on a level playing field. Easier to get a Leslie West LP Jr. sound.

Think of P-90's as creating a hybrid, blending the EQ & output of two different magnets to create something new (I don't know that I'd ever use two of the same). Whatever qualities you want to add, or reduce, try a magnet that will push the sound in that direction. You can do much more fine-tuning with a P-90 than a HB. You can make it match your guitar's wood more precisely. It puts more control in your hands. This is fun stuff.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Best P-90s

My excuse is it's late.

Right, A5/A3 is clear, articulate, & chimey in a SG, slightly warmer in a LP and 335 (still has some chime). Very nice alternative to a (darker) neck HB. No mud at all. This is the closest I've gotten a Phat Cat to sound like a Strat neck SC.

A5/A4 in the neck has more crunch factor, more midrange punch, and still a good amount of treble for bite. A gutsier tone. The single coil sound still comes thru. Very good for solos too.

In the neck, I initially tried A5/A2 pairs, which were a big improvement over twin A2's, much more definition & clarity. I decided to take that a step further and use something with more treble than an A2, so that the neck would sound more like a warm bridge PU, than a typical neck PU. I think an A5/A2 pair is very usable & a lot of players would be pleased with that.

For the bridge I've used an A8/A4 pair so far, wanting strong mids and output, knowing that with a bridge single coil, I'll automatically get enough treble to cut thru. This has worked well enough so far that I haven't felt a strong urge to experiment further. I think the A8 part of the formula is needed for warmth & output, to balance with the neck. For the other magnet, an A3 or A5 would add more treble, which might be what some players would prefer. I like what the A4 adds (in addition reinforcing the mids & low end), which is just enough treble for bite. To my ears, the stock A2's give a bridge sound that is thin & weak, and easily overpowered by the neck PU. The A8/A4 pair puts the bridge on a level playing field. Easier to get a Leslie West LP Jr. sound.

Think of P-90's as creating a hybrid, blending the EQ & output of two different magnets to create something new (I don't know that I'd ever use two of the same). Whatever qualities you want to add, or reduce, try a magnet that will push the sound in that direction. You can do much more fine-tuning with a P-90 than a HB. You can make it match your guitar's wood more precisely. It puts more control in your hands. This is fun stuff.

sorry i always forget about the time zones, and it's not even 11 here
but yea all this stuff blueman said about phatcats and p-90s is probably the best info you can get on this stuff.

 

[sharkfin]

Re: Best P-90s

Both Kinman & Fralin have noiseless P90's in the works, both should be released within Febuary.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Best P-90s

yea all this stuff blueman said about phatcats and p-90s is probably the best info you can get on this stuff.

I'm no expert, I'm just opening the door to what's possible. Once a PU is made, it's the biggest thing you can do to change the EQ & output. I got tired of constantly buying PU's & selling half of them when they didn't sound the way I'd hoped. That was baffling at first, because I knew they were high-quality PU's and worked well for some guys. But once I got on this forum, I found out the same PU can sound very different in one guitar to the next. If your wood changes the tone in an unexpected way, a lot of times magnets can change it back to what you want.

I've made many PU's sound very good, when at first I was disappointed in them. Example: I got an assortment of used Gibson HB's and wasn't impressed; but I've changed magnets in all of them, and they're some of my best-sounding PU's now. Don't blindly buy PU after PU based on sincere, but sometimes misguided recommendations, and then sell them for a loss. Save your cash! Buy magnets as a first step. They won't won't fix every PU, but they can fix a lot of them. Keep experimenting guys, you'll come up with things I haven't tried or thought of.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Best P-90s

Keep experimenting guys, you'll come up with things I haven't tried or thought of.

you tried an a2 jb yet:cool2:
it's actually a neat pickup, i really think you should give it a try.

edit: or with an a3, i know how you like 'bite' in your pickups:naughty:

 

[blueman335]

Re: Best P-90s

you tried an a2 jb yet:cool2:
it's actually a neat pickup, i really think you should give it a try.

edit: or with an a3, i know how you like 'bite' in your pickups:naughty:

I had several JB's, in several different guitars, and sold them all (JB's that is). I wanted to see what all the hype was about with that PU, but that spike was too harsh for me. I haven't been able to get the bite & pick noise I want with an A2 in any PU; too rounded on top, although a JB might just overcome that.

