What P90's to get?

Vincent Vespa

Vincent Vespa

New member
I just ordered an Agile Harm semi-hollow with P90's and I'm not sure what kind of P90s to get for it. I've never really used P90's before. I'm hoping to get a thick SRV kind of sound from the neck and a nice "sizzley" bridge sound if at all possible.

It's a maple neck guitar with a maple top and mahogany back and sides.

Any ideas as to what I should get?
 
Re: What P90's to get?

Interesting choice. I particularly like the product description that says P90 are sizzly. I associate them with having huge midrange - something that a mostly maple guitar with a Bigsby could probably use.

I would suggest a vintage style neck PU and a hotter one for the bridge position. Ideally, an A2 magnet neck PU and a ceramic magnet bridge PU. From the SD range, that would mean an Antiquity neck P90 and a Hot or Custom bridge.

I have a few "spare" P90 type pickups at various price points available for sale. PM me if you are interested.
 
Re: What P90's to get?

Funkfingers said:
Interesting choice. I particularly like the product description that says P90 are sizzly. I associate them with having huge midrange - something that a mostly maple guitar with a Bigsby could probably use.

I would suggest a vintage style neck PU and a hotter one for the bridge position. Ideally, an A2 magnet neck PU and a ceramic magnet bridge PU. From the SD range, that would mean an Antiquity neck P90 and a Hot or Custom bridge.

I have a few "spare" P90 type pickups at various price points available for sale. PM me if you are interested.
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I was looking at Wymore and he still has a Vintage neck and a Custom bridge. The Hot seems like something more up my alley, though, from the descriptions. I don't suppose you have a Hot bridge, eh?
 
Re: What P90's to get?

Honestly, wait until you get the guitar and play it. Basing off of what you like and dont like with those stock P-90s will help you find a new set of P-90s if you even want a new set that is. I had a SX Tele which cost me like $120. I was expecting right away I would have to get new pickups but no I was way wrong. It sounded awesome right out of the box. The only issue was the neck pickup as it was really muddy and low output but I went and took off the chrome cover and it sounded just fine. The only complaint now would be that I dont like the hum but thats nothing to do with the tone though and it's really not even THAT bad with those pickups.

In short, just wait until you get it. It will let you know what you want or if you even need any pickup change at all.
 
Re: What P90's to get?

I know, I know. I'm just asking to be prepared if I do want to change out the pups.

Regardless, I'll probably want to swap them out, anyway. I've never used a guitar with P90's, so I'm probably going to want to try some different pups to get a feel of the different P90 sounds.
 
Re: What P90's to get?

PM sent. No need to reply until after you have had the Agile for at least a few weeks.
 
Re: What P90's to get?

I was gonna say Vintage neck and hot bridge - particulalrly for that guitar.

Mmmmmm P 90 goodness.
 
Re: What P90's to get?

Good choice of guitar. A vintage output P-90 will keep the neck clear & mud-free. If you want a higher output bridge, try Duncan's SP90-2. I have one, took out the ceramic magnets and put in an A8/A5, and it sounds great. Nice alnico flavor and not scooped-sounding.

I'm also very pleased with the Fralin P-90 I have, which uses twin A4's. Gibson's P-90's use twin A5's, which can sometimes be a little thin in the bridge, if so, two 250K's and/or warmer magnets will fatten it up.
 
Re: What P90's to get?

blueman335 said:
Good choice of guitar. A vintage output P-90 will keep the neck clear & mud-free. If you want a higher output bridge, try Duncan's SP90-2. I have one, took out the ceramic magnets and put in an A8/A5, and it sounds great. Nice alnico flavor and not scooped-sounding.

I'm also very pleased with the Fralin P-90 I have, which uses twin A4's. Gibson's P-90's use twin A5's, which can sometimes be a little thin in the bridge, if so, two 250K's and/or warmer magnets will fatten it up.
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I really need to learn how to swap magnets. I can do it with Humbuckers... I don't know about P-90's, though. Then again, I know almost nothing about P-90's...
 
Re: What P90's to get?

Swapping magnets on P90-style pickups is a simple matter of loosening off the four screws on the underside of the metal baseplate. With only one coil, there are no fragile interconnecting wires to damage.

Remember to make certain that the two replacement magnets are installed with the same pole facing the adjustable polepiece screws. (Some manufacturers indicate the outside edge of the magnets with permanent marker ink.)
 
Re: What P90's to get?

The two magents in a P-90 are positioned so they repel each other. It's very easy to swap magnets in a P-90; I've done it to most of mine.
 
Re: What P90's to get?

My P-90 axe has a Vintage bridge in the neck, and a Custom neck in the Bridge.

Is a kinds of cool on the neck, and Rawk in the bridge.

I really think Stevie Ray was trying hard to get a sound that is just dirt simple with P-90's. At least I can totally rock some Pride & Joy with that Custom in the bridge!
 
Re: What P90's to get?

Your not going to get a SRV tone out of this with P90's! Unless your talking about his Sheraton type of tone, but that's more Humbucker then P90.

That asid I think a real good choice for a guitar like this would be the Duncan P90 Antiquity! I have them in a Shecter Tempest special and they smoke!
 
Re: What P90's to get?

Vincent Vespa said:
I was looking at Wymore and he still has a Vintage neck and a Custom bridge. The Hot seems like something more up my alley, though, from the descriptions. I don't suppose you have a Hot bridge, eh?
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I've got a Seymour Vintage/Custom P90 set and I don't think you are ever going to get hair on the back of your neck tone out of them. I've swapped magnets to A2 & A8 which made things a little better. I've just ordered an Antiquity and some rough cast A2's so hopefully that will be better. I don't want Dunaged magnets as the guitars classic rock and blues was played on didn't have 40 year old magnets so why would I want that. Also I'm going to swap the bridge to A5 unoriented rough cast. I'm hoping the Antiquity wind and no potting gives a better tone.

Another choice for P90's with a vintage neck and some sizzle in the bridge are the Stan Hinesley ones. If you didn't want too hot a bridge I'd go Fralins.

You might find the guitar is ok like it is. I have no idea about what that guitar is. It looks Korean or something so I'd say you would want new pickups for sure.
 
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