P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

[severalwills1]

Hey everyone, I'm using this cheap Squier here http://images.guitarcenter.com/products/optionLarge/Fender/DV016_Jpg_Large_1372088762580_A.jpg as a modding platform.

I wanted to install some sort of P90 configuration (I have other humbucker guitars), but since the bridge HAS to be a humbucker-size, I have no choice but to use a a PhatCat there. Question is, tone-wise, do I install a PhatCat in the neck as well (the Tele is rooted for humbuckers) or can I install something from the SP series or even the STK (I can't afford Antiquities)? I was worried about the neck overpowering the bridge if I used an A5 in the neck and an A2 (the PhatCat) in the bridge, so I was thinking I should maybe install PhatCats in both positions.

What do you guys think?

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/specialized/p-90-guitar-pickups/

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

If P90 is the sound you want, and you don't want to extensively modify the guitar to get it, I would consider a DiMarzio SDS-1 mounted in a humbucker-to-Strat-pickup adapter plate. They sound a LOT like P90's (more so than Phat Cats IMO), and they are 30 bucks cheaper brand new (5/8 the price of a Phat Cat). The adapter plate can be purchased from one of various dealers online, or it can be easily made from a small flat sheet of any number of materials. And you can put an SDS-1 in the neck as well, if you just open up that neck pickup hole in the guard a bit to fit a Strat pickup. Even though they are designed for the bridge spot, they are tunable enough that they can make excellent neck (or middle) pickups too. Put a pair of SDS-1's in there, and you've got a Les Paul Special in Tele garb, for around 100 bucks in mods. You'd probably want to go to a quality pair of 500K or 1M pots as well, while you are in there.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Welcome to the forum.

What do I think? #1
I think that you should take a close look at the body material of the Squier HS Tele/Bullet before investing several hundred Dollars worth of pickups into it. Poor quality woods will lack tone and be difficult to rout cleanly.

In your position, if you already own the HS Tele, I suggest that you sell or trade it to acquire a Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Custom II. This comes stock with dual Duncan Designed P90s of calibrated outputs. (No fear of the neck PU overpowering the bridge PU.) Like many Squier VM instruments, this Tele variant punches well above its weight. The only parts that strictly need upgrading are the machineheads and the bridge saddles. The selector switch can wait until it (inevitably) fails.

What do I think #2
P-Rails B in Triple Shot mounting surround.
STK-1n Vintage Rhythm Stack for Telecaster

 

[severalwills1]

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

If P90 is the sound you want, and you don't want to extensively modify the guitar to get it, I would consider a DiMarzio SDS-1 mounted in a humbucker-to-Strat-pickup adapter plate. They sound a LOT like P90's (more so than Phat Cats IMO), and they are 30 bucks cheaper brand new (5/8 the price of a Phat Cat).

Thanks, definitely gonna check out the SDS-1. And yeah, I planned to change out the electronics anyway.

 

[severalwills1]

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Welcome to the forum.

What do I think? #1
I think that you should take a close look at the body material of the Squier HS Tele/Bullet before investing several hundred Dollars worth of pickups into it. Poor quality woods will lack tone and be difficult to rout cleanly.

In your position, if you already own the HS Tele, I suggest that you sell or trade it to acquire a Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Custom II.

What do I think #2
P-Rails B in Triple Shot mounting surround.
STK-1n Vintage Rhythm Stack for Telecaster

Thanks for the welcome! This particular Squier is already routed for a humbucker in the neck position, so installing any type of pickup is as easy as changing the pickguard. It's basswood, which is of course pretty low quality, but I've been able to make several basswood guitars to sound pretty good before, so hopefully I can do it again here.

I already have it but have already started the process of modifying it, which is why I cannot give it up. I would LOVE one of those VMs, and will probably get one to play on its own sometime later, but I wanna see what I can do with this one for now. Thanks for the suggestions on #2, I'll check 'em out. I was thinking about the Rails already, too.

 

[elelpe]

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Phat Cat is great pickup. How about Mini Vintage SM1 in the neck? It sounds good in tele and I think both would make for a unique combo.

 

[allstarrme]

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Get some gfs mean 90's in there, less money, better starting point for what you want.http://www.guitarfetish.com/Mean-90...e-Our-FATTEST-Chrome-Bridge-Pickup_p_480.html

 

[severalwills1]

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Get some gfs mean 90's in there, less money, better starting point for what you want.http://www.guitarfetish.com/Mean-90...e-Our-FATTEST-Chrome-Bridge-Pickup_p_480.html

Oh man, that looks interesting. How do you feel about the Means vs the Dreams?

 

[dr. ad]

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

if it's already H/H routed, i'd go for HB-sized p90s with metal covers. i have phat cats, but mean 90s have a good rep too.

 

[severalwills1]

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

if it's already H/H routed, i'd go for HB-sized p90s with metal covers. i have phat cats, but mean 90s have a good rep too.

Yep, that's most likely what I'm doing now. Can anyone describe a good comparison between the PhatCats vs. the Means? And the Dream 90s as well for that matter.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

Re: P90ifying a H-S Squier Tele: PhatCats in both positions, or PhatCat B & P90 N?

The suggestion for a P-Rail and Triple Shot ring in the bridge is a no-brainer. You get the sweet and punchy sound of a P-90, the deep and powerful sound of a full-sized humbucker (series), the crisp airy sound of the hummer (in parallel), and the bright Tele tone of the Rail. In my mind, there IS no other option for your guitar and what you want.

For the neck, you have many options and some good suggestions have been given. A mini in the neck is a great option and very popular for a Tele. The Mean-90 is also a great choice with a tone that is similar to a mini. Great P-90 punch and bite but with some full-flavored mids thrown in. Very good tone, extremely good value, easy to fine tune with mag swaps.

The Dreams aren't that great, I'd stick with the Means.