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General Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: The Reverend 48 on May 14, 2009, 08:19:18 AM

Title: P 90 soap bars
Post by: The Reverend 48 on May 14, 2009, 08:19:18 AM
In my quest for tonal variety (OK I just like buying guitars :D) I have never played on P90's do they sound like single coils or have they a totally different character?

Anybody out there use em?.......
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: Greeny on May 14, 2009, 09:41:56 AM
Quote from: 48 on May 14, 2009, 08:19:18 AMIn my quest for tonal variety (OK I just like buying guitars :D) I have never played on P90's do they sound like single coils or have they a totally different character?

Anybody out there use em?.......

I have two P-90 soapbars on my '56 Gold Top. They are the holy grail of pick-ups for me. I love my telecaster and hofner for different reasons, but I play a lot of lead with the Gold Top, and the tone is just great. They have a great vintage aggressive-but-creamy sound to my ears. It might be an acquired taste though. Either way, I'd buy another guitar equipped with them like a shot.
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: guitarron on May 14, 2009, 11:55:01 AM
Quote from: 48 on May 14, 2009, 08:19:18 AMIn my quest for tonal variety (OK I just like buying guitars :D) I have never played on P90's do they sound like single coils or have they a totally different character?

Anybody out there use em?.......

hot single coil-it's not quacky like strat p-ups
they do sound great
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: Greeny on May 15, 2009, 01:19:26 AM
Epiphone are just releasing a 1962 Wilshire Re-Issue which has twin P90 soapbars. I want one, but £2000...  ??? :o

http://www.dv247.com/invt/61735/ (http://www.dv247.com/invt/61735/)
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: The Reverend 48 on May 15, 2009, 06:39:31 AM
Quote from: Greeny on May 14, 2009, 09:41:56 AM
Quote from: 48 on May 14, 2009, 08:19:18 AMIn my quest for tonal variety (OK I just like buying guitars :D) I have never played on P90's do they sound like single coils or have they a totally different character?

Anybody out there use em?.......
I have two P-90 soapbars on my '56 Gold Top. They are the holy grail of pick-ups for me.

Tim which of your songs shows the gold top best.....?
Its a '56 Gold top I fancy..I can't afford the real thing but am lookin at either Epi or Vintage...Is yours a Gibson?........
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: Bluesberry on May 15, 2009, 06:55:47 AM
Hey Mike, Godin has a beautiful P90 guitar.  It is just superb from what I understand.
http://www.godinguitars.com/godinlgp.htm (http://www.godinguitars.com/godinlgp.htm)
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: hewhoiscalledj on May 15, 2009, 08:36:40 AM
Hmm, i had considered dropping a P90 in my Epi Dot (335clone) to give it a "raunchier" rock sound but would like to hear it first hand. It would be great if someone here had a similar set up so we can hear it. As it is, I love playing mild distortion (not overdrive) with the current Seymour Duncan humbuckers.

Sadly, the Dot doesnt get as much playing time as my Les Paul and SG but I love playing it for my jazz rock experiments and cuz it looks so cool when I'm just strumming away like a big band alley cat. I just wish it was a little smaller (or not as wide you know?)
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: guitarron on May 15, 2009, 08:47:01 PM
Quote from: hewhoiscalledj on May 15, 2009, 08:36:40 AMHmm, i had considered dropping a P90 in my Epi Dot (335clone) to give it a "raunchier" rock sound but would like to hear it first hand. It would be great if someone here had a similar set up so we can hear it. As it is, I love playing mild distortion (not overdrive) with the current Seymour Duncan humbuckers.

Sadly, the Dot doesnt get as much playing time as my Les Paul and SG but I love playing it for my jazz rock experiments and cuz it looks so cool when I'm just strumming away like a big band alley cat. I just wish it was a little smaller (or not as wide you know?)
I love duncans -
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: The Reverend 48 on May 17, 2009, 02:12:29 AM
I have just bought this via ebay (I have had to sell a couple of guitars to justify it! ;D)
I'm looking forward to hearing the soap bars! ;)
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: Bro on May 17, 2009, 02:48:35 AM
Quote from: 48 on May 17, 2009, 02:12:29 AMI have just bought this via ebay (I have had to sell a couple of guitars to justify it! ;D)
I'm looking forward to hearing the soap bars! ;)

Say 48? Is that a epiphone? BTW can i hear your guitar collection? It sounds like you have a few? :)
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: AndyR on May 17, 2009, 05:52:30 AM
That's a cute looking goldtop there 48  :)

I've never used soapbars, but I do have humbucker sized p90 types in a Gibson Explorer (they're called Mississippi Queens, from Bare Knuckle Pickups, they'll go in as a direct replacement for any standard size humbucker).

The guitar has had several sets of pickups in it (including the original high power Gibson ceramics), but it's really turned into an organic blues/rock machine with the MQs in it.

