P-90 or humb? Southern Rock, Blues, Rock 'n' Roll..

[skydog88]

Hi guys!

I was hoping I could get some help to choose a P 90 for my Epi Les Paul 56' RI, since I couldn't get the info I wanted through the search. I'm new to the forum, by the way.  :D


Here is the thing. This is my first Les Pauls and I got it because I liked very much the sound of the P 90's and the price was unbelievable (it was used, but like new). I want to upgrade the korean made PU's of this guitar, although these are not bad pickups, being already Alnico.

 I found that what stood in the way of this being a great stock guitar for the money was actually the pots (like many cheap guitars I think). I've replaced it with a matched set of CTS's for vintage les pauls. Well, the sound improved so much, but changing pots couldn't make miracles. The PU's lack clarity in the sound, the neck is still a little too muddy, and with OD is pleasing me that much.

I'm trying to get near the sound of Duane of Allman Brothers mainly. I think that he have the perfect vintage tone that I seek. It have moments more clean or more driven, but overall stays in that fine line between, that I think, works great with the p 90. But it's not that simple eheh I also play a lot of blues and Rock n roll. Gov't Mule, Free, Led Zep, Lynyrd, Stones, Neil Young, Black Crowes..

I want to be confortable to play both clean and driven, with usable settings. My amp is a plug 'n' play Rock 'n' Roll Marshall (the 18W). The guitar must be versatile and be able to give me, through various settings of volume and tone, different and usable sounds (within reasonable limits, of course, since it's only one simple guitar :lol:).

I want your sincere opinion. What p-90 should I get? BKP 91, as Tim indicated a few months ago? BKP 90? Somewhere in between? A BKP 91 with AIV? ..or should I just leave it at that and go after a Humb Les Paul, since most of my influences play with it?


Another thing, the Mule is SO much better than the SD's Seth Lovers (that I have in another guitar)?

Thanks for reading, sorry for the long post! I would be very thankful for any opinion and comment!!

[Ratrod]

P90's are great for rok n' roll and blues. BKP91's should be great for the styles you play. I'd go for a calibrated set with an AV magnet in the bridge and an AIV in the neck. The middle position will give you that great quack.

[Twinfan]

I would say it depends how 'hard' you like your sound.  If you prefer clean tones, or blues tones, then stock BKP90s will be great.  If you need a bit more of an edge, more rock, then Ratrod's and Tim's suggestion of BKP91s will be slightly better for you.

[HTH AMPS]

My BKP P90 is close to a BKP91 with an AIV magnet - it has just the right amount of crunch for to rock out, but also has some of that single coil twang when played clean.

Mine is around 7.6k from memory - I bet a 8.5k one would be FAT, perfect for your Allman Bros tones.

[Philly Q]

My BKP P90 is close to a BKP91 with an AIV magnet - it has just the right amount of crunch for to rock out, but also has some of that single coil twang when played clean.

Mine is around 7.6k from memory - I bet a 8.5k one would be FAT, perfect for your Allman Bros tones.

My BKP-91 is AIV, 8.6K and as fat as Billy Bunter right after the Christmas holidays.

[Elliot]

I play alot of Southern Rock at the moment - for me the sound is the Mule all the way (or a telecaster, but that's another argument)  8)

[Fikealox]

I couldn't love my Mules more. Unsurprisingly, they do Gov't Mule/Warren Haynes tones perfectly :)

[_tom_]

I couldn't love my Mules more. Unsurprisingly, they do Gov't Mule/Warren Haynes tones perfectly :)

Yep. I cant tell which I prefer, p90s or humbuckers. They're both great sounds :) I think I'm starting to prefer p90s for lower gain stuff cos they have that open slightly twangy sound that works well for rock but the Mules are better for the slightly higher gain more compressed tone like GnR, Thin Lizzy etc. I'll do a comparison clip in a minute though it'll be through amplitube 2 if you can live with that.