Recommendations for Dogear P-90 pickups for a Gibson ES-125

[Youngman]

Hi all,

I've just bought the shell of a 60s era Gibson ES-125 which is missing a good deal of components (single humbucker installed, and no trapeze tailpiece).

I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for good p90s for me. I'm based in Australia, so these the selection is often limited, expensive. Are new gibson pickups worth the price?

Along with this, does anyone have any recommendations for tailpieces? Are the generic ones any different to buying old stock etc.

Sorry of this has been asked many times, I'm new to this forum.

[John A.]

I don’t know the market in Australia, so I couldn’t say whether they’re worth it, but Gibson P90s sound good to me. I think the only real advantage of other brands is that they offer more options for magnets and resistance than Gibson. Other than that, I think there’s a lot less mystique than with PAF style pickups.

FWIW, I have Gibsons in a Les Paul, had a Godin with their brand of P90, and have tried Lollar and Guitarfetish; they all sound like P90s to me. If I were at all thinking about resale I’d probably install a Gibson in a Gibson guitar because that would make it a bit easier to sell. Otherwise I’d pick a magnet and wiring spec and get the cheapest one that meets it from a reputable builder.

[m_d]

I have a Lollar low-wind P90 on my Dupont Saint-Louis (ES-125 replica), very happy with it, but I haven't played other P90s.

[AllanAllen]

These sound really good. I'm not even joking around. If you've got a budget P90 option in Oz, you might give them a try.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/27501613042...d48747c6d56d2c

[atlaspark]

These sound really good. I'm not even joking around. If you've got a budget P90 option in Oz, you might give them a try.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/27501613042...d48747c6d56d2c

+1 on the Guitar Madness P-90. I was skeptical at first given the price, but I put one in an ES-125 copy and it sounds fantastic. Great value.

[RitualCaster]

I play an Eastman Ar405 which is a 125 copy. It has a Tonerider P90 in it which I think sounds great in this guitar. I’ve found I can get a variety of tones out of it, and it’s on the hotter side.

Looking at their website it looks like they have three dealers in Australia.

best of luck

[Jabberwocky]

I bought a 1954 ES-150 with a Lindy Fralin P90; the original was parted out a long time ago. Sounds great! I recommend that you check out the Fralin.

As for tailpieces, the Made in Germany ABM Müller ones are good but expensive. The Made in China ones are serviceably good. Note that the shipping cost for an ABM Müller and the MIC one is the same from the same location. So, buy once, cry once?

ABM 1504n Tailpiece Diamond