P90 pickups question.

[surfergirl]

Anna, my half sister, is considering purchasing a Squier Paranormal Strat-O-Sonic. It has P90 pickups, and I'm curious as to the difference compared to other single coils. Her second choice is a Squier 40th Anniversary Strat, which have alnico V pickups.

[Caevan O’Shite]

In general, Gibson P-90 style pickups sound fatter and fuller than Fender style single-coils. Expect a rounded, somewhat blunted attack, a little longer body/envelope and sustain, as if a mild, subtle compressor-pedal was kicked-in.

I love them. One of the very best guitars that I ever had came equipped with P-90 "soap-bars". One of the most amazing guitars of any kind that I ever got to play was an all-original 1959 or 1960 Gibson Les Paul Special, which had black covered P-90's.

This guitar, the Squier Paranormal Strat-O-Sonic, has a shorter Gibson-like scale-length, 12" radius fretboard, and wrap-around "lightning-bolt" stop-bar style bridge- all of which, along with those pickups, will make it sound and feel a bit more Gibson-esque than Fender-y.

If ever either of you two want to try Open-G or Open-A tuning, DO IT WITH THIS GUITAR. I loved that with my soap-bar equipped Les Paul...

Now... if they pick up hum and noise, they can be REALLY noisy! It's just part of the vintage P-90 package. Humbuckers were invented because of the original P-90's. Partly because of this, they are usually better suited for clean, clean-ish, and low to mid gain overdrive and distortion. P-90 players often roll their guitar's volume-knobs off in-between playing passages.... They can be really cool with fuzz! Outstanding with a phaser like an EHX Small Stone, their cluck and squawk really getting accentuated through the phaser sweep...

That said, they do have a wonderful character that's right in-between Fender-style single-coils and Gibson P.A.F. style humbuckers.

[surfergirl]

1 hour ago, Caevan O’Shite said:

That said, they do have a wonderful character that's right in-between fender-style single-coils and Gibson P.A.F. style humbuckers.

That's kind of what I thought.

[desertbluesman]

I was never a P90 fan. The ones I used back in the day hummed. My Firebird had them in it so when I sold the Firebird, I did not miss it a bit.

[Caevan O’Shite]

1 hour ago, desertbluesman said:

I was never a P90 fan. The ones I used back in the day hummed. My Firebird had them in it so when I sold the Firebird, I did not miss it a bit.

Man do I know what you mean!

I'm sorely tempted to try a set of Kinman Hx90 pickups, despite the price and the shipping from Australia(!); they seem to be THAT GOOD. A great old friend who was very discriminating about gear and tone had a set of Kinman Noiseless Broadcaster/Telecaster and Strat pickups, and he loved them. Anyway, the Kinman Hx90's are reputed by users to be dead-on in P-90 sound and feel- AND dead quiet.

[desertbluesman]

45 minutes ago, Caevan O’Shite said:

I'm sorely tempted to try a set of Kinman Hx90 pickups, despite the price and the shipping from Australia(!); they seem to be THAT GOOD. A great old friend who was very discriminating about gear and tone had a set of Kinman Noiseless Broadcaster/Telecaster and Strat pickups, and he loved them. Anyway, the Kinman Hx90's are reputed by users to be dead-on in P-90 sound and feel- AND dead quiet.

I absolutely liked the sound of those pups in my Firebird I just hated the hum.

[Caevan O’Shite]

5 hours ago, desertbluesman said:

I absolutely liked the sound of those pups in my Firebird I just hated the hum.

I truly know what you mean. 'Been there, done that'. In venues with bad AC wiring issues and lots of neon signs, refrigerators, pumps and the like, that noise can be incredibly loud!

[desertbluesman]

4 hours ago, Caevan O’Shite said:

I truly know what you mean. 'Been there, done that'. In venues with bad AC wiring issues and lots of neon signs, refrigerators, pumps and the, that noise can be incredibly loud!

Yep

[Caevan O’Shite]

@surfergirl:

 

 

[surfergirl]

She decided against the Paranormal. Now she's considering one of the Classic series. We'll go to GC this weekend and she can try all three models.

[Larryz]

@Caevan O’Shite,  That Les Paul Jr. Mountain is playing in the 2nd video looks exactly like mine!  Great sound he's getting with that P90 at the bridge and just a volume and tone with strings over the bar and no saddles...😎👍

[Dannyalcatraz]

I have come to the opinion that the classic P90 sound is a LOT like what many players use pedals to get their Strats & teles to sound like.

 

They’ve become my favorite singlecoil type…so far.😉  Of my 5 Reverends, 2 have P90s, as does one of my Fret-Kings* and a Rock Beach custom. 

