Vintage P90 Questions

[stilwel]

I'm lucky enough to own a couple of really nice vintage LP Specials. One is a 1974 sunburst '55 model the other is TV yellow from 1959 that was my grandfather's.

I've spent a fair amount of time playing both and of course comparing them tonally. Now I understand that the sound of the guitar is more than just the pickups, it's the age of the wood, the neck etc.
But...the '59 P90's have a thing going on that I can't duplicate with the '74, even after swapping the 300k pots for 500k and 50's wiring, which helped immensely.
The 300k pots were completely strangling the guitar. It was way too dark.

How different are the 59 vs 74 P90's? Are the magnets different?

Are there any aftermarket pickups that are similar to these '59 P90's?

I know the Duncan Antiquity P90's are based on a '52 Gibson GT set with Alnico 2 magnets.

Thanks in advance...

 

[jwalker]

The '74 P-90s are poly wire and have short A5 or short A2. Your '59 P-90's probably have long A4 which is what is in my '59 Jr. P-90. '59 P-90's have plain enamel wire and likely are wound on a different machine than your '74 P-90's which will also impact the tone.

 

[Zentar]

A P 90 is not something that is constant as far as materiels. Basically they are single coil, 7.3k0 to 9ko and utilize A5 magnets. The better P 90s use 42awg wire although it is common to see 43awg but I never liked 43awg wire.

 

[TM1]

The '74 P-90s are poly wire and have short A5 or short A2. Your '59 P-90's probably have long A4 which is what is in my '59 Jr. P-90. '59 P-90's have plain enamel wire and likely are wound on a different machine than your '74 P-90's which will also impact the tone.

Jon has more than done the research on Gibson pickups. Anything you'd ever want or need to know about Gibson pickups, ThroBak has the answers!!

 

[thin sissy]

I searched the forum and got a few different opinions on this, so I'll throw this question out there:

Is there a consensus on P-90's during the 50' and 60'? I mean, which magnets did they use during the different years? Or did it vary even in the same years so there's no right answer?

 

[TM1]

I searched the forum and got a few different opinions on this, so I'll throw this question out there:

Is there a consensus on P-90's during the 50' and 60'? I mean, which magnets did they use during the different years? Or did it vary even in the same years so there's no right answer?

Please read Post #2! It's Jon Gundry who owns and builds ThroBak pickups. He's, in my opinion, an expert of Gibson pickups made between 1948-1980( and maybe later than that..). I've worked on hundreds of P-90 guitars over the last 45 years. Jon's knowledge is priceless!

 

[thin sissy]

Please read Post #2! It's Jon Gundry who owns and builds ThroBak pickups. He's, in my opinion, an expert of Gibson pickups made between 1948-1980( and maybe later than that..). I've worked on hundreds of P-90 guitars over the last 45 years. Jon's knowledge is priceless!

Thanks man! I believe you and Jon! I was just wondering if that was the established knowledge on P-90's through the 50's? Are you saying they were all A4's?

 

[Zentar]

Thanks man! I believe you and Jon! I was just wondering if that was the established knowledge on P-90's through the 50's? Are you saying they were all A4's?

They were mostly A5

 

[Progrocker111]

I always remember the 70s P90s as brighter and a bit flat sounding in comparison to even early 60s ones. Pickups on my former 78 LP Pro were very different sounding in above described way in comparison to for example dogear on 64 SG Junior.

 

[jwalker]

They were mostly A5

From my experience they are mostly A4, with some A2 and some A5. I have a '56 Goldtop with A2 in the neck pickup and A4 in the bridge. Some '52-'53 era P-90's have thick A3 magnets that sound very good also.

 

[stilwel]

From my experience they are mostly A4, with some A2 and some A5. I have a '56 Goldtop with A2 in the neck pickup and A4 in the bridge. Some '52-'53 era P-90's have thick A3 magnets that sound very good also.

Thanks Jon.