Who makes the best P90's?

Philly_Q

Just out of interest, has anyone found a hum-cancelling "P-90" which actually sounds like a real P-90?

I've tried some of the DiMarzio models, which are fine but really they're conventional humbuckers in soapbar covers.  And the Gibson P-100 which just sounds thin and weedy.

I'm curious about the Kinman, Fralin and Lace models.  Apparently the Fralins sound good but maybe a bit polite.  I think some smaller boutique manufacturers also make hum-cancelling soapbars, but I can't remember who.

mrkb

I'm interested in hum cancelling P90's as well. I'm tempted by the kinmans but would need to route my guitar to accommodate the deeper pickup body. Any experiences of other options?

OilCityPickups

Dave_Mc said:

TheGuitarWeasel said:

2. Look for alnico 4 if you have a 'toppy' guitar, or even alnico 3 for it's more compressed, jazzy feel.

What if you have a warmer guitar? Alnico 5? (Alongside a not too hot output, I'm guessing, so the pickups don't darken up again?)

Quite right.

Philly_Q said:

Just out of interest, has anyone found a hum-cancelling "P-90" which actually sounds like a real P-90?

I've tried some of the DiMarzio models, which are fine but really they're conventional humbuckers in soapbar covers.  And the Gibson P-100 which just sounds thin and weedy.

I'm curious about the Kinman, Fralin and Lace models.  Apparently the Fralins sound good but maybe a bit polite.  I think some smaller boutique manufacturers also make hum-cancelling soapbars, but I can't remember who.

Not in my experience ... learn to love the hum :-)

Dave_Mc

^ Thanks

Philly_Q

I have learned to love the hum, pretty much - and I'm never likely to be in a gigging situation, or any situation where it matters anyway.

I used to be slightly obsessed with hum-cancelling "single-coils", for Strats and Teles in the days before I got more into P-90 guitars, but I have eventually been convinced by the argument that real single-coils sound better.  I've still got a set of Kinmans in a "modern" Tele which they seem to suit quite well, and I've got some DiMarzios I might put in a Strat with a Clapton mid-boost one day.

But you do read interviews with people saying they've found single-coil hum a genuine problem (maybe it's more of an issue in the USA due to something about their electrical systems?), so I asked out of curiosity more than an intention to actually replace any of my P-90s.

OilCityPickups

See my thread here ...

Evilmags

If you stuck P90s at Clarky going mental levels of gain and compression then they can be a bit of an issue, but less than early Sabbath levels of gain it's not an issue.