PAF / P90

TomCat · 2009-11-21T21:20:37+00:00

Hi All Just a quick Question..... What is the basic difference between a PAF style PUP and P90's from a performance / tone perspective. I'm toying with t...

PAF / P90

MikeM

Aha interesting.. Hmm I think I'll still try antiquities :?

AlanRatcliffe

I had a set of antiquities in my RVC: http://ratcliffe.co.za/sundry/DSC_3941.jpg (Warnin' - large gas inducing pic). I wasn't blown away by them. Very good, but not amazing. Bit more complex and sweeter than the Gibsons.

This is actually more what I'm likely to be chasing: Lollar '50s Wind P-90

BTW - some great clips of Lollar's standard wind P90s here Love the 90's Anthem one, but they are all good.

TomCat

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: @TC - BTW, don't forget the P90 is a single-coil, so the usual caveat of be prepared to live with some hum applies.

@ Alan...Noted.....I'm sure with proper fitting and screening that can be kept to a minimum.....Besides....hum tells you you're amp is switched on..... ? ?

MikeM

Alan is that nickel or chrome?

Also I can get antiquities for cheapish so for me it's worthwhile without completely breaking the bank ?

AlanRatcliffe

MikeM wrote: Alan is that nickel or chrome?

Nickel plate. Pretty, eh? TonePros Bridge and tailpiece.

Also I can get antiquities for cheapish so for me it's worthwhile without completely breaking the bank ?

Completely understandable - I've been there, and it can makes a big difference to which pickups you choose.

MikeM

I thought it was nickel. I love the look. Far more beautiful than chrome to me...

? Gas is bad....

TomCat

I,ve just had another listen to the SD Phat Cats on the SD website and I really like the tone of both the neack and bridge pickups both clean and OD.

Also had a look on the LP forum where the Phat Cat seems popular as a replacement on the neck position.

Has anyone done that here and what was the outcome....happy / unhappy??

singemonkey

I'll give my usual vote for Lollars. I actually bought mine based on written descriptions, if you believe it. :?

I was a little bit scared of some of the raw clank of some of Neil Young's stuff. It didn't sound musical. So I went for a P90 that was described as mellower. Now comparing actual sound on sound, I made a lucky choice.

Lollar P90s have an incredible musicality to them, but... if you crank them up, they still sound like freakin' Live at Leeds. The guitar roars. There's an odd sound to P90s. Compared to them, strat single coils sound light - like you're just turning the strings into an electronic signal (I know they all do that, but bear with me here). It's a bit like you left the guitar behind - or a bit like listening to an acoustic guitar through a tiny radio.

Humbuckers almost sound like an effect compared to P90s. They're so smooth and deep, it's almost like they're their own amplifier. Beautiful. But somehow a bit unreal.

But P90s sound wonderfully acoustic in a weird way. You can really hear the wood of the guitar. It sometimes sounds a bit hyper real and a bit much. Listen to the Elvis "Sun Sessions" record. You just hear this big, acoustic clonk, which you don't really hear from a hollow-body with humbuckers - like your typical ES175.

But a sweet one, like the Lollars, or the sound Townsend gets in Live at Leeds. It's like the purest electric guitar sound you can imagine. Like one of those Tibetan prayer bowls... ok, I'm just talking kak now. I think I should go have a lie-down ?

AlanRatcliffe

singemonkey wrote: I'll give my usual vote for Lollars.

Which ones do you have?

I actually bought mine based on written descriptions, if you believe it. :?

My Imperial I did the same. One thing I'll say for Lollar's pickups is they are always very musical. Sometimes they don't sound like they'll do the job when you hear them by themselves, but when you get in a playing situation or in a mix - wow! Also really nice construction (if you're into that kind of thing) - every last detail screams quality and attention to detail.

I was a little bit scared of some of the raw clank of some of Neil Young's stuff. It didn't sound musical.

Nah - that's just Neil. He's a bit of a wild man player. His pickups are also so microphonic it's not funny.

singemonkey

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
singemonkey wrote: I'll give my usual vote for Lollars.
Which ones do you have?

Erm... I'd have to look at the box :-[

I think they were the standard/schmandard ones. Standard winds and all that.

TomCat

Can one get the SPH90 Phat Cats in a neck only or does one have to by a bridge/neck set?

Thinking of keeping the stock HB in the bridge position and changing the neck PUP only.....

Any thoughts....... :-\ :-\

MikeM

Good option IMHO.

I can still hook you up if you need hehe ?

But I'd suggest if you ARE getting new pups to perhaps consider a pearly gates bridge. I am sure AndrewJ and many others'd agree.

AlanRatcliffe

TomCat wrote: Can one get the SPH90 Phat Cats in a neck only or does one have to by a bridge/neck set?

Thinking of keeping the stock HB in the bridge position and changing the neck PUP only.....

Perfectly acceptable. If you like your bridge pickup, then hang on to it. What I will say though, is that be prepared for a replacement pickup to make you realise that the one you left in isn't as good as you thought it was. That happens fairly often when guys change out one stock pickup. But even then at least you can decide on whether you want to pop in a better humbucker or also go P90 based on what you get.

TomCat

Had a listen to the Pearly Gates bridge on the SD website....surprisingly deep for a bridge PUP.

I think that the SPH-90/Neck and Pearly Gates Bridge will work well tone wise. Will be interesting in the combined position.....deep and articulate at the same time.....along with a little twang..... :-\

MikeM

Exactly.

The A2 in the bridge fattens it up nicely ? Another option would be to go for a '59er and buy an A2 mag. That'd be an overwould pealy gate, which would be warmer and slightly less articulate.. But I'd stick to a PG. It's a safe, versatile choice.

TomCat

MikeM wrote: Exactly.

The A2 in the bridge fattens it up nicely ? Another option would be to go for a '59er and buy an A2 mag. That'd be an overwould pealy gate, which would be warmer and slightly less articulate.. But I'd stick to a PG. It's a safe, versatile choice.

Mike....You are not helping my GAS......... ?

MikeM

Cough ? I'll pm you now