SP90-1b taming the highs?

H

harmaes

New member
I've modified a SP90-1n with Alnico 3 and 4 magnets which really opened it up. I'm using it in a mahogany based LP like boutique guitar. I've had custom P90s in there before from the builder that were nice but I prefer the current SP90-1n with the mag swap.
The boutique bridge P90 I had in there was 12k which balanced well with the SP90-1n neck P90. As I've moved the set of boutique P90s to a different guitar I got a SP90-1b which is around 9,7k DCR together with the Sp90-1n. I'm using 500k volume and tone pots and had to replace the 500k tone with a 250k for the bridge as it was too bright for me.
Even with 250k tone I have to lower the tone pot to 4-5 for lead because of the top end. I still need to raise the SP90-1b some more to increase some mids but I know that something has to improve. ;)

- I'm thinking about swapping the magnets of the bridge to Alnico 4 with possibly Alnico 8. I've read about this combination here and also A5/A8. Could someone describe the differences between those combinations?
- I currently have polished magnets on order, and the ones in the SP90-1n are polished as well which work nicely. What's the difference with roughcast? I might order some of these to compare with the polished ones.

Thanks for your help.
 
Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

It would help to know more about the guitar. Scale length, neck joint and bridge type can all make a difference.
 
Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

I use a few A8/A4 in bridge P-90's. They're a little warmer than A8/A5. Not a big difference between them though.

I also use roughcast magnets in bridge PU's (HB & P-90) whenever possible, as they take off the harshness of the high end. Likewise, I mostly have polished magnets in neck PU's.
 
Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

Honestly, there seems to be something wrong here….

And I'm thinking it isn't the guitar or the pups. I can't imagine an P90 having too much highs in an LP with 250k pots. I mean, it could happen. Still, not very likely.

After all that mag futzing and such, I think you just don't like the P90. What amp/setting?
 
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Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

Raising the pickups close to the strings with p90s does make them harsh.
I find the iconic p90 tone is best with the pickup further from the strings, but the with polepieces high.....probably the whole head of the screw above the cover I've found is best.
 
Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

Well, he's already done a mag swap in the neck PU and really liked it. Why not try it in the bridge and see what he thinks. Only takes a few minutes.
 
Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

Funkfingers said:
It would help to know more about the guitar. Scale length, neck joint and bridge type can all make a difference.
Click to expand...

Of course: it's a Fibenare Basic Jazz, wraparound bridge, 630mm scale length. The 12k pickup in their was great but that uses rods for magnets. I'll upload a demo I made with them.
 
Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

blueman335 said:
I use a few A8/A4 in bridge P-90's. They're a little warmer than A8/A5. Not a big difference between them though.

I also use roughcast magnets in bridge PU's (HB & P-90) whenever possible, as they take off the harshness of the high end. Likewise, I mostly have polished magnets in neck PU's.
Click to expand...

Great, that really helps. I'll order some roughcast magnets. I currently have found websites in the US that are recommended in this forum as well. Haven't found a website with roughcast in EU?
 
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Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

AlexR said:
Raising the pickups close to the strings with p90s does make them harsh.
I find the iconic p90 tone is best with the pickup further from the strings, but the with polepieces high.....probably the whole head of the screw above the cover I've found is best.
Click to expand...

With a neck pickup yes, with a bridge I find it better closer to the strings. ;)
 
Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

Aceman said:
Honestly, there seems to be something wrong here….

And I'm thinking it isn't the guitar or the pups. I can't imagine an P90 having too much highs in an LP with 250k pots. I mean, it could happen. Still, not very likely.

After all that mag futzing and such, I think you just don't like the P90. What amp/setting?
Click to expand...

I'm using a 500k volume and 250k tone.
I might try a 250/250k as well. I think that a magnet swap is the first thing I'm going to try.
And I do like P90s, have multiple guitars with a P90 neck, only 2 with dual P90s.
The other one is a Pacifica alder body guitar which sounds great with the Fibenare original pickups that I removed.
If it doesn't work out I might try an Arcane Px90 bridge.
Thanks!
 
Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

I think you might be happy with an A8/A5 in the bridge Duncan. It should give you more girth and bring the output up close to what you had with the 12K pickup. Probably smooth out the highs a little bit too- though if it sounds too bright for your taste with a 250K tone pot, I'm not certain it'll be enough. You could try using the 250K pot as your volume and putting the 500K back on the tone, or just going 250/250 like you said you might.

Also, while in my case A8/A4 didn't sound very different from A8/A5, if it's still overbright when you try an A8 in it yours may be a case where that slight difference with A4 is enough to help. Couldn't hurt to try.

When I ordered A8s, I got all roughcast. Knew I wasn't likely to be trying 'em in any neck pickups.
 
Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

harmaes said:
Of course: it's a Fibenare Basic Jazz, wraparound bridge, 630mm scale length. The 12k pickup in their was great but that uses rods for magnets.
Click to expand...

A semi-hollow Les Paul derivative. Nice!

harmaes said:
Pacifica alder body guitar which sounds great with the Fibenare original pickups that I removed.
If it doesn't work out I might try an Arcane Px90 bridge.
Click to expand...

I can confirm this. I have a Yamaha PAC 311H. These go extremely well with American-made P90 type pickups. I would expect the Fibenare pickups to give a slightly more Fender-y edge to the overall sound.

harmaes said:
Can I order roughcast magnets somewhere in Europe?
Click to expand...

Contact LtKojak. :)
 
Re: SP90-1b taming the highs?

aha - I see the tone you are going for. Yeah - SP-1's would be a problem. I think you'd be happier with an SP-2, honestly….maybe with a good volume and both pots 250k
 
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