Username: Password:

Author Topic: Somebody tried the HSP90 Manhattan for 70th/classic Rock?  (Read 3065 times)

Igor

  • Strawweight
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • BKPs:
Somebody tried the HSP90 Manhattan for 70th/classic Rock?
« on: April 18, 2013, 02:10:56 PM »
Hi everyone,

i want to change the PAF-style pickups in one of my Paulas to HSP90s. I am into classic rock (70th/80th). The obvious choice would be the Mississippi Queen Set. My other Paula has alnico3 pickups bulit in and i really like the very open, dry sound (these pickups ar more than enough capable to play "heavy" stuff).

So i got an idea: why not mix the sets? bridge pickup: Manhattan (alnico3), neck pickup: Mississippi Queen (alnico4). This should cover "the hole variety" of vintage sounds...and more.

Someone have experience with such a spec?

Thanks & Cheers,

Igor/Tobi

edit: by the way, how close is a HSP90 to the sound of a real P90?
« Last Edit: April 18, 2013, 02:49:39 PM by Igor »

Kiichi

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 2492
Re: Somebody tried the HSP90 Manhattan for 70th/classic Rock?
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2013, 03:16:51 PM »
Hi and welcome to the forum.

I canīt really say how the Manhattan will perform in this setting, but depending on you setup it might just work.
The forum guru Nolly has a hollowbody guitar with a mule bridge and Manhattan neck and even Tim himself says the lead tone is wicket. Of course this is the neck, but you might experience similar things with the bridge...but I doubt anyone around here will be able to tell you much about it.

My main concern with your combo would be balance between the MQ and MH, as the MQ neck I have is suprisingly high output (I hear it can work with a freaking Warpig bridge) and I donīt know about the manhattan.

I personally wanne replace a MQ neck with a manhattan and see where that takes me.

You might wanne have a look at the PG Blues too, could very well be a ticket for you as well. Or you could see if BKP are kind enough to make you HS sized Blue notes or Nantuckets (they usually will do that if asked nicely). Those two (especially the BN) might also very well be your ticket, probably more so than the manhattan.
BKPs in use: 10th set / RY set / Holy Diver b, Emerald n / Crawler bridge, Slowhand mid MQ neck/ Manhattan n
On the sidelines: Stockholm b / Suppermassive n, Mule n, AM set, IT mid

Fourth Feline

  • Bantamweight
  • **
  • Posts: 198
  • Ten minutes, then you really should practice ...
Re: Somebody tried the HSP90 Manhattan for 70th/classic Rock?
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2013, 07:16:45 PM »
Yes ;  Welcome to the Forum Igor !  :)

I have not used my Manhattans in the context you want, but will say ( as Kiichi just mentioned ) - that the Mississipi Queens are quite powerful , in a clear but sweet way ;  and so I would only use a Manhattan in the neck position with another 'Vintage' pickup in the bridge,  and not a Manhattan in the bridge - unless it's in a Manhattan Pair. 
Like you , I absolutely love the Alnico III sound - and I find that the way Manhattans are wound , really make that choice of magnet richer, fuller and more rounded, without losing any of that open character.  Manhattans don't 'push' - rather they 'Bloom' wonderfully under the pick. 

My vote would be for Manhattan Neck ( Heaven ! ) with Mule bridge , or P.G Blues.  The Stormy Mondays are lovely also, but for the bridge position , I think a more focused magnet would be the appropriate contrast.   This should give about the same percieved output across the pair, with a neck pickup that absolutely seduces - and a bridge pickup that takes charge of business, without betraying the tonal quality of the neck.

It's is however,  speculation on my part ; as my Mules are in a Les Paul  Standard - and my Manhattans in an ES-175 copy , and neither have been taken up to the level you will be using - BUT their characters at low volume and 'clean' certainly give me the impression that that combo would work very nicely.

As to " How close do they sound to a real P90 " - I gather from the other posters on here , that the Mississipi Queens are fatter with less of a dry 'cut' than many P90s, _ and certainly, the Manhattans sound postitively Luxurious ;  but now B.K.P. do a much wider range of P90s and HSP90 - that generalisation may have changed.

As Kiichi also implied, there are now even ones that might rival the Manhattan - so if in doubt,  ask the very helpful players and advisors at B.K.P.   Meanwhile, Have fun !

 
BKP Manhattans, Stormy Mondays,  Mules , Missisippi Queens , ( Alnico) Warpigs - and VHII Bridge.

Igor

  • Strawweight
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • BKPs:
Re: Somebody tried the HSP90 Manhattan for 70th/classic Rock?
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2013, 10:17:09 PM »
Thanks for the welcome...and the suggestions. Another (PAF) humbucker is not an option, i really want P90s. Actually i was going to buy an DC Junior with a P90...but a vintage Greco Paula with Dry-Z pickups crossed my way...i couldnīt resist...now my "war chest" is empty  8)...

Thats why i am thinking to mod my other Paula with HSP90s. But they have to sound like real P90s. I wouldnīt "accept" a "not really, but close" substitute. I am looking for a Nantucket or Blue Note Sound...in a HSP90 format.

I will contact the BK staff and see what they will suggest.

Cheers,

Igor

Telerocker

  • Middleweight
  • *****
  • Posts: 7433
Re: Somebody tried the HSP90 Manhattan for 70th/classic Rock?
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2013, 12:21:10 AM »
MQ's fit those styles.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

Igor

  • Strawweight
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • BKPs:
Re: Somebody tried the HSP90 Manhattan for 70th/classic Rock?
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2013, 08:21:55 AM »
MQ's fit those styles.

just ordered a matched pair of these...canīt wait for them to arrive  :D

Telerocker

  • Middleweight
  • *****
  • Posts: 7433
Re: Somebody tried the HSP90 Manhattan for 70th/classic Rock?
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2013, 01:01:27 PM »
MQ's fit those styles.

just ordered a matched pair of these...canīt wait for them to arrive  :D

I hope you like them, but I think you will.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

Kiichi

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 2492
Re: Somebody tried the HSP90 Manhattan for 70th/classic Rock?
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2013, 01:35:48 PM »
Make sure to tell us how you like em, we always can use more info on what people think of the BKP90s. They are often rather overlooked due to the lack of info which is really a shame.
Iīll do reviews of 3 too rather soon I hope.
BKPs in use: 10th set / RY set / Holy Diver b, Emerald n / Crawler bridge, Slowhand mid MQ neck/ Manhattan n
On the sidelines: Stockholm b / Suppermassive n, Mule n, AM set, IT mid