SD PhatCats vs. GFS Mean 90s for Pop-Rock

[severalwills1]

Hey everyone, I know I posted a similar thread that's pretty recent but I've narrowed down my choices to these two.

I'm modifying a Squier Tele, routed for HH, to have two humbucker-sized P90s in both positions.

I will be using this guitar for cleans, as well as light yet creamy and sweet Vox-style overdrive and leads such as the ones in these pop-rock songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5GdP00NHo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6v2GHQrRM4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL60tN2s6pA

I've actually talked to the guitarists on these songs, and they said that they used P90s into a Vox AC30, which is a similar setup to what I'll be using.

For this purpose, what would be the best pickup between these two? The only reason why I haven't settled on the Mean 90s is because I heard that they run a little hot and growl a bit, which might be too powerful for my purposes here. Also why I'm considering the Dream 90s as an outside choice as well.

 

[elelpe]

Re: SD PhatCats vs. GFS Mean 90s for Pop-Rock

Hear them for yourself:

Mean 90
Phat Cat

For bargain price options, there are also Tonerider Rebel 90 and Tesla Opus-2.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: SD PhatCats vs. GFS Mean 90s for Pop-Rock

I happen to love the Mean 90 and have several in three different guitars (LP, SG, Strat). They sound great in everything I put them in. I don't find them to be too hot or to growl. But, they ARE P-90s. They all have a wonderful growl to them (depending on how you choose to define "growl").

The Mean 90s are very versatile and easy to work on if you ever want to make some mag changes.

I haven't tried the Toneriders or Teslas so I can't comment on those at all.

I haven't heard very many good reviews of the Dream 90, but many not so good ones. On the contrary...I've heard many great comments about the Mean 90 and very few bad comments.

 

[severalwills1]

Re: SD PhatCats vs. GFS Mean 90s for Pop-Rock

I happen to love the Mean 90 and have several in three different guitars (LP, SG, Strat). They sound great in everything I put them in. I don't find them to be too hot or to growl. But, they ARE P-90s. They all have a wonderful growl to them (depending on how you choose to define "growl").

Sweet, maybe I'll do the Mean 90 set. But in my other thread you mentioned a P-Rail in the bridge, would a Mean 90 neck/P-Rail bridge configuration (or perhaps even a P-Rail neck and Mean 90 bridge) be better than the set? Versatility isn't too much of an issue for me, as I have a decent variety of single-coil/humbucker guitars.