I'm a Fender-man at heart really, so humbuckers can be a bit hit-and-miss for me, but p90 types seem to give me the essence of "Gibson" sounds but with the advantages of single-coils.
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: guitarron on May 17, 2009, 08:13:36 AM
Goldtops are cool for sure
I have a 76 deluxe-mini humbckers-the neck is maple with rosewood
makes for a little brighter paul sound
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: Greeny on May 19, 2009, 04:17:16 AM
Quote from: 48 on May 17, 2009, 02:12:29 AMI have just bought this via ebay (I have had to sell a couple of guitars to justify it! ;D)
I'm looking forward to hearing the soap bars! ;)

Lovely! It's very much like my Epiphone '56 Gold Top. Is it the same?! Looks golder in the pic than mine. Hope you have fun with it. I love mine so much I've worn a couple of the frets down over the past few years. It needs a good re-dress and service.
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: The Reverend 48 on May 19, 2009, 07:17:18 AM
I can't wait for delivery its a "Vintage" with wilkinson pups...I have some Wilkinson vintage wound single coils in my $50 strat and I rate them better than Fenders...So lets hope he is as good at soap bars.......Paid £120 on ebay :)

Check out V100GT 8)
http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageelectric.html (http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageelectric.html)


Ojimi my collection keeps changing round my two keepers a '89 Fender Strat plus and a Gibson Les Paul Standard...I find if you buy wisely on Ebay you can get your money back or even make a profit...I have bought and sold 13 guitars and am about £250 up so far..Its a great cheap hobby ;)...I just love new guitars!
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: Greeny on May 19, 2009, 08:07:49 AM
Quote from: 48 on May 19, 2009, 07:17:18 AMI can't wait for delivery its a "Vintage" with wilkinson pups...I have some Wilkinson vintage wound single coils in my $50 strat and I rate them better than Fenders...So lets hope he is as good at soap bars.......Paid £120 on ebay :)

Check out V100GT 8)
http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageelectric.html (http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageelectric.html)


Ojimi my collection keeps changing round my two keepers a '89 Fender Strat plus and a Gibson Les Paul Standard...I find if you buy wisely on Ebay you can get your money back or even make a profit...I have bought and sold 13 guitars and am about £250 up so far..Its a great cheap hobby ;)...I just love new guitars!

From what I hear (and read), anything Trev Wilkinson gets involved with is 'quality', and punching above it's weight price-wise. Sounds like a good purchase!
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: 3guitarsEddy on May 19, 2009, 12:19:39 PM
If anyone wants to buy P-90's then I suggest you take a look at lollar guitars web site (http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=p90-pickups). loads of em on there.

Regards

Eddy
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: godinqc on May 20, 2009, 10:53:02 AM
Hey "48", very nice aquisition, now I want a new guitar ..  ;D

As Bluesberry mentionned some of the Godins have P90s, that's what I have in my Godin LG , they sound very good .. but a P90/Humbucker combo would also be nice

Cheers.
 
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: The Reverend 48 on May 21, 2009, 05:09:14 AM
The guitar has arrived.......First of all the quality is awesome for a guitar at any price..the finish is every bit as good as my Gibson Les Paul the MOP inlay in the headstock is gorgeous. Also it's really heavy but I play seated so that's OK.....

It arrived badly packed..thank god there was no damage and it was filthy..it looked like somebody had been sick on it so I spent all day stripping and cleaning it (which incidentally I thoroughly enjoyed).

Underneath the filth it is perfect not a scratch anywhere. I put some ultra slinky's on (8's) which I had never used but were recommended by Witchita set the action which is now snake belly low and plugged in....... :o.

I wasn't prepared for what came out...I'm amazed tonally the soapbars seem to have the brightness of good single coils with the thickness of a humbucker........

I have rattled a couple of blues licks out and it seems to be begging for some Peter Green Style Major Blues..... 8)

This could become my Blues guitar of choice! 8)

I would urge anybody buying on a budget to look at Vintage Guitars 8)
http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageelectric.html (http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageelectric.html)
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: Bluesberry on May 21, 2009, 06:02:48 AM
Damn you  Mike, major GAS attack comming on.  I can't wait to hear this beauty.  Just what I need, another guitar, I want it, I want it, I want it...I need it, I need it, I need it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: Geir on May 21, 2009, 06:25:43 AM
Come on Mike !!! give us a taste of that blues machine !!! 8) .. Don't keep us waiting !!
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: Flash Harry on May 21, 2009, 07:57:13 AM
I bought a Ernie Ball copy by Vintage for my son. It was a lovely bass and great to play. they do make some good instruments and at a good price. But I have also picked up some real shockers.

I guess it's the luck of the draw. I'd like to play anything I bought before I bought it I think.

The bass is now in Australia.
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: godinqc on May 21, 2009, 10:02:02 AM
I agree with Bluesberry .. "Damn you Mike," .. see what you started :D
I've been browsing Ebay and Kijiji all day .. I also feel a GAS attack coming  ;D

Hummm .. a Godin Redline2 would be nice

And yes let us hear this new Jem !!

Cheers !!
Title: Re: P 90 soap bars
Post by: Davo on May 27, 2009, 02:48:14 PM
I have admittedly little experience with P90's, but they seem to be what id like.
I enjoy the clarity and brightness of single coils, and like the output and mids of a bucker, just need a bit more top end and clarity from em-p90s split the difference.

Ive never owned a p90 equipped guitar, but I plan to put a pair of Seymour Duncan P-rails in my Fender Toronado soon.  The P-rails is a like a P90 and a rail single coil glued together.  You can get a P90, Single coild, or when combined a humbucker tone out of one pup.  Seymour Duncan has also released a new set of Humbucker mounting rings with a 4 way switch built in.  Using this with the P-rail gives you 4 tones without drilling more holes.  The pots can then be wired for in out of phase, etc. 

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/progressive/prails_shpr1/