 

And mixing a bridge HB with a P90 in the neck (and sometimes the middle, too) has become one of my favorite configurations.

 

As for aftermarket ones?  My go-to for noiseless ones would be from RailHammer, but theirs ate HB sized.  Rio Grand makes P90s in the standard sizes, but also singlecoil-sized, HB-sized, and almost uniquely, humbuckers made by pairing 2 singlecoil-sized ones in a HB housing (for splitting).  I also recommend Vintage Vibe, Lollar (found in some Godins), Bareknuckle, and The Creamery.  (The latter made the HB-sized one in my Rock Beach.)

 

And I understand the Seymour Duncan P-Rails are pretty good, too.

 

 

 

* the perfectly acceptable stock Wilkinsons were upgraded to Bareknuckle Stockholms.  No regrets!  It was because the ones in my Reverends were audibly better, essentially as good as the Stockholms.

[Caevan O’Shite]

2 hours ago, Dannyalcatraz said:

I have come to the opinion that the classic P90 sound is a LOT like what many players use pedals to get their Strats & Teles to sound like.

They do sound kind of like 'Fender'-style single-coil pickups with compressor, EQ, and boost pedals applied...
 

  

8 hours ago, surfergirl said:

She decided against the Paranormal. Now she's considering one of the Classic series. We'll go to GC this weekend and she can try all three models.

Aw! I'm almost saddened to hear that; that's a whole lotta 'Les Paul Special', especially for the money... I almost want to get one, myself! (Too much gear and gear-purchases already! ) I seem to live a little vicariously sometimes through other people's guitars, amps and pedals and all...    At the least, it's sometimes a "See what I mean?!" shared experience...     

[CEB]

I like the P90 neck with a HB bridge.  It’s tricky getting the right pairing. I play this guitar a lot. It’s a Duncan P90 with 59 Custom Hybrid in the bridge that uses the Custom coil in split mode but has the mids of the 59 coil in HB mode. The pair sound great together. The Duncan P90 is sort of meh but I’m afraid anything different would not pair as well in the middle position. 

[surfergirl]

I like the Paranormal and hope she reconsiders. If she does decide on one of the classic series, I hope she picks one with a humbucker in the bridge. It's her money, her choice. She may even decide on something completely different once we get to the store. We're going to Long Beach next month, may find a better choice there. 

[Dannyalcatraz]

If she’s P90 curious on a budget- or if you are- also look at Yamaha’s Pacifica  & RevStar lines, as well as G&L Tributes.  FWIW, Godin usually uses good ones, and Reverend guitars have some of the best stock P90s on the market.

 

I doubt you’ll see a Fret-King in any American music store, but if you do, they use Wilkinsons.  Good, but not stellar.

[surfergirl]

@DannyalcatrazThose are all very good choices. My friend, and former lead guitarist, played a Pacific. 

[Bluesape]

She will want some sort of hush unit. These sound great but are inherently noisy. With Fx, the hum is annoying.

[Caevan O’Shite]

On 7/25/2023 at 11:43 PM, Dannyalcatraz said:

...Yamaha RevStar... Reverend guitars...

Indeed...

[Dannyalcatraz]

Re: Yamaha Revstars

 

 

[Caevan O’Shite]

4 hours ago, Dannyalcatraz said:

Re: Yamaha Revstars

 

 

I'd really like to have and play some of the Revstar models that come with P-90 type pickups; though there are other guitars ahead of them in the line...

[Dannyalcatraz]

15 hours ago, Caevan O’Shite said:

I'd really like to have and play some of the Revstar models that come with P-90 type pickups; though there are other guitars ahead of them in the line...

That’s THE Revstar that caught my eye.  I’m also interested in a Pacifica 611 (they’re a mid-priced H/P90 Stratclone) and several discontinued models.  But like you say, there’s other stuff ahead of them in line.

 

 

[surfergirl]

Sunglasses required.😎

[Sharkman]

3 hours ago, surfergirl said:

Sunglasses required.😎

That is a very noticeable guitar.

[Dannyalcatraz]

6 hours ago, surfergirl said:

Sunglasses required.😎

Subtle.

