tweed2 Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I thought that I would post this to warn others that it may not be as easy as it seems. I have responded to a few members about the stock P90s and their perceived weak output, by telling them to start by raising them. I did (and I've even raised some aftermarket P90s, too) and it makes a marked difference. In the past I have made my own spacers out of 1/8" and 3/16" ABS sheeting. Not difficult if you have the tools and time, it's pretty easy to work with. But on my latest project, I decided to just buy a set of Allparts spacers and make the final contours (to fit the archtop of a Casino) to save time. Although well made, they are not the same shape as the P90 covers that Epi, Lollar, Fralin, Vintage Vibe and others use. When I first started getting into P90s, I ordered spacers from both Lollar and Vintage Vibe and theirs are the same shape as the cover. This is not a slam on Allparts, but a heads up to those that are thinking of using the their spacers and expecting them to be the same shape, they aren't. If you don't mind the look in the pictures below, they're great. I did. Maybe I'm being picky here, but it's taking care of the little details that really make a guitar look "finished". P90s are big enough as it is, without adding to their size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamBooka Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Thanks for the public service announcement :) If you had a route that was enlarged for an HB do you think the Allparts spacers would cover the route? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 1 15/16" high, 4 1/16" full width length tapering to 5" at it's longest points. Currently, I don't have a guitar with HBs to check but these are huge. I would think so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Thanks for the notice tweed, I'd be annoyed with those too. Here are the spacers that came stock with my Epi Zephyr Blues Deluxe, they were even scalloped for an archtop: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 Brian, just as I was starting to feel better about my Casino, after doing some more improvements to it, you have to go and put up those pictures of your ZBD again. Man, I like that guitar. Anyway, I made two router jigs this weekend and made my own spacers. Much quicker than saws and a file. I do still have to contour the back with a belt sander, a fairly slow process, but well worth it. The new P90s look and sound great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamBooka Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Brian, just as I was starting to feel better about my Casino, after doing some more improvements to it, you have to go and put up those pictures of your ZBD again. Man, I like that guitar. Anyway, I made two router jigs this weekend and made my own spacers. Much quicker than saws and a file. I do still have to contour the back with a belt sander, a fairly slow process, but well worth it. The new P90s look and sound great. Tweed. I have a HUUGE favour to ask. If you think of it next time you have your casino open, can you tell me the height of the coil and the height of the coil plus the baseplate? I am trying to see if it would fit properly on my ES125. (the 125 has short P90s) thanks ): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 Tweed. I have a HUUGE favour to ask. If you think of it next time you have your casino open, can you tell me the height of the coil and the height of the coil plus the baseplate? I am trying to see if it would fit properly on my ES125. (the 125 has short P90s) thanks ): Well, I just happen to have my "old" cream neck pickup out (just replaced it with an identical black one). These are Vintage Vibe, not stock. The body of the pickup (coil, magnets, etc) are bonded to a P90 cover The covers/pickups I use are the short (3/16" total) ones with the narrower pole spacing. So, 3/16" sits above the body, 9/16" inside. I have yet to find a nicer neck pickup. I've been playing with the magnet types and have narrowed it down to either AlNico 3 or AlNico 5. I can PM you a picture if you'd like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Brian, just as I was starting to feel better about my Casino, after doing some more improvements to it, you have to go and put up those pictures of your ZBD again. Man, I like that guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 I love it. Looks like my kid when he asks for gas money. Someday, I will own one of those guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twofeets Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Could the Allparts spacers be trimmed to fit? I'm wondering if this might have been by design, since there are variations in cover shape out there, and they are trying to make a "universal" fit. Better to have more material there than not have enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 Could the Allparts spacers be trimmed to fit? I'm wondering if this might have been by design, since there are variations in cover shape out there, and they are trying to make a "universal" fit. Better to have more material there than not have enough. I wouldn't