P90 shopping - what to buy?

Jalfrezi

I'm thinking of trying a new bridge P90 for my DC-Jr. copy.

I've not had a P90 guitar for a very long time, so not sure how vintage/modern to go, or how hot either.

I want something that has a beautiful clean, but can get nasty when rolling on the volume.

Your thoughts and advice would be most welcome.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

Can't go wrong with Lollar P90s

Danielsguitars

Just get a mojo p90, fantastic pickups from clean to mean, they sound huge with gain, maybe better than a paf 

brucegill

Would be worth measuring the output of what you have in there first. And if possible knowing what magnets they use. Then you at least have a guide to how hot or not you want.

If you haven’t already,  and you can easily adjust it (not a dogear, unless you have shims), I’ve just recently found how much that can change things. And the pole pieces. For me personally I’ve found I prefer the bass and treble very near the same height at the bridge. 

All that said, if I replace what’s in my Fano standard, they’ll be some Lollars if I can afford. The Frailins were nice too I had in. Another guitar. I did promise myself to use one of the UK builders next though, but I need to work our what specs I want. And stop buying bloody pedals so I have some funds. 

Whitecat

Wolfetones are 25% off right now. 

https://www.wolfetone.com/

Aggressive but in a fat/warm way rather than spiky, if that makes sense. 

Funkfingers

I like the Seymour Duncan Antiquity. 

On some guitars, I "borrow" the PRS idea of using the SD SP90-3N in the bridge/Treble position. 

The Duncan Designed P90s in the Squier VM Telecaster Custom are enormous fun for not much money. Just make certain that they are true single coils rather than the outwardly-identical stacked coils model.


If you love your DC but are uncertain whether P90s are right for you, plenty of other replacement pickups are available in the P90 size.

poopot

+1 for mojo. Nowt else sounds as good tbh!

markj

Whitecat said:

Wolfetones are 25% off right now. 

https://www.wolfetone.com/

Aggressive but in a fat/warm way rather than spiky, if that makes sense. 

These !

guitars4you

I've got a Bare Knuckle Nantucket on a Feline DC Style LP and love it - Full on or rolled off and it works so a Jekyll n Hyde character as required - I'm a neck pick-up guy as well and I can tame this format as required, but let it rip when I want to

stevie_the_spy

I currently have a seymour duncan antiquity p90 in the bridge of my 1964 sg special along with the original neck pickup.

Good pickup but i've ordered another from radioshop pickups (these guys make amazing pickups and are great to deal with)

I will be selling the antiquity soon but also i would recommend mojo pickups too, marc rewound a set of p90s for my lennon revolution casino and they sound great.

Very subjective is tone and it all depends what sort styles of music you play as to what you go for. My choices are always as vintage as possible.

Also a big thumbs up for the wolfe @ wolfetone, his humbucker pickups are truly amazing. I've never tried his p90's but i'm sure they'll be quality.

Headphones

I gather a company by the name of "Gibson" make some, have done for rather a while.  Maybe you've heard of them?

p90fool

As @brucegill says, the question is meaningless unless you know what's in there now. 

Everyone has their favourite brand, but without knowing which direction you want to head in from your current starting point you will just be throwing money down a very deep hole. 

pintspiller

Years ago I put a used cheapie I bought on eBay for a tenner into an SG Special and a mate cut a new scratchplate to turn it into a Junior

FastEddie

Not an expert but my Martyn Booth P90, care of Bare Knuckle, is a dream. 

pintspiller

( sorry couldn't work out how to post phot from phone earlier )

Moleman

Might I suggest that you don’t just buy blind off the shelf but instead contact one of the UK’s smaller, boutique winders such as Oil City, Monty’s, Mojo, Deacci etc. If you can get a conversation going about what sound you want then your chances of achieving it are somewhat higher.

timmypix

To be honest, the stock P90 in my Gibson DC JR is great, I can't fault it. Angry little bastard but not too hot, and cleans up nicely with the volume pot.

Henrytwang

Headphones said:

I gather a company by the name of "Gibson" make some, have done for rather a while.  Maybe you've heard of them?

I was wondering if I dare suggest Gibson as an option.  I’ve tried several P90s made by UK companies and they’ve been OK but none have them have sounded  as good as my Gibson originals, the dogs ear ones on my two 2004/2007 Melody Makers sound particularly nice to me but maybe it’s just the guitars themselves contributing. Gibson P100 and the slug magnet P90s are however an acquired taste,( to put It mildly), I find the slug magnet ones quite interesting but can’t say the same for the P100s . 

p90fool

Henrytwang said:

Headphones said:

I gather a company by the name of "Gibson" make some, have done for rather a while.  Maybe you've heard of them?

I was wondering if I dare suggest Gibson as an option.  I’ve tried several P90s made by UK companies and they’ve been OK but none have them have sounded  as good as my Gibson originals, the dogs ear ones on my two 2004/2007 Melody Makers sound particularly nice to me but maybe it’s just the guitars themselves contributing. Gibson P100 and the slug magnet P90s are however an acquired taste,( to put It mildly), I find the slug magnet ones quite interesting but can’t say the same for the P100s . 

I agree about Gibson's P90s, but I also really love their slug magnet version. It's very touch sensitive and feels very much like very early P90s. 

Henrytwang

Henrytwang said:

Headphones said:

I gather a company by the name of "Gibson" make some, have done for rather a while.  Maybe you've heard of them?

I was wondering if I dare suggest Gibson as an option.  I’ve tried several P90s made by UK companies and they’ve been OK but none have them have sounded  as good as my Gibson originals, the dogs ear ones on my two 2004/2007 Melody Makers sound particularly nice to me but maybe it’s just the guitars themselves contributing. Gibson P100 and the slug magnet P90s are however an acquired taste,( to put It mildly), I find the slug magnet ones quite interesting but can’t say the same for the P100s . 

I don’t dislike the slug magnet P90s and I do have them on one of my Gibson Les Pauls. They’re an interesting variation on a classic design but not really for somebody looking for that old time P90 tone. As much as I dislike P100s I still have a pair on my 1990s Gibson ES135 despite always threatening to change them.

stimpsonslostson

I love P90s and have several different types. The best?- @OilCityPickups Jin-Go. They sound superb- clear and punchy with that classic P90 growl.