Who makes the best P-90?

[thecajunboy]

Just a simple question.

In your opinion, who makes the best sounding P-90, regardless of price?

[HamerHokie]

Do you want a 'fat single coil' tone or a 'rude bad to the bone' tone?

[belgian]

A lot of people rave about Lollar P-90's , but I don't have the need to change my SD P-90's in my M3.

I've also heard good things on the SD antiquities.

[Stike]

Lord, that's like askin' who makes the best tater chips! Hate to say it but have a plain old stock Gibson in my single PU Gadow. Don't know how much is the PU or how much is the korina body and neck but that thing sounds great, I mean fukkin' great.

[BadgerDave]

IMO, for big, clean bell-like "uberStrat" tone, I dont think you can beat a Fralin set with an underwound neck and stock bridge.

For almost as good clean plus smooth OD and distorted tones, I like Lollars.

The Harmonic Design P-90s are also excellent in a full frequency "hi-fi" way.

For classic grit, nothing beats a 45 year old Gibson P-90.

I have never liked the sound of Duncan P-90s.

YMMV

[HamerHokie]

IMO, for big, clean bell-like "uberStrat" tone, I dont think you can beat a Fralin set with an underwound neck and stock bridge.

For almost as good clean plus smooth OD and distorted tones, I like Lollars.

The Harmonic Design P-90s are also excellent in a full frequency "hi-fi" way.

For classic grit, nothing beats a 45 year old Gibson P-90.

I have never liked the sound of Duncan P-90s.

YMMV

I have been thinking about the old Gibson P-90s like on Neil Young's Les Paul. Instead of adjustable polepieces that have these inverted U shaped ones. I wonder if these have anything to do with the extremely fat, non-twangy tone that Neil gets.

[thecajunboy]

Do you want a 'fat single coil' tone or a 'rude bad to the bone' tone?

Not looking for anything specific. Just interested in what people think. You know the drill. Some people say "Lollars are the best P-90, period", or "Harmonic Designs kick Lollars' ass". As it is, I've heard both of the above comments several times.

[straightblues]

A lot of people rave about Lollar P-90's ,

I am one of those people. I love the Lollars. P-90 tone can't get any better IMHO. Again, everyone has their own taste but for me Lollar wins by a mile. Others including the Fralins are nice but for the raw blues and rock tones I like, the Lollars kill. Yes I like love worship the Lollars.

[guitfiddler]

Jason Lollar is considered the king of P-90's, but Pete Bilthoft knows what he's doing too, has similar tricks up his sleeve, but charges much less. He will also custom wind if requested. I've bought a bunch of Pete's Strat & Tele' p/ups and his quality is right up there, 2nd. to none. You might want to check him out.

http://www.vintagevibeguitars.com/pickups.htm

[Nathan]

FN Herstal

[Guest galejt]

Jason Lollar is considered the king of P-90's, but Pete Bilthoft knows what he's doing too, has similar tricks up his sleeve, but charges much less. He will also custom wind if requested. I've bought a bunch of Pete's Strat & Tele' p/ups and his quality is right up there, 2nd. to none. You might want to check him out.

Sh*t. He don't hold no candle to the seminal work of Joe Shlabotnik!

[belgian]

FN Herstal

But I prefer the US version on my guitars.

Nothing to be proud of as a Belgian (FN Herstal a Belgian company)

[tomteriffic]

I've got a pair of the Schlabotnick Bruce Sutter models (searing, flaming heat that will knock you out at 60 feet, 6 inches) , but, since the next set will probably get delivered to my son's estate, next up would be old Gibsons. Nothing better, it's what I was raised on. I don't have that much experience with modern production other than Duncan and Pete Biltoft and like them both for what they are.

[DavidE]

Jason Lollar is considered the king of P-90's, but Pete Bilthoft knows what he's doing too, has similar tricks up his sleeve, but charges much less. He will also custom wind if requested. I've bought a bunch of Pete's Strat & Tele' p/ups and his quality is right up there, 2nd. to none.  You might want to check him out.

Sh*t. He don't hold no candle to the seminal work of Joe Shlabotnik!

Thanks for saving me the trouble of spelling Schlobotnik. Dang!

