I'm Needing Help With Pickup Choice!??

Rob-Brown

I've got a fender special edition custom telecaster FMT HH (mahogany body and neck) that I bought in my "metal guitaring phase" ?. It came with a fender atomic II humbucker in the bridge position, and a fender black canyon humbucker in the neck position. I later changed the bridge pickup to a Seymour Duncan SH-11 Custom Custom and added a kahler hybrid trem.

here's a pic of someone elses but close enough. ?

The problem is I'm looking for a more vintage tone and the pickups I have are sounding a bit too harsh for me. So the solution I'm thinking is to either replace them with both with tonerider P90 rebels or replace the bridge pickup with a tonerider alnico II and the neck pickup with a tonerider P90 rebel. But I'm not to sure on what would be beter?

Is there a difference in sound between the normal tonerider P90 and the rebel tonerider P90?

Kalcium

From what I've read, I think it was Alan's review, of the rebel 90s, they do sound a bit different from the regular P90s but I think the main thing is that the P90s are P90 size and the Rebel 90s are humbucker size. So the Rebel 90's will fit perfectly, not sure how it would go putting a P90 in a humbucker slot but I'd be interested to know, maybe someone else will comment who knows? I mean if it just looks a bit strange cause it doesn't fill the slot I don't think thats a huge issue, but if they wont fit for some reason, that would be an issue ?

As far as choice between P90 (Rebel or regular) or Alnico II I think the Alnico II would have the vintage sound you mentioned you were looking for, while the P90s are their own sort of animal. Not that they won't sound vintage, just that they are sort of halfway between a single coil and a humbucker. I must just add I've never tried P90s or the Alnico II's just read about them...

Random idea to try out in the mean time...try lowering your pickups to make them a bit less harsh, takes a few seconds and could make ur pickups sounds a bit more to your new liking while you decide on what to get ?

AlanRatcliffe

Both good choices IMO. Depends on how vintage you want to go. My money would be on the pair of Rebel 90s, but I'm more of a single-coil player.

The A2 humbucker with the Rebel 90 in the neck would be more flexible and a good classic '60s/'70s rock combo with a bit more clarity at the neck. It will still be a big jump from the pickups you have now, but not quite as huge a difference as the pair of 90s.

The Rebel 90s are P90s. Slightly lower output than modern P90s, so will easily be able to take you to more of a 50's/early 60's place - rock n roll, rockabilly, Beatles, Britpop, etc. Still enough midrange grunt to do heavier blues to rock if you want (especially with a more modern amp), but even more clarity and chime (and hum cancelling when used together). If you have another humbucker guitar or want a total change, it would make sense to go this way.

Rob-Brown

Awesum thanx for the input I think I'm going to be brave and gona go with the normal P90s and route the pickup holes. Ive routed it before for the kahler trem so I'm not to scared to do it again ? I checked some youtube videos and I'm loving the sound of the normal P90s especially the clean tone in mid position!

are P90s the same width as PAFs? I hope they are wider.. :-\

AlanRatcliffe

Normal P90s won't fit into a humbucker hole - they are longer, but narrower and don't have any ears. The Rebel 90s are P90s in a humbucker casing, so they are a drop fit and use standard humbucker mounting rings. Simplest solution and completely reversible.

Koning

Not sure if you've purchased yet, but you should consider the Alnico IV set aswell, I have a gold set in my Epi Les Paul and the tone is epic. Very warm/smooth - I won't be changing them. Unfortunately haven't had experience with the others, but the Rebel is also supposed to be good. (like Alan said, the P90 and the Rebel are almost the same apart from size and minor output difference)