Scott0 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 In your opinion? Does it matter what guitar? I'm finding anything more than ~9k is too hot for my tastes. From the p90s I've run through here, it seems like my favs are 8k-9k and my least fav are the ones that get hotter from there. I'm thinking of giving the Lollar p90 50s wind pickups a whirl, they're ~7k and ~7.5k output. I'm really starting to think less is more with p90 output. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Marlowe Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 I don't know how hot they are (can't find my multimeter at the moment) but I really like the tone of the P-90s on the Epi 1961 SG Special 50th anniversary edition. I'm betting a they're a little bit hotter than you like, but they're not too hot, like late 60s P-90s tend to be. From what I've read there are three common windings on P90s, early 50s, late50s/early 60s and late 60s and they get hotter as you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmi accardi Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Kent Armstrong in mine. They are 8K or 8.2K for both pickups. Blend very well and one is reverse wound to cancel hum in the rhythm (center switch) position. I like 'em very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmi accardi Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Also, they're direct drop-in replacements. They fit right in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 In my opinion, there are two other factors to consider when looking at P-90s. The first is cover material, the other is magnet type. I currently have or very recently had, 5 guitars , with 6 different p-90s. They range from 6.8k to 16+k (!) and have magnets rated from A2 to A5 and combinations. Changing covers are usually a hassle, so decide before you buy. You can do a lot with magnets in shaping your tone, and it's fairly easy and inexpensive to do. I agree that once you go over 9k, P-90s become a one trick pony. My Casino has Lollars, which in my opinion, are the best. But, my ZBD has Biltofts that really fit the guitar well, tone wise. The 6.8k/A2 magnet neck pickup almost sounds acoustic. The others, TMM, Kent Armstrong and Heywood are all good for the money. You might try changing your magnets out to A2's or 3's (my favorite is a combination A2/A5), before spending the money on new pickups. It might just surprise you. Otherwise, I tend to like between 7-8k. The chart below is courtesy of Pete Biltofts website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted April 19, 2014 Author Share Posted April 19, 2014 I don't know how hot they are (can't find my multimeter at the moment) but I really like the tone of the P-90s on the Epi 1961 SG Special 50th anniversary edition. I'm betting a they're a little bit hotter than you like, but they're not too hot, like late 60s P-90s tend to be. From what I've read there are three common windings on P90s, early 50s, late50s/early 60s and late 60s and they get hotter as you go. I noticed that too, in researching P90s, that they get wound hotter as they go. My Korean Casinos are wound at 14k! hahah, ugh. I replaced those with SD antiquities, which I like in that guitar, they're 7.9 and 8.5k, I believe. I like that SG of your's, I took a good look at it recently when I decided to add a solid-body p90 to the herd, I got distracted by the Epi '56 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue and snagged a clean 2008 for $300. It showed up with SD sp90-2 in the bridge and a sp90-1 in the neck, which I do not like. Kent Armstrong in mine. They are 8K or 8.2K for both pickups. Blend very well and one is reverse wound to cancel hum in the rhythm (center switch) position. I like 'em very much. Can you fill me in those? I've recently narrowed a purchase decision down to lollar and wolfetone for a set of soapbars to go in this '56 Les Paul, should I take a close look at the Armstrong's? I even included looking at some vintage but they seem to be hit or miss with guitars with new wood and I figure a 2008 LP is new wood, so I nixxed the vintage. In my opinion, there are two other factors to consider when looking at P-90s. The first is cover material, the other is magnet type. I currently have or very recently had, 5 guitars , with 6 different p-90s. They range from 6.8k to 16+k (!) and have magnets rated from A2 to A5 and combinations. Changing covers are usually a hassle, so decide before you buy. You can do a lot with magnets in shaping your tone, and it's fairly easy and inexpensive to do. I agree that once you go over 9k, P-90s become a one trick pony. My Casino has Lollars, which in my opinion, are the best. But, my ZBD has Biltofts that really fit the guitar well, tone wise. The 6.8k/A2 magnet neck pickup almost sounds acoustic. The others, TMM, Kent Armstrong and Heywood are all good for the money. You might try changing your magnets out to A2's or 3's (my favorite is a combination A2/A5), before spending the money on new pickups. It might just surprise you. Otherwise, I tend to like between 7-8k. The chart below is courtesy of Pete Biltofts website. What are your thoughts on cover materials and how the tones differ with them? I'm with you on that and was about to dive into that very topic on google. I've got a Casino Coupe on preorder and am planning some mods to it, firstly being putting in the Lollar 50s wind dogears. I think the low output combined with the smaller full hollow body is going to make some very special sounds. But am wanting to put the chrome covers over the Lollars and was wondering how that would sound. I've been chatting with Jimmy over at Lollar but haven't asked him about this yet. I'll dig into that magnet swap, could be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 From the Lollar site: Your first decision is whether or not you want to use the chrome covers. Something to consider is that with plastic covers the pickup will have a little more high end—the metal covers will reduce the top end a little bit. Also, the metal covers have a tendency to feed back microphonically, even if the pickups are potted to an extreme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 Thanks for the p90 feedback. get it, p90 feedback, it's a homonym.........n/m \:D/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmi accardi Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Scott - here ya go (good price too)! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kent-Armstrong-Pickups-Chrome-Dog-Ear-P-90-Set-for-Epiphone-Casino-/251506521650?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3a8ef4f632 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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