P90 Pickups avails its users with melodies that have sound effects, which are a little similar to a single-coil pickup, with a low output that has vintage undertones, and a bit of humbucker pickup, all mixed to produce a beautiful sound. These pickups offer a high-end bite that you cannot get from other pickups like a humbucker. The sounds of P90 Pickups are bright and more transparent.
The P90 Pickups are cheaper in comparison and provide versatility in terms of sounds. There are three types of P90 Pickups that you can choose from depending on your convenience and comfort with the instrument; Soap Bar, Dog Ear, and Humbucker Casing.
Contents
Who makes the best p90 pickups?
“The P-90 (sometimes written P90) is a single coil electric guitar pickup produced by Gibson since 1946. Gibson is still producing P-90s, and there are outside companies that manufacture replacement versions.” Source wikipedia
Top 5 P90 Pickups in 2020 – Detailed Product Reviews!
1. Lindy Fralin Soap-bar P-90 Pickup Set, Black
The Lindy Fralin Soap-bar P90 Pickup is a classic single-coil pickup is known for its chainsaw to grind the moment you push an amp hard, and prominent mid-range as it is used clean. The clarity and definition provided by this Pickup set are exquisite.
This pickup avail the facility of adjustable poles for fine-tuning; it also comes with soap bar covers and Alnico bar magnets for a secure grip. The Fralin’s P90 set comes with the feature to canceling hum when two pickups are on with it’s a reverse-wound bridge. It provides even tone volume all across the pickup with the compensated bridge.
Feature:
- RW/RP neck for hum-canceling
- Versatile with midrange and snarl
- Even volume all across the pickup
Why we choose this product?
- Adjustable steel poles for fine-tuning
- RW/RP neck helps in hum-canceling
- 4 Alnico Magnets for an aggressive tone
- Versatile with midrange and snarl
- Even volume all across the pickup with the compensated bridge
- It comes in the original Gibson size
- Hard-wound for unique tone
2. Seymour Duncan Antiquity Dog Ear P-90 Pickup, Bridge
The bridge position of the Seymour Duncan Antiquity Dog Ear P90 Pickup is perfect for giving a weathered grittiness of an original 59 ES330. This P90 Pickup comes with 2 Antico bar magnets specially calibrated to provide versatility intones. Furthermore, it has a coil wind pickup to deliver the vintage, gritty growl with correctness.
The single notes are helpful to hear and pronounced; they are not harsh or unpleasant. The chords have honky, gritty midrange. The dog ears, when removed, reveal fabric that is made in the same way as in the early days with the flatback tape. It gives an aged look tone, which emphasizes the correct vintage growl of this P90 pickup.
- Dog Ear P-90 Single-coil Bridge Pickup with Aged Look Tone
Feature:
- Vintage Growl with coil wind
- Gritty Midrange
- Articulate sounds, not harsh
Why we choose this product?
- Coil Wind that provides vintage and grittiness correct growl
- Bridge Position mimics that of an original 59 ES-330
- The chords provide gritty midrange
- Single notes are articulate, and not harsh
- The aged look tone completes the aesthetic of the 50’s ES-330
3. FLEOR Alnico 5 Soap Bar, Neck & Bridge P90 Pickup Set, Black
This Fleor Alnico 5 Soap Bar, Neck and Bridge P90 Pickup Set offers a fatter sound that is similar to that of the sound produced by the humbucker pickup. Meanwhile, it also retains the brightness and clarity that is achieved when a single-coil unit is being used. This pickup is plotted with wax, which enhances the ability to remove any unwanted noise or feedback.
The bridge position provides even tone all over the pickup and allows you to have control over the neck as well – resulting in a hum-canceling facility. There are flat top adjustable poles in this pickup with an ingenious gap between them that allows you to use this pickup with convenience and ease. The overall resistance of this P90 Soap Bar Pickup is of high quality.
- Fit Les Paul P90 electric guitar parts upgrade or replacement.
- Alnico 5 magnets with adjustable poles, high power fatter sound.
Feature:
- Humbucker and single-coil sounds
- Hum Cancelling
- Wax Plotted
Why we choose this product?
- Provides sound similar to both humbucker and single coil unit
- Good quality resistance
- Flat top adjustable poles
- Wax plotted to eliminate unwanted noise
- Bridge and Neck Positioning for even tone throughout the pickup
- Middle Switch position is hum-canceling
4. KAISH High Power Soap-bar P90 Pickup Set, Black
The Kaish High Power Soap Bar P90 Pickup Set is made for Epiphone models of guitars. This P90 Pickup is Soap Bar; therefore, it is excellent for a specific type of model of guitars. The sound produced with this pickup is warm, and the perfect definition of vintage – it does not produce any shrill or harsh noises despite the grittiness correct growls.
This pickup can produce a mix of dog ear single coil unit sounds with that of the fatter sounds that are created with humbucker pickups. The adjustable poles have precise built, with the neck and bridge positioning and gapping that enhances your control over the sounds you produce. Ceramic Magnet is fitted into this P90 Pickup.
