Epiphone P90 pickups

[Powerstrokedr]

This is not a new topic, however I would like to say that though Gibson lists the Epi P90 pickups as Alnico, the ones in the Epi LP Special Custom Shop guitar that I bought for my daughter.....were not. They were as ceramic as could possibly be. However, they are now Alnico from Mojo Tone with a Vitamin T .047 Cap and sounds amazing. I put Alnico 4 and 5 in the neck P90 and Alnico 5 and 8 in the bridge, both oriented South UP, and it sounds just incredible. The base plates on the epi p90s are cheap, and the wiring is done pretty shoddy ( the neck pickup lead was sandwiched under the bridge pickup adjusting spring), but they are fully wax potted so a lot quieter than P90s of old. The mag swap made the epi p90 sound great and well worth the few bucks and minutes spent.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone P90 pickups

Well done. Those mag combinations are ones that I came up with 5 or 6 years ago. They sound pretty darn good to me too.

Epi is constantly changing the PU's they put in their guitars, so it's a moving target. It can change one year to the next. I don't think they're being trying to be deceptive.

 

[Powerstrokedr]

Re: Epiphone P90 pickups

Well done. Those mag combinations are ones that I came up with 5 or 6 years ago. They sound pretty darn good to me too.

Epi is constantly changing the PU's they put in their guitars, so it's a moving target. It can change one year to the next. I don't think they're being trying to be deceptive.

I believe it was one of your posts that I took the info from, and excellant information!! Honestly this might be the best P90 combo I've ever heard. A nickel silver base plate might improve the tone a smidge, but honestly I doubt it is worth the trouble. Epi is constantly changing, and i agree I doubt it was intentional misleading, but folks shouldn't be afraid to crack theirs open and look. I set the neck way down and the bridge way up and holy moses batman...the tone is oozing from these babies. Eat your heart out fender lol. Although I do so love my alnico 2 humbuckers....smooth as Tennessee whiskey lol

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone P90 pickups

Epi is constantly changing, and i agree I doubt it was intentional misleading, but folks shouldn't be afraid to crack theirs open and look.

Absolutely. If you have an Epi, check what PU's are in it, that old 'Subject to change without notice. If it's used they could be upgrades. I got a '58 V that the seller forgot to mention had a pair of DiMarzio's in it. It's a company philosophy, as Gibson is always rotating PU's thru their guitar models.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Epiphone P90 pickups

I had one of the GC EPI tv yellow specials a few years back. Very well put together guitar. Worst P90s I have ever heard. I also find it hard to believe they had alnico magnets.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone P90 pickups

I had one of the GC EPI tv yellow specials a few years back. Very well put together guitar. Worst P90s I have ever heard. I also find it hard to believe they had alnico magnets.

A crappy wind can do that.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Epiphone P90 pickups

Well it was the exact same guitar that the OP mentioned, so I am inclined to believe I prolly got the same ceramic mag versions.

There are plenty of bad sounding winds out there for sure, but I am heavily biased. I grew up playing a 1954 P-90, and I have yet to hear anything that good in modern day repros (some are close...Lollar, frex)

 

[Powerstrokedr]

Re: Epiphone P90 pickups

Well it was the exact same guitar that the OP mentioned, so I am inclined to believe I prolly got the same ceramic mag versions.

There are plenty of bad sounding winds out there for sure, but I am heavily biased. I grew up playing a 1954 P-90, and I have yet to hear anything that good in modern day repros (some are close...Lollar, frex)

If you try another of these P90 guitars, definately change the magnets. The alnico 5, 4 in the neck and 5, 8 in the bridge is perfect. Also, trash the factory cap, and rewire it to vintage style...amazing. I also love the .047 oil filled mojotone vitamin T. End of the day, an hour of work...rewarded with a sound that is a far cry from the 99 dollar guitar I picked up cause it looked cool. I might order some nickel silver base plates just for grins next string change. Maybe I can wring all the tone possible out of this little epi