P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

[Philco]

Just had my tech "try" to fit your P90 Humbucker replacement which I bought from the "Custom Shop".

So please tell why you made it the completely wrong size? You know the height of a Dog Ear P90 right?
Then why sell me a pickup that is not the correct height?
So now I have some horrible looking spacer underneath it so I can get it up to the correct height.

Looks so "custom shop" cool on my 1952 Gibson 175......not.

Ok sorry for the sarcasm but this item is an after thought and clearly not thought through.
And I'm a little pissed because this thing is coming straight off and the old P90 is going back. It totally destroyed the look of the instrument.

If your going to advertise that you have a "Custom Shop Specialised P90 Dog Ear Humbucker" then you might want to warn people that it's just a normal humbucker with a non authentic and "cheap" cover (what's with the 2 raised squares at either end?) and it's not the right height and it won't fit your instrument.

Sorry I'm not an angry person but this is wrong and I think you know it.........oh and WHY did you charge a premium price for it? It's just a humubucker with a cheap cover. Why?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

contact the custom shop directly, they are very good with helping people out.

 

[jtougas]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

You mean like the spacer on this *COMPLETELY STOCK* ES-225TD from '57?

And like the one I have at the bridge of my '59 225TD (which, granted, is definitely (and unfortunately) *not* stock) for the same reason?

1st, Gibson doesn't make short P-90s for the neck and tall ones for the bridge position. If it's a dogear, and it's on a hollowbody that raises the bridge, it needs a spacer. That's the way it is. Unless you've had yours since it came on the shelf, I'm willing to bet it had a spacer on it at some point, and it was lost.

2nd, P-90s aren't humbuckers. They're gloriously fat single coils. Gibson makes P-100s (and maybe some brave soul has done a stacked humbucker in the P-90 casing), and Seymour can probably come up with a humbucker that'll fit into a P-90 casing, but really, you shouldn't be putting that into a '52 ES-175... you should be putting in as near to vintage correct a P-90 as you can, which would call for an Antiquity... like the two I have in 225TD.

Which needs a spacer in the bridge position (and, as it turns out, at the neck as well - see below).

3rd, while there are employees of Seymour Duncan that do post (and moderate) on this forum, for the most part it is a *USER* forum. I am not one of those lucky souls that gets an SD paycheck.

So, relax a bit, and maybe *ask* if there's supposed to be a spacer to bring the P-90 up to the proper height on what is indubitably a sweet axe (which a few of us I'm sure would thoroughly enjoy Oooing and Ahhhing over).

And welcome to the Seymour Duncan User Forum.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

Woke up on the wrong side of the bed, did we?

I can understand your frustration, but you are WAY over-exaggerating the situation with your misuse of superlatives. You make it sound like you really don't know much about guitars or pups.

I'm sure the custom shop made a pup for you exactly as you ordered...that's what they do. If you ordered a "stacked" P-90 in order to buck the hum, that is not the same thing as "a normal humbucker with a non authentic and "cheap" cover".

You should know that dogeared P-90's don't have height adjustment. That can only be accomplished with spacers. That's just the way it is.

Also, you are venting (ranting) to the wrong people. If you are unhappy with your custom shop purchase, call the custom shop and explain your disappointment to the ones who ultimately may be able to do something about your frustration.

And, a big ...welcome to the forum.

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

Allparts sells P90 spacers, if you need to get one.

Al

 

[jtougas]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

Here you go, vintage original part...

 

[metlking]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

More shims: http://www.fralinpickups.com/p90s.asp

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

P-90s, Dyna-Sonics, Staples, Rickenbackers, whatever. Most fully hollow-bodied Electric Spanish guitars have a compressible spacer/shim of some description.

 

[AlexR]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

Welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately by now you've come to the realisation that it is indeed you that is the misinformed one. Hopefully you can get your problems sorted and we can all start out afresh on a better footing.

