Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

[bluesbend]

I just swapped out the Mean 90 that was at the bridge of "The Scabb" for a Phat Cat. The difference was like taking cotton out of my ears. The Phat Cat has alot more definition, cleans are what they ought to be, turn out the volume knob and it gets snarling like junkyard dog. Roll the tone back and it gets nice and creamy for blues. (Think Blue Jean Blues)
I know that the Phat Cat is A2 and the Mean 90 is A5, but wow!

If anyone wants to know what The Scabb is, Heres a pic from a couple of years ago.

View attachment 19280

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

I prefer the Mean 90 but I guess everybody has his own taste!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

There is also a dream 90 which is supposed to be clearer than the mean 90.
I had some hand wound vintage vibe humbucker sized (p90ish) single coils in a 1966 epiphone casino that i restored - which i replaced with correctly spaced gfs dogear p90s. They were really nice pickups - apart from looking correct they had a lot more girth and sweetness than the vintage vibes - which sounded more thin and shrill to my ears. There are not as many p90/single coil humbucker sized choices on the market as there are with strat type pickups, but its worth remembering that there are just as many variables in their construction.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

I have a bunch of Phat Cats and a couple neck Mean 90's. Mean 90's are good for the price, but PC's are a higher quality PU with great definition, but they have a few shortcomings. I wish Phat Cats didn't have A2's, as that makes them so dark in the neck slot; I use an A5/A4 or A5/A5 pair instead. In the bridge I much prefer an A8 or two, for more output & bite. Lindy Fralin uses A4's in his P-90's.

 

[Conker09]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

I don't mean to steal the thread or anything, but which P-90 does SD put in the super hot P-rails? I know it uses 2 A8's....but is it a certain P-90 from their normal selection or is it a custom made specifically for the P-rails?

 

[bluesbend]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

I wanted to swap covers with the Mean90 because I like the look of the black nickle. When I put it on the PhatCat I found the the pole spacing is slightly different so that they aren't interchangeable.
Also, the magnets in the M90 are not as wide as the ones in the PC. The PC uses the same size magnets as in a humbucker.
I am loving the sound of this pickup, but who knows, maybe I'll try swapping one of the A2's for an A5 somewhere down the line.


Here's The Scabb now...
View attachment 20103

 

[blueman335]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

I wanted to swap covers with the Mean90 because I like the look of the black nickle. When I put it on the PhatCat I found the the pole spacing is slightly different so that they aren't interchangeable.

If the pole pieces line up close but not quite, you can use a 1/4" drill bit to open them up a bit. Sometimes it works.

 

[breakdanceattiffanys]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

Anybody ever use a Gibby P-94? Have been curious how that stacks up against the sound and tone of the Mean 90 and Phat Cat

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

I just disassembled a Mean 90 for a rewind. Overall quality seems good. The parts that seem to lack in quality are readily available and can be easily replaced (screws, spacer).

Interestingly the magnets were an oddball size I've never encountered--smaller.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

I don't mean to steal the thread or anything, but which P-90 does SD put in the super hot P-rails? I know it uses 2 A8's....but is it a certain P-90 from their normal selection or is it a custom made specifically for the P-rails?

make a new thread about that, this definitely deserves a good conversation but not within this thread.

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

Turns out the bobbins are oddball sized as well. Thick core...there's no way in hell GFS is using 42 AWG on these.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

If the pole pieces line up close but not quite, you can use a 1/4" drill bit to open them up a bit. Sometimes it works.

+1.

Works like a charm, and you usually only have to drill out the outside two or four. I've done this on several covers.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Phat Cat vs. Mean 90

Mean-90 sounds great. I could care less what wire is wound on what bobbin (even if it's aluminum wire on a plastic thimble). It's performance is not lacking. And half the price of any other P-90.