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P90s or Humbuckers which do you prefer?

Discussion in 'Other Guitars' started by jwguitar, Aug 27, 2021.

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  1. jwguitar

    jwguitar Member

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    What type of pickup do you prefer and why? I am kind of getting into p-90s but I do still love the humbucker sound. Both have a fat tone but it seems as though P-90s articulate a bit differently. Here is my P-90 equipped guitar below (PureSalem Tom Cat)

     
    jwguitar, Aug 27, 2021
    #1
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  2. BGood

    BGood Well-Known Member

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    Guess ...​

    2021-04-30.jpg
    ​
    P90 have it all, clarity, chime, bite and bark, plus they look good :)
    I have humbuckers ... because.
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2021
    BGood, Aug 27, 2021
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  3. soulman969

    soulman969 Well-Known Member

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    Oh hell, P90s by a long shot. They're just so damn versatile. I love P90s.

    God's gift to guitardom. Unfortunately he created them very late on the eve of the Sabbath and ran out of time to eliminate the 60 cycle hum before having to rest. ;)
     
    soulman969, Aug 27, 2021
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  4. jwguitar

    jwguitar Member

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    P-90s on a solid body really have “that sound”

     
    jwguitar, Aug 29, 2021
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  5. Raiyn

    Raiyn Well-Known Member

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    The self-promotion is strong with this one.
     
    Raiyn, Aug 29, 2021
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  6. Paruwi

    Paruwi Kraut-Rocker

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    negative waves 1.jpg
     
    Paruwi, Aug 29, 2021
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  7. Raiyn

    Raiyn Well-Known Member

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    Last edited: Aug 29, 2021
    Raiyn, Aug 29, 2021
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  8. Cozmik Cowboy

    Cozmik Cowboy Well-Known Member

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    My favorite pick-ups? Telecaster neck p/ups, of course!

    As far as the eternal P-90 vs. HB debate goes, though - while I do love a good humbucker, we should never lose sight of the fact that HBs were not developed due to any tonal shortcoming in P-90s, just to kill the hum, and nobody except Alembic has ever really figured out to get full-range SC tone sans noise.

    'Buckers are, of course, quieter (that is, after all their job) - but there is nothing in the world to compare with P-90s on a hollowbody! I mean, a nice ≥1956 LP is a thing of wonder to be sure, but a like-aged 175 is even more amazing, and the 1959 ES-330-TD is the acme of electric guitar development!
     
    Cozmik Cowboy, Aug 29, 2021
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  9. L.A. Nights

    L.A. Nights New Member

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    To my ears, PAF-style humbuckers articulate best, buck the hum ― and the mud...
     
    L.A. Nights, Aug 31, 2021
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  10. neoclassical

    neoclassical New Member

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    Tough decision, both.
     
    neoclassical, Aug 31, 2021
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  11. Old Woody

    Old Woody Active Member

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    Short answer both p-90 at the neck low output humbucker at the bridge. :)
     
    Old Woody, Aug 31, 2021
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  12. Biddlin

    Biddlin Well-Known Member

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    I have a Gibson N225. It has the complete tone range I require with a P90 at the neck and a Dirty Fingers at the bridge.
     
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2021
    Biddlin, Aug 31, 2021
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  13. Jay Taggert

    Jay Taggert New Member

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    Actually, I nearly spit out my coffee from laughing...!
     
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2021
    Jay Taggert, Aug 31, 2021
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  14. miket1117

    miket1117 New Member

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    im nowhere near an expert, but the longer i play electrics and learn more about the various nuances between different pups, on different guitars, in different positions, with different settings through different amps, in different moods and, not the least, in oddball tunings...

    P90S ROCK!!! or JAZZ! or WHATEVER! fuller than standard, fender-esque single coils, with more clarity and chime than humbuckers, i love'em.

    btw... nice chops on the vids... the looking into the camera like you're trying to seduce a girlfriend or something was a little uncomfortable....

    peace, brothers! :D
     
    miket1117, Aug 31, 2021
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  15. dasherf17

    dasherf17 Member

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    All I can say is "yup"...there's a pickup for every feel...when I got an "FB" kit it had the mini-hums, but I opted for P90s, as I hadn't had them since my SG and Les Paul Specials in the '70s and I wanted a Transitional 'bird. Not exact, but P90s were a must. In the LP kit, I just got a pair of Pearly Gates to go in...
    Heck, in Groot (my Epiphone Les Paul carcass from the '80s, '90s or whenever) I'm putting in Gretsch Filtertrons (forgive me, Epi, I have sinned...).
    A pickup for every season...
     
    dasherf17, Sep 1, 2021
    #15
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  16. Mike M

    Mike M Member

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    I go back and forth between my 335 (Humbuckers) and Casino (P90's)

    I love that whatever guitar I pick up, I go "I like this one better". Then I pick up the other and go "No, I like this one better".

    And then that sequence repeats itself until I go to bed exhausted :)
     
    Mike M, Sep 2, 2021
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  17. jwguitar

    jwguitar Member

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    I have had a few that hum but I also have had a lot of P90s that are pretty silent. I’m not sure why that is. It probably has a lot to do with the venue I am playing in.
     
    jwguitar, Sep 9, 2021
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  18. Charles

    Charles Member

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    My P90's on my Epi Special have really sold me on P90's.

    Oddly, I am happy with the stock p/ups on my Bullet Tele.
     
    Charles, Sep 9, 2021
    #18
  19. soulman969

    soulman969 Well-Known Member

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    Mine are fairly quiet at home. For gigs or rehearsals I have an EHX Humdebugger that eliminates the hum so I can use them most anywhere.
     
    soulman969, Sep 9, 2021
    #19
  20. jwguitar

    jwguitar Member

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    I do enjoy humbuckers also. Surprisingly for jazz guitar I really like the EMG 85 neck pickup.
     
    jwguitar, Sep 12, 2021
    #20
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