Vintage P-90 Clones

[Logand0404]

I’ve been playing Gibson 125s and 175 and love the sound of the vintage p90s, but they go for anywhere from 600-1000. Are there any modern pickups that sound like those?

[AllanAllen]

I like the cheap Guitar Madness ones on ebay. Not even joking, they sound great.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275016130425

[GuyBoden]

I like the cheap Guitar Madness ones on ebay. Not even joking, they sound great.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275016130425

Yeah, P90's are such a simple pickup design, they can't be too complex to manufacture using good materials (Maybe try Alnico 2?). As long as they're careful with the Henry's.

[Greywolf]

I'm quite fond of Duncan Antiquities, have them in 3 instruments. I have Lollars in 3 as well and they are great but a bit noisier

[Groooooove]

I very very highly reccomend MJS pickups in canada!

the owner, smitty, is a really brilliant guy. I've ordered three times form him. one was a highly customized 6 string bass humbucker. the other was a vintage jazz bass replica set. the other was his standard strat set.

every time he exceeded expectations.

he knows every spec, material, etc. and can create, recreate, or modify and pickup/sound you ask for.

his prices are also very reasonable, and roughly the same as an off-the-rack quality pickup. but for something completely made to order.
https://mjscustompickups.com/

[skykomishone]

Check out Harmonic Design's Z90's. I have a Thornton guitar with them and love them. I also have 2 vintage Gibsons with original P90's, one mid 40's 125 with slugs, and a '55 175. They are amazing pickups. I agree.

[Gilpy]

I have had several 50s Gibsons with P-90s and, in my opinion, Lindy Fralin's have a lot of that character.

But there are many other good ones out there.

[JCat]

Yeah, P90's are such a simple pickup design, they can't be too complex to manufacture using good materials Alnico 2.

Gibson P-90 pickups from the 1940s through the 1960s primarily used two rough sand-cast Alnico bar magnets (typically Alnico 3 or 4 in the early years, transitioning to Alnico 5) Early 1950s models frequently used Alnico 3, while by 1957 (and into the 1960s), Gibson transitioned to stronger Alnico 5 magnets.

1940s–Early 1950s: Used Alnico 3 or sometimes Alnico 4, offering a weaker magnetic field, cleaner tone, and softer bass.

Late 1950s–1960s: Shifted to Alnico 5 magnets, providing higher output, a harder treble range, and increased dynamics.

[GuyBoden]

Gibson P-90 pickups from the 1940s through the 1960s primarily used two rough sand-cast Alnico bar magnets (typically Alnico 3 or 4 in the early years, transitioning to Alnico 5) Early 1950s models frequently used Alnico 3, while by 1957 (and into the 1960s), Gibson transitioned to stronger Alnico 5 magnets.

1940s–Early 1950s: Used Alnico 3 or sometimes Alnico 4, offering a weaker magnetic field, cleaner tone, and softer bass.

Late 1950s–1960s: Shifted to Alnico 5 magnets, providing higher output, a harder treble range, and increased dynamics.

P90's are such a very simple design, whatever your magnet of choice. Alnico 2 sound best for Jazz to my ears, but as ever, it's your personal choice, you can easily swap magnets in P90's.

I have a box full of P90's parts.

[JCat]

P90's are such a very simple design, whatever your magnet of choice. Alnico 2 sound best for Jazz to my ears, but as ever, it's your personal choice, you can easily swap magnets in P90's.

When someone wants a "vintage P-90 clone" maybe it's useful information that Alnico 2 was uncommon. I personally like Alnico 5 and modern wiring, so just like you I'm not historically correct. (It's good to know that the electronics ("wiring") many times makes more difference than the pickup itself).

[GuyBoden]

When someone wants a "vintage P-90 clone" maybe it's useful information that Alnico 2 was uncommon. I personally like Alnico 5 and modern wiring, so just like you I'm not historically correct. (It's good to know that the electronics ("wiring") many times makes more difference than the pickup itself).

All interesting information, and yes, all wiring etc effects the sound, I've just remembered that I have a low wind P90 pickup with "Neodymium Magnets", but I have not tried it yet. All I know is that it's in my box of P90 stuff.

[Stefan Eff]

The best sounding P90‘s to my ears are Franz pickups. The reissues from Guild are a bargain and they sound fantastic. Like the old ones. Not close, they sound pretty much the same.

[GuyBoden]

The best sounding P90‘s to my ears are Franz pickups.

Good info, I must investigate Franz P90's.

It seems that Franz P90's are a slightly different design to the Gibson P90 design, but yes, the Franz P90's looks very similar.

[Stefan Eff]

Good info, I must investigate Franz P90's.

It seems that Franz P90's are a slightly different design to the Gibson P90 design, but yes, the Franz P90's looks very similar.

Very slightly different construction. They‘re underwound and use Alnico3 magnets. To me they‘re more in the Dynasonic ballpark, pretty elegant but with a beasty touch if you push in.

[Herbie]

P90 might be a simple design but the differences in sound between manufacturers can be big.

I once had a ES-125 with a cheapo aftermarket pu. Trebly and bassy, just too hi-fi for my ears.

I thought that Duncan Antiquity will take me to the jazz universe easiest (the used Gibson P90s were rare then here in EU, specially the Dogears), but to my surprise I still hated the guitar.

Only after I found a Gibson Dogear P90 pickup the guitar started to sound like jazz guitar to me. The midrange was finally there.

But there is a lot of ears and a lot of different jazzes. And I have played real ’54 P90s only once for 15 minutes so I am not exactly an expert in those.

In my Les Pauls the Duncan Antiquities have always exceeded, but I reach rock sounds with them.

But was it any brand of P90 lift it as close to the strings as You can. That brings them alive.

[Jimmy Mack]

I guess you'd have to use shims to raise the P90's, in some cases.

The next question: has anyone swapped out P90 style p/ups for the Franz p/ups? Would they fit?

[Jimmy Mack]

I like the cheap Guitar Madness ones on ebay. Not even joking, they sound great.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275016130425

Hey Allan, did you get the Alnico 2 or 5 version?

[Jimmy Mack]

Another P90 question:

I bought a special issue Epiphone Casino, made in China, the '61 Re-issue. It was advertised by Epiphone as coming with Gibson P90's. I bought the guitar used. When I opened up the p/ups to tackle a "buzzing" issue, there is nothing inside or under the p/ups to specify that they are Gibson parts. Nothing to hint at any brand! Would Gibson p/ups from appx. 2010 be minus any brand or stamp, a label???

[Stefan Eff]

I guess you'd have to use shims to raise the P90's, in some cases.

The next question: has anyone swapped out P90 style p/ups for the Franz p/ups? Would they fit?

They‘re a tad different sizewise but it‘s possible for sure. Which guitar?
And I don‘t think that P90‘s should be as close as possible to the strings, at least not the Franz versions and maybe no pickup at all. You‘ll always loose informations from the outer edge of the sonic wave a plucked string generates.

[Herbie]

Another P90 question:

I bought a special issue Epiphone Casino, made in China, the '61 Re-issue. It was advertised by Epiphone as coming with Gibson P90's. I bought the guitar used. When I opened up the p/ups to tackle a "buzzing" issue, there is nothing inside or under the p/ups to specify that they are Gibson parts. Nothing to hint at any brand! Would Gibson p/ups from appx. 2010 be minus any brand or stamp, a label???

The Gibson P90s do not usually have any indication of the brand, except in recent years (2000s?) there have been a white sticker. But with the older ones You just have to know what to seek: braided shield cable, grounding piece, brass back plate, the material of the screws etc.