help with p90's for use with gain

[notesfield]

hi,
i have a hamer archtop with p90's. i plat through a mesa rectoverb and use the high gain settings some of the time and the p90 noise can be tough to take. I would like to replace the bridge pickup with something that can compete in a humbucker environment without routing this guitar. Has anyone had any good experience with a stacked or high output, hum cancelling p90 sized pickup? If so, which one?
I see Dimarzio makes a p90 sized tone zone. I have never heard even the regular model as a reference. any clips or info out there? It doesn't look like DUncan makes an equivalent yet. Something like the lil 59 for but the p90 size?
Suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: help with p90's for use with gain

Kenny Blue Ray, who is a terriffic guitarist and who gets a great tone, likes the Gibson stacked P90's...I think they might be called a P100. I'm not realy familiar with the newer Gibson pickups, but he swears by them. Lew

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: help with p90's for use with gain

Duncan makes a Stack P90, Got a set in my Hamer Special. I like 'em alot, all the spank & grit without the noise. Check out the SD website.

Peace,

Darrin

 

[notesfield]

Re: help with p90's for use with gain

All the spank and grit without noise is great thing. How do they handle the occasional high gain stuff?

 

[southadc]

Re: help with p90's for use with gain

How about a P90 sized humbucker? I think Dimarzio make the DLX90, as well as the tone zone and super distortion to retrofit a P90 slot. I've never tried one though, so I can't tell you how they sound.

I think Kent Armstrong may make one aswell - I know they used to, but then it was discontinued.

 

[notesfield]

Re: help with p90's for use with gain

I am strongly considering a Dimarzio ToneZone p90, I just didn't know what to expect from this. I use the CC & C5 so if the tone zone is a distortion pickup like an x2n or super distortion, I will be less than enthused. if it's simply a variation of a Duncan JB, I can deal with it.

 

[southadc]

Re: help with p90's for use with gain

I guess another option is EMGs:

http://www.emginc.com/displayproducts.asp?section=Guitar&categoryid=10

But if you go that way, then you'll probably need to change out both pickups, since EMGs are a bit of a pain to mix with other pickups if you want to keep the 'both pickups on' setting.

Or ask the Seymour Duncan custom shop if they can put a humbucker under a P90 cover for you?

 

[Aceman]

Re: help with p90's for use with gain

Gibson p-100's - YUCK. I haven't heard the Duncan Stack but it's got to be better!!!! But - If you want to turn it up and maybe toss a few stomp boxes in line, I guess they would be a decent platform for tone sculpting via sources OTHER than the pup. I just find the p-100's lacking personality. But maybe that's what you really want....they are quiet.

 

[BornToShred]

Re: help with p90's for use with gain

Dimarzio DLX90 for a noiseless P90-tone

Dimarzio also makes P-90-sized versions of the Super Distortion and the Tone Zone.

 

[jimlp]

Re: help with p90's for use with gain

If you like P-90's you will probably like the Dimarzio Supr Distortion, it is a very 70's sounding pickup. Yes it is slightly hot at about 13k but it is nothing like the Duncan Distortion as far as tone, the name is mis-leading in my opinion. I am i no way sayingthe Duncan Distortion sounds bad it is just more in every dept.

 

[rhmcfarland]

Re: help with p90's for use with gain

Billy Gibbons used the P100 on something... can't remember which album. He seemed to like it a lot. As you know, Gibbons uses a lot of gain.