1st post - Considering BK, Lollar or Fralin P-90s

[Doveman]

I have a new Washburn Idol WI66 gold top with MIK G&B P-90 stacks.  I'm considering all of these P90s.  Obviously, I know what everyones preference at this particular website is but ...

I play blues, jazz, rock through a original '78 Mesa/Boggie 60w/100w amp that can drive pretty good.  I generally play with lower DC resitance pickups and let the amp do the driving.  I don't use any effects.

The G&B MIK P-90s have been converted to single coils (grounded out the lower stacks) and they both come in at 7.2k.  I've had to lower the neck pup to bet balance between the pups (not uncommon problem for P-90s with same DC).  I have the bridge pickup high.

My thoughts:
- Bridge needs to be a bit stronger ... I think moving to ~8.5k is about right
- Neck is in the right range at 7.2k but with a stronger bridge I could move it closer to strings ... I don't want it too strong
- I don't want to overshoot and get too strong a pickup set
- I like the P-90 growl ... so I don't want pickups to be too polite (I have Tele & G&L (Strat) that can do that well.

Given all of that can you guys tell me how the BKs might compare to the Fralins & Lollars?  Some details about the sounds?

If it helps here's a quick clip of the axe now With My P90s

Thanks in advance from the newbie  :D

[Ratrod]

Most here will say BKP's are better. Lollar and Fralin have got quite a reputation with their P90's. I have only heard the BKP's in the flesh so I can't really comment on the others.

But, I'd love to see (hear) a shootout between these three big names.

[WezV]

Well i would go with Lollars over fralins anyday but both companies make very nice pickups - but since we are on the BKP forum you can only really expect one answer.

I would just go with the calibrated BKP-90's, probably unpotted though.  I dont think you need stronger - if anything a weaker neck pickup might suit you more so you can get it closer to the strings.

I would go for the BKP-90 bridge at around 7.5kohms and get tim to do the neck to around 6.5kohms

[HTH AMPS]

The P90 in my '67 SG jr was 8.3k if I remember rightly - had a BIG midrange but not so much top end (BKP-92 will put you in this territory).  

It didn't do clean/light overdrive very well but heap on the gain and it was in hog-heaven.

I'd say the BKP-91 will be perfect for the bridge from what you've described (hot, but not overly so)

 :twisted:

[WezV]

the thing to remember is that the stacked p-90's you have cannot be compared directly with normal P-90's tone wise - even with one coil going straight to ground.  there will have been compromises made to fit the extra coil into the pickup which will change things like the way the magnets are spaced and the actual shape of the magnetic field.

basically that means i dont think its worth directly comparing the kohms of those pickups with the BKP ones because the actual sound of the pickup is about so much more than just the resistance of the coil

from the other stuff you say it sounds like a classic P-90 like the BKP-90 would suit you best.  I wouldnt worry about whether it is more or less powerfull than the pickups you have

[Twinfan]

I'm with WezV here - regular P-90s sound good for you.  Go unpotted if you can for some extra sparkle.  Check out the first clip in this thread of my Bare Knuckle P-90 equipped Les Paul Junior Lite.  Apologies for the very cheap recording.

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8848&start=0