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

[Empty Pockets]

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

Yes... the P-90 coil is a true P-90.

I would replace the real P90's in my Les Paul Special with P-Rails if I could, if only so I could have true P-90 tone that I can switch to hum-cancelling if I feel like it.

 

[AniML]

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

Doesn't the presence of the additional magnets, poles and coils have an effect on the "true" P90 coil, theoretically at least, if not audibly?

 

[dvadneau]

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

P-Rails won't be an exact P90 replica. That said, I love the P-Rails neck. I've had SP90-1, -2, Phat Cats, and P-Rails in the neck of my Tele and the P-Rails was the best choice for me. I never could get along with any of them in the bridge, though. I didn't do any mag swaps, so I may have to revisit that at some point.

The P90 sound of the P-Rails is just a great sound. P90 purists will say it's not a P90 - I don't care. It sounds awesome. Plus, I can go full humbucking at the flip of a switch when I want a thicker tone.

I've never had a huge issue with P90 hum, but I find the P-Rails to be a little quieter than the SP90-1/-2 were.

If you do decide to go P90, you can't go wrong with either the -1 or -2, imo. I liked the -2 a little more because I like neck pickups to have some heat. Again, if I had been into mag swapping when I was testing them out, I would have tried another combo in the -1, just to add another dimension. If you get a P90 and want to try a mag swap at some point, search these forums for blueman's descriptions of the various mag combos in P90s.

 

[Funkfingers]

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

A "true" P90 consists of a chunky coil wound onto a bobbin made of thin plastic and housed under a cover of much thicker plastic. The P90 coil of a P-Rail is wound within a bobbin of thick plastic. There is no outer cover. The positioning of the magnets relative to the coil is different.

Please bear in mind that some people out there sincerely believe that the presence (or absence) of black pigment material in the Hughes Plastics humbucker bobbins supplied to Gibson in the mid-to-late Fifties significantly alters the tone of the completed pickup.

How retentive would sir like to get about this?

 

[blueman335]

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

The P90 sound of the P-Rails is just a great sound. P90 purists will say it's not a P90 - I don't care. It sounds awesome. Plus, I can go full humbucking at the flip of a switch when I want a thicker tone.

That can also be achieved by using a push-pull to link both P-90 in series, instead of parallel, in the middle toggle position. Makes a virtual HB. I've done this on a couple P-90 guitars. You get true P-90 sounds and a humbucker.

 

[GuitarDoc]

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

Unless there is a plastic used for bobbins that is either magnetic or is attracted to a magnet (like metal), it really won't have an affect on the P-90.

I don't know what THE definition of a P-90 is. If by "true" you are refering to the "original" P-90s, I understand what you are saying. But I thought it was essentially a bobbin fatter than a typical single coil with more wire winds, metal poles and two bar magnets at the bottom of the bobbins (as opposed to magnet poles). By saying that the P-90 in a P-Rails is not a true P-90 is like saying a 1/4 pounder is not a true single coil pup because the poles (magnets) are too big. Or that a Stag Mag is not a true humbucker because the poles are the magnets (no bar magnets at the bottom).