Epi P90 Pro pickups - details?

[Peter Mann]

Hi,

New member here. Ordered an Epi LP Special TV yellow. I am curious if anyone has reliable knowledge (not a guess) on what version of Alnico the P90 Pro pickups are made with? Gibson sells P90's and lists them as Alnico V. I would guess the Epi P90 Pro's are Alnico V too but I have not found and detailed info on them at all.

 

I have noticed (subjectively) that the Gibson LP Special TV Yellow I have seen on YouTube has a tiny bit more growl and resolution. Would you agree?

If I want to chase that last bit of tone to make up the distance, has anyone replaced their P90 Pro's with another brand of pickup and had the desired result?

[mihcmac]

P90 theory, P90's react to their environment, if they are on a guitar that is loud when it is not plugged in, they react very favorably with incredible tone. The one piece lightening bar tail, being solid metal seems to resonates more than a saddle bridge. Also set necks in addition seem to resonate more.

So basically the way the LP Special is setup it is optimized  to resonate, whether by plan or it just does.

There isn't much information on the P90 Pro's, but they are my favorite even over Gibson P90's, which tend to be a little noisier. They test out as being hot, in the class of hot pickups. Epiphone also makes a P90 Classic that when used on a solid body tends to provide a driven Strat sound, but still definitely P90 tones, but when on one of the Casino's it sounds different.

My most recent Epi is a 2020 Wilshire, with P90 Pro's in a similar layout to the LP Special. It sounds incredible.

and my oldest Epi is a 97 Junior DC, its just basic meat and potatoes.

They are both screamers............

Altogether I currently have 10 electrics all with P90's....

Edited January 31, 2021 by mihcmac

[Peter Mann]

Well, I think I found the answer to my question on the  Epiphone Talk forum:

"The new Epiphone P-90 PRO™ single coil pickups are also made with 18% Nickel Silver covers and have been designed and tooled from the ground up with new bobbins manufactured to historic dimensions, Elektrisola magnet wire, sand cast Alnico V magnets, and pole shoes manufactured using correct alloys and to Gibson dimensions. And for you sticklers to detail, the new Epiphone P-90 PROs™ also have tin plated brass base plates like used on 50's and 60's era Gibson P-90 pickups."

[Larsongs]

I have 4 Epi’s with P90’s... 1 with Asian P90’s & 3 with Gibson USA P90’s... The 3 with USA P90’s are far better sounding IMO.  The Asian P90’s are more harsh & hard on the Ears.. I’m going to change them to Fralin P90’s which sound very close to the Gibson USA P90’s...

[mihcmac]

For me, P90 Pro's sound the best on Solid Bodies, of which I have 4. Although one of those is a BLueshawk with F holes, I don't think of it as a true Semi-Hollow. I did have a Gibson Blues Hawk, but it didn't compare to my Epi version for finish or sound.

[iamjethro]

mihcmac,

I have seen these statements by various people on forums.  Why do some not consider the Blueshawk a semi hollow guitar.  Epiphone uses that term in their advertising.  Just wondering why some people disagree with the naming?

 

[mihcmac]

21 hours ago, iamjethro said:

mihcmac,

I have seen these statements by various people on forums.  Why do some not consider the Blueshawk a semi hollow guitar.  Epiphone uses that term in their advertising.  Just wondering why some people disagree with the naming?

Technically it is a Semi Hollow, but the hollow cavity is very small compared to a 335. My Blueshawk sounds killer but does not suffer any of the drawbacks of a larger bodied Semi Hollow. So I just to think of it as solid, but its not.. 🙂

[Larsongs]

Gibson USA P90’s do sound really good on my Gibson Les Paul Special... But, they sound equally as good on my Hollow Body Epiphone Casinos with Gibson USA P90’s..

I dig P90’s!

Edited February 22, 2021 by Larsongs

[Kdj]

On 2/1/2021 at 11:11 AM, Peter Mann said:

Well, I think I found the answer to my question on the  Epiphone Talk forum:

"The new Epiphone P-90 PRO™ single coil pickups are also made with 18% Nickel Silver covers and have been designed and tooled from the ground up with new bobbins manufactured to historic dimensions, Elektrisola magnet wire, sand cast Alnico V magnets, and pole shoes manufactured using correct alloys and to Gibson dimensions. And for you sticklers to detail, the new Epiphone P-90 PROs™ also have tin plated brass base plates like used on 50's and 60's era Gibson P-90 pickups."

Thank you for insight, Peter. Recently purchased an inspired by Gibson, Epiphone Junior. Not only is the build quality impressive I'm even more impressed with the Pro P90 Dogear. I've been playing through Humbuckers since the 70s, and this is my first experience with the P-90s and frankly speaking I didn't know what I was missing. I can tell it is quality and thank you because you provided answers for my questions.

[scooteram]

I'm glad you answered your own question (sincerely) bc I had the same question. It's helpful to know which # Alnicos they use. What's not helpful is an entire thread of people ignoring the magnet question and just saying random sh*t about their guitars. 

[mihcmac]

I have 12 P90 guitars most have P90 Pro’s as well as several other types of boutique styles. Not surprisingly they all do sound a little bit different, but they are so versatile using the tone and volume controls I can always find the sound suitable for what I’m doing. My Coronet and SG JR sound almost identical as the hardware and wood is so similar, even thought they physically don’t look anything alike. The trick with P90s is that you must use a little bit of the volume control and lots of variation on the tone control. A typical setting  would be to have the volume on 9 and the tone on 6. while using my OD’s to boost or cut. Note that all of my guitars have P90’s. I gave up on mudbuckers a long time ago.

Edited September 21 by mihcmac

[Schenker76]

On 9/15/2024 at 11:02 PM, scooteram said:

I'm glad you answered your own question (sincerely) bc I had the same question. It's helpful to know which # Alnicos they use. What's not helpful is an entire thread of people ignoring the magnet question and just saying random sh*t about their guitars. 

Yep, exactly that. People always make it something about themselves. Give them a chance to show off how many guitars they have and they will totally ignor the original topic and start bragging.

[Larsongs]

On 7/19/2023 at 6:24 PM, Kdj said:

Thank you for insight, Peter. Recently purchased an inspired by Gibson, Epiphone Junior. Not only is the build quality impressive I'm even more impressed with the Pro P90 Dogear. I've been playing through Humbuckers since the 70s, and this is my first experience with the P-90s and frankly speaking I didn't know what I was missing. I can tell it is quality and thank you because you provided answers for my questions.

I’ve played them & they sound real good. But, Pickups are only part of the story.

The Inspired by series, at one time, did have Gibson USA P90’s, which IMO sound better than the Epi Pro P90’s. They also had Switchcraft 3 way Switch & Jack. I own a couple of that period of Inspired By Epi’s & they’re really good.

But, all the above lack the Gibson Spec USA Electronics, Caps, Pots & of upgraded components which make actual USA Epiphone’s sound the very best. At least in my experience owning all of those various types of Epiphones.

If you own any of them you have very fine Instruments to make Music!

Edited October 28 by Larsongs