P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

Syscokid

Syscokid

New member
I have 2 Hamer guitars originally equipped with SP90-2's in the neck, and SP90-3's in the bridge. With the first Hamer, I got curious with trying a "cleaner" set of P90's. Thus, I ended up with a set of Kinman's "Zero-Hum" PU's...Excellent PU's but a little pricy! With my recently aquired Hamer with the Duncan P90's, I want to keep the SP90-3 in the bridge, but I can't stand that SP90-2 in the neck. The SP90-1 (...Vintage) on paper, sounds like it might be the ticket for more chime and articulation.

Does anybody here have any experience with this combo?

Balancing the difference of output with height of PU's?


...Greg
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

I enjoy the SP90-3n as the bridge/treble position pickup in my Gibson LP Junior Special. I pair this pickup with a Duncan Antiquity P90n in the neck/rhythm position. (I freely admit that I stole the idea from PRS.)

It is possible that you can get the SP90-2n to sound more to your liking by replacing its ceramic magnets with Alnico bar magnets. I like A2. blueman335 will recommend A5. Perhaps, one of each would make an interesting compromise?
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

Funkfingers said:
... (I freely admit that I stole the idea from PRS.)...
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That's funny, cuz I got my idea from a Guitar Player review of the MJ GrooveMaster guitar.

I didn't think about replacing the magnets...no skills in that department! But I'll look into it...:thanks:
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

I don't like the qualities of ceramic magnets, so I took them out of my SP90-2's and SP90-3's, and put in alnicos. Then they sound very nice.

No skills necessary to swap magnets, especially in a P-90. There's two standard mags (HB size) laying side-by-side, repelling, not attracting. You can match up any two alnicos you want. Take off the cover, loosen the two base plate screws (but not all the way), and slide the mags out. To orient, slide the old mag out halfway, hold the new mag next to it, so the ends repel and sides attract.

I like A5/A5, A5/A4, and A5/A3 in the neck slot, depending on how much treble and fullness I want.

In the bridge I like more warmth: A8/A4, A8/A5, UOA5/UOA5, and A4/A4.
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

That sounds like a cool and easy project.

Can you suggest a source for the magnets?
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

Muchas Gracias...:thanks:

Last week I already have asked a local guitar shop to bring in a SP90-1 for me to buy. Since I also have an extra SP90-2 laying around, I'm going to "projectize" that one, and then compare the 2.
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

I have been rocking an SP3n in the bridge and a SP1b in the neck for quite some time.

I LOVE it. Classic blues/jazz/rock in the neck with great cut/bottom, very even eq all around. The bridge is pure RAWK, nasty blues, vocal jazz, and as George Thorogood as you wanna be!

I can't imagine liking the SP2 in the neck w/ SP3, but I've never done it.
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

Aceman said:
I have been rocking an SP3n in the bridge and a SP1b in the neck for quite some time...

...I can't imagine liking the SP2 in the neck w/ SP3, but I've never done it.
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That's encouraging news...:cool2:

And, that combo was a "standard" with P90 equipped Hamers.

Right now I'm waiting for some helpful advise from Addiction-FX to help me choose between "rough" or "polished" mags, and whether they should be magnetized. I'm totally cluless in this topic. But feel free to inject your own wisdom!
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

Syscokid said:
I'm waiting for some helpful advise from Addiction-FX to help me choose between "rough" or "polished" mags, and whether they should be magnetized. I'm totally cluless in this topic. But feel free to inject your own wisdom!
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Get them standard size and fully magnetized. Roughcast mags have a smoother, less harsh high end, preferred by some of us for the bridge slot. Polished have a little sharper high end; almost all alnicos are polished. I like polished mags in the neck because of their high end, but others use roughcast in the neck and like them.
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

blueman335 said:
Get them standard size and fully magnetized. Roughcast mags have a smoother, less harsh high end, preferred by some of us for the bridge slot. Polished have a little sharper high end; almost all alnicos are polished. I like polished mags in the neck because of their high end, but others use roughcast in the neck and like them.
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Excellent...

...and thanks again!
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

Lil' Update:
Last friday I recieved and installed the SP90-1n. Personally, this PU works better for me. The usual...Sweeter, Fuller, Rounded, more Balanced, etc...whatever...it just works. I don't feel like like I'm losing anything with this lower output PU. This PU also combines very nicely with the SP90-3 in the Bridge.

I also ordered some magnets from Addiction-FX last Tuesday, to experiment with the extra SP90-2 I have. But, I haven't even recieved a confirmation on that order ( I did get a PayPal receipt statement ). Nor a reply to a question I submitted prior to the order. I haven't tried to contact them, yet. I guess I'll give it 1 more day...:scratchch
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

Hi all. Apologies up front for what amounts to a thread-hijack, but I've been following this discussion--and now swapping magnets on my P90s--and have a couple questions. Bear in mind that I'm relatively new to electrics (less so with acoustics).

Guitar is a Godin LG with the stock Duncan SP90-3 pups in both the neck (~11k) and bridge (~15k) positions. I wanted to "take the edge off" these pups without fundamentally changing their character, so I ordered two sets of rough-cast A8 magnets from Addiction FX.

Got the magnets and did the swap last night: still sounds like the same guitar, but does in fact seem a bit smoother. Good stuff.

Couple of surprises when I got into the pups, however. First one being that the stock magnets were nearly twice as thick (and a bit shorter) than the replacements (original on top):

photo-1.jpg


photo-2.jpg


Is that normal? I went ahead and did the swap anyway, and it seems to have worked out fine, but I was hoping for a sanity check.

I'm also wondering if I should have glued these in place with a bit of silicone? The stock mags were glued (residue in the pics) and I literally had to "slice" them free from the bottom/metal plate of the pup.

Last thing I noticed was that the top plastic plate of each pickup was cracked: it looks like the previous owner overtightened either the mounting/height-adjust screws or a couple of the pole pieces. It's kind of an aside to this thread, but should I be worried about that at all? I'm assuming it's not easily replaced or repaired.

Anyway, thanks again for all the great info in this thread. Any additional feedback is welcomed. :)

--Matt
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

i wouldnt worry about the cracks.

those are double thick ceramic magnets that are used in a few pups like the sp90-3. swapping in normal sized magents is fine and common. i dont usually glue or silicone the magnets in unless there is microphonic issues which have been rare in my experience.
 
Re: P-90's: SP90-1 & SP90-3 combo

jeremy said:
i wouldnt worry about the cracks.

those are double thick ceramic magnets that are used in a few pups like the sp90-3. swapping in normal sized magents is fine and common. i dont usually glue or silicone the magnets in unless there is microphonic issues which have been rare in my experience.
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I appreciate the feedback, Jeremy, thank you.

To update on the swap, after living with it for a few days, it felt like I lost some brightness (not good) along with the harshness (good). I also picked up a booming open-G string (meh). Took that as an opportunity to dial pickup height and adjust the pole pieces, and I got back nearly all the brightness. The open G is still pretty booming, though, no matter how low I set its pole relative to the others. :scratchch I have before/after frequency analyses of a basic 12-bar I could post if anyone wants to see them.

Thanks again,

--Matt
 
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