Humbuckers that look like a Dog Ear P90

[Arcane Analog]

I want a humbucker in a dog ear P90 format to go in an SG Junior build.

I really wanted to try a DiMarzio Super Distortion but unfortunately they only come in the standard P90 size. I had thought about modding a dog ear base to fit the SD - and it is still an option - but I thought I would explore my options.

To be clear, I want a (hot) humbucker that looks like a dog ear P90 to push a Marshall. I play mostly classic and hard rock but dabble in the blues.

I have searched around the internet but there are few pickups that fit the bill. I was hoping someone might have something to share. What are my options?

Thanks

[IAE]

Fralin do it.

With the DiMarzio ones you can take the regular cover off (It's just a mini humbucker inside) and put a dog ear on it and use foam under the pickup (Between the bottom of the pickup and cavity) to make it raise and lower...just like in Jazzmasters and Jaguars.

Simple to do and it will look like a DE P90, just no pole pieces. This is also done in Jazzmasters and Jaguars.

[brianr0131]

Kinman P90HX is hot as hell and will push a Marshall hard....noiseless too

[Sweetfinger]

Is it important that the pickup LOOK exactly like a dogear, or do you just need something that will mount in like a dogear?

[Quarter]

Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe would be another good choice to check out. http://vintagevibeguitars.com/

[Arcane Analog]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Originally Posted by IAE

Fralin do it.

With the DiMarzio ones you can take the regular cover off (It's just a mini humbucker inside) and put a dog ear on it and use foam under the pickup (Between the bottom of the pickup and cavity) to make it raise and lower...just like in Jazzmasters and Jaguars.

Simple to do and it will look like a DE P90, just no pole pieces. This is also done in Jazzmasters and Jaguars.

I had thought of this but will I not need a Dog Ear base plate for a proper mount and/or to hold everything together? It would be nice to have the pole pieces exposed in which case the cover will also have to fit the DiMarzio SD - obviously the screws in a standard P90 are centered whereas the SD P90 is offset humbucker-style. I emailed DiMarzio a while back and they informed me that they do not have a covers or baseplates that would work to transform the P90 into a dog ear.

I suppose I could modify a baseplate and/or a blank cover or try to find a cover with identical spacing. I have never owned a SD and they seem to be exactly what I want but there looks like plenty of potential for aggrivation here.

Originally Posted by Sweetfinger

Is it important that the pickup LOOK exactly like a dogear, or do you just need something that will mount in like a dogear?

I am trying to keep the SG Jr look so I would definitely prefer a Dog Ear.

[Sweetfinger]

Originally Posted by Over Drive

I am trying to keep the SG Jr look so I would definitely prefer a Dog Ear.

You're probably going to end up with some kind of hot mini-humbucker or single coil sized rail type humbucker stuffed under the dogear with fake polepieces to keep the look.

[Arcane Analog]

Originally Posted by Sweetfinger

You're probably going to end up with some kind of hot mini-humbucker or single coil sized rail type humbucker stuffed under the dogear with fake polepieces to keep the look.

Well the mini humbucker deal is exactly what the thread is about is it not? I am not sure I follow where you are going here.

[lonesomebill]

I did this recently with a Riviera: Soapbar sandwiched between foam and dogear cover. It holds tight without mounting screws, but you can use a flat-head screw if you feel better about connecting to the body.

[Arcane Analog]

Originally Posted by IAE

With the DiMarzio ones you can take the regular cover off (It's just a mini humbucker inside) and put a dog ear on it and use foam under the pickup (Between the bottom of the pickup and cavity) to make it raise and lower...just like in Jazzmasters and Jaguars.

Simple to do and it will look like a DE P90, just no pole pieces. This is also done in Jazzmasters and Jaguars.

Originally Posted by lonesomebill

I did this recently with a Riviera: Soapbar sandwiched between foam and dogear cover. It holds tight without mounting screws, but you can use a flat-head screw if you feel better about connecting to the body.

That sounds simple: Remove the bobbins from the soap bar cover, place foam in the cavity, place the boobins in the dog ear cover, install and screw the dog ear to the guitar? In other words the bobbins are still 'floating' in the dog ear case but held in place by the foam with the cover screwed to the guitar as per usual?

Other than the inability to adjust the pole pieces and pickup height are there any other negatives to leaving the poles 'unexposed' and covered by the dog ear plastic?

Thanks

[brianr0131]

Originally Posted by Over Drive

That sounds simple: Remove the bobbins from the soap bar cover, place foam in the cavity, place the boobins in the dog ear cover, install and screw the dog ear to the guitar? In other words the bobbins are still 'floating' in the dog ear case but held in place by the foam with the cover screwed to the guitar as per usual?

Other than the inability to adjust the pole pieces and pickup height are there any other negatives to leaving the poles 'unexposed' and covered by the dog ear plastic?

Thanks

Soapbar polepieces fit through a dogear cover. If you're talking about throwing a minibucker under a dogear cover it would probably not sound so great. There would be a lot of space, and plastic, between the pickup and strings.

[Arcane Analog]

Originally Posted by brianr0131

Soapbar polepieces fit through a dogear cover. If you're talking about throwing a minibucker under a dogear cover it would probably not sound so great. There would be a lot of space, and plastic, between the pickup and strings.

I will have to use a blank/undrilled cover as the pole pieces for any of the pickups I am considering will not lineup. The dimensions for the DiMarzio SD are almost perfect for a blank dog ear cover I found. I would simply have to remove its case, measure the poles and drill the covers.

I might just get a custom pickup made and clone the SD.

[tbonesullivan]

TV jones makes their power trons in dogear format.

[Arcane Analog]

I do not think the Power Tron is nearly hot enough for me. I am looking for something in the 13K+ range but thanks very much for that link. Hell, I could just buy a bezel from TV Jones and throw in a Super Distortion.

[Sweetfinger]

Originally Posted by Sweetfinger
You're probably going to end up with some kind of hot mini-humbucker or single coil sized rail type humbucker stuffed under the dogear with fake polepieces to keep the look.

Originally Posted by Over Drive

Well the mini humbucker deal is exactly what the thread is about is it not? I am not sure I follow where you are going here.

From what you said It seemed like you wanted to keep the exact visual appearance of a dogear P-90. If you're OK with slightly different polepieces or no holes whatsoever, there are many more possibilities. If you have a dogear cover without holes, it is pretty easy to stuff just about anything under it. Order a Dimarzio P-90 SD and mount it in with or without holes for the polepieces. Done. Problems? Send it to me. I'll do it.