The 10 Best P90 Guitar Pickups in 2023 - MusicCritic (2024)

P90 Pickups Buyers Guide

The P90 pickup was designed in 1946 to fatten the sounds of early single-coil pickups and in just 4 short years they became the new gold standard.

Their heyday was sadly a little short-lived due to the invention of the far meatier, cleaner Humbucker which quickly revolutionized the rock and roll scene.

They are still a single-coil option although some modern alternatives on the market see them as the split option of a double coil configuration.

They differ mainly in the fact that they are less-wound than their predecessor which gives them a little more gumption in the place of brightness and clarity.

They are still popular today because of their ability to provide a mixed option not quite as full-on nor scuzzy as a Humbucker but more pronounced and a little muddier than a twangy SC pup.

What are P90 Pickups Good For?

As they provide a bigger or thickened sound comparatively speaking to a single-coil option the middles are richer which gives them a wider range of applications when it comes to music genres.

Given that they aren't as powerful or gnarly at handling their distortion as their humbucking companions, they probably aren't a good option for metal and heavier genres, but they provide some epic lead tones for the blues and rock in general.

What Type of Guitar Can Accommodate a P90 pickup?

Any guitar with a Humbucker fitted can fit a P90 pickup though it is important to know what style of Humbucker you have as you may not be able to slip-in your run of the mill soap bar if you require dog ears to attach it.

Luckily P90 models come in a range of styles to cater to most needs. The Les Paul originally sported the P90 pickup and the Fender Jazzmaster added their version as well. The Les Paul P90 pickups are responsible for its rise to fame.

If you have a single-coil spot you are unfortunately going to have to modify it to fit a P90 in its place, which if you feel committed to, we would suggest you leave to a professional.

What to Look For in a P90 Pickup?

Once you know what style you need for mod-free installation, then it just depends on your budget. You can pick up a pair for a conservative cost but they probably won't make for much of an upgrade.

If you are replacing a broken set then they will probably do in a pinch but if you are looking to enhance your guitar we would suggest going with a reputable company who have a fair few years of fabrication under their belts. Gibson, Seymour Duncan, and Fender make some of the best sounding P90 pickups.

If you are looking for something truly vintage then go for something with older materials instead of modern renditions.

Modern versions are created to be cleaner and therefore make for the best noiseless P90 pickups.

You need to think about your desired output in terms of how much gain you want access to before amplification and the placement if you are buying singularly as a P-90 neck pickup will differ from a bridge one.

Ceramic can often be cheaper than Alnico and also is a little cleaner with less cross-talk. If you choose Alnico you should look for stable housing and or wax potting to help reduce potential feedback.

Conclusion

Altering the electronics of your guitar can transform an instrument. Replacing pickups is a relatively simple task once you know what you are looking for to suit your model without heavy modification it largely boils down to some basic wiring knowledge.

A new set of pickups is far more budget-friendly than investing in a new instrument and can give you a very similar, satisfactory result.

Those we have looked at today all make for interesting candidates and hopefully along with our buyer's guide will have inspired you to enhance your ax instead of substitute it.

Expert Tip

There are websites to help you work out what kind of pickups can and can't be installed in your pride and joy without carving-out her insides, Seymour Duncan has a comprehensive tool on theirs.

Did you Know

Gibson created the first P-90 pickups, first sported by a Les Paul giving it the iconic sound it is renowned for worldwide.

If you've enjoyed this review by Music Critic, please leave a positive rating: