P90's in LP Special vs LP Special Tribute DC

[stavrose]

Hey all

I wondered if anyone knows whether the P90s in an LP Special Tribute DC (2020) are the same as the P90's in an LP Special (2020)?

I tried the Special (TV Yellow) in a shop and it sounded pretty great. I purchased the cheaper but also impressive Special Tribute Double Cut but I can't decide whether the P90's are not quite as good as those in the more expensive LP Special.

Does anyone actually know for sure?

Thanks in advance,
Stavs

 

[LocoTex]

I believe they're the same.

 

[MSB]

^ that was my thought, unless they're of the slug variety (not sure they've been used since '15), the modern 90s were the same across the models.

 

[SWeAT hOg]

They are the same. Gibson only has one kind of P90.

 

[stavrose]

Thanks for your responses! I didn’t know there was only 1 P90 in their range.

 

[SWeAT hOg]

Thanks for your responses! I didn’t know there was only 1 P90 in their range.

They’ve changed over the years. I don’t know how old the latest incarnation is.

 

[mdubya]

There is a standard P-90 for USA models.

There are some variations out there on Custom Shop and now defunct Memphis spec guitars.

The standard P-90 is wound to 8k with 42 gauge wire (I assume poly and not plain enamel, but I could be wrong ) with 2 very strong A5 magnets.

I have three guitars - 2002, 2011, and 2019 with standard P-90's. They are pretty damn close, sound wise. The 2019's do sound a little but different, but could be down to them being in an LP body vs Firebird and SG for the other two.

My ES 330 has underwound A2 P-90's per spec sheet. They are a bit more mellow vs the A5 version. Mellow is relative and the guitar is full hollow with a 16th fret neck joint, so.... it sounds different, too!

Nevertheless, a fat single coil with two bar magnets each makes for an incredible sounding pickup!

 

[lawrev]

Maybe the less wood in the Tribute has something to do with it?

 

[efstop]

Gibson produced at least four guitars with the older style, but hotter P-90S slug pickup during 2014-2016 :
2014 Les Paul Melody Maker
2015 Les Paul Special Double Cut
2015 Les Paul Junior
2016 Les Paul Junior Single Coil Limited

 

[mdubya]

Gibson produced at least four guitars with the older style, but hotter P-90S slug pickup during 2014-2016 :
2014 Les Paul Melody Maker
2015 Les Paul Special Double Cut
2015 Les Paul Junior
2016 Les Paul Junior Single Coil Limited

True, those have 6 slug magnets in place of pole screws and do not have the two bar magnets between the bobbin and base plate.

 

[SWeAT hOg]

Gibson produced at least four guitars with the older style, but hotter P-90S slug pickup during 2014-2016 :
2014 Les Paul Melody Maker
2015 Les Paul Special Double Cut
2015 Les Paul Junior
2016 Les Paul Junior Single Coil Limited

Were they different before then? Would they be the same as on my 2012 LP Special?

 

[mdubya]

Maybe the less wood in the Tribute has something to do with it?

Double cut vs single cut, too. My SG and LP sound different and I think it is down to the neck joint; 22nd fret for the SG vs 16th fret for the LP.

 

[efstop]

With my '14 LPMM I swapped out the P-90S pups for a while and put in the P-90s from my '50s Tribute (it has mini hums now) but I have put the P-90S pups back.

Were they different before then? Would they be the same as on my 2012 LP Special?

You'd have to look at the spces, but I believe the P-90S was a special feature of the '14 LPMM and wasn't available till that model. Otherwise, a P-90 is a P-90 except for changes Gibson may have made over the years to the bobbins, plates, wires and magnets

 

[flatface]

There is a standard P-90 for USA models.

There are some variations out there on Custom Shop and now defunct Memphis spec guitars.

The standard P-90 is wound to 8k with 42 gauge wire (I assume poly and not plain enamel, but I could be wrong ) with 2 very strong A5 magnets.

I have three guitars - 2002, 2011, and 2019 with standard P-90's. They are pretty damn close, sound wise. The 2019's do sound a little but different, but could be down to them being in an LP body vs Firebird and SG for the other two.

My ES 330 has underwound A2 P-90's per spec sheet. They are a bit more mellow vs the A5 version. Mellow is relative and the guitar is full hollow with a 16th fret neck joint, so.... it sounds different, too!

Nevertheless, a fat single coil with two bar magnets each makes for an incredible sounding pickup!

So the P-90's in the new 2019 tributes are Alnico 5? I'm throwing mini hums in and was thinking Alnico 2 is the way to go. Would it make sense to use A5 for the neck to brighten up?