Replacing P90 Covers

[Iamtherealmungo]

Hi there,

What is the anatomy of a P90 pickup like in terms of changing dog eared covers for different dog eared covers?

I've found a good metal epiphone P90 for a good price but I can't a black cover.. Will it be a simple swap to change it over?

Cheers

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Replacing P90 Covers

Take 2 screws out...pull the cover off, pit a new cover on and put the 2 screws back in.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Replacing P90 Covers

Take 2 screws out...pull the cover off, pit a new cover on and put the 2 screws back in.

+1. It doesn't get any easier than that. The only P-90 covers that I know of that are soldered on, are Phat Cats, which hold the entire PU together. Everything else is held on by two screws. There's also two screws on the baseplate that hold the coils on, but you don't have to do anything with those to change covers (Phat Cats also don't have baseplate screws).

Check the pole piece spacing, as it does vary on certain covers. If it's off a little, you can use a 1/4" drill bit to open the holes up.

 

[Iamtherealmungo]

Re: Replacing P90 Covers

+1. It doesn't get any easier than that. The only P-90 covers that I know of that are soldered on, are Phat Cats, which hold the entire PU together. Everything else is held on by two screws. There's also two screws on the baseplate that hold the coils on, but you don't have to do anything with those to change covers (Phat Cats also don't have baseplate screws).

Check the pole piece spacing, as it does vary on certain covers. If it's off a little, you can use a 1/4" drill bit to open the holes up.

Awesome, hoped that was the case!

I believe they'll be wax potted as theyre chrome covered.. No advantages/disadvantages of this I assume? Just clean off some wax if it shows through the new cover?

Also, What about chaging a soapbar to a dog eared cover? Any difference there I have no experience with P90's yet!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Replacing P90 Covers

What about chaging a soapbar to a dog eared cover? Any difference there I have no experience with P90's yet!

The base plates are different, so it's more complicated.

One of the best things about P-90's is that they have two magnets (laying side-by-side, repelling), so you can mix and match any two magents to dial in the EQ you want. If you need more mids and warmth in the bridge (a common situation), these pairs work for me: A8/A5, A8/A4, UOA5/UOA5, UOA5/A2, and A4/A4.

 

[Iamtherealmungo]

Re: Replacing P90 Covers

The base plates are different, so it's more complicated.

One of the best things about P-90's is that they have two magnets (laying side-by-side, repelling), so you can mix and match any two magents to dial in the EQ you want. If you need more mids and warmth in the bridge (a common situation), these pairs work for me: A8/A5, A8/A4, UOA5/UOA5, UOA5/A2, and A4/A4.

Sweet. I've never changed the magnets in a pickup before but will probably find this is the one where I start playing about with it. It'll be going into a 59 style junior I'm building at the moment.

If you take a look at the pictures in this listing:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220925045196?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

It looks like the actual bobbin is soldered to the chrome cover.. I see the two screws on the underneath.. Are those the cover screws or the bobbin screws?

Just want to check before I go ahead and order one

 

[blueman335]

Re: Replacing P90 Covers

Sweet. I've never changed the magnets in a pickup before but will probably find this is the one where I start playing about with it. It'll be going into a 59 style junior I'm building at the moment.

If you take a look at the pictures in this listing:

It looks like the actual bobbin is soldered to the chrome cover.. I see the two screws on the underneath.. Are those the cover screws or the bobbin screws?

Just want to check before I go ahead and order one

The cover is held on by the two screws on the side 'dog ears' when it's mounted on the guitar. The bobbins aren't attached to the cover, except maybe by a little wax (it'll come right off).

The two base plate screws on the bottom hold the bobbin to the baseplate. You'd only unscrew them to swap magents.

Very simple design, but very versatile.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Replacing P90 Covers

My Kent Armstrong Casino style Dogear P90 had the metal cover tacked on to the baseplate with four spots of solder. The pickup has been modified numerous times and still kicks butt.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Replacing P90 Covers

Careful now, some Asian P90 guitars have different size pickups that can't be interchanged with US sized ones. I know specifically that the PRS SE Soapbar (Korea made) cannot be loaded with US soapbars with the covers on.