P90 Advice

[JCN1218]

Hey everyone, I'm in need of some advice yet again. Planning out a future build: here are the specs.

- Mahogany Body
- Maple neck/ fretboard (set neck construction)
- Maple top
- Floyd Rose Trem
- 25.5" scale

So almost like an LP Axxess with a longer scale.

I'd like to mix it up a bit and put P90s in it. From my experience, they're the best of both worlds. The aggression of a humbucker and that nice shimmer and tight bottom of a single coil.

I'll be playing a lot of progressive rock/metal; math rock/ metal on this guitar. Articulate bottom end is pretty important, but I'm not really looking for a super high gain modern tone. Ideally I'm after a more 'overwound vintage' type of vibe. Right now, the supermassive is looking incredibly appealing.

BKP doesn't have a huge range of P90s. I'm mostly leaning toward them because of the 'best of both worlds' reasoning. Of course, if anyone here thinks that I might get closer to my tonal goals with another model, please feel free to comment, I'm interested in hearing all of my options.

This post has dragged on long enough now. I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to think. Thanks in advance!

[Telerocker]

Yep, you describe the Supermassive and I think it fits the timbers well. All that maple needs pickups without a lot of treble.

[JCN1218]

Thanks for the quick reply. Good to know that the Supermassive would be a good fit. It makes my life very easy. Let the GAS commence!

[Dave Sloven]

BKP made me a standard P-90 style Stockholm for my guitar.  It has a higher output and is a bit darker than a Supermassive.

I think a Supermassive would work well for you but if you want a Stockholm it can be done.

Just be sure whatever you do to shield and ground the cavities.  P-90s can act like a big antenna, especially as the windings increase

You could also go for humbucker-sized P-90s.  Supermassives have been made in that format as special orders.

Personally I think that it comes down to the mounting system you prefer: humbuckers to a mounting ring or pickguard, P-90s screwed straight into the wood.  I have a soapbar screw mounted to wood with foam underneath.  Whatever you do don't use the batwing type adapter to mount a pickguard like some SGs have.  BKP P-90s don't work with them.  They need to be screw mounted.