High output bridge P-90 vs P-90 sized bridge humbucker for hard rock?

[jimmer_5]

Hey all,

I have a nice R6 with stock Gibson P-90's in it. I love the neck position sound, but I think the bridge is a little thin sounding for what I play. I play largely high gain hard rock music, and a P-90 in the neck sounds great clean or distorted for thick, liquid leads. I would like to put a new pickup in the bridge that will get a fat, thick crunch tone.

At this point I am not planning on having my pickup cavity routed - I'd like to start and see if I can solve this without the expense of re-routing and the devaluation of the guitar. The challenge might be finding a pickup that matches up well with the neck P-90.

As I see it right now, there are a few ways I could go with this:

1. Replace the bridge P-90 with a higher output P-90. The options I am seeing so far would be a Wolftone Meaner or Meanest, or maybe a Bare Knuckle Supermassive or Stockholm P-90. Maybe even the BKP Pig 90, but that might be too over-the-top metal for me. Seymour Duncan has the "Custom" Soapbar with Ceramic magnets - not sure I want Ceramic magnet tone.

2. Replace the bridge P-90 with a P-90 sized Humbucker. I would love to have something like the "hidden" P-90 humbuckers that The Creamery offers - essentially it looks just like a P-90, but has two standard side-by-side coils under the cover. I have also seen the Dimarzio Super Distortion and Tone Zone.

3. Seek out a Lou Pallo Signature Les Paul / Route my R6 for full sized humbucker. This would clearly be the most expensive route (no pun intended), but it would offer the most options. Blasphemy, I know, but I think the right combination of neck P-90 and bridge Humbucker could be awesome.


Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SWeAT hOg]

I'll go ahead and throw out the least sexy option: nothing. I too play heavy RAWK and bounce between my dbl. stock P90 LP Special and my Northern with T-Top and TT clone. I was finding the same problem trying to balance out the pups but I was successful. I found that the bridge wasn't too thin as much as the neck was too loud and thick. I took the time to raise/lower/adjust the pups and poles until I got a happy medium. I let the amps/pedals/speaker(s) do the rest.

Beyond this, I'd recommend finding an independent winder. Craig at Vineham wound me a sweet humbucker 'to order' and I see that he winds soapbars. I'm very pleased and his service is fantastic. Highly recommended, good luck with the tone hunt.

 

[ARandall]

I think you'd find a high output p90 might drown you with noise.

Dimarzio super d in a p90 size - that might be right up your alley.

 

[nicoch]

Replace the bridge P-90 with a higher output P-90 with wolf...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3_U_gRCuL8&feature=em-subs_digest

 

[MrKensei]

What do you call heavy rock and what amp are you using?

 

[SWeAT hOg]

I think you'd find a high output p90 might drown you with noise.

+1. P-90s and distortion is a balancing act. I'd rather get the power from my amps/pedals.

 

[jimmer_5]

Perhaps I should clarify a little:

What do you call heavy rock and what amp are you using?

I am referring to high gain type sounds, but not over the top metal. Think Alice in Chains (Facelift era), Black Stone Cherry, GNR, Stone Sour, Pat Travers. No more than Metrallica or Avenged Sevenfold. I am looking for fat, smooth, sustaining leads and crunchy high gain rhythm.

I am playing BFG Modded Jet City amps (think hot rodded JCM800 with more gain and bass), and Orange Rockerverb MKII, and a Mesa Mini Rectifier. Gain around 1-3 o'clock and EQ'd for a thick, midrangey sound.

I think you'd find a high output p90 might drown you with noise.

Dimarzio super d in a p90 size - that might be right up your alley.

Output isn't really my end game - I am more interested in getting a fatter tone. I would like a little more output so that it is a bit more like a bridge humbucker. I like the Super Distortion P90 idea - I am hung up on the tone of the ceramic magnet and whether or not it will blend well with the P90.

 

[OldBenKenobi]

You could give this a try.

 

[ARandall]

I think you'll find that the fatter tone will only come from more output in this case......given you already have the goal tone from the neck so that simply adding more drive will spoil that position.
Also fatness is something that either comes from amp or pickup. If the current setup isn't giving you that then you have to tweak at the other end a bit

 

[kungpow!]

I prefer alnico. Has warmth that ceramic lacks.

Try a 8.5-9.0k with alnico 5 for hard rock.

I just put a mojotone classic in my jr. Tighter bass and plenty of grind.

Or give Tyson tone a call. He can do custom winds.

 

[dudu]

I have a Fralin 15% overwound P90 in my Jr that works great for heavy rock. Big, fat and
bold. I also have a humbucker Les Paul that I also like. I couldn't pick one over the other, I
like both.