SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

[Artie]

Soren Anderson and Jack Thammarat have convinced me that I need a Yamaha Pacifica 611HFM. (Custom-5b/SP90-1n) But they don't make them anymore and I probably couldn't afford one anyway. I'm thinking that I could make my Peavey Patriot into one. I'm sure the P-90 would be better, because its what Yamaha used, but the Phat Cat would be an easier fit. The P-90 is a slightly hotter wind with an A5 mag, while the Phat Cat is an A2.

Has anyone used both and can comment on the differences? Thanks.

Artie

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

Very different sounding pickups....

 

[Artie]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

And it just occurred to me, I have a pair of P-Rails sitting on the shelf. Is that P-90 going to be close to the SP90-1?

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

The P Rails will sound closer to the P90 vs the Phat Cat. (and better IMO)... never was a big fan of the phat cat even with a mag change

 

[blueman335]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

Very different sounding pickups....

+1. The A2's in Phat Cats leave a lot to be desired, bridge and neck. It's the wrong magnet for that PU. While Seymour has a done a great job bringing out the best A2's have to offer in his PAF's, that didn't happen with Phat Cats.

You can get some nice tones from Phat Cats if you change magents, especially if you pair different kinds to fine tune the EQ you want.

 

[Artie]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

Ok, so I guess it comes down to the P-Rails that I have or the C5 / SP90-1 which comes in it. I'm leaning towards the latter to keep it more authentic. Plus, it gives me an excuse to buy more pups.

 

[Artie]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

Can I throw one more variable into the mix?
How about the STK-P1 P-90 Stack? I like the idea of hum free. Does the stack still maintain the P-90 goodness?

 

[SFW]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

Its funny that you should mention Soren and that guitar/ pickup combo. I'm in the process of building a strat to be just like that. As far as the stacks go, Soren's new Yamaha sig guitar is loaded with two of them.

 

[Artie]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

That's good to know, and that should be a sweet Strat.
I mentioned Soren because someone else posted a link to one of his videos. He's become one of my favorite "new" guitarists.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

FWIW I liked the Phat Cat in my SG-X but not as much as the P-Rails that's in there now... the Phat Cat had great clarity, lots of angry mids and did the low-tuned Black Sabbath thing I wanted that guitar to do very well... but the P-Rails has bigger bass and treble, and if the mids are subdued I either don't notice or it's beneficial. Being able to push or pull my knobs to change the tone makes it even sweeter... I think of it as a "P-90 Plus" because it's core and best tone is the P-90 but the Rail and humbucker tones give you other shades to color with.

The Phat Cat now lives in the bridge of my maple-fretboard Strat where the Alnico 2 smoothes out that harsh highend and gives me an awesome riff rock guitar :smokin: and since we're talking about something Strat-style here it might still be an option to consider... but I think if you've got the P-Rails you should just use the P-Rails and get your Rail "Almost Strat Neck" tone, plus the humbucker tones if you ever wana do some big saturated solos or anything like that...

 

[Artie]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

Thanks EP. I think you just saved me some money. I'll go ahead and do the P-Rails now, and if they aren't my thing, I can always swap them later.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

I also recommend the P-Rail. But if it's "not your thing", don't entirely give up on it...mag swaps make a BIG difference in its tone and response and are very quick and easy to do.

 

[Artie]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

Thanks Doc. I'll keep that in mind.

 

[AniML]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

BG Pure90

 

[Artie]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

BG Pure90

I'm sure they're sweet, but I'm just a "Duncan" kinda guy. :headbang:

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

Artie. The STK-P1 P90 Stack suffers from the same problem as any other stacked coil, hum-cancelling replacement for a single coil pickup. The low end sounds slightly thin and the dynamics and sparkle lack that certain something special.

 

[blueman335]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

Artie. The STK-P1 P90 Stack suffers from the same problem as any other stacked coil, hum-cancelling replacement for a single coil pickup. The low end sounds slightly thin and the dynamics and sparkle lack that certain something special.

To be expected. They're a compromise. You give up some tone for noise reduction. You decide if it's worth it.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

I've never been bothered by the hum from a P-90. It seems to me to be less than a Strat single coil and I don't notice it at all while I'm playing. But the tone of a P-90 is what makes it so attractive. Why try to turn it into a humbucker and lose the tone that makes it so unique?!

Man, if you like the sound of a P-90, then play a P-90, not the raped bastard offspring version of a P-90/humbucker. (sorry i got so graphic, I'm a pure P-90 tone fanatic).

 

[blueman335]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

I've never been bothered by the hum from a P-90. It seems to me to be less than a Strat single coil and I don't notice it at all while I'm playing. But the tone of a P-90 is what makes it so attractive. Why try to turn it into a humbucker and lose the tone that makes it so unique?!

+1. There's HB's and there's P-90's; I don't see the point in combining the two and losing their individuality.

 

[Artie]

Re: SP90-1 (P-90) vs SPH90-1 (Phat Cat)

Ok guys. You've sold me on the idea of using a true P-90. But am I correct in that if I use the P-90 side of a P-Rails, that is a true P-90?