 

[Philco]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

Thanks for your patience guys. Yeah I definitely woke up on the wrong side.
Of course I have the original P90 that came with the guitar. I just wanted to experiment with a humbucker. I'm not worried about the noise at all so that wasn't my reason for changing pups.

But my guitar has only one pickup. As do all my guitars. So the dog ear Gibson P90 in the front position was the perfect height. BUT when I put the Duncan in, it's way too low and needs a spacer.
My question is why? It's a replacement pickup and the custom shop was informed at purchase time it was for a front pickup on a 175.
Why even send me this if it's not going to fit? Or at least inform me that I will need a spacer because the Pickup is not as thick as a P90.

That's my beef.....and I'm clearly posting in the wrong place. My apologies for doing so.

Oh and as for the old "you should be keeping that vintage box original and use a good old P90". I know where you're coming from and I get the whole "but it's vintage" concept.......but I truly don't pray at that altar.
Whatever works........is usually the right choice for me. I can always put the P90 back and restore the mythical "mojo".
Anyway I am a Duncan lover and have been for many, many years. I have a Seth Lover in the front of my Collings Eastside Deluxe and it's truly magnificent.
I'll contact the Custom Shop with my little quibble.

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

Well, there is more to the story here and I feel for the OP and his frustration. Nothing like getting a new custom shop pickup and it not working for our needs.

Seynour makes an actual humbucker under a p-90 dog-ear cover (any pickup I think) and they makes stacked P-90 dog ear. They are not the same.
I agree with Cameron, the Custom Shop will make it right. no worries. I do wish the OP would post a pic however.

if this is a 52' ES175, it has a laminate top and the single neck P-90 mounts right to the top, no spacer if I remember correctly. I just an email to a buddy.
I suspect the mounting tabs are higher on this replacement, that is all.

This is where pictures and clear communication come in handy before or during ordering a custom replacement. I don't know the details, but I don't think there is any info about this pickup fitting a Dog-Ear P-90 universally. That wouldn't be possible.
The spacers, while not vintage correct look correct and will look good on the guitar without modification. That is a plus..

Anyway, sorry for your trouble, but rest assured you will taken care of.

Cheers and respect, happy holidays!

RG

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

Thanks for your patience guys. Yeah I definitely woke up on the wrong side.
Of course I have the original P90 that came with the guitar. I just wanted to experiment with a humbucker. I'm not worried about the noise at all so that wasn't my reason for changing pups.

But my guitar has only one pickup. As do all my guitars. So the dog ear Gibson P90 in the front position was the perfect height. BUT when I put the Duncan in, it's way too low and needs a spacer.
My question is why? It's a replacement pickup and the custom shop was informed at purchase time it was for a front pickup on a 175.
Why even send me this if it's not going to fit? Or at least inform me that I will need a spacer because the Pickup is not as thick as a P90.

That's my beef.....and I'm clearly posting in the wrong place. My apologies for doing so.

Oh and as for the old "you should be keeping that vintage box original and use a good old P90". I know where you're coming from and I get the whole "but it's vintage" concept.......but I truly don't pray at that altar.
Whatever works........is usually the right choice for me. I can always put the P90 back and restore the mythical "mojo".
Anyway I am a Duncan lover and have been for many, many years. I have a Seth Lover in the front of my Collings Eastside Deluxe and it's truly magnificent.
I'll contact the Custom Shop with my little quibble.

Was typing while you posted.

Good luck in the venture! Great guitars BTW!

Cheers!

 

[Philco]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

Here you go, vintage original part...

Thanks for the link jtougas. But I'm wondering why my original P90 doesn't need a spacer........as do none of the front Dog Ear P90 in all the old 175 or similar models.
Well I know the answer. The Duncan replacement humbucker pup is the wrong height. And I'm guessing that they didn't bother to make it the correct height because it's just to difficult to do so and there is no demand.
No other pup manufacturer produces one either. There must be a reason.

 

[Philco]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

Well, there is more to the story here and I feel for the OP and his frustration. Nothing like getting a new custom shop pickup and it not working for our needs.

