Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

[barnherd]

Dear guitar friends,

currently I am playing a PRS-style guitar with the Duncan JB and Jazz but I am aiming to a more open sound on the neck. So I thought it would be a great idea to switch the jazz for a Duncan Phat Cat P-90. Has anyone tested this combination already? Is the JB too hot for the PC? Is the PC too dark for a mahogany guitar? On youtube it sounds very nice in 90% of the videos.

If I want to split the humbucker and use it noise cancelled in the middle position with the PC, I need a rwrp PC, right? On the used market there are more normal wired PC, so maybe I can change the wiring of the JB to achieve the noise cancelling?

I am not really into wiring, so maybe these questions seem stupid to you, I am sorry .


Greetings from germany
barnherd

 

[Mincer]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

Hmm, the Jazz in the neck is one of the most open pickups out there. I am not sure a Phat Cat would be more open. I've used guitars with Phat Cats and JBs, and the balance is good for me, but I am not sure that will get you where you are going here. The only thing that might be more open in the neck position is *possibly* a 59.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

First off, let's clear something up, what do you mean by "open"? There are so many different meanings to that word around here. But I can say that a Phat Cat with twin short A5 magnets works wonderfully with a JB.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

Maybe it is me...I am defining 'open' as a lot of bass and treble, with not a lot of mids...wide open in the middle.

 

[barnherd]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

Yeah, it is hard to describe. I also like a woody tone on the one side and a more single coilish sound on the other side, maybe I just want to experiment .

Do you know about the polarity of a regular PH paired with a humbucker?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

FWIW, I actually replaced a Jazz with a Phat Cat in the neck position of my PRS SE.

I don't know if its more open, but the Phat Cat with its stock A2's has less lows and more mids. I don't know if it has less highs, but I wouldn't say they're far off. I personally don't find the Phat Cat dark at all, like many have reported in this forum. To me, the Phat Cat has more of that single coil rasp/twang to the attack than the Jazz. Even though the Jazz is pretty bright, it still sounds smooth (compared to the PC) like a humbucker to me.

I don't split my bridge pickup, so I don't know about the reverse wind thing. Sorry.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

Phat Cat and JB is an epic combo. They absolutely balance. Leave the A2s in there for warmth or sub A5s for more single coil cut. For the hum cancelling middle position, you could split to the south screw coil of the JB since the PC neck is north. Or you could get a PC bridge which is south and split to the JB north slug coil.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

I think bridge HB's with neck P-90's are a great combo. Both are at their best in those slots. For me stock Phat Cats are very warm in the neck slot, just not enough high end, not open sounding at all. Sound muffled. I pulled out the A2's and replaced them with brighter magnets. Big improvement. If you're not into swapping magnets, I'd get a GFS Mean 90 which comes with A5's, and makes a better match for a JB's EQ. Mean 90's sound like true P-90's, Phat Cats don't. BTW, there are those that like big EQ differences between their bridge and neck PU's, and other that don't. I fall in the latter category.

 

[barnherd]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

Thank you for the latest replies .

I am glad to hear that I can achieve a humbucking middle position while splitting the south screw coil.

So, I don't like big EQ differences and thought about buying a Tonerider Rebel 90 which should sound a little smoother and has not such a high output as the PC. I can get the Tonerider here for 40€ new, GFS is really expensive because of the shipping and taxes. The Rebel 90 does not have a A5, it also has a A2.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

I think bridge HB's with neck P-90's are a great combo. If you're not into swapping magnets, I'd get a GFS Mean 90 which comes with A5's, and makes a better match for a JB's EQ. Mean 90's sound like true P-90's, Phat Cats don't.

I just got Mean 90's and the neck sounds great. i think it would match a JB

 

[barnherd]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

Ive found a Kent Armstrong P90 HB-sized with an Alnico 5 magnet for not much used here. I think I will try that pickup at first! Thank you for your help

 

[sgim43]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

Sorry for jumping on your thread, but I just waited to get approval to register for this forum only to find I have no permission to make new threads! WTH! and this question is similar to my scenario. (I've just sent an email to Seymour Duncan asking what their deal is)

I have late 1930’s ES-150 that has had multiple alterations, including someone at one point adding a second pickup. Neither are original. In order to do this they made the tone control a volume so each pickup has volume only. I’d like a little more variance in tone so was thinking of replacing one of them, which I believe are both humbuckers, with a P-90. The current neck pickup is a Gibson that says 2,737,842. I’m a newbie when it comes to pickups, as I’ve been an acoustic player only, and got this (and an 63" Epi Century, which uses a P90) not too far back to segue into electric.

So back to the pickups - I’ve read online confusing/conflicting info in similar posts regarding the patent pickup, someone saying the ones using this number I mentioned were made in the 70’s but did not go past the 80’s, someone else saying they were still putting them in different models in the 90’s and then users in blogs saying there’s many variations of this pickup all using this patient number on the back.

The second bridge pickup is a Seymour Duncan. I do not see any other identifying information, so had no idea how to proceed. 

Both pickups look the same from the top, with nickel covers. So I was trying to identify these so I can know exactly what I have. I assume I'll keep the Gibson and add a p90 seeings as how the guitar is Gibson, but you never know, maybe the Seymour Duncan is more appropriate to keep.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[CEB]

Re: Using a humbucker/p-90-combination - What do I need to know?

My number 1 is one of these with a 59 Custom Hybrid in the bridge and a Wilkinson trem with locking tuners. The vid shows the hardtail model. But my pickup doesn't sound like this. Either the pickup is bad or it needs to be raised. Everyone else I know that plays this Duncan P90 gets good bite out of theirs. I'm going to try to get sorted out today. I like this configuration when it is working. I will get mine sorted out and it will rock :arms: