Help me decide on the p-90

[Fuzzdawg]

so this week, i got my dream guitar in. believe it or not, a strat-o-sonic. mahogany strat with "sound chambers", hardtail (cool wrap-around bridge like i've never seen before), with a slightly shorter scale length and p-90 pickups.

i've been doing some reading, and apparently these SOS's sound very different, one to the next. the one i played in my local shop sounded great, this one sounds ok. the pickups are fender "Black Dove" single coil pickups.

on mine, the neck pickup sounds pretty good. happy with it. the bridge is deffinetely quieter, not as fat sounding, nor as warm as i would like. the mid position is almost unusable because the pickups combine to have really loud piercing upper-mids. like the G and B string when played open, even on low volumes, hurt your ears, big time!


so, i'm looking for new pickups. here's the types of tones i'm looking for:

neck: big, boingy, cutting, overwound strat sound. for bluesy solos, and overdriven rhythm.

mid: warm, midrangey, tele-esque in between sound. for rhythm, chicken pickin, and clean solos.

bridge: fat, bitey (but not harsh), even response sound (good lows and mids in addition to the highs), and that almost already starting to break up sound. for low-gain fatness, and high gain rock chords and solos.


basically from reading around on various forums, there are two main options for p-90 pickups. either lollars at $90 each, or fralins at $80 each. which direction do my desires lead?

other options will be entertained. please keep in mind that i will probably have to pay for the new pickups by selling the old ones on the bay, so no "made by monks in the alps and cost $500 each" sets, ok? ;-)

[bloodlemons]

They're a little more, but Harmonic Designs Z-90s are incredible.

http://www.harmonicdesign.net/

[capnrock]

I've only heard the Fralins, but my pickup search ended when I heard them. I replaced the stock humbuckers in my SG because they were muddy and a little bit too dark. The Fralins are the clearest, most balanced, pickups I've personally ever used. Can't go wrong with Fralin. They are warm and clear and in yo face.

[Lolaviola]

Fralin is known for teles and strats, but I know he personally plays a P-90 guitar. He KNOWS that sound and will do custom jobs, too.

[vorvick]

Another option, Stephens Design
http://www.sdpickups.com/

I have his p90s and like them.

He'll rework them for you if need be (part of his satisfaction guarantee)
Mine were unpotted first but were a bit microphonic as a result - He took them back and put on some kind of special sauce.

(See "Guarantee / Warrantee" on his site)

[fcortex]

Rio Grande Bastard & Fat Bastard set...... also called "Big-Bottom Bastards".

[eleanor296]

+1 for Fralin.
Really nice guy, talked to him on the phone before (coincidentally about P-90s). They're his favorite pickups, so just drop him a mail and let him suggest something!
He'll wind you a custom set too if you want to.
Great guy.

[Bluesbuff]

I love my Lollar P90s (LP Deluxe). The best pickups I've ever had and I've had and still do have plenty. I've played Fralins in friends guitars and they were great also. I don't think you can go wrong with either. Both will custom wind for your specific needs.

[sgs]

Not even 1 mention of Gibsons? They've been my favorite so far...

[Fuzzdawg]

bump.

[TheWarmth]

I have Fralin P90's in my Les Paul Deluxe. Highly recommended. He's great to deal with, too.

[dr.barlo]

Lollars are great!

B

[poimenmfm]

Reverend may still have some available on their site. Very nice tone. If you check out some of their P90 equipped guitars on the site, they all have video demo clips.
http://www.reverendguitars.com

[ptdesign]

I think you're in the Bay Area Too Fazzdawg. Pete Biltoft @ Vintage Vibe in Livermore made me the best p-90 I've heard. Only charged me 65.00 for it Made it 9k North for me, it's completely poted in epoxy and I love it. Very good service, great quality.

[Fuzzdawg]

ptdesign, there a website for that? i found a vintage vibe in oregon and in new jersey, but not livermore...


also, bump. anyone else.