Pairing a JB bridge with an Antiquity P90 Neck?

[under_saarthal]

Thinking about pairing these. Any potential issues (phasing etc) I may not be aware of?

 

[Mincer]

Welcome to the forum!

There are no phasing issues, but of course the P90 will have some hum, while the JB will not. It would make for a vintage/more modern guitar though, and that's cool.

 

[Securb]

The Gibson Les Paul BFG​ has a Humbucker/P90 combination. It works well and gives the guitar a wide range of tonal choices. Nice selection.

 

[under_saarthal]

Thanks for the feedback! This would be for a G&L Fallout tribute that comes stock with a humbucker bridge and P90 neck so I’d be upgrading the current set up. Looks like the higher end American made models used to use a JB in the bridge paired with some G&L made P90. The tribute series comes with slightly different pickups that are pretty good but I want a bit more out of the neck P90 so figured if I’m upgrading the neck may as well upgrade the bridge too, but would also like to keep the general character of the guitar especially in the mid position where both are used together.

Did some research and The Antiquity 90 and JB seem to have a similar DCRs (according to someone on an old message board post who measured the stock pups) to the ones currently in my guitar, if that matters:

Antiquity P90 is 7.8k / G&L Stock P-90 is 7.5k
SD JB is 17.4K / G&L Stock Humbucker is 17k

I really the humbucker / P90 combo. Sounds great and would recommend giving it a shot to anyone curious!

 

[Chistopher]

What are you looking to get from this swap?

 

[under_saarthal]

See above!

 

[Chistopher]

I don't know what your stock G&L pickups sound like, but the JB is a very distinct sounding pickup. What sort of sounds are you going for?

 

[Chistopher]

Also FWIW, your profile made me realize I can remember the name of Skyrim quests despite not playing the game in 10 years.

 

[under_saarthal]

So I know for a fact I already love the sound of the Antiquity P90 since I’ve played that before, but for the humbucker I’m looking for something thick and creamy/beefy. I like to play clean/off-clean but I already have a strat and am a bit tired of the thin/sharp clean sound right now. I’m want this guitar to be a little more robust for cleans. Keep in mind I primarily will be using the bridge and neck together so I want the humbucker to compliment the p90 with a more defined middle/bottom end if that makes sense.

I’m also looking at the Custom 5 as a possibility. Curious to hear your thoughts on this vs the JB

And I love that you recognize the name! For some reason this particular quest name has always stuck with me, as did Skyrim in general.

 

[Mincer]

I wouldn't consider the JB nor the Custom 5 to be thick and creamy. The Custom Custom or Black Winter, certainly.

 

[under_saarthal]

I guess I just mean more relative to a strat sound. Curious on your thoughts on how the black winter bridge cleans up and how you think it may pair with the antiquity? And how the custom custom may pair?

 

[Securb]

I guess I just mean more relative to a strat sound. Curious on your thoughts on how the black winter bridge cleans up and how you think it may pair with the antiquity? And how the custom custom may pair?

I have used the Black Winter in many guitars. I was recently doing a ballad with my band and was blown away by the clean tone of the BW in my Les Paul. I didn't even have to roll back the volume. It sounded amazing.

 

[Hiwatts and Gibsons]

The Gibson Les Paul BFG​ has a Humbucker/P90 combination. It works well and gives the guitar a wide range of tonal choices. Nice selection.

Agreed. The lower output in the neck should pair well with the higher output bridge pickup yielding a ballsy but slightly cleaner and clearer neck pickup sound. Seymour Duncan's Vintage P90 would be another option, and if a beautiful clear and chimy neck pickup tone is desired their Soap Bar Staple pickup is absolutely gorgeous in the neck position. I've had both of the those pickups, the Vintage P90 in the bridge of an SG, and the Soapbar Staple in the neck of an LP Special and both sounded fantastic.