Can a guitar pickup be both iconic and underappreciated at the same time? If that pickup is the P-90, we think the answer is yes. Known for its versatility, the P-90 guitar pickup often takes a back seat to the humbucker. But it shouldn’t! The P-90 has its own special blend of tonal versatility that makes it a great fit for many genres of music. In this article we’ll discuss the P90 guitar pickup, its unique tonal qualities, and why you should consider a P-90 guitar.
What Is a P90 Pickup?
Quick P90 history: The Gibson P-90 pickup is a single-coil pickup design that originated in the 1940s. Believe it or not, the P90 design predates the humbucker pickup! Gibson P-90 pickups were used in Gibson’s most upscale guitars, and were Gibson’s premium pickup from about 1946-1957.
Construction
The P90 features a wider coil shape compared to the more common single-coil pickups seen on guitars such as the Stratocaster. The design of the P90 contributes to its signature sound, offering a balance between the warmth of a humbucker and the clarity of a traditional single-coil pickup. Originally, Gibson experimented with Alnico II, III, and V bar magnets. Today, most vintage-voiced P90s such as the Seymour Duncan Antiquity P-90 Soapbar use Alnico II for its warm tone.
Soapbars and Dog Ears
You’ll often hear the terms “Soapbar” and “Dog Ear” when referring to P90s. This simply refers to the mounting style of the pickup. The P90 Soapbar mounts directly to the body of the guitar via two screws in the middle of the pickup. The screws are positioned in between the pole pieces, which gives the Soapbar P90 a look that is unlike any other pickup.
In contrast, the Dog Eared P90 has triangular pieces that extend from each end of the pickup to accommodate the mounting screws. As you might expect, the “Soap Bar” style is similar in shape to a bar of soap, while the “Dog Ear”refers to the shape of the triangular pieces, which resemble a dog’s ears.
Note that on Dog Ear P 90 pickups, the P90 pickup height must be adjusted by adjusting the individual height of each pole piece.Other than the adjustment method, The Soapbar and P90 Dogear pickup sound the same.
The P90 Sound
Sometimes in life, it’s best not to be in the middle. But with P90s, the middle is both the best way to describe P90s, and what makes them special. P90’s are a fusion of single coil and humbucker sounds: P90’s have a full sound like humbuckers , but retain the clarity characteristic of single coil pickups. They are typically more chimey and open than comparable humbuckers.
Growl and Grit
Many players feel that P90s offer a certain type of aggressive “growl” that can only be found in a P-90 design. Rock and punk players have gravitated towards the Les Paul Junior design for its simplicity and straightforward nature. Hotter P90s work great in these guitars because they offer a full sound with a sizzle on the top end. If a P90 is overwound for a hotter sound, the tone will have more bite and grit. However, low wind P90s are capable of warm, mellow tones.
@CoreyCongilio has a fantastic demo on the many tonal flavors that P90s are capable of:
However, as Corey demonstrates, the P90 is hardly a one-trick pony. The part that’s most interesting to me is the range of tones he’s able to get. Although he uses four very different guitars for the demo, there is a similar tonal quality that is evident in all of them—namely, the P90 sound.
Of all the tones in the demo, the SG Junior sound is perhaps the most characteristic P90 tone. I hear it as clear, barky, and fat. The sound is essentially a beefier, fatter version of a single coil. And, a P90 will typically have a more open sound with less compression than a typical humbucker.
At the same time, with the Epiphone Casino, it’s pure vintage smoothness. This is a great example of how a P90 can sound with a hollowbody guitar and the volume rolled back. To me, this is a perfect tone for both blues lead and rhythm playing. On the bridge pickup, a great P90 will push the amp for a great edge of breakup lead sound.
Guitars with P90 Pickups
Because P90s are so versatile, they can be found on all types of guitars, especially ones that typically feature humbuckers. Some of the most classic jazz and blues oriented guitars use P90s. These include hollowbody guitars such as the Epiphone Casino, as well as classic hollowbodies such as the Gibson ES-135. Gibson has also used the P90 in semi-hollow guitars such as the ES-335. The Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin is an example of a current production hollowbody that comes with a single P90.
P-90s are also found on many solidbody guitars, such as Gibson and Epiphone Les Pauls, including the Les Paul Special, and Les Paul Junior.
In terms of Fender-style guitars, while you don’t see a lot of P90 Strat pickups, P90 Telecasters are not uncommon. A P90 in the neck of a Tele adds thickness, and provides extra snarl in the bridge. In addition, many Jazzmasters have P90s as well.
Compatability
P90 pickups are available in various configurations, including Soapbar, Dog-Ear, and Humbucker-sized options. The Humbucker options are designed to be retrofitted into guitars that are routed for humbuckers. For a traditional P90 sound, drop in the Seymour Duncan Phat Cat Set.
Conclusion
If you don’t have a P90 guitar, I hope that this article has convinced you to consider one. P 90 pickups are as versatile as single coils, but can render the fuller tones associated with humbuckers. Whether you prefer open and chimey cleans, smokey blues lines, or snarling, sizzling, distorted ripping, a great P90 guitar can get you that and more. Though they are sometimes overshadowed by humbuckers, adding a P90 guitar to your arsenal will unlock those elusive “in-between” tones.