Vintage Gibson P90 question...

[Lewguitar]

What do vintage 50's and 60's Gibson P90's measure in DC Resistance? Since both pickups in a 50's or 60's Gibson with P90's would be identical, if a guy wanted a set of Duncan Vintage P90's and wanted them to be as close as possible to a 50's or 60's set, would he go for two necks or two bridge models?

I know that since the neck 59n is underwound and the bridge 59B is wound to about 8.1K or 8.2K (vintage spec) that a pair of 59B's would be closer to a vintage 60's set of Gibson humbuckers...would the same be true for Duncan Vintage P90's?

Lew

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Vintage Gibson P90 question...

Im not sure about that Lew...I have been reading a bit lately about PAF's and Im a bit confused...I was told a while back that in the 50's there was no neck and no bridge just one pickup that got put in the neck and bridge with no reguard to the DC. I have recently heard form more than one source that PAF's were indeed set up into pairs from day one but that the neck was usally the stronger one. As an example you'd get a 7.75k bridge and an 8.25 in the neck. If that's true I would imagine that guitars with 2 P-90's would be the same way...any thoughts on that?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Vintage Gibson P90 question...

My experience is that Gibson used the same pickup for the bridge as they did for the neck and that if there was a difference between the two pickups in a 50's guitar that it was due to variations in the manufacturing of the pickup and not intentional. Same is true for Fender guitars...that's been my experience anyway.

 

[Alvin Lee Fan]

Re: Vintage Gibson P90 question...

Don't know about the real vintage stuff, but the OE P90s from my '78 Les Paul Pro measure 7.9 on both pickups.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Vintage Gibson P90 question...

Don't know about the real vintage stuff, but the OE P90s from my '78 Les Paul Pro measure 7.9 on both pickups.

Thanks! That would be measured in the guitar...right? The DC reading is usually lower if the pickup is measured in the guitar. The Duncan Vintage P90 is 8.22K for the neck and 9.35K for the bridge. Lew

 

[Alvin Lee Fan]

Re: Vintage Gibson P90 question...

Nope, that was measured out of the guitar. I only have a cheap Radio Shack VOM, I don't know how accurate it is, but I've measured other pickups and pots with known values and gotten pretty close to those readings with my meter.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Vintage Gibson P90 question...

I have a 56 P-90 in the bridge of one of my guitars I'll check it in a bit and get back.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Vintage Gibson P90 question...

I've got an 50's ES175 with a P90 in the neck.

Can I measure it without removing it?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Vintage Gibson P90 question...

I've got an 50's ES175 with a P90 in the neck.

Can I measure it without removing it?

Funny you should ask!

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=60077

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Vintage Gibson P90 question...

I know it isn't answering the question and it probably won't help much, but I just pulled the Phat Cats from my Sheraton and metered them. The neck measures 9.3k and the bridge is 9.65k. That's pretty close if you ask me.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Vintage Gibson P90 question...

This is what Steven Kersting has on his site (skguitar.com)

Gibson Pickups:Type/wire/turns/direction/DC/magnet

Firebird 42PE 4250 CCW 3.5 A2
Mini Bucker 42P 4250 CCW 3.35 A5
PAF 42PE 5000 CCW 4.0 A2 or 3
T-top 42PE 5000 CCW 4.0 A5
P-90 42PE 10,000 CCW 8.0 A3 or A5
Alnico aka "staple" 42PE 10,000 CCW 8.0 A3 or A5
Bar Pickup, aka "Charlie Christian" 38-41PE 2.5-3.5k carbon steel
Melody Maker 42 PE 10,000 CCW 7.3 A5 "rail"
Early versions of most Gibson pickups were wound the same for both positions, slug side north where applicable. The HB/P-90 Bar magnets are also the Melody Maker "rail" magnets. Nylon bobbins from Firebird HB's were also used in Johnny Smith, LP Deluxe Mini buckers, Epiphone, and some Silvertone.