I am after the Neil Young Firebird PU and Metal covered P90 PU sound. What Firebird and P90 pickups get me the tone? Wiring diagram for Neil Young's Old Black. Cortez the Killer
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Neil Young Pickups
- Thread starter staybobo
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Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Neil Young Pickups
The retro-fitted Firebird in Old Black is notorious for microphonic squeal. I cannot remember whether the neck pickup is an early P90 or a Staple.
Probably a job for SD Antiquities.
Wiring is conventional Gibson two PU circuit. Bigsby vibrato is an essential element in the sound of OB.
The retro-fitted Firebird in Old Black is notorious for microphonic squeal. I cannot remember whether the neck pickup is an early P90 or a Staple.
Probably a job for SD Antiquities.
Wiring is conventional Gibson two PU circuit. Bigsby vibrato is an essential element in the sound of OB.
Re: Neil Young Pickups
Just to add a bit ....
The P90 is supposed to be original to the guitar. So that would date it around 52 or so. The chrome cover is said to be from an ES style guitar.
There is/was a small toggle switch that bypasses all of the pots, caps etc.
The FB pickup is very microphonic.
So, I would agree that Antiquities would be the most logical choice.
But ...... Neil uses a good number of boxes, amps, reverb, and other assorted sound modifiers as well as high volumes. Who knows if we've ever even heard the straight guitar!
Good luck!
Just to add a bit ....
The P90 is supposed to be original to the guitar. So that would date it around 52 or so. The chrome cover is said to be from an ES style guitar.
There is/was a small toggle switch that bypasses all of the pots, caps etc.
The FB pickup is very microphonic.
So, I would agree that Antiquities would be the most logical choice.
But ...... Neil uses a good number of boxes, amps, reverb, and other assorted sound modifiers as well as high volumes. Who knows if we've ever even heard the straight guitar!
Good luck!
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Neil Young Pickups
AFAIK, a '50's P90, and a Gibson FB pickup (which would be '60's, of course). The cover for the P90 is home made looking, and doesn't have a bottom side, i.e. the side of the pickup closest to the pickguard is not covered. If it is from a 330, it has been highly modified to fit the soapbar rout perfectly. (330 chrome dogear covers are noticeably wider than soapbar covers.)
At any rate, I'd start with an Antiquity Firebird and an Antiquity P90.
AFAIK, a '50's P90, and a Gibson FB pickup (which would be '60's, of course). The cover for the P90 is home made looking, and doesn't have a bottom side, i.e. the side of the pickup closest to the pickguard is not covered. If it is from a 330, it has been highly modified to fit the soapbar rout perfectly. (330 chrome dogear covers are noticeably wider than soapbar covers.)
At any rate, I'd start with an Antiquity Firebird and an Antiquity P90.
Re: Neil Young Pickups
Here's something interesting ...... According to Gibson, the FB pickup in Old Black is from 1972!
http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/Neil-Young-0817.aspx
Here's something interesting ...... According to Gibson, the FB pickup in Old Black is from 1972!
http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/Neil-Young-0817.aspx
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Neil Young Pickups
Interesting. I though the pickup went in as soon as he got the guitar in '69, but apparently he had another pickup in there first.
Interesting. I though the pickup went in as soon as he got the guitar in '69, but apparently he had another pickup in there first.
Re: Neil Young Pickups
Check out Social D's rig rundown. Mike Ness actually talks about Neil's guitar and was inspired to have P90s because of him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvrPkVgejI0
Check out Social D's rig rundown. Mike Ness actually talks about Neil's guitar and was inspired to have P90s because of him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvrPkVgejI0
gripweed
Jolvisologist
Re: Neil Young Pickups
Here is an interesting article about an Old Black replica.
http://www.pisotones.com/Alfonso/OldBlack/OldBlack_En.htm
Here is an interesting article about an Old Black replica.
http://www.pisotones.com/Alfonso/OldBlack/OldBlack_En.htm
