Continuing P-90 Search...

[cheezemaster]

Sorry to keep on posting P-90 questions. I'm still on a search for the right P-90 for the Bridge position of mu LP Deluxe.. I'm happy with the Duncan Vintage in the neck here's what I've gone thru so far for the bridge..

- SD Vintage - Too much high end, kind of "thin" sounding under gain.
- SD Custom - too much "modern" punch and harshness
- Custom w/ Alnico 5 swapped in- the more I gig with it, the weirder it is.. sometimes sounds good, but it seems to have some frequencies cut... still has a bit too much punch and picks up too much subtle string movements and pick noises (not good for a sloppy rocker like myself!)
- SD Hot - I have one in another guitar and I like it, but I want something a bit more "vintage" in this axe
- Phat Cats - love 'em in my SG, but they ain't gonna fit in regular P-90 holes!

What I'm looking for - something in the 8-10k range. Slightly hotter than a standard P-90, but fat and warm with a nice low end grind. Nasty, but not harsh.. I hear the sound in my head.. heheh. Something between the Hot and the Phat Cat...

I use the bridge position 95% of the time with a lot of gain. I play 70's style hard rock/boogie rock (along the lines of ZZ Top ,Grand Funk, AC/DC, Stones etc..)

Any suggestions? Surfing around it seems like either the Kent Armstrong or Lindy Fralins would be good choices - but I've never heard them.

Share your wisdom, oh forum gurus!

Rock,
- Cheeze

 

[Curly]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

It's hard for me to recommend something based on your comments:

the Vintage is too "thin", and you want something more vintage than the Hot

my Vintage Bridge measures 9.65K, btw - right in your range

Have you tried Antiquites?

 

[cheezemaster]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

no I haven't tried the antiquites.. I think I'd like them. I'd probably need a set though, I don't know if the Ant. Bridge would be underpowered compwred to the Vintage neck. I'm willing to go for a lower output P-90 if the tone is right. I love the Phat Cats.. which are supposedly similar to the Antiquities (alnico 2).

The reason I'm looking for something hotter is so it'll balance nicely with the neck pup. The Vintage bridge is fine output-wise, I just didn't like the tone.

When I say the Vinage was "thin", that's probably the wrong word. Sorry for the confusion. It's more that there is a lot more high end and some "shrill" frequencies I didn't like. Because of this, leads sounded a little thin to me. It seems a lot brighter than a regular Gibby P-90. Maybe I just got a bunk one.. who knows. .

Maybe I should try a Gibson.. although I swear I can't find a single online retailer that sells Gibson P-90s.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

I have some alnico 2 Duncan Antiquity P90's in stock. Maybe those would fill the bill? Alnico 2 has a smoother tone with more mids. I believe the Phat Cats you like are also alnico 2. Lew

 

[Majestic]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

Have you tried DiMarzio's "Bluesbucker", or is anything DiMarzio out of the question?

I see it uses their "air" and "virtual vintage" manufacturing techniques (I won't call it "technology").

 

[greendy123]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

How about the SD vintage but w/ alnico 2s switched in for the warmer tone with vintage output?

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

I made an Antiquity with an A5 magnet for the neck pup at User group Day. Actually MJ made like 90% of it.

It's pretty ballsy. I'd go with an Antiquity if it was me, but i"m into old vintage stuff. THe Vintage is A5, right? So, an A5 Antiquity probably wouldn't float your boat if the vintage one doesn't.

Antiquity w/ a2 sounds like the ticket.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

Antiquity w/ a2 sounds like the ticket.

I think so too. Thanks Scott!

Lew

 

[Corbic]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

As everyone else said above, the Antiquities (which have A2 magnets), a Vintage with an A2 magnet or the Hot with and A2 magnet would be your best bet.

 

[cheezemaster]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

Yeah - I think i agree with you all. A2 is probably the way to go. I likes me lots o' mids! I love the Phat Cats and I also dig the Alnico 2 Pro strat neck pup have.. .

Lew, I just may take you up on that Antiquity set.

One question about the Antiqities before I take the plunge. Are they wax potted? If not, am I going to get squeal if I'm playing at normal stage volume with a bunch of gain? We're not talking super heavy metal or insanely loud volume, but I do play good ol' loud rock (a la ZZ Top/ AC/DC/ Mountain, Who etc.. ) I ain't gonna be playing no stinkin' jazz on these babies - hehe:banana:

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

Go With Rio Grande

 

[Alvin Lee Fan]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

Looking for some P90 info of my own.

Scott, you mentioned an A5 Ant you made. I have an Ant and a Vintage P90. What do you think it would sound like if I swapped magnets on them to end up with an A5 Ant and an A2 Vintage.

I would put the Ant in the neck and the Vintage in the bridge.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

I have some alnico 2 Duncan Antiquity P90's in stock. Maybe those would fill the bill? Alnico 2 has a smoother tone with more mids. I believe the Phat Cats you like are also alnico 2. Lew

Yup, Phat Cats are Alnico 2.

You could try one of Lew's Antiquity's but swap in some Alnico 4's. They're sort of like Alnico 2 but even smoother and with more output and bass.

Another approach would be to have one wound in that 8.5 to 9.5 range but with a wider coil, which would see a larger portion of the string and give you more lows and low mids but without sacrificing the vintage sparkle on top.

 

[cheezemaster]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

I'm just gonna bump myself!!! yyoww!!!

So I'm basically sold on the Antiquities.

Only concern is the lack of wax potting. Are these suckers gonna go microphonic and squeal when I crank it? I don't play at deafening levels, or insane amounts of distortion but I am in a gigging rock n' roll power trio and use a fair amount of gain. This isn't for bedroom jazz experiments..

Anyone have experience with playing hard rock with the Antiquity P-90s.
If squealing IS a problem, is it easy to find someone to pot pickups?

 

[dani]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

i believe duncan custom shop and harmonic design offers wax potting services.

 

[Curly]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

you know, offhand, I don't recall anyone complaining of squealing with P90s

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

have some custom p90s made for you ...i think they are the kind of pickup tha needs its player to use a combo of agressiveness and subtlety

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Continuing P-90 Search...

has anyone ever made a blade p90