P-90 Questions.

S

SJ318

New member
So...
1st time P-90 user. May want to change magnets, and I need general guidance. I have an Antiquity A2 P-90 I got for a steal.
If I pull out magnets from a P-90, and move them towards each other - lengthwise and flat straight outta the pickup, they should repel, yes?
Do they not sit south facing south, or north facing north next to the screw poles?
Also: I like RC A5's on all my humbuckers, would they be too "sharp" or "harsh" when it comes to P-90's? Like I said, I have never tried one before.
Appreciate your knowledge and input.
Steve Buffington.
 
Re: P-90 Questions.

Why do you want to change the magnets? What’s wrong with the Ants?

Every P-90 I’ve tried had some of the best PAF tone and chime, just subject to some hum because they are single coil.
 
Re: P-90 Questions.

beaubrummels-
I don't know if I do, I just wanted an opinion, as I've seen P-90's with A5's advertised. The MAIN question is about the two magnet ORIENTATION in a P-90. Do the magnets go in south to south. Is it always the same to same, i.e. north to north also. I hope my question is clear. I have parts to a P-90 from way back, and I am missing the magnets, I do not know where it came from, so If I put new mags in it, I need to know how they go in. You have been here for as long as I can remember, so thanks for answering.
Steve
 
Re: P-90 Questions.

Steve, the magnets usually go with both north poles facing in...repelling each other.

Changing magnets in a P-90 is a great way to alter the tone and performance. In a P-90, magnet swaps will have 4 times the effect than in a humbucker (2 mags per coil vs 1 mag per 2 coils).

Everybody seems to think that there is a common tone in a P-90 pup. I find that there is as much difference in various stock P-90s as there is in stock humbuckers. There certainly is some commonalities, but I mag swap all of my P-90s to get exactly what I'm looking for out of every P-90 I buy.
 
Re: P-90 Questions.

GuitarDoc-
Thank you. That answered my question. Curious, Do you like A2's in p-90's or some other configuration. I know it is all personal preference, but I am just asking for opinions. Also, are Gibson any better/worse that Epiphone/Epiphone Pro P-90's? Thanks again,
Steve.
 
Re: P-90 Questions.

Cool thing about P90's: Multiple mags possible

A2/A5
A5/Roughcast A5
and so on...
 
Re: P-90 Questions.

depends on the guitar...maple top LP Goldtop sounds better with A2. Mahogany Custom/Special/Jr works fine with A5. That's my experience after 45 yrs of playing P90s.
 
Re: P-90 Questions.

SoPhx -
That sounds right. Makes sense. My 68 LP Custom has a maple top, and unamplified it is bright! My LP jr. (with humbucker) is much more of a dense sound unamplified.
Gonna go with the Antiquity P-90, and I have partacaster Tele, with a maple neck I scooped a touch and got the frets how I like them (about an 20" radius) so the body is basswood, and that is fairly bright, depending on the cut you get, and this one is bright! So maybe A2's will be just fine. Gotta wait for the virus to cool down to get the pickup, but can't wait to finally get it going. It's a nice hardtail saddle set up, so strings through the guitar, and I can dig out a little more room for the pickup - it's cut for a humbucker, got it many years ago, just sitting there, so perfect for a real try out. Thanks,
SJ
 
Re: P-90 Questions.

I rarely like two A2s in a P-90. It just seems to take away the delicious bite that I want out of a P-90. After all, that's one of the main reasons for going with a P-90 in the first place...if you don't want the bite, might as well get a bucker.

For bright guitars I like to use A8 and/or UOA5. Quite often I'll use an A8 to give more body and oomph and an A5 to keep some of that edginess. Sometimes I'll use an A2 with an A5, but I don't think I've ever used two A2s...I'd rather put in a mini.
 
Re: P-90 Questions.

GuitarDoc said:
Steve, the magnets usually go with both north poles facing in...repelling each other.

Changing magnets in a P-90 is a great way to alter the tone and performance. In a P-90, magnet swaps will have 4 times the effect than in a humbucker (2 mags per coil vs 1 mag per 2 coils).

Everybody seems to think that there is a common tone in a P-90 pup. I find that there is as much difference in various stock P-90s as there is in stock humbuckers. There certainly is some commonalities, but I mag swap all of my P-90s to get exactly what I'm looking for out of every P-90 I buy.
Click to expand...

My P90 Ant has south up with 320 Gauss on the polepieces!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top