fralin steel pole vs real P90

[mrfjones]

who here uses the fralins steel pole pickus in either a strat or a tele and also has a p90 guitar? I am interested in how close the fralins pickups sound to actual p90's. I would like a p90 sound but I do not want to route out another guitar. any help on this subject would be appreciated

 

[Curly]

Re: fralin steel pole vs real P90

who here uses the fralins steel pole pickus in either a strat or a tele and also has a p90 guitar?

Lew

 

[BachToRock]

Re: fralin steel pole vs real P90

I really don't understand the logic in people even considering the Fralin Steel Pole is going to get them the clasic P90 sound...

THINK ABOUT IT...

Strat/Tele = Alder/Ash/etc... w/bolt on neck generally of maple...
Typical P90 guitar = Mahagony w/set neck generally of Mahagony...
P90 = Short/Fat coil w/High Inductance...
Fralin Steel Pole = Narrow/Tall typical strat style coil...

About the ONLY SIMILARITY is that both pickups have the magnets on the bottom of the pickup... and that they are single coil design...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: fralin steel pole vs real P90

About the ONLY SIMILARITY is that both pickups have the magnets on the bottom of the pickup... and that they are single coil design...

The Fralin Steel Pole 43 WILL get alot of the tone of a P90...it has adjustable polepieces like a P90 too! It's a great sounding design and the Fralin SP43 and the Duncan Antiquity Texas Hot Custom bridge are my two favorite Strat bridge replacement pickups. I'll tell you what: as much as I like the little 59 and JB JR, the SP43 sounds alot more like a P90 than a little 59 or JB JR. sounds like a full size 59 or JB humbucker! IMO, the SP43 gets a tone that's about 3/4 P90 and 1/4 Strat. Used as a bridge pickup in a Strat, it gets a tone that is as least as strong a JB JR but still retains the single coil vibe so it combines better with the middle pickup and retains that classic middle/bridge combination tone most Strat players love. Lew

 

[mrfjones]

Re: fralin steel pole vs real P90

The Fralin Steel Pole 43, IMO, the SP43 gets a tone that's about 3/4 P90 and 1/4 Strat. Lew

thanks Lew thats what i really needed to know. My other question then is what type of magnets are in these? Alnico 5?



BachtoRock,

I understand the differences in wood and the normal kind of guitar that p90s are put into but i have also played alder teles with p90s that don't sound like the classic LP with a p90 but sound great and different. That is something i am looking for without having to really rip apart another guitar.

there is one more thing you forgot though, a p90 is generally screwed into the wood directly or held in place by a dog ear cover, the steel poles are not scred into the wood and held on by a pickguard. that too will change the sound a little bit

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: fralin steel pole vs real P90

thanks Lew thats what i really needed to know. My other question then is what type of magnets are in these? Alnico 5?



BachtoRock,

I understand the differences in wood and the normal kind of guitar that p90s are put into but i have also played alder teles with p90s that don't sound like the classic LP with a p90 but sound great and different. That is something i am looking for without having to really rip apart another guitar.

there is one more thing you forgot though, a p90 is generally screwed into the wood directly or held in place by a dog ear cover, the steel poles are not scred into the wood and held on by a pickguard. that too will change the sound a little bit

Lindy uses a pair of ceramic magnets under the pickup, alot like Seymour does for the JB JR and Little 59...those use ceramic too, even tho the full size versions use alnico 5. Lindy makes two versions of the Steel Pole design: the Steel Pole 42 uses 42 ga. wire and has about 50% Strat/50% P90 tone and the Steel Pole 43 uses 43 ga. wire and has about 25% Strat/75% P90 tone. Hope that helps! Lew

 

[mrfjones]

Re: fralin steel pole vs real P90

thanks lew

 

[Tweed]

Re: fralin steel pole vs real P90

I was talking with a guy the other day about Teles and P90s. His search for P90ish tones in a Tele ended with a Harmonic Design S90. I have read good things about these pups, but hadn't spoken with anyone who had used one. Worth looking into, methinks.

 

[Curly]

Re: fralin steel pole vs real P90

Harmonic Design has some unique designs that some folks love, including the Z90's, and their P90 type pups for strat and tele.

I tried a set of Vintage Plus, and found them a little bright and brash when I preferred warm and smooth.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: fralin steel pole vs real P90

I was talking with a guy the other day about Teles and P90s. His search for P90ish tones in a Tele ended with a Harmonic Design S90. I have read good things about these pups, but hadn't spoken with anyone who had used one. Worth looking into, methinks.

I had the HD Z90 as the neck pickup and the Duncan CC as the bridge pickup in a Hamer Studio Custom. To me, the Z90 sounded more like a gigantic Strat pickup than a P90. Very bright. Cool pickup but I replaced it with an Antiquity neck humbucker...better! Lew

 

[Tweed]

Re: fralin steel pole vs real P90

I'm talking about the S90, not the Z90. The S90 is a replacement Tele bridge pup.