Middle p/u for P-90 sandwich

[nanookanono]

I've kind of fallen in love with my Ibanez RG again. I'm looking to gut the electronics and need some help with a single coil pickup that's probably going to be sitting between two humbucker P-90s (probably GFS Mean 90s at this stage, due to budget). Unless I decide to do a pickguard mod and get rid of the middle altogether. But I want to scope out my options.

So here's the deal:
Mahogany body
Maple neck
Rosewood fretboard
Between two humbucker P-90s

To be honest I've never really used the middle pickup much, so I'm not really sure what to aim for. I guess I'd like a pickup that's good for cleans, not something too hot. Balanced, or maybe a little on the brighter side.

In terms of wiring, if any of you know whether this is possible with the Mean 90s, that would be great:
1 - Bridge
2 - Bridge and neck
3 - Middle
4 - Middle and neck
5 - Neck

Thank you so much for any help you can offer.

 

[Gstring]

Re: Middle p/u for P-90 sandwich

I am probably one of the least qualified people on this forum to give you advice on pickup choice but I have considerable experience at re wiring guitars. I am familiar with some RG models and recollect them playing well and having an excellent vibrato system which allowed the guitar to stay in tune after vigorous use. I also have some experience with the Mean 90 which many consider (probably with good justification) to be one of the better pickups to come out of GFS. You will like this pickup although you might consider putting shielding tape in the pick up and control cavities to minimise hum. This is not expensive or difficult. I use slug tape from the garden centre. You also need to put some under the scratch plate to "close the box" and ground the shielding via the pots.

As regards the middle pick up I would suggest using a budget model which uses Alnico 5 magnets and fibre bobbins rated around 6.0/6.4 K (the reading can easily vary by 10% from any published data in any event) . These days there are lots of acceptable strat type pick ups coming out of the Far East built to reasonable specs. If they do not know how to make them by now they never will. If you order direct from Hong Kong or China you will probably get a good price but delivery can take over 3 weeks. If you want to spend a bit more I can recommend Rose pickups in Ca. For around $25 plus $5 shipping they will hand wind you a first class pick up as good as any. You can email them with your needs. Ken the owner is very helpful .even if you are spending smallish bucks. I would suggest RWRP . This gives hum cancelling between bridge and middle and fits in well with the wiring I am going to suggest.

For cost effectiveness I would work with your existing 5 way switch but ALSO install a mini 3 way DTDP between your Vol and Tone pots. The neatest way to do this is to get a smallish piece of Aluminium and drill 3 holes . It fits under the scratch plate and is held in place by the Vol and and tone pots which go thru the outside holes. The 3 way fits in the middle hole and causes a slight bend but only the small lever sticks out thru a small oval hole in in the scratch plate. This is not difficult to do and looks so much neater than just fitting the switch to the scratch plate.

The 3 way is wired so that you get normal 5 way combinations when in the middle. When in the forward position it gives neck pick up on with any pick up selected by the 5 way. This gives you bridge plus neck and all 3 pick up options. In the back position it disconnects the middle and neck ground from earth and connects to the hot bridge wire. This gives you bridge and neck in series (a great sound with Mean 90s ) and bridge and middle in series plus a few other combinations depending upon where the 5 way is. I will PM the wiring diagram to you if you wish .


Hope this helps and has given you some food for thought.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Middle p/u for P-90 sandwich

I would suggest a RWRP single of the flavor of your choice (maybe an SSL-5 or 6?) that would humbuckerize with the P-90s... they'd be mismatched coils, so you'd still retain some of your trebles and attack...

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Middle p/u for P-90 sandwich

I know phat cats and some other p90s have a RW/RP neck pickup, not sure about the mean 90's. If the neck mean 90 IS Rw/Rp it would be impossiable to get hum cancelling in ALL combinations involving two pickups. So EITHER neck and middle OR bridge and middle would be hum cancelling along with the hum cancelling with the neck and bridge pickups together.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Middle p/u for P-90 sandwich

I'm going to buck the trend and tell you. Not to use a middle pup. Two p90s is a great setup. Just run with that. Put some black tape over the hole till you see how you like it before you buy a new pickguard

 

[nanookanono]

Re: Middle p/u for P-90 sandwich

Thanks for the feedback!

I should be clear: the guitar doesn't currently have a pickguard. By "pickguard mod" I meant making and installing one, which I can do. I've got the necessary tools for it; it's just a matter of getting the materials. So that's still a definite maybe.

I'm not too worried about hum cancellation. The more I can do to prohibit it, the better. But it's not a big deal really. I do think RWRP is the way to go as well.

Gstring - thank you for such a great and detailed response! I do like the look of those Rose pickups. I also like the sound of the 3-way DTDP! As I said, I don't have a pickguard, but I'm not opposed to fitting a switch between the volume and tone knobs. Plenty of room to do so. I'd be grateful for that diagram.

I think I'll follow Jeremy's advice first though. I'll get the Mean 90s, disconnect the middle, and see how I like things with just the 90s. If I decide I want that middle pickup I'll do that, if not I'll modify the guitar to take a pickguard and just leave the middle route covered.

Thanks again for the help, all!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Middle p/u for P-90 sandwich

Why not a third GFS Mean 90?

Bill

 

[nanookanono]

Re: Middle p/u for P-90 sandwich

Three P-90s? Interesting... You're making my decision harder!

 

[elelpe]

Re: Middle p/u for P-90 sandwich

How about lipstick pickup?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Middle p/u for P-90 sandwich

lipstick pups tend to be really thin and bright, the p90 is tonally opposite so i dont think it would be a good match unless you wanted a big volume drop and tonal change.

three p90's poses the same problem for me as three buckers. the middle one gets in the way. if it wont be in your way then its a viable option