P90's and Tweed amps

[teleboli]

Just brought home an R6 goldtop/P90's. Plugged into my Clark Penrose(Fender Super 2x10 clone). I was surprised how kinda flubby and muffled things were. This is my first outing with P90's and first go with a tweed amp. I guess I'm just wondering how people get the most out of their P90 Pauls and tweed amps.

 

[pauly-ray]

Crank amp, roll back volume on guitar.

 

[go7]

Crank amp, roll back volume on guitar.

Most excellent. I do this with all guitars and amps.

 

[mad dog]

What Pauly says is true. Helps to plug into the bright side too, as if they were humbuckers. Into my Victoria 35115, it's always plug into the bright side, jumper to normal, both channel volumes between 7 and 9.
MD

 

[dspellman]

Yup.

 

[TravisE]

What guitar do you usually play through this amp? It might help to know what you're comparing the tone to.

 

[Maess]

Just brought home an R6 goldtop/P90's. Plugged into my Clark Penrose(Fender Super 2x10 clone). I was surprised how kinda flubby and muffled things were. This is my first outing with P90's and first go with a tweed amp. I guess I'm just wondering how people get the most out of their P90 Pauls and tweed amps.

Is this tweed new in general or new to you? If its brand new, you need to break in the speaker. You can do that through playing or you can speed it up by playing a loop through it at moderate volume for a couple of days.

As others have said, with a tweed its best to crank it and use the volume knob on your guitar.

 

[909one]

I have a Tweed Bandmaster Clone. I find Tweed Amps to be a little heavier on the midrange, and p-90's are also heavy on the midrange as well too.
The jury is still out for me on weather I like p-90's with the tweed and to be honest whether I like p-90's in general. I like sparkling chimey clean tones and p-90's don't give you that tone as easily... even with low wind Lollars I still get too much midrange honk for my tastes in the bridge position.
Like other posters have said though, a cranked tweed with p-90's rules, but most of the settings I play in doesn't let me crank the Bandmaster.
A Tweed Amp with Filtertrons, Tele or Lipstick pickups is awesome in my book though.

 

[Crazyquilt]

Not to sound too Obi-wan, but let go of your preconceptions. Rolling down your tone can actually make your playing clearer, because you are limiting all of the overtones, for example. Vary your touch & attack; this can have a far greater affect than twiddling knobs, especially when dealing with two very touch-sensitive pieces of gear like tweeds & P-90s.

I have a Clark Penrose 15 (Pro, rather than Super), Clark Beaufort, a Hamer Special Korina with Lollars & an ES125TDC, so I have some small experience with P-90s & tweeds.

 

[teXum]

Lots of good tips about rollling back the knobs. After getting my first "Gibson setup" (Collings 290) in years, I now have realized how useable the various settings can be.

If that doesn't work, you definitively need Jensen/American type speakers to get good cleans with a tweed, IMO, but my bet is that that is what you already have.

Third thing that works for me, is a clean boost with tone knob, like the Sexdrive, or even a treblebooster.

Then, of course, a P90 is not a strat pup, nor should you need it do be, that's what strats are for. Love me some P90 cleans, though, sounds "old".

 

[teleboli]

Okay so just an update. I got the R6/P90's last night and was only able to do about an hour with it. I was a bit let down . Today when I got home I plugged the Les Paul into my Roland Cube 60 that I use for jazz with my ES175. All I can say is that I am totally blown away. Stays totally clean under normal pick attack until you dig in and then you get that slight P90 breakup. Very touch sensitive, infinite headroom. Just a beautiful clear, rich, full sound that I thought an R6 should be. Lots of that clean Gibson snap and quack. Really awesome. I was considering returning the R6, but now I've gotten it to sound just as I wanted it too, which is just clean and gorgeous. Of course the P90's break up when you want. All because of this Cube 60. The only problem is, I'm a total tube snob. Am I crazy or have others had similar experiences? I'm considering gigging with a Cube 60, another amp and aby box. Sorry about the ramble, but what do we think of these amps?

 

[Maess]

cube 60s are fine, but try a JC.

I really do think this may be a speaker issue on your tweed.

 

[Marble]

If you want clean, think about a Silverface

 

[teleboli]

Thanks for replies. The important question is ,which tube amp specifically to use with those P90's, and have loads of clean headroom. Silverface yes. What about a Rivera Clubster 45w 1x12?

 

[Crazyquilt]

If you want loads of clean headroom, you're going to be fighting a never-ending battle uphill with P-90s. Yes, you can get a gorgeous clean tone from them, like Grant Green's. But they aren't nice pickups. They are fat, midrangey, and a bridge soapbar -- or, better, a dogear -- can also be accurately described as downright nasty.

Feel free to buy all the amps you want. A mid to high wattage BF or SF Fender, or a '60's Ampeg, or something similar, would likely be your best bet if you want tubes.

In the long run, though, I suspect you'll be disappointed. A P-90 is what it is. If you want huge, beautiful cleans, try a Gretsch Duo Jet or Country Club with Dynasonics. Or just keep your Roland if it makes you happy.

 

[treeofpain]

Not all P90s are created equal either. I find the stock Gibson RI P90s to be pretty average compared to original 50's versions or even Lollars...

 

[cbpickin]

Lollar P90's are VERY clear and biting with my Clark Beaufort. My Heritage H137 straight into my Clark is probably the best tone I've ever had. Very clear and articulate. I did swap out the Celestion Blue for a Weber 12a150a though, so it is a slightly brighter speaker.
I think the P90's are the perfect match for tweed amps, everything else just doesn't sound right in comparison. My R8 with Wolfetone Legends can push it a bit too hard and my strats with Lollars needs a little Timmy or something to push it just enough. P90's are just right.

 

[teleboli]

Are you suggesting a pickup change to the Lollars? Do you think the Lollars are that much clearer than the stock Gibsons? My amp's a Clark Penrose, 5F4, so it should be cleaner than your 5E3 Beaufort. Maybe the Lollars are all it needs.

 

[Crazyquilt]

Yes, Lollars are that much clearer than stock Gibsons. Esp. lower wind Lollars. That may well get you where you want to be, actually. I forgot there were people in the world who didn't immediately ditch their stock Gibson P-90s for better units.

 

[bluesguitarist8]

Yes, Lollars are that much clearer than stock Gibsons. Esp. lower wind Lollars. That may well get you where you want to be, actually. I forgot there were people in the world who didn't immediately ditch their stock Gibson P-90s for better units.

Haha,thats funny that is just what I was thinking.I never keep stock pickups in a guitar.do you have those lollar p-90's that are the 50's wind.he made those after a 53 p-90 right.or do you have the higher output one?I bet i would dig the 50's ones more.