Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

HighGain

HighGain

New member
Can anyone tell me the tonal difference, if any? I believe the P94 is Alnico V and the Phat Cat is Alnico II, but I'm wondering, flat out, which one sounds better?

I have a '98 LP Standard Double Cut and I hate the 490/498 in this guitar. I've always wanted a P90 guitar, so I'm gonna convert this one. Any and all input is appreciated.

Oh, and a big 'What's up and how's it going?' I haven't posted in a long time, but I do lurk some. 'Preciate any lowdown on my LP project. :smokin:
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

My notes about the p-94 say "like being hit on the head with Gimli's axe but lacking the sweet release of death". I think I didn't like it :)

I really have to question it's construction. It has the magnets on the bottom like a P90 does but the square polepieces really don't seem to work. Even if they are passively magnetic (which they might not) they really screw up the sound you'd expect. In passive polepieces it plays a bit role whether they are slugs, screws, hex or something else.
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

Phat Cats are way too dark in the neck slot of most guitars (like no treble), and too weak and thin in the bridge. The neck overpowers the bridge. A2 was the wrong magnet. They sound much better when you swap the mags. Plus the cover holds the whole thing together (no base plate screws), and they don't have a third ground wire. The competition has them beat in a few areas. Phat Cats need to be retooled and re-released.

There are many other HB-sized P-90's. Rio Grande Bastards are warm and have a great tone, as do Lollars. GFS Mean 90's are popular here and very affordable. Look up P-90's on eBay and see what else is out there.
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

Weren't the original P90s Alnico V, or did I read that wrong? If they were, what was the idea behind putting AIIs in the Phat Cat if they're supposed to replicate the originals?

I wish I knew more about pickup physics, but that's why my name ain't Seymour Duncan or Jason Lollar. I get the basics for the most part, but you're out of my knowledge base with round vs square pole pieces info. Translate please. :cool2:
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

Bare Knuckle Mississippi Queens seem to get a lot of good reviews (mostly on the Bare Knuckle forums lol...) They use Alnico V in the bridge and AIV in the neck.
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

Yeah, I should've mentioned in my OP about other brands. Keep that info coming because I'm just getting started in this decision and I like to know what else is out there.

I hate to condone discussion about other brands on Seymour's site, but if it helps improve a Duncan product, it may turn out to be a good thing.
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

the phat cats are too warm, too fuzzy. a5's are much, much better.
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

I've got a P-94 set that gave me headaches until I got the right magnet combo:

A4/A5 neck, A5/A8 bridge.

HTH,
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

I have a set of Phat Cat's in this guitar.


View attachment 29955


I swapped the magnets to A5 in the neck and left the bridge with the A2's.
I don't find the bridge weak or thin sounding.
 
Last edited:
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

HighGain said:
I wish I knew more about pickup physics, but that's why my name ain't Seymour Duncan or Jason Lollar. I get the basics for the most part, but you're out of my knowledge base with round vs square pole pieces info. Translate please. :cool2:
Click to expand...

You get too focused on the magnet type.

Where the magnet sits, whether you have magnet(s) on the bottom with passive polepieces or polepiece magnets and the shape of the polepieces have as much if not more impact as the Alnico variant.

(and that's where the P94 drops the ball)
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

Warren Haynes used a Phat Cat equipped SG for this song..

 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

i like the phat cat bridge stock with the a2, the neck sounds best with a3 to me
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

Gibson P94s were my first attempt at getting something like a P90 in a humbucker space, and it was a disappointing experience. This was many years ago & I used them for awhile because I didn't know about other options. Then, soon after they came out, I bought a pair of Phat Cats...all 3 P94s were quickly sold off. The PCs just have so much more 'feel' to them. I know that's vague, but I'm referring to those qualities that you can't always hear listening back to recorded samples. Although, when you're playing them, you sure notice. I have no doubt that Kojak is correct, however, & the 94s could have been made to sound a lot better w/mag swaps.
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

HighGain said:
Weren't the original P90s Alnico V, or did I read that wrong? If they were, what was the idea behind putting AIIs in the Phat Cat if they're supposed to replicate the originals?
Click to expand...

Gibson has been using A5's in their P-90's for a long time, but I don't know if they started off with them. But there's other factors than the magnet.

If the neck Phat Cat wasn't wound as hot, it would work much better with A2's. Zhang unwound some of his to take off 1k of ohms, which opened up the sound. Hot wind + neck slot + A2's means treble can be scarce. With A2's in the neck (HB or P-90), the wind is crucial to prevent a dark, muffled sound. A2's give a neck PU a lot of mids, and hence a bigger sound, but it's a challenge to keep it from sounding like it's in a closet. Seymnour's done a great job of that with his PAF's, which is why it's surprising that neck Phat Cats didn't follow suit.

In the bridge slot, A2's lose some of their mids and gain treble; in a P-90 that works for some players, not for others. They're also low output magnets. I thicken up the sound and add output by using A8/A4, A8/A5, UOA5/UOA5, and A4/A4. I should add that I prefer bridge PU's with warmth and muscle. I want a bridge's output to equal or exceed the neck's. In their stock form, neck Phat Cats dominate the bridge.

Phat Cats work well with different magents (I have 9 of them); if you're not up to swapping yet, there are plenty of other choices.
 
Re: Phat Cat vs Gibson P94

uOpt said:
You get too focused on the magnet type... have as much if not more impact as the Alnico variant.
Click to expand...

Have you swapped mags in P-90's? There's 2 mags per coil in a P-90, vs 1/2 mag per coil in an HB. That's 4 times as much magnet influence. And unlike with HB's, you can pair up two different kinds of magnets, giving many more potential EQ's. I've swapped magnets in a number of P-90's, and can assure you they play a big part in their sound.

If you think how different the tones are between Customs with different magents (like CC vs C5), P-90's offer even more tone options for those willing to try. As has been proven here hundreds of times over the years, magnets can make the difference between a so-so PU, or even an unacceptable one, versus a great-sounding PU.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top