changing P-90s to Antiquity HBs in SE Soapbar II

[TremoloKing]

A little history since I'm new here...

I've been using SD single coil SSL-1 and STL Lead pickups in Teles and Strats for about 12 years. I know Seymour knows how to make great pickups. In fact, I've had an L series Strat since 1966 and the SSL-1s that I'm using in it while I attempt to repair the vol control in the original assy, are closer to the original pickups than any I've ever tried.

So when I recently picked up a used PRS SE Soapbar II and decided that it was an excellent candidate for humbuckers, it was an easy choice to go with Duncans. And having had my soz blown off once by trying a guitar with Seth Lovers, it was another easy choice to go with them, though I ended up getting a deal on a set of pre-owned but un-used Antiquities. So as soon as I can have the routing changed by a friend with a wood shop, I'll make the change.

In the meantime, I'm wondering about the stock P-90s that are in the Soapbar II. I know the P-90s in the USA Paul Reed Smiths are designed by Seymour Duncan. I assume that the Special Design P-90s that are in the Korean ones are made overseas.

Are they based on the ones that Duncan is credited as designing?

Would I have noticed a huge improvement just changing to a pair of bonafide Seymour P-90s?

The guitar plays wonderfully. I can't wait to get a great set of pickups in it.

 

[martinsixstringcustoms]

Re: changing P-90s to Antiquity HBs in SE Soapbar II

I had a Single Cut PRS Soapbar SE and the stock P-90's were very nice sounding. Before I sold the guitar, I installed some Duncan P-90's and it was a big improvement. Great growl, but not muddy. The cleans were improved as well. So to answer your question, yes, real SD's would be an improvement.

 

[martinsixstringcustoms]

Re: changing P-90s to Antiquity HBs in SE Soapbar II

By the way, welcome to the forum!

 

[dd12939]

Re: changing P-90s to Antiquity HBs in SE Soapbar II

I think you'd benefit from slapping some real SD P-90s in there, but I'm not sure about your idea of putting full size humbuckers in there. P-90 routes are narrower and longer than humbucker routes, so you'd have to do some routing and blocking to put HB's in there. IIRC though, Mini-humbuckers will go in there with little or no trouble.

 

[TremoloKing]

Re: changing P-90s to Antiquity HBs in SE Soapbar II

Thanks, guys. Yes, I think the original pups are fairly decent, though I don't like the n+b combo, possibly because the hum-cancelling design alters the tone a little. But each alone sounds good. Not great, but good.

If I went the premium P-90 route, I would want to use two straight up pickups I think. Being a Strat guy I live with 60 cycle hum on a daily basis.

As far as putting in full size HBs, I have a guitar player bud with a woodshop who will help me do the routing.

I have a 1980 Ibanez Artist AR-50 that has Super 70s in it and I'm looking for a lighter alternative to that.

 

[BlueGuitar]

Re: changing P-90s to Antiquity HBs in SE Soapbar II

Thanks, guys. Yes, I think the original pups are fairly decent, though I don't like the n+b combo, possibly because the hum-cancelling design alters the tone a little. But each alone sounds good. Not great, but good...

I would disagree with you about the effects of a RWRP pair on tone, but it is simple enough to switch your pickups back to the original NWNP design. For one of the pickups you need to reverse the wires from the bobbin, and then flip over both of the magnets. Voila! You are back in 1955, with hum galore in the middle position. :saeek:

I've been "flipping" my P-90's so that they are RWRP for several years now, and I really don't hear any degradation of quality. Just less hum and noise.

One tip: when flipping the P-90 magnets it is easy to get mixed up and screw up really bad. Mark the outside of each bar magnet with a Sharpie before you begin. Now flip the magnets around so that the marks are on the INSIDE next to the keeper bar and pickup screws.

I adopted a PRS SE Soapbar II myself a few months ago... it was too good to pass up! :dance: (I had just bought a similar P-90 equipted Gibson last summer for around $700, and it had the cheap faded finish... The PRS was $450 and it came with a REAL guitar finish. )

If you want to replace the P-90's with humbuckers, it's a free county (at least it was the last time I checked). And I guess it is easier to go from P-90's to hb's than the other way around since you have pickup rings to cover up any "booboo's".

So with the humbuckers your guitar would basically be a Santana SE w/ stoptail bridge... right?

 

[TremoloKing]

Re: changing P-90s to Antiquity HBs in SE Soapbar II

So with the humbuckers your guitar would basically be a Santana SE w/ stoptail bridge... right?

Yeah, I guess so. This one was used "like new" for $375 w/ hsc so I jumped at the offer.

Interesting that the change to NRWRP didn't change the n+b sound. I really don't like that position on this guitar, yet individually the pickups sound OK. But together I hear a nasally metalic tone that turns me right off.

I thought I might be able to adjust the pickup heights to get a better sound but it didn't help nearly enough.

I'll probably add a second vol control so that I can back off the neck pup slightly in the combo position. I like to do that on Les Paul type set ups. Gives you a fat bridge pickup sound w/o as much plinky-ness.

I like the appearance of this guitar's dot fret markers and no pickguard. And I love the neck shape. I think with the new pickups it will be a monster player. I'll be dissapointed if it's anything less. :scared:

 

[BlueGuitar]

Re: changing P-90s to Antiquity HBs in SE Soapbar II

I like the appearance of this guitar's dot fret markers and no pickguard. And I love the neck shape. I think with the new pickups it will be a monster player. I'll be dissapointed if it's anything less. :scared:

If you think about it, putting Antiquities in the Soapbar II isn't that different from what Gibson was doing in the mid-50's when they started putting PAF humbuckers on their guitars. :dance:

Let us know how it turns out!

 

[TremoloKing]

Re: changing P-90s to Antiquity HBs in SE Soapbar II

Yeah, Steve, that's what I'm shooting for... a sort of 1961 LP SG type guitar. light to medium weight solid mahogany w/ old fashioned HBs. The neck profile on this guitar is just what I was looking for too, wide and chunky.

We're changing the pickup routes Monday night (I hope). :32: