ThroBak P90's after a few months break in

[MapleFlame]

I am totally amazed how well these pickups sound after a few months of break in. I can imagine this is what people in the 50's experienced. The dynamics and tone just opened up. This is the Red 56 refin and being played through my princeton reverb. Wore the wife beater as a Joke to a youtube heckler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCZQr7rsoqk

 

[efk]

I agree likewise. These are the first aftermarket P90s I have bought EVER that sound and respond identically to the many vintage 50s/60s P90s that I have had over the years. I did have him use A4 for both neck and bridge in my set, as opposed to the A2 advertised (neck). I have a various times tried aftermarket pickups from a fairly wide range of makers, and while I don't wish to bash any of them since everyone hears things differently, I can't imagine why anyone would buy any other brand. Seriously.

It's funny, you wouldn't think such a primitive thing - a single coil of wire wrapped around a big bobbin, some screws and a couple of magnets - would be so hard to replicate accurately, but apparently it is! I guess the devil really is in the details. Advantage: obsession!

 

[tdarian]

Sounds great, dig the outfit!

 

[blauserk]

Those sound very authentic. That's nice--I won't have to constantly be on the lookout for old ones anymore.

 

[MapleFlame]

I agree likewise. These are the first aftermarket P90s I have bought EVER that sound and respond identically to the many vintage 50s/60s P90s that I have had over the years. I did have him use A4 for both neck and bridge in my set, as opposed to the A2 advertised (neck). I have a various times tried aftermarket pickups from a fairly wide range of makers, and while I don't wish to bash any of them since everyone hears things differently, I can't imagine why anyone would buy any other brand. Seriously.

It's funny, you wouldn't think such a primitive thing - a single coil of wire wrapped around a big bobbin, some screws and a couple of magnets - would be so hard to replicate accurately, but apparently it is! I guess the devil really is in the details. Advantage: obsession!

Very well said and thank you for your additions. :salude :salude

 

[MapleFlame]

Sounds great, dig the outfit!

Yeah I got bashed pretty hard with my ball cap and shirt from a tuber, so I thought it would be awesome to go tank top for the next level down.

Thank you

 

[MapleFlame]

Those sound very authentic. That's nice--I won't have to constantly be on the lookout for old ones anymore.

Your right and I am glad we have a great alternative that matches up well to the vintage sound. :biggrin:

 

[Cliff Gress]

Your 56 is one of the most popular LPs on the Forum MF. Great sound.

 

[efk]

Do you mind if I ask what you recorded that with? Very appealing sound for a simple youtube clip, and I don't here the telltale volume clipping of a cheap DV cam mic.

LOVE the red top. Love it.

 

[roadrunner]

Those sound really nice... Great playing too!:dude:

They're still missing a bit of the "whistle" that old P-90's do. The old blues guys used to call those pickups, "Whistlers" for the top end thing that they have... and the microphonics. I've haven't heard anyone exactly reproduce an old P-90, the Seymour Antiquities are pretty close also.

 

[J.D.]

Those sound really nice... Great playing too!:dude:

They're still missing a bit of the "whistle" that old P-90's do. The old blues guys used to call those pickups, "Whistlers" for the top end thing that they have... and the microphonics. I've haven't heard anyone exactly reproduce an old P-90, the Seymour Antiquities are pretty close also.

+1 on the Antiquities. Put a set of vintage (full strength) magnets in them and you are pretty much there.

 

[MapleFlame]

Your 56 is one of the most popular LPs on the Forum MF. Great sound.

eace2 eace2

 

[MapleFlame]

Here is the same guitar through a 51 Deluxe Tweed and a Reverbamate.
50's P90's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6ZSqux1wgM

I will record the new pickups with this same setup.

 

[MapleFlame]

Those sound really nice... Great playing too!:dude:

They're still missing a bit of the "whistle" that old P-90's do. The old blues guys used to call those pickups, "Whistlers" for the top end thing that they have... and the microphonics. I've haven't heard anyone exactly reproduce an old P-90, the Seymour Antiquities are pretty close also.

I know what your saying and love that about P90's I have to disagree as this guitar doesn't perform the same as my other P90's guitars I have. In fact when I did the switch I was amazed how much more depth I got with these pickups. Only thing I do regret, after DJ did the refin I had a really nice P90 in the bridge, but it had a chipped bobbin which I didn't feel comfortable in gigging with that in. I should have kept it.

 

[efk]

You could loosen the bobbin screws slightly, which will happen anyway as the bobbin starts to age/warp, or you could add the wood shims between the magnets and the baseplate that some of them had (application dependent) and you'll get all the microphonics you'd like!

 

[Black58]

Very nice! :3zone


.. btw, I think ya should dress up as stockhippie next! :hee

 

[tdarian]

Very nice! :3zone


.. btw, I think ya should dress up as stockhippie next! :hee

Please don't!:hippy

 

[jwalker]

You could loosen the bobbin screws slightly, which will happen anyway as the bobbin starts to age/warp, or you could add the wood shims between the magnets and the baseplate that some of them had (application dependent) and you'll get all the microphonics you'd like!

This is true. 50's P-90 bobbins are styrene and the styrene pole screw threads loosen real fast with a little adjustment. I made the ThroBak bobbins out of the styrene also to keep it vintage specs., removing the pole screws and putting them back in will looses them plenty if that kind of whistling microphonics is what you are after. A lot of people don't want the whistling so I leave it up to the customer.

The other things that contribute to whistling microphonics with a P-90 are loose keeper bar due to spacers between the magnet and the baseplate so the keeper bar is not flush with the baseplate. It varies as to whether or not vintage P-90's have wood spacers. My '52 Goldtop has no wood spacers on either pickup. My '56 Goldtop has thin wood spacers in the bridge pickup. I have two vintage LP junior pickups with no spacers. The down side of the thin wood spacers is they can make the magnets mash down on the bottom of the baseplate so much that it can split the bottom flange of the bobbin. Some flexing and warping of the bottom flange of the bobbin is good IMHO and the two point dimpled baseplate does this with no wood spacers. But too much warping and CRACK, which is not good.

With Historic R4's or R6's the wood shims can bring the pickup too close to the strings because of the shallow depth of these routes, another thing to consider. Personally if you are going to use shims I prefer having the shims between the guitar body and the pickup baseplate rather than between the baseplate and magnets. Either way is "vintage correct".

 

[efk]

Jon - I should have sent you a note after receiving mine and let you know how impressed I am with them. My "real job" involves historical obsessiveness focusing on the 18th century, however I fully appreciate attention to the smallest details/historical accuracy of ANY era. It obviously has paid off for you, judging by the quality of your product, and I sincerely hope it brings you as much satisfaction as it does me as a customer!

 

[TM1]

Steve; You're so right! I was using my R-4 with the `52/`54 set in it. these pickups sounds incredible. I have 10 vintage `50's P-90's that I could use in my R-4, but the Throbak's sound actually a bit better than the Vintage ones I have..