P90 pickup suggestions?

[romonster]

I have an Epiphone Les Paul '56 Reissue Goldtop that I am looking to replace the pickups on. It comes with stock P90s, but they aren't that great and are pretty noisy. Any suggestions on some nice sounding soapbar P90s that are relatively quiet as well?

[lightningmonkey]

Seymour Duncan Phat Cats are $85-$90 at GC or Ash. I put one in the neck of my Les Paul Studio. There was a Burstbucker Pro in there. There is a Burstbucker Pro at the bridge. People rave about the sound I'm getting at the neck but it's a little too clean for me. But if that kind of quiet clean is what you like, that's the pickup for you. Not even remotely noisy. I had a vintage P-90 in my '52 ES-175 and it sounded phenomenal. But maybe it just worked better for me in a hollowbody. Or maybe the pickup was just so old and worn itself into sweetness and growl. The main thing I don't like about it in the LP is you can't really get that swoosh/crack you can get with a Gibson humbucker. On the other hand, I really like the bridge pickup on the LP. In the middle position the guitar sounds better with the P-90 at the neck than it did originally, so that's a plus. There are some trade-offs.

Anyway, I took that Burstbucker and rather than just leaving it in the box I put it in the bridge of this old Ibanez Roadstar Strat where the DiMarzio that was in there had degraded to the point of being problematic. And it sounds GREAT in the Ibanez (it's well-built, Japanese, from the mid-80s.) The DiMarzio was just way too hot. This Burstbucker was rated for the neck but sounds great at the bridge. What I am probably going to do is put the Burstbucker Pro back into the neck of the LP, and put the P-90 at the bridge of the Ibanez and that's where it'll really come alive, I'm thinking.

[romonster]

Originally Posted by lightningmonkey

Seymour Duncan Phat Cats are $85-$90 at GC or Ash. I put one in the neck of my Les Paul Studio. There was a Burstbucker Pro in there. There is a Burstbucker Pro at the bridge. People rave about the sound I'm getting at the neck but it's a little too clean for me. But if that kind of quiet clean is what you like, that's the pickup for you. Not even remotely noisy. I had a vintage P-90 in my '52 ES-175 and it sounded phenomenal. But maybe it just worked better for me in a hollowbody. Or maybe the pickup was just so old and worn itself into sweetness and growl. The main thing I don't like about it in the LP is you can't really get that swoosh/crack you can get with a Gibson humbucker. On the other hand, I really like the bridge pickup on the LP. In the middle position the guitar sounds better with the P-90 at the neck than it did originally, so that's a plus. There are some trade-offs.

Anyway, I took that Burstbucker and rather than just leaving it in the box I put it in the bridge of this old Ibanez Roadstar Strat where the DiMarzio that was in there had degraded to the point of being problematic. And it sounds GREAT in the Ibanez (it's well-built, Japanese, from the mid-80s.) The DiMarzio was just way too hot. This Burstbucker was rated for the neck but sounds great at the bridge. What I am probably going to do is put the Burstbucker Pro back into the neck of the LP, and put the P-90 at the bridge of the Ibanez and that's where it'll really come alive, I'm thinking.

Awesome...I might check those out

[drewbertca]

Originally Posted by romonster

Awesome...I might check those out

The phat cats are humbucker sized P90s so they will require some routing if your guitar has the regular p-90s stock...but Seymour Duncan has some actual p90 replacements that are apparently very good....

[romonster]

Originally Posted by drewbertca

The phat cats are humbucker sized P90s so they will require some routing if your guitar has the regular p-90s stock...but Seymour Duncan has some actual p90 replacements that are apparently very good....

Good to know...my guitar has soapbar sized pup slots, so yeah, the Phat cats would be too big now that you mention it.

[lightningmonkey]

Yeah, the Phat Cat is basically their soapbar P-90 fitted into a casing that'll fit into a humbucker-sized slot. Probably their classic P-90. That's how come it simply slipped into the bridge of the Ibanez (same size humbucker slot). The soapbars are like $5 less (list). They make three or four models-- a classic sounding one, a hotter one, a custom, etc.

Here's a link to their site.

Products - Seymour Duncan/Basslines

[Spike]

I've heard great things about Lollar P90's. They are $90 each. I'm pretty sure a set is in my future, just a few other things to get first.

Not sure how to post a link but you can see them at lollarguitars.com

edit - ok so posting a link is easy if you just pay attention to the menu options (doh - and I write software all day)

Lollar Pickups & Custom Guitars | Highest Rated Electric Guitar Pickups

[Norcal_GIT_r]

Take a listen to the P90s I make.
They maybe the ticket for you.
Clips and info can be found at BG Pups Hand Wound Custom Guitar Pickups by Bryan Gunsher
I do offer a forum member discount.
If I can answer any questions please let me know.

Thanks,
Bryan Gunsher
BG Pups