anyone try these strat-sized P90s?

[gwEm]

In a way, I guess they've been available since the DiMarzio SDS came out in '79, but theres a few out there now:

Fralin steel pole
Rio Grande Dirty Harry
BG Strat P90
Vintage vibe single coil P90
DiMarzio SDS

I think about these from time to time. Anyone tried one?

Generally I find a normal BK strat pickup with a base plate is chunky enough for my bridge position, but I can't help wondering if the grass is greener ;)

[itamar101]

These couldn't be ACTUAL p90s... Could they?
Unless I've been misinformed P90s are slightly overwound single coils with very oversized magnets giving them that fat, more powerful sound. I'm not sure how these would work but if they do them it's a rather exciting concept...

I'll be honest, the only one I've ever heard of was the Fralin and as far as I can tell its just a single coil wound to P90 output... I can't remember whether it may have had Gibson style polepieces, which would make sense.

When buying P90s if you want a bit more chunk and power I've found that you need to be careful and buy hot ones otherwise a standard strat bridge pickup sound much bigger. At least to my ears.

[gwEm]

no they aren't actual P90s ;)

they are made like one though, with steel (not magnet) pole pieces, a base plate, and magnets each side of the pole pieces... but in miniature to fit in a strat pickguard.

[WezV]

i know catswhisker do some  with screw polepieces which would be a relatively cheap way to try.

gotta say though, they remind me (looks only, i have not tried one) of the cheap strat pickups on import guitars with bar magnets underneath... but magnet orientation/type will obviously affect how successful it is.


stating the obvious, but it wont sound like a P-90 and it wont sound like a strat.  doesn't mean it wont sound good in its own right

[WezV]

actually i have tried one of the ones listed in your first post. 

the dimarzio SDS-1's.  sounded pretty good in the jake e lee replica i made, but very noisy - and i dont normally mind p-90 noises too much

[_tom_]

I think i had a BG p90 at one point and it was great as far as i remember. Great customer service from Brian as well. I remember i had a v60 set as well and i thought they sounded much better than the trilogy suites i tried.

[Frank]

Not tried those particular pickups but this bloke's getting a good name for handmade pickups. Lots of vintage-y stuff, strat and tele sized P90s, Filtertrons and a damn fine copy of the Wide Range humbucker.

http://www.at-the-creamery.co.uk/custom-p90-for-telecaster-bridge.html
http://www.at-the-creamery.co.uk/p90-stratocaster-pickup-set.html

[gwEm]

some good tips here. i'll look at the options and might well order one for something..

[gwEm]

well i sent cats whisker an email asking their opinion and got no reply from them :(

so i went for a dimarzio sds. i've always found dimarzio pickups more or less work out, so less see how it goes.

[HTH AMPS]

Funny you mention Cats Whiskers pickups, they do a humbucker with magnetised polepieces like two actual Strat pickups sandwiched together.  Of course with the polepieces being the magnets, rather than the bar magnet in a humbucker, they still have more treble and 'Stratty' quality (supposedly).

I'm quite interested in trying one in the neck position - I reckon it might well solve that old issue I have with neck humbuckers being too muddy for rhythm and Strat singles being too pingy and thin for leads. 

[gwEm]

Yes, they have a few interesting looking designs. I was disappointed not to get a reply, but it's just one guy I think so perhaps he is really busy.

[HTH AMPS]

Yes, they have a few interesting looking designs. I was disappointed not to get a reply, but it's just one guy I think so perhaps he is really busy.

Probably right - how long did you wait for a reply?

I'd just order off ebay and take a punt at those prices.

[gwEm]

I waited about a week I think. The prices are very good arent they? I'd have been prepared to pay a bit more and get him to wind something bespoke in the direction I was thinking.

[darkbluemurder]

I played the SDS and the Fralin Steel Pole. The Fralin has less output and more highs and a more transparent sound overall. The SDS lives up to its name though.

I still have one that I currently use as a tool to check the polarity of pickup coils.

Cheers Stephan

[gwEm]

I played the SDS and the Fralin Steel Pole. The Fralin has less output and more highs and a more transparent sound overall. The SDS lives up to its name though.

I still have one that I currently use as a tool to check the polarity of pickup coils.

Cheers Stephan

thanks for that, good advice. seems like i went for the right one.