Pickups Overview

[ztikmaen]

Hey guys, I was just wondering if I could have a general comparison between different types in the pickup spectrum.

My biggest question is: P90s vs MiniHumbuckers?
Now I've heard that P90s are more different to the standard single coils and Humbuckers tonewise, but how different would you say MiniHumbuckers are? What are their "flavors"?
This is what I can form from what I've heard...
P90s: Can hum like crazy if running with too much gain, creamy, woody, organic, warm
MiniHumbuckers: Metallic, twangy, like a clearer and crispy humbucker?
Please feel free to add any knowledge you have regarding the pickup types :D

[Twinfan]

I think your summary is spot on!

[ztikmaen]

Oh... :o
Well in that case, it sounds like a P90 is closer to a humbucker?
Because I'm gassing for these now...

Reverend Jetstream 290 (P90s)
http://www.reverendguitars.com/reverend/guitars/bolt_on_series/jetstream_290.html

Reverend Flatroc (Minihums)
http://www.reverendguitars.com/reverend/guitars/bolt_on_series/flatroc.html

I'm more of a classic rock/alternative type of guy, mostly a bridge pu user until I want cleans

[Philly Q]

P90s: Can hum like crazy if running with too much gain, creamy, woody, organic, warm
MiniHumbuckers: Metallic, twangy, like a clearer and crispy humbucker?

That's pretty much right, although a P-90 in bridge position isn't all, er.... wood and cream ( :? ), it has a bit of snap and bite too.

It's a terrible cliché, but they're both somewhere "in between a Gibson humbucker and a Fender single-coil".  The minibucker is more to the HB side, it has extra clarity and brightness but doesn't have the "open" quality of a single-coil.  The P-90 is definitely a single-coil sound but due due its construction it has some HB-like warmth, more bass and midrange.

I think maybe the P-90 is more versatile - it sounds great clean but can also really rock (in a filthy dirty kind of way), plus all points inbetween.  Whereas minibuckers tend to sound relatively clean and wiry in all applications - maybe partly because their physical size stops them being wound very hot.

[Philly Q]

I think the descriptions of those Reverends will be pretty good reflections of their different pickups:

Jetsream:  "Fat, raw and bluesy but with just the right amount of bite to cut through."

Flatroc:  "Clean and warm with a thick twang."

[darkbluemurder]

A good P90 to me offers warmth on the treble strings and clarity on the bass strings, especially in the neck position. I have not had much experience with mini humbuckers but to me they sound very crisp on the treble strings but can still suffer from the low strings being on the muddy side. But nevertheless I once had the chance to play an early 70s Gibson Les Paul Deluxe. Sandwich body, heavy as a boat anchor, maple neck and minihums - nothing any collector would want to have. Yet it sounded great - snappy, twangy and still some fatness to it.

Cheers Stephan

[ztikmaen]

Ok thanks guys for the great answers! Does anybody know how they would compare when given some overdrive? I want some clarity but with some strength behind it. Kinda like a compromise between a PAF and a Tele bridge sorta? Seems like a big jump but would you say that a P90 is warmer and has less bite, or the other way round? Also which of the two would you say sounds closer to a humbucker/single coil, because somebody here said the minihums are less open but brighter? I always imagined openness being linked with brightness so I don't really get it...

[Telerocker]

A good P90 always has some bite. I think soapbars are more versatile then mini-HB's. I like the weight behind the tone of P90's, but always with the air and openess of singlecoils.

[Philly Q]

somebody here said the minihums are less open but brighter? I always imagined openness being linked with brightness so I don't really get it...

Well, not saying anyone else will agree, and technically it may be nonsense, but this is how I think of it: 

A humbucker has two coils, which cancels hum but also cancels certain frequencies... it sounds a bit "boxed in".  With a single-coil, there's no cancellation and it seems to pick up a wider, "unrestricted" frequency range (but the price you pay is hum).

That's what I mean when I say "open".


Put it another way, a P-90 sounds "bigger" than a minibucker, to me.

[Telerocker]

Put it another way, a P-90 sounds "bigger" than a minibucker, to me.

Nothing wrong with your ears..  :)

[Philly Q]

Put it another way, a P-90 sounds "bigger" than a minibucker, to me.

Nothing wrong with your ears..  :)

Many would disagree!  :lol:

[ztikmaen]

Ok cool, thanks for clearing that up! I like a nice grainy (single coil?) and compressed (humbucker?) sound in the bridge that cuts through well. Which do you think would fitthe bill better? And for the neck I like wide open clear tones

[darkbluemurder]

If you don't mind the hum get the P90s.

Cheers Stephan

[Philly Q]

Ok cool, thanks for clearing that up! I like a nice grainy (single coil?) and compressed (humbucker?) sound in the bridge that cuts through well. Which do you think would fitthe bill better? And for the neck I like wide open clear tones

I agree with Stephan, P-90s.  Or you could mix it up and have one of each.... 

(If you did decide to combine, a P-90 bridge and minibucker neck could work - I thought of doing that on one of my Juniors but decided I didn't want to route the guitar.  I don't think a minibucker bridge would be powerful enough to hang with a P-90 neck though.)

[ztikmaen]

Cool cool cool, thanks :D
Well what's the difference between a P90, a Humbucker and a single coil? Especially in the bridge? On one end there's the jangly, sparkly, and grainy growl. And on the other there's the mid-rangey, compressed, thicker and more powerful roar of a humbucker. (These descriptions have boost/overdrive) So what does the P90 do different?