P90s - yet another Q. Please help.

[RockStarNick]

OK. So, I've got this guitar. Gibson Les Paul Special Faded DC. It came stock with two gibson P90's. Sounded decent on their own, but the set couldnt calibrate. Each pickup was 8K on the nose.

I decided to leave the neck one in, and search for a hotter bridge pickup. And I've had nothing but trouble and problems with feedback.

The 2 rigs I'm testing the pickups on is #1. Fender pro Junior, cranked to about 4, with a Barber Direct Drive running at unity gain, with the drive around 2 o clock. FEEDBACK. #2. Bogner Shiva. Gain channel, gain around 3/4 up, reasonably loud volume. FEEDBACK.

None of my other guitars feed back like this.

The pickups I've gone thru so far:

- Rio Grande Bluesbar. Around 12K. 2 of em. both had horrible feedback problems.

- Seymour Duncan Custom Soapbar - Loud and alive sounding, but again, Feedback. around 14K.

Am I just attempting the impossible? Trying to use a single coil that's wound TOO high in output?

How are the Duncan Vintage Soapbars? at 9.5K. would they feedback with this kind of rig? Would it balance with the 8K neck pickup?

Or should I go with a "botique" pickup:

OR...should I keep the stock on in the bridge, and get an underwound neck?

any help would be great. Jeeez, I got this guitar about 3 months ago, and it's spent more time in pieces on my workbench than being played. Its a shame...I just want this DONE with!!!

:smack:

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: P90s - yet another Q. Please help.

If you're looking for vintage P-90 tone, I would go with the Duncan Vintage model. I have never seen a set of Gibsons that would not calibrate though. But I guess it can happen. If you want vintage P-90 tone and you decide to go with a hotter pickup, you won't get "real" P-90 tone. The P-90 tone is all about the 1950's era soapbars...

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: P90s - yet another Q. Please help.

If you're looking for vintage P-90 tone, I would go with the Duncan Vintage model. I have never seen a set of Gibsons that would not calibrate though. But I guess it can happen. If you want vintage P-90 tone and you decide to go with a hotter pickup, you won't get "real" P-90 tone. The P-90 tone is all about the 1950's era soapbars...

True, but I'll dissent on the note that the early 60's P90s were very nice.

I have to wonder if maybe it was your pup springs vibrating causing the feedback.

The Custom is a great P90, I've got a set in my Godin LG, but I don't have any out of the ordinary feedback problems.

Luke

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: P90s - yet another Q. Please help.

RE Pickup Springs causing feedback: I wasnt even using springs. I was using foam, and made sure that the cover was secured nice and tight, and that the whole thing was screwed in pretty tight to avoid any uneccesary Vibrations.

Well..I got 2 other guitars with P90s (vintage 1968 non reverse Firebird, and a new ES-135)...

for this "gigging" axe, I might just say "F#$% it" and get out the chisel and throw my Custom 5 in the bridge!!!

LOVE the custom 5. that would probably match up relatively well with a P90 in the neck.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: P90s - yet another Q. Please help.

I would say maybe there was a potting issue, but it was on more than one type of pup. You might want to ask Evan, Jeremy, or Scott because they have dealt with quite a few P90's.

Luke

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: P90s - yet another Q. Please help.

That feedback issue you're having is really weird! Is it microphonic type feedback or the singing sustaining kind? I'm using 2 P-90 guitars right now, one with a stock gibson P-90 and one with an SD vintage soapbar bridge. With either of those pickups, I haven't run into a situation yet where I was getting squealing microphonic feedback, and I've used these guitars for punk at really high volumes.

 

[Aceman]

Re: P90s - yet another Q. Please help.

I work a Pro jr. like that (except w/ a Stamps drive-o-matic) Given the multiple amps and pups this happens with, I'm thinking there is something funky about your cords, playing position, room acoustics or such. Do you play pointing the guitar at the amp from a couple feet away - I can't imaging making my pro jr. squeel otherwise in that situation...

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: P90s - yet another Q. Please help.

I play a Sheraton with Phat Cats through a Boss GT-8 into a Mesa 50:50 power section and a pair of 2x12 cabs and have no problem with unwanted feedback at high volumes and high gain. Everything buttoned down tight on the guitar?