Humbuckers in a p90 guitar... Do-able?

[tonaldeath]

So, I want to re-rout my faded les paul double-cut w/ two p90s in it to accommodate humbuckers....specifically p-rails. I want to keep the p90 option available to me, but I want to extend the palate a bit without having to lug multiple guitars around.

 

I know the faded LP's aren't of the absolute highest quality, but I really love this thing. I have nicer guitars, but this has somewhat become my "go to". I don't know if it's a fluke, but man the wood on this thing sings. Dark and meaty, but with just the right rounding out of frequencies. Love it.

 

I've never tried a mod of this nature, but I do have a good deal of wood-working experience.

 

Is this possible?

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

I'd not {censored} with it if it sounds do good

[Wyatt]

The new routs have to be perfect, or the old rout will show outside of the humbucker-mounting ring. There is zero tolerance for error. The rout has to be professionally done but a good measure twice, cut once kind of luthier.

[TomCray]

Have you considered P-90 sized humbuckers?

 

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

Have you considered P-90 sized humbuckers?

This would be a more suitable solution, then you can play and see whether you like a bucker at the bridge or the neck

P rails won't sound like xactly a P90 or exactly a humbucker

[Badside]

Truth about P-Rails: they make a good P90 impression, and a {censored}ty humbucker one

 

Don't touch your guitar, if you don't like it trade it for something else. I'd kill for a double-cut P90 LP!

 

P90 sized humbucker are a nice mod-less option, Dimarzio makes a few versions

[tonaldeath]

Damn you nay-sayers always being right..

I kinda had this feeling from the beginning. The p-rails seem like such a good idea in theory, but if the bucker setting sucks anyway, screw it. I really do love the sound of my p90s, but I just can't deal with the buzz when I do some uber hi-gain stuff, and I don't want to gate it because that just kills all the character.

Guess I'll be selling the p-rails I bought.

OK, then anyone know a really solid well-rounded p90-sized humbucker? Something that will pair well with the p90...

[Seano Porno]

Why not shield the cavities then? IT won't get rid of ALL of the hum, but it'll help out A LOT.

[Belva]

Wilkenson even makes a P90 sized 'bucker. Or maybe get ahold of Bryan @ BG? If anybody can make you a pup it seems he'd be the person to talk to. But def shield the phuck out of it as stated and see what happens.
And I agree that cutting for a regular 'bucker isn't a great idea.

[PunkKitty]

GFS has a collection of P90 sized humbuckers also. A mini humbucker is another option.

 

I had P-Rails for a while. They were too powerful for me. The P90 part sounded great. The HB and SC modes were just so-so. I ended up selling them. I wouldn't buy them again.

[idlekd]

I think mini humbuckers with their mounting rings are a perfect drop in for p-90s. Gibson designed it that way to use a large stock of minis they had left over from epiphone.

[Philfixit]

A buddy has the DiMarzio's in a '70's LP Deluxe and they sound pretty decent. Hotter than the Small HB pups that were in there OEM, but he can still get the stock sound if the vol is rolled off a little. The old pickup bezel screw holes are still visible if you know to look for them, but it's just an appearance thing.

Back when this mod was done (1980) there weren't a lot of choices!

[GilmourD]

 

So, I want to re-rout my faded les paul double-cut w/ two p90s in it to accommodate humbuckers....specifically p-rails. I want to keep the p90 option available to me, but I want to extend the palate a bit without having to lug multiple guitars around. I know the faded LP's aren't of the absolute highest quality, but I really love this thing. I have nicer guitars, but this has somewhat become my "go to". I don't know if it's a fluke, but man the wood on this thing sings. Dark and meaty, but with just the right rounding out of frequencies. Love it. I've never tried a mod of this nature, but I do have a good deal of wood-working experience. Is this possible?

 

 

If I had the money, I'd just buy that guitar off you. I've been GASing HARDCORE for a LP Special Double Cut.

 

Since I can't save that guitar from modification first hand, I might as well give you a few suggestions for reversible mods.

 

GFS has some P-90 sized humbuckers that drop right in.

 

http://www.guitarfetish.com/NEW-Soapbar-180-Humbuckers--Fits-P90-Soapbar-Guitars_c_276.html

 

There's also always mini humbuckers with the P-90-based ring.

