P90 advise

[replayboy]

Hi Guys.
This may not be easy to answer in words but how would you describe the difference when using P90's over say singlecoils (tele) or humbuckers ?? For example you see teles, cobras, Collings 290's all sporting P90's. Am i missing something?:confused:

[Janine Doubly]

P-90's are cool and very different than std. Tele single coils or humbuckers. They are thicker and meatier than a typical Tele or Strat single coil, but still have some top end detail and "air" that many humbuckers don't have. They are also VERY dynamic and don't compress as much as a std. bucker does. I am painting in VERY broad strokes here, so don't take it as gospel, but I think these general rules apply. Lindy Fralin has said that he finds the P-90 design to be one of the most efficient pickup designs ever made. Of course, none of these traits are a slam on the value and musical applications of all these types of pickups. There is just something about a good P-90 that other pickups don't do. Listen to old Leslie West/Mountain stuff from 69/70 or Pete Townshend on "Live at Leads". This is classic P-90 tone. Big, fat, meaty, yet cutting and VERY dynamic tones. There are MANY others examples as well. Of course, this tone comes at a price...noisy!!! But if you can live with some 60hz hum, a good P-90 loaded guitar is something to have in a bag of tonal tricks.

[Yngve]

I bought a LP R6 (1956 Custom Shop Goldtop reissue), and I must say I love the P90's. Works very well for country style, and I've also begun to use the R6 for more of the tele style recently.

Here is a picture of my fiancèe with my R6 :)

[korinabill]

If you want to hear fantastic P90 sound, try a Cobra with P1R/P1/P3, or a Cobra with 2 P's. It's the closest thing to vintage sound I've had from an Anderson, then also a little extra versatility. Not sure how much Tom strays from the original P90 configuration, but they are so sweet.

[Janine Doubly]

Vintage P90's varied so much that coming up with a quintessential "P-90" clone is futile. I have done much A/Bing with vintage P-90's, P-90 repros and Tom's P-90's. Tom's have their own thing, but they are DEFINITELY P-90's and they are awesome, both in Tom's guitars and as retrofit in other people's guitars.

[tom]

the p1 is pretty straight up "normal" p90 construction. the p3 is hotter for sure. totally true about varying old p90's, i've seen them all over the place in output. for vintagy stuff some prefer our p1- in the neck and middle and a p1 in the bridge.

[Rhys]

How about a P90-/P90 and P2/P3 booster option like the VA12 and VA23 setup. You could choose between an underwound or hot sound. Or hot P90s with kickback. (And then, how about finding a way to put them in an Atom:D )

[tom]

the boost has to be made to match the pickup, the same one wouldn't work on everything. it's hard for me to get to motivated for anything new p90, as the mounting system and pole piece spacing are just plain stupid. they fit in what they were made for, and really aren't very adjustable for other stuff.