Hey GFS guys, let's talk HB size P90's...

[McCain]

You can get a single coil sound from a HB by removing a row of pole pieces.

[metallica_00]

Here is a clip I made of Mean 90s into a Deluxe Reverb. The pickup is in a {censored}ty single-pickup Washburn superstrat. I have never owned a P90 guitar, so no comparisons there. In the bridge position, I would say it is thinner than a humbucker for sure but definitely fuller bodied than a Strat single coil, it has some chime on the top end and a nice midrange snarl. The pickup gets mushy and does not hold together very well as you add distortion. It sounds at its best from clean to mild overdrive. Just my two cents.

 

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=702186&songID=6114495

 

I also did the over the top ending solo of this clip with it...the rest of the piece is with different guitars.

 

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=702186&songID=7140105

[A_Gitarman]

Here is a clip ... http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=702186&songID=6114495

I've got a Mean90 in the bridge of my Sheena & IMO, that pretty much nails the way that it sounds.

I've tried all three pickups discussed above, as well as the pre-wired set that Jay offers. Here's my take:

I liked the Dream-180's enough to keep them in my Les Paul... nice, well-balanced & refined tone. I think that cratz2 description was pretty spot-on:
-Sort of a 80% PAF, 20% Filtertron sort of vibe. They were very quiet and could actually bring teh brootz.

I first had the Dream-90 installed in the neck position of my SX KY1 (PRS-ish thing) and a Dream-180 in the bridge; I HATED both in that guitar, but later moved them to my 12-string (Dean semi-hollow) and they sound just fine

Both of the Dreams (90/180) are very quiet & sound great clean. The 180 does a decent job on anything up to classic/ hard rock. The 90 is better suited to clean/ low gain sounds, IMO.

The Mean90 is probably the best of the hb-sized P90's that they offer. While I'm not 100% sold on is as a bridge pickup, it makes for an awesome neck p/u.

As for the non-GFS set, although they look a little cheap, they actually sound REALLY good (to me) as a neck pickup; ballsy single-coil sounds... like a really fat Strat neck pickup

For me, I think that the best combo would be a decent PAF-style pickup in the bridge and a Mean90 in the neck.

[DRPool]

For me, I think that the best combo would be a decent PAF-style pickup in the bridge and a Mean90 in the neck.

 

 

Thanks Man, I think this is my answer. I've got a decent hb in the the bridge now and really only "need" a neck pup since there is nothing currently filling that space. I see that Jay is sold out of the Mean 90 bridge pups anyway so maybe it's karma.

 

I can always pick up the bridge version later if I have the urge.

[al.cxam]

 

You can get a single coil sound from a HB by removing a row of pole pieces.

 

 

...and water makes its own sauce.

[humbuckerstrat]

Here is a clip I made of Mean 90s into a Deluxe Reverb. The pickup is in a {censored}ty single-pickup Washburn superstrat. I have never owned a P90 guitar, so no comparisons there. In the bridge position, I would say it is thinner than a humbucker for sure but definitely fuller bodied than a Strat single coil, it has some chime on the top end and a nice midrange snarl. The pickup gets mushy and does not hold together very well as you add distortion. It sounds at its best from clean to mild overdrive. Just my two cents. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=702186&songID=6114495 I also did the over the top ending solo of this clip with it...the rest of the piece is with different guitars. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=702186&songID=7140105

Very nice, especially the last bit:rawk:

[roygbiv]

The Dream 90 is scooped more than a traditional P90, so it is a bit more jangly and Fender single coilish in nature.

 

The Mean 90 "fixes" the scoop by adding more midrange growl, so it's closer to the traditional P90. Still doesn't nail it to my ears.

 

Still, the GFS pups are a good value. They don't sound bad at all; I actually prefer them for some applications.

 

I haven't owned any of Bryan's P90s but based on what I've heard here on HCEG, it might be worth your while to save up for some of his HB sized P90s. They NAIL the P90 sound based on clips/vids I've seen.

[mrbrown49]

I haven't owned any of Bryan's P90s but based on what I've heard here on HCEG, it might be worth your while to save up for some of his HB sized P90s. They NAIL the P90 sound based on clips/vids I've seen.

 

 

I've had both the mean90s and the h90s in the same guitar. The BG H90s are much more of a p90 sound. Both sounded good but the H90s sound especially good. If p90 is what you want bg is the way to go IMO.