Drop-in (HB sized) P90s

el-guapo

Anyone have any experience with humbucker-sized P90s?

AlanRatcliffe

Yes - a fair bit. Any ones you are specifically looking at? Any idea what sound are you chasing? Vintage? Modern? Rude? Clear? Or do you just want to dip your toes into P90 waters to see what it is about?

nicovlogg

I've tried a few, from GFS and tonerider, and have been impressed with both companies.

el-guapo

Thanks guys. Alan, I guess toe-dipping is the best description, although I suppose vintage might be the ball-park. This would be for use in a 335: I tried out a new P90-equipped 335 a few weeks ago and the beautiful "roundness" (but, I didn't think, wooliness) of it blew me away. Didn't like the satiny finish on the guitar (and just generally trying not to buy up more axe real estate) so it got me thinking about dropping some into my 335.

Chocklit_Thunda

Gibson makes the P94 pickup set which is a humbucker sized version of their P90
Tonerider has the rebel 90's
Seymour Duncan makes the Phat Cats
GFS has the most different winds from what I gather. It's at least 2 different types but I think there are more.

From that list I think that GFS may be the only one with a higher output pickup (without going to the SD custom shop)

AlanRatcliffe

For toe dipping, try the Tonerider Rebel 90s or a set of Gibson's own P94s. I've never liked the Duncans and the GFS are mostly overwound for my tastes. I think Kent Armstrong does a set too, but I've never tried them.

For hollows I'd go for a lower wind, more 50's style P90. Personally I'd probably try a set of Lollar SCFH first as I love his regular P90s.

Reinhard

I have the SD Phat Cats in my SG and I like the tone, especially the neck pickup. I have a sneaky suspicion they may be more sensitive to height adjustment than one would expect.

Chocklit_Thunda

Most guys on the Seymour Duncan forum prefer to perform a magnet swap on their phat cats.... The most preferred combinations are A3/A5, A3/A3, A2/A5, A5/A8 and for softer more mellow tones A2/A3. If you want high output you could go for an A8/A8

Gibson's are pricey... For the best value for money I'd go with tonerider or the GFS mean 90's (which are the lower vintage wound 90's)

chris77

Hey el guapo. I have a set of GFS Dream 90's that have steadily made their way from one guitar to the next and al the way to my parts box. Not really what I was looking for and kinda meh sounding, but maybe I just haven't tried them in the right guitar yet. So far they have been in two semi-hollows and a strat copy, with average results.

Since folks are throwing in suggestions, why not have a look at the Harmonic Design Z-90's as well. http://harmonicdesign.net/allpages/gibsons.html#z-90. Not too expensive and they ship to SA without any fuss. I have a set of their tele sized p90 pups in my Fender std and she has become my go-to electric since eversince I fitted her with them.

Mr-M

I have a set of Tonerider Rebel 90s in a solidbody as well as a set of GFS Mean 90s in another solidbody - both strat styles. The TRs definitely have the right sort of tonality with their extra chime and roundness to shine in a 335. The SD Phat Cats would also be a good choice, but they tend towards the warmer end of the scale, so you might not find them to be as much of a change from your PAFs as you would like if you enjoyed real P90s. Of these pickups, the Mean 90s are the most like proper P90s in tonality, but I feel they may too raucous for a 335 - although considering you liked real Gibson P90s you may feel differently. Between the GFS and TRs you won't really go wrong with either.

I haven't tried the P94s, so I can't comment on those.

el-guapo

Thanks for the responses, everyone.