GFS Mean 90s ... where have you been all my life?

[J E C]

Re: GFS Mean 90s ... where have you been all my life?

It only makes sense to screw them together and no sense not to except the possibility that it may be faster and cheaper to do it the way they do since they are using a metal cover. So what do Mean 90s and Phat Cats look like with out covers? Would they look OK and match an uncovered HB better with out covers?

 

[lemonman]

Re: GFS Mean 90s ... where have you been all my life?

The Cat is a shortened P90 bobbin on a humbucker baseplate, so with the cover off it doesn't look real appealing, IMO. It's much narrower than the baseplate, so you have a pretty big gap between the bobbin and the surround ring.

 

[blueman335]

Re: GFS Mean 90s ... where have you been all my life?

The Cat is a shortened P90 bobbin on a humbucker baseplate, so with the cover off it doesn't look real appealing

Without the cover, the bobbins and baseplate are loose, they're not connected to each other. It's a weird design. Every HB and P-90 I've ever seen has screws that hold the bobbin(s) to the baseplate. Not with Phat Cats; the cover has to be soldered on to hold the PU together.

 

[lemonman]

Re: GFS Mean 90s ... where have you been all my life?

But it can easily be mounted to the baseplate, like any other P90; Zhang rewound one for me & did it. It just doesn't look good w/o a cover.

 

[Guitarweb]

Re: GFS Mean 90s ... where have you been all my life?

I just dropped a set of GFS Mean 90s in my Les Paul Classic. I had been playing them through a friend's Gibson L6S for the past few weeks and just loving it. I wanted my own guitar with them.

I am blown away. They hum some, but it's so worth it.

This is the Les Paul tone I've been looking for. Sets I've been through: 490r/498t (so long ago I can't remember), '59/'59 (neck too muddy), Jazz/'59 (neck too bland), '59/Custom5 (too muddy all around), A2Pro/A2Pro (liked it, but prefer the alnico 5 sound), Burstbucker Pro set (really good, but neck a little bland... best A5 humbucker I tried in the neck though), Burstbucker Pro Neck/'59 bridge (still have this setup in my other LP and I like it for the pushed sound...

Are there humbucker pickups that get closer to the Mean 90 sound? Articulate & clear, but nice & ballsy and throaty when pushed?? If so, I'll buy therm.

I had the same progression through duncan pickups. I actually found the SH-11 gave me the sound in my Les Paul that I was after. Has the sweetness as its an A2, but still aggressive and big sounding, seems to react really well with Les Pauls.

 

[blueman335]

Re: GFS Mean 90s ... where have you been all my life?

I had the same progression through duncan pickups. I actually found the SH-11 gave me the sound in my Les Paul that I was after. Has the sweetness as its an A2, but still aggressive and big sounding, seems to react really well with Les Pauls.

Most comments here about SH-11's in LP's are that they are too dark, and better-suited in brighter guitars, like HSS Strats.

 

[Guitarweb]

Re: GFS Mean 90s ... where have you been all my life?

Most comments here about SH-11's in LP's are that they are too dark, and better-suited in brighter guitars, like HSS Strats.

I think it more depends on the amp and les paul... mahogany/maple set-in necks may be a factor too. I was using a Peavey XXX for what its worth... it gets perilously close to an EVH sound at times.

I pulled the SH-11 out from a maple set/mahogany body/ebony board guitar so maybe ebony is key to brightening it up. But remember 24.75" guitars aren't snappy or bright sounding to begin with. I have a TB-11 sitting on my bench thats going to go into a Jackson Pro Dinky H/S/S so it'll be interesting to see how it reacts.

 

[blueman335]

Re: GFS Mean 90s ... where have you been all my life?

remember 24.75" guitars aren't snappy or bright sounding to begin with.

Right, and many are warm-toned, either from the woods and/or the design. In those SH-11's are often 'treble-challenged.'

 

[bluesbend]

Re: GFS Mean 90s ... where have you been all my life?

If you like HB sized P90's, the Phat Cats also amazing.

This.

I had a set of Mean 90's in a Tele build that I did.

View attachment 52012


I liked them but they seemed to be just 'ok'.
I got a set of Phat Cat's and it was like taking the cotton out of my ears. The Phat Cat's are heads and tails above the GFS p'ups.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: GFS Mean 90s ... where have you been all my life?

Probably in my garbage can.