Members Notes_Norton Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 Hi y'all, I am planning on retrofitting an LTD EC-50 with either GFS Dream 90s or Mean 90s and I want to make sure I get the best one for what I play - the price difference is minimal. Main question: So what is the sonic difference between the two? Other questions: Which one would sound closer to my Gibson ES-330 or Epiphone Casino P90s? Which one is better to play clean (just a little 'verb) through a Twin Reverb amp simulator? I just picked up an every Sunday gig, outdoors by the salt water, and I plan on using the "cheap" LTD on that gig and at one troublesome stage that buzzed my Casino (GFS tells me one of the 90 pickups is reverse wound so when both pickups are on it acts like a humbucker). Thanks.Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 One sounds fairly P90-ish, one only has very slight hints of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eurotrashed Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 Mean 90 is the most like a P90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members poolshark Posted April 21, 2009 Members Share Posted April 21, 2009 The Dream 90 sounds a lot more complex (and better, in my opinion), but it's not exactly a P90. More high end and depth than the Mean, less heavily mid-focused. The Mean 90 sounds pretty much like a typical P90, if a little hot for my tastes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted April 22, 2009 Members Share Posted April 22, 2009 The Dream 90 sounds a lot more complex (and better, in my opinion), but it's not exactly a P90. More high end and depth than the Mean, less heavily mid-focused. The Mean 90 sounds pretty much like a typical P90, if a little hot for my tastes. I have Dream 90s mainly because the Mean wasn't out yet when I got them. I much prefer the greater body and punch of the Means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sk8centilli Posted April 22, 2009 Members Share Posted April 22, 2009 One is dreamy and the other is a meanie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members echale3 Posted April 22, 2009 Members Share Posted April 22, 2009 A good while back, I compared an SG with Mean 90s in it to a LP DC Special with a pair of P-90s. The SG w/Mean 90s had a little less top end and a little more bottom end than the LP DC Special. I think a change from the stock 300K pots in the SG to a set of 500K pots would put the Mean 90s neck and neck with the P-90s in the LP DC Special, not that it wasn't pretty damn close before.... The Mean 90s are pretty sweet, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members super56k Posted April 22, 2009 Members Share Posted April 22, 2009 I also experienced similar tone with my GFS Mean 90's. After my honeymoon with the pickups wore off I started to note that they had less bite and more bass than I wanted in a mahogany guitar as well. I already had 500k pots in, but just the other day I put in a new 500k tone pot with a .033 Orange Drop cap. The .033 cap helped brighten the tone and get them sounding like what you'd expect them to. So to the OP, I would go for Mean 90's if you don't want to get some more expensive ones elsewhere. But, I would use 500k pots and a .033 or .022 tone cap with them in a LP style guitar. Yeah, with two Mean 90's the middle position is noise canceling, and it sounds pretty good in the middle too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted April 22, 2009 Members Share Posted April 22, 2009 I also experienced similar tone with my GFS Mean 90's. After my honeymoon with the pickups wore off I started to note that they had less bite and more bass than I wanted in a mahogany guitar as well. I already had 500k pots in, but just the other day I put in a new 500k tone pot with a .033 Orange Drop cap. The .033 cap helped brighten the tone and get them sounding like what you'd expect them to. So to the OP, I would go for Mean 90's if you don't want to get some more expensive ones elsewhere. But, I would use 500k pots and a .033 or .022 tone cap with them in a LP style guitar. Yeah, with two Mean 90's the middle position is noise canceling, and it sounds pretty good in the middle too. i've got a Mean 90 in the neck of my telecaster. its attached to the 250k volume pot, but not the 250k tone pot. need those values for the bridge pup, but obviously it makes the neck bassy. not having the tone hooked up does make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted June 9, 2009 Author Members Share Posted June 9, 2009 OK I put the Mean 90s on and I'm happy with them. I just posted another thread about it, along with a review: I titled the thread: My very first guitar mod - with GFS Mean 90s and a review. And I'll try a link to the thread here (don't know if that will work, I've never tried this before on this forum). My very first guitar mod - with GFS Mean 90s and a review. Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members echale3 Posted June 9, 2009 Members Share Posted June 9, 2009 Hey, I just read your review. I'm glad your mods are working out for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jerry_picker Posted June 9, 2009 Members Share Posted June 9, 2009 I have a Mean 90 in a single pickup full hollow import, and I am very satisfied! I was looking for an ES-125 vibe, and got it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Geeter Posted June 9, 2009 Members Share Posted June 9, 2009 Had a bridge Mean 90 in an Epi LP and can report a very P90 sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members roygbiv Posted June 9, 2009 Members Share Posted June 9, 2009 Means = decent mid-range punch Dreams = scooped Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abulletti Posted September 26, 2009 Members Share Posted September 26, 2009 I just mounted the GFS Mean 90s on the neck of my project Tele and I l can't believe how good it sounds (I have a Bill Lawrence Roy Buchanan on the bridge and that's a mean p/u) I can't believe I spent $160 for Lindi Fralin's.....the mean 90s are the way to go. Great product. I would get better leads on it but that's about it. I just mounted them on my telecaster and to keep a brilliant sound I wired the 0.47 cap from the middle connection on the tone cap to the volume cap and it makes a big difference. The Pots are 250k (as recommended by Jay at GFS).This is my 3rd tele, the other one is a 62 reissue with SD VIntage (dull sound on the neck) and brass saddles set up by John Carruthers and the other is a japanese copy with Gibson pat # pups. This one with the mean 90s and Bill Lawrence simply kicks ass!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted September 26, 2009 Author Members Share Posted September 26, 2009 I ended up putting 2 Means on my LTD and I couldn't be happier with them. They sound almost as good as the Duncans on my 2001 Casino and better than the Gibsons on my 1970 ES-330 Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted September 26, 2009 Members Share Posted September 26, 2009 Means = decent mid-range punchDreams = scoopedyes, my Dreams sound quite scooped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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