Dusan Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 Hello, I'd like to replace my 490R and 498T pickups on my Gibson ES 137 with pickups which are more suitable for jazz, blues with less signal output. I am considering P90-style pickups. Would Gibson's P94s fit in the body properly? As I know, my current 490R and 498T are slightly different in matter of pole spacing (to reflect different distance of strings above neck pickup and bridge pickup). Are P94R and P94T also build this way? And my last question: is there any difference in sound of classic P90 pickup and its humbucker version (P94s)? Thanks a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 (edited) Hello Dusan I have P94s in my 2013 ES 175 (and you've given me an excuse for a picture). They are very suitable for what you want and AFAIK they are same size as a standard Gibson humbucker. I will try and measure my pole piece spacings (think they are both the same) and let you know. Also I think the T & R designations refer to the output - I know T is a bit hotter than R on mine. I also have a guitar with standard P90s so maybe I ought to A/B them both for you....I don't think there is much difference, both have a great sound but the P94s hum a bit less (wired for hum cancel in mid-position), and are a bit more powerful than the stock vintage-spec P90. Edited January 10, 2020 by jdgm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusan Posted January 11, 2020 Author Share Posted January 11, 2020 11 hours ago, jdgm said: Hello Dusan I have P94s in my 2013 ES 175 (and you've given me an excuse for a picture). They are very suitable for what you want and AFAIK they are same size as a standard Gibson humbucker. I will try and measure my pole piece spacings (think they are both the same) and let you know. Also I think the T & R designations refer to the output - I know T is a bit hotter than R on mine. I also have a guitar with standard P90s so maybe I ought to A/B them both for you....I don't think there is much difference, both have a great sound but the P94s hum a bit less (wired for hum cancel in mid-position), and are a bit more powerful than the stock vintage-spec P90. Quote Great! Thank you for the prompt answer. It would be great if you could send me a pole piece spacings details and some audio samples of both P90 and P94. Thanks a lot! Dusan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 I have several Gibsons & Epis with a variety of Pickups from P90's, MHS, HB's & the ones you currently have. I think you can play Jazz successfully with any of them. That said, the P90's can be Bright & Jangly but are very versatile.. The HB's tend to be Warmer.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 13 hours ago, Dusan said: Great! Thank you for the prompt answer. It would be great if you could send me a pole piece spacings details and some audio samples of both P90 and P94. Thanks a lot! Dusan Pole piece spacing on both P94s is identical. Pickup measures 3.65cm by 7.1cm. Pole pieces are literally 1cm, 2cm, 3cm, 4cm, 5cm, 6cm. I measured using a very ordinary, old ruler. Unfortunately I don't have any means of recording audio into my PC at the moment but there are youtube vids that will help you get the idea - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=P90s+vs+P94 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusan Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 20 hours ago, jdgm said: Pole piece spacing on both P94s is identical. Pickup measures 3.65cm by 7.1cm. Pole pieces are literally 1cm, 2cm, 3cm, 4cm, 5cm, 6cm. I measured using a very ordinary, old ruler. Unfortunately I don't have any means of recording audio into my PC at the moment but there are youtube vids that will help you get the idea - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=P90s+vs+P94 Thaks a lot! D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gampadoug Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 On 1/10/2020 at 2:19 PM, jdgm said: Hello Dusan I have P94s in my 2013 ES 175 (and you've given me an excuse for a picture). They are very suitable for what you want and AFAIK they are same size as a standard Gibson humbucker. I will try and measure my pole piece spacings (think they are both the same) and let you know. Also I think the T & R designations refer to the output - I know T is a bit hotter than R on mine. I also have a guitar with standard P90s so maybe I ought to A/B them both for you....I don't think there is much difference, both have a great sound but the P94s hum a bit less (wired for hum cancel in mid-position), and are a bit more powerful than the stock vintage-spec P90. JDGM, The '94's look to be a drop-in replacement for the '57's. This true? If so then I can swap out my Hummers in my 335 with those and not drill holes, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 (edited) With no control cavity cover don't you have to go through the F holes and solder outside and reinstall. Edited January 23, 2020 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 2 hours ago, gampadoug said: JDGM, The '94's look to be a drop-in replacement for the '57's. This true? If so then I can swap out my Hummers in my 335 with those and not drill holes, eh? Er.....I think so. AFAIK they were designed as P90s in a HB casing....pickup measures 3.65cm by 7.1cm. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERD Posted December 21, 2021 Share Posted December 21, 2021 I bought a stock ES 137 in 2007. I wouldn't change the pickups (or anything else on the guitar) for all of the tea in China. I had a '60's 335 & '70's Les Paul since the 1970's. Sound is subjective, but to my ear the 137 is by far the best sounding, most versatile Gibson I've ever owned. I play through a custom, hand-made valve amp based on a Fender Blackface '65. The combination is magic. For overdrive, I use a "Tube Screamer" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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