Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

[sosomething]

It can be done - heavy tones can be achieved with P-90 pickups.

This was recorded with my somewhat-recently acquired 1963 Gibson SG Junior using it's stock dog-ear P-90 pickup. I ran it through my PODxt and into Adobe Audition - very little processing was used - no compression, minimal EQ, and no more gain than I normally use with a humbucker-equipped guitar. I did gate some for noise, but not as much as I thought I'd have to.

I think it kind of goes to show that you don't need Invaders, EMGs, or anything else with massive output to get a good, solid metal tone. After listening you may aggree or not, but I'd appreciate your thoughts/critiques either way.

I wrote this tune in demo form for use with my band - the ball is now in our singer's court to write/record vocals for it. Beware my cheesy working-title.

The Fear

 

[Biu]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

Totally wicked! I'm diggin' that bitey raunch; sounds like there is a lot of definition there along with some inherent P90 fizz. I think you have a really catchy playing style, so that is definitely a factor.

Great clip, man!

 

[DirrtyCraig]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

I love the chuck berry lick at 3:41.

 

[taphappy]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

Amazing. I havent used P90's and I never expected them to get this heavey.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

I've never owned a P-90 guitar before either, and I also had no idea. When I played this one in the store I knew I had to have it. I actually sold a 95 SG Special with EMGs in it afterwards because I had no more use for it after buying this guitar.

Thanks for the kind comments too, btw. I'm glad to see a fellow Splawn user chiming in on this thread as well - a mark of good taste.

 

[iekobrid]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

The most interesting high gain sound I've heard recently was a Peavey Firenza with P-90s into a Flextone II. I tried clean settings at first and kept adding gain a little at a time expecting the 90s to wimp out. They never did -- great sound all the way up to 11. A nice singing crunch, and no more noise than I already know how to live with. Now I just need to figure out which SD or DM 90s get closest to (or surpass) the stock Peavey pups...

 

[sosomething]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

The most interesting high gain sound I've heard recently was a Peavey Firenza with P-90s into a Flextone II. I tried clean settings at first and kept adding gain a little at a time expecting the 90s to wimp out. They never did -- great sound all the way up to 11. A nice singing crunch, and no more noise than I already know how to live with. Now I just need to figure out which SD or DM 90s get closest to (or surpass) the stock Peavey pups...

Don't forget the Rio Grande Fat Bastard.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

Maybe I should've gotten that ESP Sugizo LP with the P90s :/

 

[shreder75]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

very mean sounding =)

 

[Skullkrusher]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

I dig it dude!! Awsome stuff!!

 

[SOLO GUITAR STEWIE]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

didnt know p-90s could get so heavy and metal sounding....definately changed my tune on p-90s

great tone and riffs

chris

 

[sosomething]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

Thanks guys - I'm very happy with the response I'm getting from this clip. Here is a pic of the guitar:

 

[SpeedDemon]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

The riff after the intro sounds almost exactly like Lamb of god's "In Defence of Our Good Name" is it supposed to?

Anyways, Rockin clip :headbang:

 

[bigheadood]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

Never would have expected a sg with a p90 to sound ballsier than my les paul with a JB. great playing by the way.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

The riff after the intro sounds almost exactly like Lamb of god's "In Defence of Our Good Name" is it supposed to?

Anyways, Rockin clip :headbang:

No, it wasn't, but I have listened to a lot of that band and it might have snuck in there subconciously. It's a pretty standard metal riff technique, though.

Much thanks, too.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

Never would have expected a sg with a p90 to sound ballsier than my les paul with a JB. great playing by the way.

I honestly don't know if that's the nature of P-90s or if it's just this specific guitar. I've owned SGs before - one of which (a Special) had an EMG 85 in the bridge - and when A/B'd it with the Junior it got eaten alive. I've since sold the Special.

Can anyone reading this thread chime in and verify that this is just how P-90s sound? If so I may have to get a P-90 axe with a trem as well...

 

[SpeedDemon]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

P90's have a very ballsy midrange, makes them sound very aggressive under gain.

Plus Sg's already have a very mid-range oriented sound. So that just adds to the aggressive-ness.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

That SG has some MEAN cuts dude, it looks sinister.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

Wow! That sounds great!!! Like the looks on that '63 a lot! The Grovers look very nice on there. Is that a Schaller bridge?

Thanks! The Grovers and intonatable bridge were already on the guitar when I bought it (reducing the price a nice amount). I'm pretty sure the bridge is a Leo Quann Bad-Ass, but it's not marked anywhere so I'm not 100% on that.

 

[3th3r]

Re: Heavy/Thrash with a P-90

I just found this post. Wow, great guitar playing and very original style.
I never knew P-90s could sound like this either.