Gibson P-100 info?

[YellowDog]

I know that they're a stacked-humbucker version of the P-90, but I know nothing of their reputation, magnets, or winds. In a Guitarist magazine article I read years ago, the reviewer claimed that they were sonically identical to the real-deal Gibson P-90 (which sounds like BS to me, what with the different construction. A little like claiming that the sound of a Lil'59 is indistinguishable from its full-size cousin).

I ask because my Les Paul Special has P-100s, and it sounds pretty bad. A lot of people rave about P-90s, so I'm thinking that perhaps these P-100s are to blame, and a pickup change is in order.

Anybody have experience of these?

 

[Seth Lover FAN]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

I have used a few older P-90's in pairs and a set with a alinco in the bridge (mid-50's custom) and also have owned newer goldtop with P-100's ....

I prefer PAF's to P-90 but enjoy the P-90 tone .....

I found the P-100 to be crappy and in no way anywhere close to the tone of the 50's P-90's .....

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

Trust your ears -- P100's really do stink as Nick says. They're bad enough that Gibson stopped making them a few years ago. They're dull and muddy and do not sound anything at all like the real thing. They have an "H90" now, which is supposed to be hum cancelling but I haven't tried one.

 

[The Usual]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

That seems to be the concencus, they stink. I did a lot of searching on this when I went to P-90s, and two things were by far the popular opinion.

1) For that classic P-90 sound, nothing beats the plain old run of the mill Gibson P-90
2) P-100s suck

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

I wouldn't necessarily agree with #1, but then I'm a biased source. #2 for sure...

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

This pickup is universally hated and has damaged numerous guitar designs (because it requires deeper routes and real soapbars like to be close to the bottom).

A stacked design can never work right for a P-90.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

This pickup is universally hated and has damaged numerous guitar designs (because it requires deeper routes and real soapbars like to be close to the bottom).

A stacked design can never work right for a P-90.

+1. Seems to be the universal opinion. I've never heard anything positive about it. Who tested this thing out at Gibson?

 

[baritone]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

It looks like DiMarzio opts for side-by-side coils for their soapbar-sized humbuckers.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

I thought it was Fralin with the sidewinder noiselss P90's.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

It looks like DiMarzio opts for side-by-side coils for their soapbar-sized humbuckers.

No these are meant to sound like humbuckers for those who have P-90 or mini-hum routes.

If you want a promising noiseless P90 option, try the Lace Sensor. It'd not that I tried one. I just want somebody else to be first penguin.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

P-100s are bad.

Really bad.

Seriously.

They couldn't suck more if they were designed to suck.

Don't even accept'em if they're given to you for free.

I wish I was joking.

They're THAT bad and then some.

REALLY.

You've been warned.

 

[YellowDog]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

Hah! Well, you're all in agreement on this subject...

P-100s are bad.

Really bad.

Seriously.

They couldn't suck more if they were designed to suck...

I'm glad about this. All that is written about P-90s really appeals to me...the muscular warmth of a humbucker with the full-range frequency and atttack of a single coil...but, every time I picked up my LP Special, I hated the noise it made.I always figured that the pickups had something to do with it, but it would seem that in fact they have everything to do with it.

This pickup is universally hated and has damaged numerous guitar designs (because it requires deeper routes and real soapbars like to be close to the bottom)...

This is interesting...would I have to glue some carefully-shaped blocks in the bottom of my LP Special's P-100 routes in order to fit P-90s?

Or should I just sell it as it is (all original, good condition) and get a P-90 equipped something-else? It's nice to play with great upper-neck access (it's a double-cutaway), but the natural acoustic tone of the guitar ain't great. Perhaps a nice SG with soapbars...?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

This is interesting...would I have to glue some carefully-shaped blocks in the bottom of my LP Special's P-100 routes in order to fit P-90s?

If I was you, I'd route for HBs and get some Phat Cats with A5 magnets.

I wouldn't mind for the noise... it's part of the P-90 appeal.

 

[Huntermb]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

A buddy of mine has them in a ES-175 and they sound like shiiiiiite. They don't seem to have one redeeming character about them. He's a casual player and I can't convince him that he should swap the pickups out. He's of the "but they are gibson's " mindset.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

This is interesting...would I have to glue some carefully-shaped blocks in the bottom of my LP Special's P-100 routes in order to fit P-90s?

Or should I just sell it as it is (all original, good condition) and get a P-90 equipped something-else? It's nice to play with great upper-neck access (it's a double-cutaway), but the natural acoustic tone of the guitar ain't great. Perhaps a nice SG with soapbars...?

Don't mess with a guitar you feel bad about in the first place. The price will only go down.

I think that if you have a double cut you also need the thinner SG body. Exceptions apply. Your guitar might also have problems from the Nashville (if it has one).

I have not directly compared a soapbar that is mounted on foam to one mounted on wood. But it is fairly certain that with the deep P-100 route there will be just too much wobble.

 

[YellowDog]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

I think that if you have a double cut you also need the thinner SG body. Exceptions apply. Your guitar might also have problems from the Nashville...

So, are you saying that you think that the thin SG body shape suits the double-cut design better...from a tonal standpoint? Which exceptions apply? What problems from Nashville (tune-o-matic bridge, I assume)?

All very interesting...care to elaborate?

 

[uOpt]

Re: Gibson P-100 info?

So, are you saying that you think that the thin SG body shape suits the double-cut design better...from a tonal standpoint? Which exceptions apply? What problems from Nashville (tune-o-matic bridge, I assume)?

All very interesting...care to elaborate?

It's just a hunch.

I like Les Pauls and SGs.

So far I didn't like things like the Hamer Sunburst and the double cut LPs (the ones with maple top), and I'm not to fond of the McCarty either.

I don't like the Nashvilles because they are fat and because of the metal anchors in the guitar's top. I avoid that like the plaque.

I didn't go and convert an ABR-1 posted guitar to a nashville posted one and I didn't file down a double cut my Hamer Sunburst to SG thickness, so final proof will have to come from somebody else.