GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

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I'm interested in opinions from all of you.

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Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

from what i understand of the gfs', the mean 90 sounds like a real p-90, the dream 90 is more single-coil ish(but don't quote me on that) and from my actual experience, the phat cat is just that, very phat. it's got very good note definition under a lot of gain, with the right magnets of course. hard to describe the character it imparts to the basic humbucker flavor(i know it's not a humbucker just go with this) it's rounder, but with a brighter attack.

edit: in general, p-90 types usually have more character(to my ear) in that they impart both a certain amount of grittyness that humbuckers don't have, and a certain smoothness that humbuckers also don't have, all at the same time.
 
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Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

ya, the Dream 90 is sort of a cross between a P-90 and a strat single coil, smooth, glassy and syrupy like a strat pup, but powerful like a P-90. Never tried the mean 90 or phat cat.
 
Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

I don't know the first two, but I was using a phat cat until I swapped it out for a seth lover. The only other hb sized P90 I know is the gibson P94. The phat cat, compared to the P94, is less fizzy and has more lower mids, but is still a clear sounding pickup.

The reason I swapped it out was that I play with gain and distortion a lot, and the phat cat simply had too much noise. The Seth Lover is an amazing pickup and has less noise than the phat cat, but I miss the "character" the phat cat had. It didn't have the "chewy" quality that gibson P90s have in some guitars, but it had a really fun sound.

The phat cat doesn't compare to the Seymour Duncan P90s I've played in godin guitars. In those godins, I found those P90s to be overly bright and lacking in mids, even though the guitars were constructed with mahogany. The phat cat is a very different pickup from them, despite all of them being P90s.
 
Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

Question about P90s: what does Green Day use? :9:
 
Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

I really like the sound Green Day is getting now days. So based on that, you all think I'd be happy with a Dream 90?
 
Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

the Phat Cat oozes with mojo. just sayin

I think you'll be happy w/ any p 90 if you take advantage of magnet swapping (two magnets in a p 90) to dial in your tone
 
Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

currently he's got those signature gibson with a stacked p-90(p-100?), doesn't really sound like the earlier stuff.

Actually, his signature model has something called an H90. I guess its a double stack pickup and is supposed to be high output and take gain easier. Heres what wiki says about it:

"Gibson also makes a new P-90 version called H-90. This version is built into the Gibson Billie Joe Armstrong Signature Guitar (Les Paul Junior). The H-90 has two stacked coils but Gibson claims that it doesn't lose the characteristics of a P-90. It also has a higher output."

Sounds like its not a P90 @ all, but Gibson says it doesnt loose the character of a P90......
 
Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

the Phat Cat oozes with mojo. just sayin

I think you'll be happy w/ any p 90 if you take advantage of magnet swapping (two magnets in a p 90) to dial in your tone

Ive been trying to get a certain tone out of a humbucker for years and I finally came to the conclusion that it just wasnt in a humbucker after I tried a P90 in a Les Paul Special. Wow! I never have given P90's the time of day before and I am sorry I didnt. The average P90 is hotter than the average Vintage humbucker in the wind, and it has twice the magnet power (uses 2 humbucker gas on the bottom). That accounts for a HUGE tone that is undeniably single coil when you back the volume off on the pickup. So what if it hums? The bottom line is that when your getting the EQ response you want out of a pickup, you dont need near the gain on the amp that you were using before you got the tone you were looking for. I get a pretty heavy tone with a Les Paul Special Double Cut with P90's and my AC30. I dont even turn the Gain past 3/4 on it and the thing sounds huce and crunchy and chunks like crazy but still has chirpy notes for soloing and jangly cleans. Im pretty much officially a P90 guy @ this point soley-
 
Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

Here's my video of the Mean 90 --- I really like it --- it's hot and very mid-nasty!

It's kind of "honky" when it's clean, but under light gain, and heavy gain, it is like the intersection of heaven and hell with free beer.

For reference against a warmer P90 (a true soapbar, to boot), here is my PRS P90 video --- these are more vintage correct P90's (they hum like a moogerfooger :laughing: ) and everyone I have played them for has commented that they are a warmer, more vintage-correct sounding P90 than others in the field.



-Hunter
 
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Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

Ya I saw your video. It's hard to tell whether it would sound good through my amp, and in the neck position.

So what you're saying it's like being on Earth and drinking free beer? (intersection of heaven and hell = Earth?) lol - Does it sound good after or before AND after the free beer? :9:
 
Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

Ya I saw your video. It's hard to tell whether it would sound good through my amp, and in the neck position.

So what you're saying it's like being on Earth and drinking free beer? (intersection of heaven and hell = Earth?) lol - Does it sound good after or before AND after the free beer? :9:

What amp are you playing through?

:laughing:

Hilariously enough, I made a SDUGF exclusive video, with bro-specific shoutouts and stuff, but after it was over, I realized there was no audio because I hadn't set the correct input source.

The hilarious part is that the very first thing I say in the video is "sorry so sloppy, gang; :friday:"

Anyways, it sounded good before the beer and I think it sounded even better after the beer :laugh2:
 
Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

Here's my video of the Mean 90 --- I really like it --- it's hot and very mid-nasty!

It's kind of "honky" when it's clean, but under light gain, and heavy gain, it is like the intersection of heaven and hell with free beer.

For reference against a warmer P90 (a true soapbar, to boot), here is my PRS P90 video --- these are more vintage correct P90's (they hum like a moogerfooger :laughing: ) and everyone I have played them for has commented that they are a warmer, more vintage-correct sounding P90 than others in the field.



-Hunter

Wow! Possibly the perfect pickup for whatever you wanted to do. Its hotter than most buckers and tighter/honkier sounding clean than a strat or tele and just plain raw rock and roll when you want it! P90's rock ;) BTW--I liked your Seymour Duncan Pickup Test Riff in the middle there ;)
 
Re: GFS Dream 90 vs. Mean 90 vs. SD Phat Cat ??

I have a Dream 90 only in the neck position, but I think the mean-90 would be better for Green Day type stuff.
 
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