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Balanced Match for P-90, Jazzmaster?

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9/30/2005 5:59 AM

Balanced Match for P-90, Jazzmaster?

I'm considering building a guitar entirely from scratch. I want something a little different from the average guitar and am considering two P-90s, vintage wind (+/- 10%). Since I'm a fan of 3 pickup guitars and some of those cool Strat tones, I was thinking about a Strat pickup in the middle position. Not having much experience with P-90s, I'm finding it hard to predict a balanced choice for the Strat pickup in the middle. Any suggestions?

Also, since it's similar in shape but different in magnet structure, what are the tone differences and similarities between P-90s and Jazzmaster pickups?

Thanks a bunch. This forum is great.

CraigJC

9/30/2005 10:07 PM

Hi Craig,

P90s typically pack a little more of a punch than strat pups, so you might try this: An alnico II standard wound P90 for the neck, a slight overwound alnico V or III strat in the middle, and an hotter alnico III or V P90 in the bridge. That way you'll have a great range of tone, and the volume should be relatively consistant across the positions.

That being said, you have some wiring madness to consider. I don't like blender pots, DPDT pots or other switches much, so my personal choice would be to try this first:

Five way switch

1. P90 neck
2. P90 neck and bridge
3 P90 bridge
4. P90 mid and bridge
5 P90 mid

1 master vol, 1 master tone.

If you like this idea, order a RWRP P90 for the bridge, and the neck P90 and the strat mid with the same polarity and phase. This will give you hum cancelling in 2 and 4.

Andrew C

10/1/2005 4:56 AM

Thanks for the reply. If I do build this guitar, or find another one to modify this way, a 5-way switch is a must. I will tell you that my wiring will go way beyond 5 pickup combinations. I have too much curiosity to satisfy.

I have a standard 3-pickup wiring I use that's ultimately versatile. I've found that with vintage strat pickups, the bridge/middle and neck/middle pickups in series are just incredible. I must find out what a bridge P90 and a middle strat pickup sound like in series. It might really sing, or it might sound like Shrek farting, but I have to find out.

10/1/2005 5:01 AM
CraigJC	Oops. Anonymous?

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