Which P90’s for Hamer USA Studio?

[FrankieG]

I have a Hamer USA Studio (Les Paul Double Cut style / maple capped mahogany body, mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard) with Seymour Duncan ’59 humbuckers, but am considering HSP90’s for it instead. Reason is that I have other guitars with humbuckers, incl. Mules, and would like some variety.

Would love to hear recommendations of what to get. Am thinking Mississippi Queen or Nantucket, possibly Blue Note… Would you get a calibrated neck/bridge set, or mix and match? Which ones?

I play blues, classic rock and jazz fusion (admittedly rather poorly) with medium gain. Amp is a Two-Rock Studio Pro 22.

[Nolly]

Awesome, P90s are a load of fun and should sound great in your guitar.
If I were you I'd go for the Mississippi Queen set. They're one of the most highly regarded pickups that Bare Knuckle makes and with good reason - they're right in the "goldilocks" zone of voicing and output where they'll do anything you ask of them, whether you need them to clean up and be polite or get seriously angry with loads of distortion. I wouldn't bother mixing and matching, the MQ set is really balanced as is.

[b.gandt]

I'm using a Suermassive bridge in a 93 Hamer Special,  which I love, but that may have too much drive for the sound that you desire.  I do have a Nantucker in a Hamer Artist, which is more down the ally of where you're going.  On paper it looks similar to the MQ, but I'm deferring to Nolly.  I've never played the MQ.

I'm curious, were the 59s stock?  I had another 93 that came with humbuckers (the 93 above is a P90 model), and it was the usual JB/59 combo of that period.

[FrankieG]

I'm using a Suermassive bridge in a 93 Hamer Special,  which I love, but that may have too much drive for the sound that you desire.  I do have a Nantucker in a Hamer Artist, which is more down the ally of where you're going.  On paper it looks similar to the MQ, but I'm deferring to Nolly.  I've never played the MQ.

I'm curious, were the 59s stock?  I had another 93 that came with humbuckers (the 93 above is a P90 model), and it was the usual JB/59 combo of that period.

You're right, from the samples I've heard I think MQ or Nantucket might be more up my street.

It's a 2001 Hamer Studio and the 59's are stock. Earlier ones came with a JB/59 combo, but I'm not sure which year Hamer switched to 59's in both neck and bridge.

I really do like USA-made Hamers. I also have a Hamer Newport (hollowbody) with Phat Cats and a Monaco Elite with BK Mules.

[b.gandt]

I'm using a Suermassive bridge in a 93 Hamer Special,  which I love, but that may have too much drive for the sound that you desire.  I do have a Nantucker in a Hamer Artist, which is more down the ally of where you're going.  On paper it looks similar to the MQ, but I'm deferring to Nolly.  I've never played the MQ.

I'm curious, were the 59s stock?  I had another 93 that came with humbuckers (the 93 above is a P90 model), and it was the usual JB/59 combo of that period.

You're right, from the samples I've heard I think MQ or Nantucket might be more up my street.

It's a 2001 Hamer Studio and the 59's are stock. Earlier ones came with a JB/59 combo, but I'm not sure which year Hamer switched to 59's in both neck and bridge.

I really do like USA-made Hamers. I also have a Hamer Newport (hollowbody) with Phat Cats and a Monaco Elite with BK Mules.

Ah, now that you mention it, I saw a Hamer USA on Reverb a bit ago, and it was early 2000s, with the 59s.  Also, a friend has a 2004 Studio, 59s also.  Thanks for the memory jog!

I love the Hamer USA models too.  I'm often on Reverb drooling over some.

[Nolly]

RE MQs vs Nantuckets: To be fair, you'd hardly go wrong with Nantuckets either. Expect a slight amount more output from the Nantucket bridge and a woodier neck pickup due to that A5 magnet.

[darkbluemurder]

Those Hamers with p90s are great guitars - congrats! Anything you put in will be an upgrade if it has the overwound Duncans in it.

Cheers Stephan

[b.gandt]

I'm one of the few that don't mind the hot ceramic P90s in the Hamers.  I've spent some time doing a compare/contrast with some high output ceramics form Gibson, Duncan, and Dimarzio, and I preferred the Duncan hot ceramic P90s.

Obviously, I wanted to get away from the high output thing because I now have lower output BKPs in my two Hamers*.  However, if I do decide to explore high output land again, a BKP Boot Camp Brute Force P90 will be first on the list!

Speaking of higher than vintage output P90s, last week I read a comment on another forum (I forget, either Tele forum or Gear Page) that said anything above vintage output wasn't really a P90.  I found that to be a rather curious position, but it garnered quite a few "likes".

* Actually, I have BKPs in all of my guitars...

[Dave Sloven]

Have you seen this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpRRSzYtBZY

[b.gandt]

That was quite pleasant, actually, thanks!

[FrankieG]

Have you seen this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpRRSzYtBZY

Thanks for posting. That's an excellent video with great playing that really shows off the pickups in a Hamer.