I have an Epiphone '56 Gold Top with P90's in, I'd like to swap them out for some kind of humbuckers for a classic rock tone. Are there any available that will fit without any routing?
Cheers
Posted by: Chris S. May 3 2016, 07:57 PM
Generally,
Any mini-bucker should retro-fit in a P90 route or at least every one I have worked on has.
Best thing to do would be to get the measurements and compare them to your cavity to be safe.
EDIT:
Unless it is a dog-ear mount, then you run into some problems.
Posted by: Phil66 May 3 2016, 08:45 PM
Thanks Chris,
Mine are like this one. I haven't got it with me at the moment as a friend has it so I can't take them out. I am assuming they aren't the dog ear ones due to those two screw holes, (On my guitar, the screws are there, obviously )
Cheers
Posted by: Chris S. May 3 2016, 11:58 PM
QUOTE (Phil66 @ May 3 2016, 07:45 PM)
Thanks Chris,
Mine are like this one. I haven't got it with me at the moment as a friend has it so I can't take them out. I am assuming they aren't the dog ear ones due to those two screw holes, (On my guitar, the screws are there, obviously )
Cheers
Mini-buckers shouldn't give you a problem then.
I've swapped P90's (no dog ears) for mini buckers before without any routing.
Definitely best to compare measurements though
Posted by: Mertay May 4 2016, 06:32 AM
not many options but dimarzio makes some HB sized p90's; http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/soap-bar
Seymour Duncan also makes these but probably custom shop, they do have a good variety of p90's though like noiseless/highoutput stuff.
Posted by: fkalich May 4 2016, 06:43 AM
QUOTE (Phil66 @ May 3 2016, 01:24 PM)
Hello folks,
I have an Epiphone '56 Gold Top with P90's in, I'd like to swap them out for some kind of humbuckers for a classic rock tone. Are there any available that will fit without any routing?
Cheers
Look on Ebay under mini humbuckers. I would get one used and at a good price and see what you think swapping out one.
Posted by: klasaine May 4 2016, 06:49 AM
A lot of really 'classic' rock tones come from P-90s.
Leslie West of Mountain - misissippi queen and nantucket sleigh ride. Pete Townshend - Who, Live at Leeds Joey Ramone - Ramones Mike Ness - social distortion David Gilmore - another brick in the wall pt.2 solo Tony Iommi - Sabbath 1
Maybe just get some high quality p90s. Lollar, Fralin or Duncan would all be great.
Posted by: fkalich May 4 2016, 06:54 AM
QUOTE (klasaine @ May 4 2016, 12:49 AM)
A lot of really 'classic' rock tones come from P-90s.
Leslie West of Mountain - misissippi queen and nantucket sleigh ride. Pete Townshend - Who, Live at Leeds Joey Ramone - Ramones Mike Ness - social distortion David Gilmore - another brick in the wall pt.2 solo Tony Iommi - Sabbath 1
Maybe just get some high quality p90s. Lollar, Fralin or Duncan would all be great.
No doubt, but I tell you, I have the Fender, an American model they used to make of a Tele, with a humbucker at the neck and the standard single pole at the bridge. It is a special guitar, I mean it is not for everything, but when you play both pickups in one of the available configurations, it really sounds better than any sound to my taste you can get out of a standard tele.
Posted by: Phil66 May 4 2016, 08:43 AM
QUOTE (klasaine @ May 4 2016, 06:49 AM)
A lot of really 'classic' rock tones come from P-90s.
Leslie West of Mountain - misissippi queen and nantucket sleigh ride. Pete Townshend - Who, Live at Leeds Joey Ramone - Ramones Mike Ness - social distortion David Gilmore - another brick in the wall pt.2 solo Tony Iommi - Sabbath 1
Maybe just get some high quality p90s. Lollar, Fralin or Duncan would all be great.
Hmmmm maybe I should experiment with amp settings a bit more.
Thanks folks
Posted by: Mertay May 4 2016, 03:35 PM
QUOTE (Phil66 @ May 4 2016, 07:43 AM)
Hmmmm maybe I should experiment with amp settings a bit more.
Thanks folks
I like good drive on the amp and soloing with a bridge p90, the breakup is really cool.
A friend of mine was interested to try p90's, he first tested a cheapo PRS and hated it but loved another PRS which was very closely priced. P90's are often refered to having a very flat character, flat is probably the wrong word but they reflect the tone of the guitar better than other types of PU's.