think so. I was taking off as much as 3/16" in places. I haven't seen that much variation in P90s. The spacers that I've bought from Vintage Vibe and Lollar in the past were exactly the right shape, just not quite thick enough (unless you stack them). They could be trimmed, but by the time you do that, you might as well make your own. Especially at $15 a set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twofeets Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I wouldn't think so. I was taking off as much as 3/16" in places. I haven't seen that much variation in P90s. The spacers that I've bought from Vintage Vibe and Lollar in the past were exactly the right shape, just not quite thick enough (unless you stack them). They could be trimmed, but by the time you do that, you might as well make your own. Especially at $15 a set. Good to know - I'll be buying a set soon for my ES295. I'll go with the Lollar spacers instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamBooka Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Well, I just happen to have my "old" cream neck pickup out (just replaced it with an identical black one). These are Vintage Vibe, not stock. The body of the pickup (coil, magnets, etc) are bonded to a P90 cover The covers/pickups I use are the short (3/16" total) ones with the narrower pole spacing. So, 3/16" sits above the body, 9/16" inside. I have yet to find a nicer neck pickup. I've been playing with the magnet types and have narrowed it down to either AlNico 3 or AlNico 5. I can PM you a picture if you'd like. Thanks Tweed 2. I looked at Vintage Vibe although I admit I am probably the only person in the world who has had a bad experience with Pete so not really an option. Also dont like the attached covers for the pickups. I think it is funny that the 125 is the only model with different dimensions for the coil. I wonder how the original sounds. The coil I put in now is from an ebay chinese soapbar and it sounds surprisingly like the VVCCrider (that is not a knock on the CC, I get the impression the CC and my P90 are underwound, which playing jazz, is fine for me) If I see a casino neck pickup cheap on ebay I will grab it just for $hits and giggles. Thanks again :) Drew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 Thanks Tweed 2. I looked at Vintage Vibe although I admit I am probably the only person in the world who has had a bad experience with Pete so not really an option. Also dont like the attached covers for the pickups. I think it is funny that the 125 is the only model with different dimensions for the coil. I wonder how the original sounds. The coil I put in now is from an ebay chinese soapbar and it sounds surprisingly like the VVCCrider (that is not a knock on the CC, I get the impression the CC and my P90 are underwound, which playing jazz, is fine for me) If I see a casino neck pickup cheap on ebay I will grab it just for $hits and giggles. Thanks again :) Drew You bet. Sorry to hear that Pete didn't come through for you. Between him and Jason Lollar, I've had nothing but great experiences, but things happen. I wish I'd held onto the stock P90s I replaced on my Casino. The bridge PU, especially, sounded pretty darn good when raised up a little. I've put my replaced cream P90 up in the TradingPost. We'll see what happens. A buddy of mine just got some Heywoods that sound really good for the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamBooka Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Quite a few $$$ in with Lollar he has never let me down. (in fact everytime I email Lollar I learn something. His depth of knowledge and generosity with it leaves me floored every time). I am trying out a JS Moore humbucker (hopefully) next week. He is also great but you have to be patient. (The HB is for a Fender Lead I but he is throwing in a P90 bobbin that I can cut to size and try out in my 125). I am not opposed to trying out Fralin's but I am not fond of having to go though a dealer and Fralin doesnt have an email addy where I can ask questions. When looking for a replacement for my 125 I also tried BareKnuckle who couldnt help me and Curtis Novak who didnt understand the question (which is fine). Ok.. enough babbling. Cheers Drew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Interesting thread. Not for nothin' but I just got a set of this guy's hand wound P90s for $100 the pair: http://myworld.ebay.com/tmm95/ Here's the description: 50mm string spacing, de-gaussed alnico 5 magnets, nickel silver baseplates, vintage style plastic bobbins and single conductor braided pushback hookup wire. They are wound with 42 AWG plain enamel magnet wire and the DC resistances are bridge: 8.2k and neck: 7.6k, the neck is reverse wound and reverse polarity for hum cancelling. They have been wax potted in a mixture of 75% paraffin and 25% beeswax. I haven't installed them yet (no time) but they look extremely well made (heavy, braided wire and so forth), and they arrived in 2 days. Anyway, just thought I'd pass it along - now back to our regularly scheduled program... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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