Electric Guitars

[docjeffrey]

I can't unless I have a pair of headphones on and am really paying attention on this clip. I used the EF86 Channel on a handwired Vox AC15 with the exact same settings for both guitars. I used the bridge pickups on both. The amp was turned up half way--there are no real tone controls other than some presets and the Cut control which was turned off. I used the standard old school setting from the late 50's. 

I will get hammered with comments about "too much overdrive..." etc., but the point here is that using a typical vintage setup, it's very hard to hear dramatic differences between PAF's and P90's. But you may disagree, so make sure you listen to the whole video.

[reverberlayed]

I agree, they sounded similar enough that I couldn't hear a huge difference. I'm sure that'd be especially true in a band context. I expected to like the P90s the best but I think I liked the PAFs slightly more.

Great video!

[ugameus]

Thank you.  I think you just cured some GAS.  I have no p90 guitar at the moment.  I wanted one bad a few minutes ago, but not so much now.  How about a comparison with clean tones!

[Chad]

I'm listening on junk laptop speakers and the difference is rather drastic to me.  The P90s have that single coil clarity.  The humbuckers are much rounder sounding. 

[GilmourD]

There wasn't a HUGE difference, but there was the shift in midrange emphasis I expected. The PAF-type does have a certain dip in the midrange while the P90 has an upper mid spike. That is a BB3, though, which does bump the midrange up.

There were so many variations in PAFs... They used A2, A3, A4, and A5 magnets, all of which change the tone fairly dramatically, and Gibson used them pretty much interchangeably depending on how cheap they were when they were ordering from their supplier.

[docjeffrey]

ugameus
Super Contributor

Posts: 1,806
Registered: ‎08-09-2008
RE: P90'S VS. PAF'S. THINK YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENCE? [ New ]
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7 minutes ago
Thank you. I think you just cured some GAS. I have no p90 guitar at the moment. I wanted one bad a few minutes ago, but not so much now. How about a comparison with
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I wouldn't go by that clip for your decision making, but to be perfectly honest, I don't usually hear a huge difference between P90s and PAFs regardless of gain levels and amps. Yes, there is a difference, mostly in boosted mids of the P90s, but it's not like you're playing a completely different sounding guitar. I've always said that the wood and construction methods determine the overall timbre of a guitar; pickups just amplify the vibrations, and if you have two pickups with the same output and similar magnets, even if one happens to be a single coil, the guitar will determine the tone, not the pickups. There are obvious exceptions, but traditionally constructed Les Pauls have a very strong tonal signature, no matter what pickup you use.

[jrockbridge]

I agree that P90's and PAF's are generally in the same tonal ballpark.  However, I can hear distinctive differences in the video.  The P90's sounds more articulate, raw and hairy.  The Humbucker sounds a bit more muffled and smoother...almost more polite.  

My experience with my own clips has been, once I upload them, the differences in sound become minimized.  So, while I like soundclips, they are not definitive proof of anything.  I consider this anecdotal evidence. 

[billybilly]

I can't say too much whilst I'm on my laptop but from the ones I've owned, I find the difference most pressing when you are dealing with an uncovered P90.  My humbucker sized 90's with covers are pretty **bleep** close to a PAF.

[gardo]

The tone is very close but at the end of the P90 demo the  hum was still there , that's just the way they are and why I prefer the PAF's

[jtr654]

The midrange is different between the 2 I like the PAF a little more definded and rounder sounding .I'ts still hard to tell through computer speakers.

[docjeffrey]

One thing, for sure, that amp is a keeper. I love the EF 86 Channel even if I have to replace the preamp valve every 6-8 months. And the Les Pauls sound great thru it. It's a raw, visceral tone that only that particular preamp valve can deliver.

[Elias Graves]

Given that the paf was to be a quieter replacement for the p90, it goes to show that Seth knew what he was doing.

[Faber]

I hear a difference in that video, but that's because they are side by side. If it was just one guitar on a track I doubt I would know for sure. 

I does confirm my sentiment that a good PAF style have a lot in common with a fat single coil tone

[onerailunder]

It's hard to hear when stuff is palm muted.  I think it's pretty apparent when the chords ring out though.  I also think the differences are more obvious when playing clean.

[Mad Tele]

interesting. I prefer the p90s, and find them more articulate, and less muddy. that chord around  0:29 compared to similar with the buckers is most revealing.  you should try mini-buckers againts both.

but then again:

[1001gear]

The single notes were the giveaway for me. There's that trace of clean harmonics that won't go away.

Fa Fa Fa ...

[inu]

Here, I'm on big boxes and the differnce is quite audible (even if not dramatic).

The humbuckers are smoother and more muffled (less definite).

The P-90 have a slightly more aggressive midrange and some harmonics ringing in the highs (some might say it's a bit annoying but I like that sort of dirt).

I guess, you need to feel the dynamic response of the guitar to your playing to really "feel" the most difference.

[Norcal_GIT_r]

Nice video.
I hear quite a bit of difference even though you used the same amp and settings.
To me there's a clear difference from the single coil pick attack and the bloom of the humbucker.
I'm sure guys who are tone junkies are gonna hear a difference. Maybe more casual players may not notice as much of a difference. Both guitars sounded very nice.