That said, A bad p90 can be really boring/dull while a good one can be unexpectedly versatile. If you can find a chance demo some other guitars that have good P90's on them then you'll decide for what to swap.
Posted by: Phil66 May 4 2016, 09:10 PM
Thanks Mertay,
I think I need to learn how to use these pickups. When I get it back on Friday I'll record some simple stuff for you to hear the quality, or lack of, with these pickups on my guitar.
Cheers
Posted by: Mertay May 4 2016, 09:17 PM
QUOTE (Phil66 @ May 4 2016, 08:10 PM)
Thanks Mertay,
I think I need to learn how to use these pickups. When I get it back on Friday I'll record some simple stuff for you to hear the quality, or lack of, with these pickups on my guitar.
Cheers
Cool, treat them just like humbuckers while playing but only not with insane gain
Posted by: Phil66 May 6 2016, 08:27 PM
OK, I remember why I don't like these. They get a lot of hum and also interference, at times I can hear things like an old transistor radio being tuned in
Here is a bit of noodling, starting with the bridge, then central, then neck.
OK, I remember why I don't like these. They get a lot of hum and also interference, at times I can hear things like an old transistor radio being tuned in
Here is a bit of noodling, starting with the bridge, then central, then neck.
I noticed your playing is getting better by the way
To get rid of that noise either you'll need to change the PU's to noiseless type or send it to a luthier so he can fix/increase the guitars shielding. But if the shielding of the guitar is weak then even noiseless pickups will produce some amounth of noise.
I really liked the tone by the way, if its not a problem for you visiting the luthier again it might be a good idea to show him the guitar so he can inspect it.
Posted by: Phil66 May 6 2016, 09:07 PM
Cheers Mertay.
Yeah I kinda liked the tone but hated the hum.
Thanks for your comment about my playing, I just sat down and noodled some notes around with nothing in mind
The Keeley compressor was running too
I'm going to get my Ace back next week, then I want my Anniversary setup with a fret dress.
Cheers Mate
Posted by: PosterBoy May 7 2016, 09:18 AM
P90s will always be a bit noisy, but have a great tone. Phil X is a huge fan of them and Arcane pickups produce a Phil X signature P90
Whether or not it's a noticeable amount varies person to peson (ear to ear).
Posted by: Phil66 May 7 2016, 12:21 PM
Thanks folks. That's the first time I've played that guitar through my Peavey Valveking head and I have to say I did like the tone.
Posted by: bleez May 7 2016, 12:35 PM
totally! dude those p90's sound great my next / next guitar is def going to have P90s.
Posted by: Phil66 May 7 2016, 09:05 PM
Thanks Scott,
The hum is a killer though, think I need a noise gate, Mertay, any ideas?
Cheers
Posted by: Mertay May 7 2016, 09:16 PM
QUOTE (Phil66 @ May 7 2016, 08:05 PM)
Thanks Scott,
The hum is a killer though, think I need a noise gate, Mertay, any ideas?
Cheers
Since p90's in use likes touch sensitivity and the hiss is high even with overdrive, I'd say adjusting a good setting would be really hard for the noisegate.
I still think some shielding could help, its not a pickguarded guitar so not too much shielding can be done to effect tone anyway...worst case if the noise is still too much (there will always be some noise, personally well shielded guitars noise doesn't bother me) you can swap the PU's to noiseless type and have a dead silent guitar.
Posted by: Phil66 May 7 2016, 09:26 PM
Thanks Mertay,
I watched this video and the noiseless also seems to lack sparkle.
I find the P90's in my guitar have hum that is louder than the playing at times. Maybe I should get some proper Gibson P90's instead of what is in this Epi?
Cheers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L1U82zdPA4
Posted by: Mertay May 7 2016, 10:38 PM
The ones in the video are really good, atleast their brands are well known. As for the sparkle it also has a lot to do with the setup but its a common complain that noiseless PU's don't feel like the true ones. Brands invested a lot to single-coils but I don't know how good the noiseless p90's are.
The noise can be caused by many things, even a bad solder or something wrong with the jack input...high-end PU's do perform better on noise compared to the chinese stuff but I don't think it will be enough to solve your problem.
I remember getting a better output-to-noise ratio when my tech simply changed the switch. Re-soldering, new switch and wires made a huge difference but that guitar was really old.