Humbucker-sized P-90s: help me choose!

[Garygtr]

I've read several threads about humbucker-sized P-90s, but I have it narrowed down to a few choices and am looking for some additional input about my candidates. The guitar is an Epi Riviera (335-ish), music ranges from alt country to classic rock. I'm not too concerned about noise, so don't let that stand in the way of your recommendation.

Candidates:
Fralin P-92s
Harmonic Design Z-90s
Bare Knuckle Mississippi Queens

I know the Z-90s are touted as P-90 inspired, but not necessarily dead on P-90. I've read a lot of comments about them being "hi-fi"-can they still get nasty?
Any input is appreciated, and feel free to try and sell me on something else if you're dead set on it (P-94, GFS Mean 90s, etc).

[Eagle1]

I haven't heard them all but I was disproportionately impressed by the GFS one .Don't rule it out because it's cheep.

[Quarter]

Definitely check out the BG-Pups Pure 90. True P90 construction and they will custom wind them to taste if you like.
http://www.bg-pups.com/h90.html

[crimson on pink]

the bg's are the way to go. best improvement i've made. i love it.

[Stringrazor]

I put a set of Gibson P94's that I bought from someone here on my Epi Dot Deluxe. They really brought that guitar alive. Can't really compare them to anything but the soap bars in my PRS SE II and I think they sound similar.

[Guitar Josh]

Fralin P92s are among the best pups of ANY kind that I have played.

[ReddRanger]

Originally Posted by Stringrazor

I put a set of Gibson P94's that I bought from someone here on my Epi Dot Deluxe. They really brought that guitar alive. Can't really compare them to anything but the soap bars in my PRS SE II and I think they sound similar.

+1

I like the Gibson P-94's. I think they are a bit hotter than traditional P-90's, but they have a very cool vibe of their own.

[Somniferous]

I actually like the Seymour Duncan Phat Cats. Even though they don't sound like real P90s, they have a great tone somewhere between a bucker and a P-90. I've heard great things about the Gibson P-94s from a lot of people as well.

[RectoGriz]

Jason Lollar makes the best 90s in the business.

[Guitar Josh]

Originally Posted by RectoGriz

Jason Lollar makes the best 90s in the business.

Curious if you happened to read the title or the OP.

[Garygtr]

Originally Posted by crimson on pink

the bg's are the way to go. best improvement i've made. i love it.

Must be because of what he details here:
http://www.bg-pups.com/about.html

He certainly knows the mentality he's dealing with

[Tonefish]

Originally Posted by Garygtr

I've read several threads about humbucker-sized P-90s, but I have it narrowed down to a few choices and am looking for some additional input about my candidates. The guitar is an Epi Riviera (335-ish), music ranges from alt country to classic rock. I'm not too concerned about noise, so don't let that stand in the way of your recommendation.

Candidates:
Fralin P-92s
Harmonic Design Z-90s
Bare Knuckle Mississippi Queens

I know the Z-90s are touted as P-90 inspired, but not necessarily dead on P-90. I've read a lot of comments about them being "hi-fi"-can they still get nasty?
Any input is appreciated, and feel free to try and sell me on something else if you're dead set on it (P-94, GFS Mean 90s, etc).

You will never find a humbucker-sized P-90. You will find a humbucker sized single coil. The P-90s size is what makes the P-90. Don't fool yourself. Pickup makers will make and sell what they think people will buy. If close is good enough, then you may be OK, but statements like "dead on P-90" don't belong in this thread.

BTW, I Know why you're headed that way. P-90s are great sounding pickups. Best of luck with your quest. Cheers!

[Jon Silberman]

What amazes me about the last post is, taking into how incredibly variable real P90s can be in tone (as much all over the map as are SCs or HBs as a group), the statement that you can never find a HB-sized P90 that sounds like a P90 is not my own experience. I'm not saying every HB-sized P90 sounds like every real P90 but some HB-size P90s sound like some real P90s. It's all a question of what type of "real" P90 tone are you seeking. For example, I own pairs of HD Z90s and GFS Mean 90s. Both are fine PUPs. The Z90s do not sound like real P90s to me. The Mean 90s do. Like all P90s? Of course not (re-read first two sentences!). Like some? Absolutely.

[Tonefish]

Originally Posted by Jon Silberman

What amazes me about the last post is, taking into how incredibly variable real P90s can be in tone (as much all over the map as are SCs or HBs as a group), the statement that you can never find a HB-sized P90 that sounds like a P90 is not my own experience. I'm not saying every HB-sized P90 sounds like every real P90 but some HB-size P90s sound like some real P90s. It's all a question of what type of "real" P90 tone are you seeking. For example, I own pairs of HD Z90s and GFS Mean 90s. Both are fine PUPs. The Z90s do not sound like real P90s to me. The Mean 90s do. Like all P90s? Of course not (re-read first two sentences!). Like some? Absolutely.

As much variability as there is within each group, there remains a "sonic character" of that group that typically prevails. I can't say that there is no fringe overlap, but those fringes aren't what make those pickup families what they are known for. I have not found humbucker-sized P-90s that sound as good as the good P-90s. That is not to say that there aren't some humbuckers that can sound like some P-90s, just not the good ones. IMHO

If you are happy with the one's you've found, then good, be happy. That is what it's all about. I've spent a lot of money headed down the path of trying to get one thing to sound like something else. That is usually not possible, at least not very well, and I will dissuade anyone else who might head down that same path in an effort to help them avoid that waste. If they want to go at that anyway, then I wish them the best. The best advice that I can give is if you want to try out a P-90 sound, use a P-90.

[Garygtr]

Originally Posted by Tonefish

You will never find a humbucker-sized P-90. You will find a humbucker sized single coil. The P-90s size is what makes the P-90. Don't fool yourself. Pickup makers will make and sell what they think people will buy. If close is good enough, then you may be OK, but statements like "dead on P-90" don't belong in this thread.

BTW, I Know why you're headed that way. P-90s are great sounding pickups. Best of luck with your quest. Cheers!

Thanks for the input, Tonefish. I do understand that there is a difference, and that the pickups I listed are not "real" P-90s. But the term "humbucker-sized P-90" has become part of the commonly used gear vocabulary (you even used it in your last post), and better indicates the tone I'm looking for than "humbucker-sized single coil" does. Less characters to type, too.