Seynour makes an actual humbucker under a p-90 dog-ear cover (any pickup I think) and they makes stacked P-90 dog ear. They are not the same.
I agree with Cameron, the Custom Shop will make it right. no worries. I do wish the OP would post a pic however.

if this is a 52' ES175, it has a laminate top and the single neck P-90 mounts right to the top, no spacer if I remember correctly. I just an email to a buddy.
I suspect the mounting tabs are higher on this replacement, that is all.
This is where pictures and clear communication come in handy before or during ordering a custom replacement. I don't know the details, but I don't think there is any info about this pickup fitting a Dog-Ear P-90 universally. That wouldn't be possible.
The spacers, while not vintage correct look correct and will look good on the guitar without modification. That is a plus..

Anyway, sorry for your trouble, but rest assured you will taken care of.

Cheers and respect, happy holidays!

RG

Thanks Rodney, you pretty much nailed it. The same goes for the ES125 and others. Although I wouldn't say that these are "rare" guitars, they are definitely not "mainstream".
So I can understand why SD or any other manufacturer doesn't bother much about that small market.
So I thought I'd hit the jackpot when I stumbled across the SD P90 Humbucker replacement. Not quite, it would seem.
No big deal really.

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

Thanks Rodney, you pretty much nailed it. The same goes for the ES125 and others. Although I wouldn't say that these are "rare" guitars, they are definitely not "mainstream".
So I can understand why SD or any other manufacturer doesn't bother much about that small market.
So I thought I'd hit the jackpot when I stumbled across the SD P90 Humbucker replacement. Not quite, it would seem.
No big deal really.

Actually Philco, It doesn't seem too difficult at all. I just think that detail may have been missing in the instructions/communication. The 'mounting tab' height' is pretty relevant and the SD custom shop is aware of that. I notice online there is a section for notes (if that is where you ordered it). I suspect it will be an easy fix for the Custom Shop. If not, I hope the space works out. They are very common and it is modification free.

Cheers and respect!

RG

 

[jtougas]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

Philco, can you post a profile pic of the original P-90 and the one the Custom Shop made up?

I think my 225TD has a1/8" spacer under the neck pickup, and a significantly higher riser for the bridge.

While it is possible the Custom Shop goofed (didn't bend the bottom plate to the right height), they will make it right - as far as making it to the right spec.

However, if the pickup is made to correct P-90 dimensions, then it falls on you and the tech to make it work. Their only responsibility is making the pickup.

My apologies if my "should be vintage correct" came across as a scolding. It's your instrument. I just get grumpy when I see old vintage boxes stripped of their parts, and pieced out on eBay. 90% of the reason someone buys that old box is because of the Old Sound - much easier to get when you've got all the correct parts on it. *grin*

My 225TD was the victim of someone's "This old thing would sound SOOO much better with a DiMarzio PAF in the bridge!" halfassery. Luckily, very little permanent damage was done.

 

[metlking]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

I'd like to see a picture as I seriously intend to get a "Humbucker under P-90 cover" for my Les Paul JR when I have the funds.......

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

I'd like to see a picture as I seriously intend to get a "Humbucker under P-90 cover" for my Les Paul JR when I have the funds.......

I think "Blues" has a '78 P-90 & digs it a lot!!!

 

[Philco]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

I'd like to post some photos but I'd have to rip the pickup out and .....well....it's christmas and I really don't have time but just have a look at the SD Stack P90 and then a picture of the SD Humbucker replacement. Different height. It's not going to fit any front pickup on a semi.

Also note.....for those who want this pickup........the pickup screw holes are at the front of the cover whereas a real P90 has the holes in the middle. So your guitar looks kind of....wrong, and anyone who knows guitars will spot the difference in an instant.
Some people won't mind that. It does look strange to me though.....not a deal breaker.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: P-90 Dog Ear Humbucker....wrong size and doesn't fit.

I keep reading over this thread and looking at the pics of the pickup the OP has ordered and I can't for the life of me see how it did not fit...

Can someone please explain what is going on here??