I've used a lot of A4's, and am on an A8 kick now.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Best P-90s

I blended an A8 and an A4 in a neck P-90 once and it was pretty rad.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Best P-90s

I blended an A8 and an A4 in a neck P-90 once and it was pretty rad.

I would never consider an A8 in the neck spot. Too much mid, not clear enough, to much pull on the low strings.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Best P-90s

I would never consider an A8 in the neck spot. Too much mid, not clear enough, to much pull on the low strings.

Well, you're wrong.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Best P-90s

Well, you're wrong.

BURN! :nana::joke:

actually, i never wanted to try an a8 in the neck for basically the same reasons. how rad does is sound?

 

[sosomething]

Re: Best P-90s

Rad enough in that particular guitar.

Keep in mind it was P-90, hence 2 mags, so it was an A8 paired with an A4. The A4 definitely contributed it's own personality to the blend.

That said... I don't find any particular magnet type being more- or less-suited to a pickup position than any other, especially when you consider all the other things combine to determine the sound of an instrument. To imply that only A2 or A5 mags should be used in a neck pickup is silly, and indicative of the internet-fueled "what looks right on paper" tonal buttsniffing we see more an more of each day. 9 times out of 10 it amounts to nothing more than conjecture...

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: Best P-90s

Compadres, I have recently purchased an Epi Les Paul Goldtop with P-90s -- wasn't planning on it, just snuck up on me in the store. Never had P-90s before, and now I am a convert, big-time. Wow. Anyhow, been surfing my brains out for info re: upgrading the pickups and I'm really having trouble finding what I'm looking for, at least how things are described. So reaching out here. My Qs and observations:

1. I am looking for a pickup that has great string clarity with light-gauge strings (9s) but also balls. To clarify that: The ELP sounded great with 10s, but I lowered the action a little bit and put on 9s -- and string clarity noticeably decreased. Is that something particular to P-90s?

2. I'm not concerned with bottom end as much as mids and upper-mids. Just want the bottom and top to be balanced volume-wise, and definitely no mud. This guitar/pickups can get ballsy Tele-type tones and I'd like to accentuate those.

3. I'm really talking about the bridge pickup here, but if there's a P-90 that can get more Strat-like tones at the neck that would be cool.

4. I see a lot of "hot" P-90s. I'm not concerned with output -- I can get that from the amp (Plexi) and pedals. I just like that all-important string clarity, even with fuzz/distortion.

5. I didn't notice much hum from the P-90s (not like a strat) but was wondering if the SD P-90 stack sounds like a regular P-90 or loses something.

6. I would consider a custom wind.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something important, so ask away if you need clarification. Any advice/thoughs would be appreciated.

Best P90's in a P90 shape ???

I would look no futher than these :

* Gibson P90 - can't beat the original.
* Stephens Design P90's Zepher Blues - http://www.sdpickups.com/zephyr.shtml
* Bare Knuckle - Mississippi Queen's


James



PS : . . . i love your EPI, my fave Epi LP !!!

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Best P-90s

What other tools can cut through the solder on a Phat Cat cover?

 

[uOpt]

Re: Best P-90s

What other tools can cut through the solder on a Phat Cat cover?

I removed pickup covers this way:
- soldering iron, heat up the solder point a little
- solder pump, take off some lead
- repeat
- repeat until a good chunk of the lead is gone

Then, I use a screwdriver jerked in to crack the remainder of the lead, which should be very thin by now.

 

[veryhungrycaterpilla]

Re: Best P-90s

The SE's use PRS's own wind and are made in Korea just like the rest of the axe. The US PRS uses a Vintage in the neck and a Custome neck model in the bridge.

Per PRS, the SE pups are lower output versions of McSoapys, i.e. PRS/SD collaboration.

I did not specifically ask the country of origin of the SE pups.

Anyways, the SE P-90s rock.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Best P-90s

I thinking of a P-90 pup using Alnico 8 magnets....

How would that sound?

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Best P-90s

I thinking of a P-90 pup using Alnico 8 magnets....

How would that sound?

like your favorite beer mixed with awesomeness:naughty:
srsly though ask blueman he'll know

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Best P-90s

I thinking of a P-90 pup using Alnico 8 magnets....

How would that sound?

I swapped an A8/A5 combo into a bridge soapie - it had a5/a5 before. the a8 made it bolder, filled it out which it needed, it was a little thin stock. never tried two a8s.