Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

[chadd]

I wasn't a big fan of P90s when I was younger and ripped them out of every guitar I owned that had them. Now that I'm playing with less distortion, I'd like to give them another go. Without buying another guitar right now (we all know that's going to happen at some point anyway), the only way to do that is with a standard humbucker format (or routing, and I don't want to go there). The guitar I have in mind only has a bridge pickup, so neck position suggestions really won't help.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

If you want to stay with the SD range, the P-Rails offers the best P-90 sound in a humbucker format. If you add a Triple Shot ring, you also have 3 additional sounds to work with.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

I have Phat Cats in my G&L ASAT. They're fantastical.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

If you want to stay with the SD range, the P-Rails offers the best P-90 sound in a humbucker format. If you add a Triple Shot ring, you also have 3 additional sounds to work with.

I have Phat Cats in my G&L ASAT. They're fantastical.

I guess it depends on whether you like A2 pickups. I don't particularly care for A2s and have a set of Phat Cats in my SG that I can't wait to swap for something else.

Speaking of chadd, I'd be willing to sell them at a fair price if you're interested.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

The "Mean 90" is a great P-90 in a humbucker size and costs only 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of most P-90's.

I also love the P-90 in the SD P-Rail (not the overwound P-Rail+). It's a tremendously versatile pup, but it costs a lot.

For versatility you can't beat the P-Rail. For value you can't beat the Mean 90.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

I guess it depends on whether you like A2 pickups. I don't particularly care for A2s and have a set of Phat Cats in my SG that I can't wait to swap for something else.

Speaking of chadd, I'd be willing to sell them at a fair price if you're interested.

If not him, I would be interested!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

I have Phat Cats in my G&L ASAT. They're fantastical.

I'm thinking Phat Cats are probably at their best in Fender-type guitars; I don't like them with the stock magnets in any of my Gibson-design guitars. Unfortunately, a lot of players buy HB-sized P-90's for their LP's, SG's, 335's, etc. But with different magnets, Phat Cats are a better fit for them.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

I recently swapped some Railhammer Nuevo-90s into one of my Reverend guitars and they are amazing. Joe Naylor has done an amazing design - silent P90 tone! Also, the P-Rails as P90 alone is great, the extra sound/flexibility comes as a bonus.


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[treyhaislip]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

I'm thinking Phat Cats are probably at their best in Fender-type guitars; I don't like them with the stock magnets in any of my Gibson-design guitars. Unfortunately, a lot of players buy HB-sized P-90's for their LP's, SG's, 335's, etc. But with different magnets, Phat Cats are a better fit for them.

I have a Phat Cat in the neck position of a Warmoth 7/8 Strat (Gibson Scale) and it sounds phenomenal!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

The "Mean 90" is a great P-90 in a humbucker size and costs only 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of most P-90's.

A lot of members like them. They have A5 magnets, which give the classic P-90 sound. Of course, you could also put A5's in a Phat Cat and get those tones.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

If you only have 1 pickup, I'd probably opt for a P-Rails. It makes the guitar more versatile without losing a P-90 sound. In fact, the P-90 is the best sound (to me) on the P-Rails.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

A lot of members like them. They have A5 magnets, which give the classic P-90 sound. Of course, you could also put A5's in a Phat Cat and get those tones.

That's true, but why would anyone pay 3-4 times as much as the Mean 90 for a Phat Cat, buy two A5 mags, then go through all the time and trouble of replacing the mags in a PC just to end up with what you can already have from the Mean 90?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

If you only have 1 pickup, I'd probably opt for a P-Rails. It makes the guitar more versatile without losing a P-90 sound. In fact, the P-90 is the best sound (to me) on the P-Rails.

Absolutely! I totally agree.

But don't discount the parallel sound of the P-Rail. That is also an amazing tone.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

What about something in-between like a DiMarzio Bluesbucker? Seems it might bridge the whole Humbucker/P90 gap and look standard in the guitar...

 

[noyty]

Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

Get the real deal for the same price. $99 epiphone special 1. These pickups sound amazing and its a **** load of fun to play. The only way to get that p90 sound is with a single coil p90 [emoji41]


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[blueman335]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

What about something in-between like a DiMarzio Bluesbucker? Seems it might bridge the whole Humbucker/P90 gap and look standard in the guitar...

I had one, wasn't a sound I wanted. It's a weird PU, I give DiMarzio credit for creativity, I believe it's 10K with unbalanced coils and a small ceramic magnet, but it doesn't sound anything like a P-90 to me. I wouldn't consider it to be a viable alternative.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

Get the real deal for the same price. $99 epiphone special 1. These pickups sound amazing and its a **** load of fun to play. The only way to get that p90 sound is with a single coil p90 [emoji41]


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Apparently you didn't bother to read the post? Or the heading to the post.

 

[socalscott]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

Wolfftone is to release a version which includes the HB ring dimensions. Full bobbin used.

Go with a switchable treble-bleed circuit, so you can cop Strat and Tele tones. The mids and bottom get cut, especially with git vol at 2 to 3.
I like an a2/a5 mag mix, but check this forum for other mixes.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

Premier Guitar did a really good overview of this subject across many brands:
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/20058-humbucker-sized-p-90-review-roundup

I haven't personally tried but have heard great clips of the Railhammer Gnarly 90s. That said, Railhammer seems to have discontinued them, replacing them with the new Humcutter series - *noiseless* P90s in humbucker size, which I bet more than a few folks are seeking:
http://www.railhammer.com/pickups.html

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Best P90 in a standard humbucker format?

I am calling "best" the one that sounds most like a classic P90. Others' "best" might be decided based on a different criterion.

IMO, the DIMarzio Bluesbucker is the best sounding "P90 tone in humbucker rout." I don't know how they do it, since the pickup is constructed nothing like a P90...but they do it. And to make it even sweeter, it's a total "sleeper" pickup, because it looks stock.

Staying with Seymour Duncan, it'd be a pair of P-Rails neck models that I think do the classic P90 tone best in a humbucker rout.