P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

vegetablejoe

vegetablejoe

New member
Hi!

I can't seem to balance the volume between these two pickups in my '02 LPS DC. (I got the guitar used with these pups installed).

SP90-1n reads 8.2 ohms, while the Antiquity bridge reads 8.5 ohm dc resistance.

I've tried lowering the neck pickup but that takes it away from its sweet spot. I've tried bringing up the bridge pup but then it sounds too "clangy."

The drop in volume is quite noticeable when switching from neck to bridge, altho the middle setting is quite nice with more influence from the neck.

I've confirmed to buy a used SP90-1b (said to read 9.2 ohms) to replace the Antiquity and it should arrive before the weekend. Is the reading within the norm?

However, is there something else I could have tried to achieve better volume balance (besides lowering the neck vol pot)? Have I missed something?

Jaime
 
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Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

There's more to output than windings. An electrical current is generated by a magnet next to a coil of wire. P-90's have two magnets, so they have a pretty good output. Ant's have one aged A2, which is low output to begin with, which is then reduced. The bridge slot also has less string energy than the neck. The bridge had everything going against it.

Not only was my Ant bridge low output, but it didn't have enough treble, so I put an UOA5 in it to improve output and get a cutting upper edge, while still keeping the vintage dynamics. Even a full-charge A2 would have been an improvement. Some guys here partially degauss A5's to soften the output and highs. Do that to an A2 and it can be a challenge getting the tones you want. I much prefer Seth's to Ant's for that reason.
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

What Blue said, a rough cast A5 or a unoriented A5 works great with the Ant bucker. I recommend to set the E,A and D string pole screws of the Ant as high as possible - this adds volume and growl.
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

+1 for the replies above. Stronger magnets will do. The other alternative would have been a hotter coil wind and a swap to weaker magnets.
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

That's an Antiquity P90, right?

People seem to think it's a hummelbucker.
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

the volume difference is the weakened magnets like everyone said, if it were me, i might swap the magnets from the two pups. put the magnets from the neck (full strength) into the antiquity and the dunaged magnets into the sp90-1n
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

jeremy said:
the volume difference is the weakened magnets like everyone said, if it were me, i might swap the magnets from the two pups. put the magnets from the neck (full strength) into the antiquity and the dunaged magnets into the sp90-1n
Click to expand...

Good move for starters!
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

jeremy said:
the volume difference is the weakened magnets like everyone said, if it were me, i might swap the magnets from the two pups. put the magnets from the neck (full strength) into the antiquity and the dunaged magnets into the sp90-1n
Click to expand...

I also agree with this approach. I have a '96 LPS DC with the SPH90-1 set. I recently had a chance at an Ant P90 bridge but passed on it because I was concerned I would have the same problem. I have roughcast A2's in both pups, so I agree the dunaged Mags from the Ant may bring down the neck a little (not in a bad way) and the A5's from your current neck would give you more beef in the bridge (if it's too much for you, you could next try UOA5's).
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

The regular Duncan soapbar sounds a little harsh anyway.

Why not get into sniper position for a neck Ant on Ebay?
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

uOpt said:
The regular Duncan soapbar sounds a little harsh anyway.

Why not get into sniper position for a neck Ant on Ebay?
Click to expand...

A. Not with A2's

B. don't see those pop up everyday on ebay...But who knows, it might work!
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

Well but you don't want to choke the regular SD soapbar either.

The Antiquity P90 is bright but not harsh. It will be difficult to have that in the bridge and then have a neck pickup that's either too middy or too harsh.
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

Yes, the Antiquity is a P-90 as well. It seems I neglected to emphasize that. My apologies.

So I did miss trying to swap the magnets. I assumed that by doing so I would come out with an even stronger output in the neck, coz of the dc resistance readings. Well, I will try mag swapping this weekend. I hope it will be a simple process. I've never taken apart a soapbar before.

Thanks, guys!

Jaime
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

degaussing a2 seems to reduce some of the middy-ness
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

Well, my SP90-1 bridge pup has arrived. Can't wait to get home and do the swaps tonight.

Perhaps you guys can save me some trial and error...

Should I swap the above pickup for the Antiquity P90 bridge in the guitar?

Or should I swap just the A5 magnets in the SP90-1b for the A2 magnets on the Antiquity P90 bridge? Will this give me better tone than the stock SP90-1b?

Thanks in advance.

Jaime
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

One change at a time, IMO.

Two SP90-1s should strike a nice balance with each other. You can be pretty confident of selling or trading the Ant P90 through this forum. It is a fine pickup that just doesn't happen to suit you and/or your guitar.
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

Funk said what I was thinking. Doesn't swapping the mags in an Antiquity somewhat defeat the purpose of having it to begin with? I'd just sell the Ant and get a more modern pup to replace it.
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

swapping in a different magnet to an antiquity doesnt defeat the purpose at all. the aged magnets are nice but the wind is still great. on quite a few antiquity humbuckers i swapped in a full strength magnet for a bolder tone with more output.

the two sp90's are a good match and its easy to just start there, i just happened to like the antiquity wind better.
 
Re: P-90's: Balancing a SP90-1n with a Antiquity bridge

Ah, ok. I assumed that the aged mag was an integral part of the Ant sound.
 
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