[guitfiddler]

Never heard of Joe Shitsbelowmyneck. Is he one of those upper-stratospheric euphoric alchemists catering to the vaponic needs of a few manically-depressed tone-depraved cork-sniffers?

[LordOfTheThighs]

Never heard of Joe Shitsbelowmyneck. Is he one of those upper-stratospheric euphoric alchemists catering to the vaponic needs of a few manically-depressed tone-depraved cork-sniffers?

Now that right theres some funny stuff.

[Stike]

Never heard of Joe Shitsbelowmyneck. Is he one of those upper-stratospheric euphoric alchemists catering to the vaponic needs of a few manically-depressed tone-depraved cork-sniffers?

Now that right theres some funny stuff.

I just call 'em boutweekers but that's much funnier.

[sw686blue]

Jason Lollar is considered the king of P-90's, but Pete Bilthoft knows what he's doing too, has similar tricks up his sleeve, but charges much less. He will also custom wind if requested. I've bought a bunch of Pete's Strat & Tele' p/ups and his quality is right up there, 2nd. to none.  You might want to check him out.

Sh*t. He don't hold no candle to the seminal work of Joe Shlabotnik!

Damn Jim, you beat me to it!!!

[HamerHokie]

Do you want a 'fat single coil' tone or a 'rude bad to the bone' tone?

Not looking for anything specific. Just interested in what people think. You know the drill. Some people say "Lollars are the best P-90, period", or "Harmonic Designs kick Lollars' ass". As it is, I've heard both of the above comments several times.

Unless you have something in mind, then, I don't think anyone can answer your question.

As BadgerDave says, there are several different signature P-90 tones, and different models have different strengths and weaknesses.

My bias is against any P-90 that sounds twangy or doesn't have a resonant peak in the midrange. That eliminates a lot of them right there, because I prefer the 'bad to the bone' fatness that you'd get from Leslie West/Neil Young/George Thorogood. Unfortunately, though, that has limited my options to Seymour Duncans, as they are the only ones who are winding them hot and fat enough for me. I would like a less hot, less muddy alternative but it seems there's a big gap between, say, 8.5 kohms and 14 kohms in the market. I tried the Harmonic Designs and they were too hi-fi, and I tried the Rio Grandes but they didn't have enough midrange waaaaah for me.

[HamerTexan]

Mark,

The Lollars I have on my Monaco Elite kill. They are pretty rude and nasty but to me that is what P-90's are all about. Not for the faint of heart imho.

Tim

[thecajunboy]

Unless you have something in mind, then, I don't think anyone can answer your question.

Nope, didn't have anything in mind. I've got a Lollar in my BCR Jr. Just curious as to what different people's opinions are about whose the best. It doesn't have to be the best, just interested in the opinion.

[Gabe]

Never heard of Joe Shitsbelowmyneck.  Is he one of those upper-stratospheric euphoric alchemists catering to the vaponic needs of a few manically-depressed tone-depraved cork-sniffers?

Every USA Hamer guitar with real Shlabotniks on it will sell for $350.

Gabe

[Brooks]

a plain old stock Gibson in my single PU Gadow. Don't know how much is the PU or how much is the korina body and neck but that thing sounds great, I mean fukkin' great.

yes it does.

[hardheartedbill]

the dogears just KILL the soapbars IMO, it's almost another class of pickup and I've been underwhelmed by the Lollars I've heard

[MCChris]

As BadgerDave says, there are several different signature P-90 tones, and different models have different strengths and weaknesses.

My bias is against any P-90 that sounds twangy or doesn't have a resonant peak in the midrange. That eliminates a lot of them right there, because I prefer the 'bad to the bone' fatness that you'd get from Leslie West/Neil Young/George Thorogood. Unfortunately, though, that has limited my options to Seymour Duncans, as they are the only ones who are winding them hot and fat enough for me. I would like a less hot, less muddy alternative but it seems there's a big gap between, say, 8.5 kohms and 14 kohms in the market. I tried the Harmonic Designs and they were too hi-fi, and I tried the Rio Grandes but they didn't have enough midrange waaaaah for me.

That's all you had to say, Sandy.