 

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Gibson-P90-Soapbar-Style-Mini-Humbuckers_c_237.html

 

I'd also talk to Bryan at BG-Pups.com and see if he could wind you up some sexy P-90s and shield them, too, for silent running.

[tlbonehead]

Truth about P-Rails: they make a good P90 impression, and a {censored}ty humbucker one Don't touch your guitar, if you don't like it trade it for something else. I'd kill for a double-cut P90 LP! P90 sized humbucker are a nice mod-less option, Dimarzio makes a few versions

The P-rail is my favorite SD P90 pickup. The HB is also very nice. The other SC position is a little weak and dull though. Certainly have no complaints about the HB tones though.

[tlbonehead]

I really do love the sound of my p90s, but I just can't deal with the buzz when I do some uber hi-gain stuff, and I don't want to gate it because that just kills all the character. Guess I'll be selling the p-rails I bought. OK, then anyone know a really solid well-rounded p90-sized humbucker? Something that will pair well with the p90...

 

 

but they don't at all. Of course, I am referring to just the bridge model. Never tried a neck P-rail.

[tonaldeath]

If I had the money, I'd just buy that guitar off you. I've been GASing HARDCORE for a LP Special Double Cut. Since I can't save that guitar from modification first hand, I might as well give you a few suggestions for reversible mods. GFS has some P-90 sized humbuckers that drop right in. http://www.guitarfetish.com/NEW-Soapbar-180-Humbuckers--Fits-P90-Soapbar-Guitars_c_276.html There's also always mini humbuckers with the P-90-based ring. http://www.guitarfetish.com/Gibson-P90-Soapbar-Style-Mini-Humbuckers_c_237.html I'd also talk to Bryan at BG-Pups.com and see if he could wind you up some sexy P-90s and shield them, too, for silent running.

 

 

Oh, don't get me wrong; I absolutely love the guitar. Love it. I love p90s too, but for high-gain stuff, I can't deal with the buzz. I'm gonna try shielding the p/u cavities. I already shielded the control cavity, but it didn't do the trick.

 

Let me ask you... Those pickups you linked to are very inexpensive. I'm not trying to be skeptical, but are they any good? I've never heard or tried them.

[PunkKitty]

The GFS stuff is decent. But I'll take a hand wound BG over a GFS every time.

[GilmourD]

 

Oh, don't get me wrong; I absolutely love the guitar. Love it. I love p90s too, but for high-gain stuff, I can't deal with the buzz. I'm gonna try shielding the p/u cavities. I already shielded the control cavity, but it didn't do the trick. Let me ask you... Those pickups you linked to are very inexpensive. I'm not trying to be skeptical, but are they any good? I've never heard or tried them.

 

 

The GFS pickups are good pickups. They're about as likely to get the sound you want from a guitar as DiMarzio or Duncan. Just like either DiMarzio or Duncan, there are models of GFS that I love and some that are just bleh, but you or somebody else might love what I hate and hate what I love.

 

For abso-{censored}ing-lutely nailing the tone you want, there is NONE better than Bryan at BG-Pups. Tell him what you have, what you want, and you'll have something even better than your wildest dreams delivered to you. It's kinda like the pickup world version of having hot sex with Heidi Klum and Rebecca Romjin simultaneously, times a hundred.

[flummox]

I really like the Dimarzios. They're definitely more HB than P90 but they've got their own thing going. Very nice roundness to them with a bit more snap than PAFs.

 

Bill Lawrence also makes a wonderful humbucker that fits in a p90 slot. Very hot, very bright, very quiet, ridiculous sustain.

[tonaldeath]

The GFS pickups are good pickups. They're about as likely to get the sound you want from a guitar as DiMarzio or Duncan. Just like either DiMarzio or Duncan, there are models of GFS that I love and some that are just bleh, but you or somebody else might love what I hate and hate what I love. For abso-{censored}ing-lutely nailing the tone you want, there is NONE better than Bryan at BG-Pups. Tell him what you have, what you want, and you'll have something even better than your wildest dreams delivered to you. It's kinda like the pickup world version of having hot sex with Heidi Klum and Rebecca Romjin simultaneously, times a hundred.

 

 

 

Sweet. Thanks for the info, man. I like the idea of getting some custom pickups. So much easier than scouring the earth for a commercial pre-built that is exactly what I'm looking for. I've heard good things about Bryan from reading these boards, so I think I'll contact him.