SD P90 Silencers vs PRS TCI "S"?

[sumitagarwal]

Ok, so lotta funky variables here.

Both the SD P90 Silencers and the PRS USA TCI pickups get referred to as being like noiseless P90's (Phil McKnight specifically said that the PRS TCI is a noiseless P90). Interestingly the PRS USA TCI pickups have dimensions that are also quite similar to a P90.

My PRS S2 Singlecut can't fit either of those options.

HOWEVER, the SD Custom Shop has confirmed they can build a "Phat Cat" Silencer, which they say would have the exact same internals as the P90 Silencer but in a humbucker housing. And PRS SE Paul's Guitar has an import version of that TCI pickup which is in a traditional humbucker casing. Feedback is that they don't quite have the same clarity as the PRS USA version, but these pickups are stoopid cheap on the used market.

So if I'm going for a noiseless hot P90 setup in a humbucker mount guitar, what thoughts do folks have of these two options (and other options too)?

 

[Mincer]

I haven’t tried the PRS pickups, but I will say if the Custom Shop builds you a pickup, you will get exactly what you want.

 

[beaubrummels]

Just based on my experience with Duncan vs others, I would side with any Duncan model over any import variant of something else. IME Duncans are notorious for being clearer than other winder's equivalents, including DiMarzio and other big names you can think of.

 

[sumitagarwal]

Interestingly looks like the standard version of the Silencer appears to be a humbucker plate inside a P90 cover, if I'm not mistaken.

This is surprising for a design targeting a P90 format, but does suggest the Phat Cat version would be identical.

Now just need some real reviews and comparisons to other noiseless P90 designs like the DiMarzio Fantom!

 

[jeremy]

if it fits in a p90 cover, its not a bucker plate since they arent the same size. im sure thats a p90 plate, one row of holes through the center is another clue.

i dont have a p90 loaded guitar right now, other than a '59 guild, which im not messing with, or i would have tried these already. i really do want an old single cut jr though...

 

[sumitagarwal]

if it fits in a p90 cover, its not a bucker plate since they arent the same size. im sure thats a p90 plate, one row of holes through the center is another clue.

i dont have a p90 loaded guitar right now, other than a '59 guild, which im not messing with, or i would have tried these already. i really do want an old single cut jr though...

Ah. Hrm, but doesn't look full width.

Still looks like it could be rigged into a humbucker route by removing the cover?

FWIW I would seriously consider checking out a PRS S2 Singlecut Satin. Waaayyy single cut Special vibes, with all hog construction, wraparound bridge, super light and simple nitro finish, roughly "59" inspired neck profile. It's my first PRS and I'm very surprised. My intuition is that Paul really likes old P-90 Gibsons.
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[sumitagarwal]

Maybe not a humbucker plate, but clearly different dimensions than traditional P90 plate (compare the distance from the edge pole pieces to the edge of the plate):

 

[GuitarDoc]

The plate in the Silencer in not a humbucker nor a P-90. It seems to be its own thing...length of a bucker but holes down the center.

I've got a pair of the Silencers but I haven't installed them yet. I was also questioning why the actual coils were so short being a "P-90". It's not anywhere close to being a true P-90 shape or size. But I'm not excessively worried. I'm sure it's gonna sound great! After all, it's a Duncan, and it isn't a JB.

 

[GuitarDoc]

I agree with Beau, Duncans DO sound so much cleaner and clearer than other brands that I have tried.

 

[sumitagarwal]

The plate in the Silencer in not a humbucker nor a P-90. It seems to be its own thing...length of a bucker but holes down the center.

I've got a pair of the Silencers but I haven't installed them yet. I was also questioning why the actual coils were so short being a "P-90". It's not anywhere close to being a true P-90 shape or size. But I'm not excessively worried. I'm sure it's gonna sound great! After all, it's a Duncan, and it isn't a JB.

Let me know once you've got them in! Very surprised that there have been so few impressions. I'd guess that the closest competitor would be the Fantom P90, but one of the things attractive about the Silencers is that they come in 3 different temperatures for preference and versatility. And, from what I understand, real 1950's P-90's were consistently stronger output than 99% of modern imitators, due to a combination of often having two magnets bigger than in reproductions and often having a higher wind.

 

[jeremy]

i dont know if that is true. i have friends with 50's gibsons and the p90s sound great, but i dont know if they are hotter than say a duncan vintage p90. was just playing my buddies '56 jr the other day, sounds amazing!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Yeah, I don't think that's true either. If anything, the original P-90s were not as strong as a lot of modern ones. For one thing it's because so many modern P-90s use ceramic magnets, and because many modern P-90s use much higher wind count today.
Also, the magnets they used in the 50s for production pups, afaik, were the same size as used today.
I've got a 50s Gibson with P-90s that, if anything, sound a bit weak. I've got at least 2-3 dozen fairly modern P-90s and at least half sound much stronger that the 50s Gibson.

 

[sumitagarwal]

Interesting. I guess my greatest impression is that the originals did vary across a very broad range, even if on average most were wound and charged to a more narrow range.

I still like the idea of the Silencers being offered in 3 different heats, probably all within the original broad 50's range. For me personally I would go for the Silencer neck version for the neck and JJN bridge model for the bridge.

 

[marcello252]

I agree with Beau, Duncans DO sound so much cleaner and clearer than other brands that I have tried.

agree, maybe the extensive use of the nickel baseplate?

 

[zionstrat]

Literally every old p90 I have encountered is on the low wind/output side of the equation.. and as mentioned above, I've encountered a few animic ones as well.

Not saying that there were never any beefy p90s in the old days, but they will probably pretty rare.

 

[Mincer]

Trying one of the Silencers at NAMM, they sound like a great P90 to me, without the hum.

 

[GuitarDoc]

I still like the idea of the Silencers being offered in 3 different heats, probably all within the original broad 50's range.

The 2 higher output Silencers are not what I would consider in the 50's (vintage) output range.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Trying one of the Silencers at NAMM, they sound like a great P90 to me, without the hum.

Awesome. That's what I'm anticipating.
Which Silencer did you try?

 

[Mincer]

Awesome. That's what I'm anticipating.
Which Silencer did you try?

I tried the JJN Silencer, since it was in his signature guitar.

 

[jeremy]

Interesting. I guess my greatest impression is that the originals did vary across a very broad range, even if on average most were wound and charged to a more narrow range.

I still like the idea of the Silencers being offered in 3 different heats, probably all within the original broad 50's range. For me personally I would go for the Silencer neck version for the neck and JJN bridge model for the bridge.

there is a range of output for the 50's p90s but i dont think its that broad in the grand scheme of things. id assume the hottest model is outside of the range of vintage output, which isnt a bad thing