[Dannyalcatraz]

FWIW, here are a ome of my P90 “holy grail” guitars:

 

Godin Icon Type 3

https://reverb.com/item/71653615-godin-icon-type-3-natural-electric-guitar-fantastic-shape

 

Hagstrom Tremar Super Swede 

https://reverb.com/item/546723-hagstrom-tremar-super-swede-p90s-3-p90-s-w-6-way-switch-for-and-array-of-tones

 

Yamaha SA503 TVL

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha/SA503-TVL-Troy-Van-Leeuwen-Signature-Electric-Guitar-Transparent-Blood-Red-1274115033883.gc

 

Fret-King Black Label GG Mk1 Elise

https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/fret-king-black-label-elise-gg-527357

 

Of those above, the closest I’ve come to getting one is fairly similar to the Yamaha TVL- a Manta Ray 390 LE 2011

https://www.premierguitar.com/reverend-guitars-introduces-manta-ray-390-2011-limited-edition

[KTSs]

P90 Pickups: P90 pickups are known for their distinct sound that falls somewhere between traditional single-coil and humbucker pickups. They have a larger size compared to standard single coils, which contributes to their unique tone. P90s are often characterized by their warm, gritty, and fat sound. They have a more midrange-heavy and raw tone with a good amount of output. P90 pickups can produce a nice balance of clarity and growl, making them suitable for genres like blues, rock, and even some alternative styles.

 

Alnico V Single-Coil Pickups: Alnico V is a type of magnet commonly used in single-coil pickups. Single-coil pickups, like those found in traditional Stratocaster-style guitars, are known for their bright and clear tones with a good amount of treble. Alnico V single-coils tend to have a slightly hotter output compared to other alnico magnets, which can result in a slightly warmer and punchier sound. They are often associated with classic Stratocaster tones used in various genres like rock, pop, funk, and more.

 

Ultimately, the choice between P90 pickups and alnico V single-coil pickups comes down to personal preference and the type of music Anna enjoys playing. If she prefers a more vintage-inspired, chimey sound with a touch of warmth, the Squier 40th Anniversary Strat with alnico V pickups might be a better fit. On the other hand, if she's looking for a more gritty, midrange-heavy sound with a bit more bite, the Squier Paranormal Strat-O-Sonic with P90 pickups could be a great choice.

[Dannyalcatraz]

Forgot one of my P90 “holy grail” guitars!

The Reverend Sixgun HPP

https://reverb.com/item/72181196-reverend-six-gun-hpp-25th-anniversary-edition

 

That’s the 25th anniversary edition, but there’s “plain” versions, too (don’t know off the top of my head what sets it apart).  I’ve seen those on sale used under $900.

 

https://reverb.com/p/reverend-six-gun-hpp?sort=price|asc

[Mark Schmieder]

I have a love-hate relationship with P-90's, or rather, I feel that most of them suck, so it's a struggle to find a match between good P-90's and a guitar I want them on!

 

I usually sell me P-90 guitars in frustration, and that holds currently as well, but my next one will be an Eastman ES330 clone with Lollar P-90's.

 

My Epiphone ES-295 has Made in USA P-90's and they are excellent, but I don't care much for the guitar itself, much to my surprise.

 

I seem to prefer P-90's on thinline vs. thick body archtops, and occasionally on solid bodies (e.g. a 50's LP or an SG). My Hagstrom baritone has a P-90 neck pickup.

 

The problem I find with so many cheaper quality P-90's is that they get harsh and ice-pickey -- especially the P-94 variant that is used on the Epiphone Wildkat.

 

Although many say the Jazzmaster pickup is similar and was Fender's answer to the P-90, I personally find it to sound more like a mellower Strat pickup.

 

Although they have hotter output than most other single-coils, I almost feel like P-90's are the opposite of humbuckers, just like a P-Bass and J-Bass are opposites.

 

So it's great to have a good P-90 guitar in the collection, and many feel it works best with flatwounds, so once I upgrade my Casino to Eastman, I'll try Pyramid flats!

 

Interesting to see Reverend brought up, as I heard some excellent P-90 thinline demos from a Reverend model (a gorgeous orange) on YouTube last night.

 

Although referred to as Fender Designed Alnico Soapbar Single-Coil, the pickups on my Squier Cabronita Telecaster Baritone are excellent and sound like P-90's.

[Mark Schmieder]

On 8/4/2023 at 9:46 PM, Dannyalcatraz said:

That’s THE Revstar that caught my eye.  I’m also interested in a Pacifica 611 (they’re a mid-priced H/P90 Stratclone) and several discontinued models.  But like you say, there’s other stuff ahead of them in line.

 

 

 

I had that specific Revstar model with the floating tailpiece and P-90 inspired pickups, as well as a Pacifica Strat-wannabe, and couldn't get along with either of them. The latter due to narrow neck and overall feel as well as sounding too clinical, and frankly I felt the same about the RevStar sound-wise but not to the same degree, and I liked its neck OK.