- Dog ear single coil; High power fatter sound
- Neck 47mm and Bridge 50mm Pole Spacing
Feature:
- Dynamic fatter and single-coil sounds
- Adjustable poles
- Ceramic Magnets
Why we choose this product?
- The kit includes mounting springs and screws for easy installation
- Produces dynamic sounds with the mix of single-coil and fatter sounds
- Adjustable poles
- Ingenious Neck and the Bridge spacing
- Perfect fit for Epiphone Casino model
5. Metallor Humbucker Bridge and Neck P90 Pickups Set
This Metallor Humbucker Bridge and Neck P90 Pickup Set is a perfect fit for the Les Paul model. It comes with a set of neck and bridge pickups and hardware. There are ceramic bar magnets included in this magnet for extensive ingeniousness. The resistance of the bridge and neck allows you to have control over the tuning evenly all over the pickup. The adjustable poles have precise spacing for convenient use.
It is a straight drop fit for a pre-existing humbucker pickup that you may have – it will add to the fatter sounds of the humbucker with its single coil mimicking sounds that are bright and have clarity. You can initiate the hum-canceling feature with the opposed wounds in this pickup.
- Set of neck and bridge pickups, with hardware.
- Ceramic bar magnet pickup.
Feature:
- Opposed wounds for hum-canceling
- Bridge and Neck resistance
- Drop fit over Humbucker pickup
Why we choose this product?
- Adjustable poles
- Opposed Wounds for Hum canceling
- Bridge and Neck positioning and spacing
- Perfect fit for Les Paul model
- Ceramic Magnet for good grip
- Resistant to immense pressure
- Can be fit over a humbucker pickup to add the single-coil sounds
How to choose the Best P90 Pickups for yourself?
Conclusive to the guide, you may still be confused about how to choose the best P90 Pickup for yourself. Therefore, here is a list of points that you need to keep in mind to get the best fit for yourself:
- The first and foremost important thing to consider is whether the pickup will fit your guitar or not. If your instrument is made for a Soap Bar pickup, Dog Ear, or a Humbucker Casing. Getting to this in itself eliminates several confusions and doubts
- The sound you require – whether your priority lies in the vintage undertones with gritty growls, or the bright and clear sounds that of a single-coil unit, or the fatter sounds of the humbucker
- Make sure that there are adjustable poles in the pickup
- The Bridge and Neck position should allow even tone, and a switch position for hum-canceling should be available
- The overall quality of the pickup should be durable and sturdy enough to resist pressure
- Sounds should not be harsh and shrill no matter what
- The magnets provided for extensive grip should work well
- The pickup should not be cumbersome
Frequently Asked Questions!
Q1. What are P90 Pickups good for?
P90 Pickups offer versatility in a tone that other pickups like the humbucker cannot. It gives bright and articulate sounds and can produce something close to what a single-coil would sound like. Moreover, you have the option to choose from three types of P90 Pickups – each of which provides their specified feature, which will be beneficial for you when playing your instrument.
Q2. What kind of guitars have P90 pickups?
There are several modified versions of guitars that you can use your P90 Pickup for – depending on which type you possess. Although, the dimensions of the guitar should fit the description of the guitar that the pickup has been initially made for. For instance, the Soap Bar has been made for the Original Gibson; any other instrument of this size will be able to accommodate the pickup. Dog Ears are made for the 50’s ES-330 with their vintage and gritty aesthetic, also available on Epiphone models. The Humbucker Casing will be able to get fit unto guitars that are made for humbucker casing – hence these are common.
Q3. How are humbuckers and P90s different?
Humbucker does not provide as full of options as the P90 varieties. The P90 Pickups offer sounds similar to that of single coiled sounds, with a mix of humbucker pickup tone, and a bit of vintage grittiness. The three types of P90 Pickups also include Humbucker Casing, which can be used for guitars that are built for Humbucker Pickups. P90 Pickup offers a bigger variety and better sound – without sounding harsh. The bridge positioning allows even tone and articulate sounds that are difficult to achieve along with the vintage and grittiness correct growls.
Q4. Do P90 pickups make too much noise?
P90 Pickups are known for their mix of single-coil sounds, and vintage growls with humbucker pickup undertones. To achieve this sound itself, there is a requirement for grittiness to exist in the sound produced by your instrument. You may think that grittiness produces too much noise, but in actuality, it creates a beautiful and bright sound, which adds a vintage effect to the overall music. These sounds are not noise; in fact, they are what many artists try to mimic through their instruments.
Q5. Can P90 pickups cancel hums?
The reverse-wound bridge neck helps in hum-canceling. The reverse-wound bridge is a feature that is availed in P90 Pickups – these help in getting rid of that humming noise that you maybe wish to remove from the overall sound that is produced when you are playing your guitar. To do this, you have to learn the correct bridge position and understand the workings of the RW/RP neck so that you can have control over your instrument.
Final Verdict!
Overall other factors, the most important thing is that the sounds that are produced are articulate and pleasant to hear. After a thorough reading through this guide and the points that you need to keep in mind when buying the perfect P90 Pickup for yourself, you can now have a decisive answer. Depending on the music you wish to produce and the model that you have – you can choose from these five P90 pickups.
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