Best Dog Ear P90

[Montelovesco]

Thinking about diving into the „build your own guitar“ rabbithole again, and I am thinking about a 1 PU model, with one dog ear P90 in the bridge position. 

Any recommendations (no mojo/magic appreciated… ☺️)

Thanks!

[Jakeboy]

Choices galore exist. I’d go with Gravelin, Rumpelstiltskin, or Gibson Custom Shop models if it were me. All were outstanding.

A sleeper is the uber-cheap low-wind Gotoh P90 found in the Peavey Firenza guitars. Easily found and they sound incredible clean but bring the snarl still.

Lollar 90s are also highly regarded but I have never personally tried them.

[ArnieZ]

lets not forget Carondolet!!

arniez

[hamerhead]

Ask Murkat. He did something to the one in my '05 Junior - not sure what - that made it come alive. It went from flat Duncan-meh to incredible '50s-ish goodness.

Thanks again, Jay!

[Montelovesco]

7 hours ago, Jakeboy said:

Choices galore exist. I’d go with Gravelin, Rumpelstiltskin, or Gibson Custom Shop models if it were me. All were outstanding.

A sleeper is the uber-cheap low-wind Gotoh P90 found in the Peavey Firenza guitars. Easily found and they sound incredible clean but bring the snarl still.

Lollar 90s are also highly regarded but I have never personally tried them.

You got me with Peavey… 🙂

 

[gorch]

I love me Leosounds.de pickups from Stuttgart. Michael would create you anything you want. I‘m having a few sets. They all sound fantastic.

[veatch]

Can't go wrong with Gravelin. I would start with Josh. 

Lollar and Fralin also make great P90s. 

[bry4321]

There are a fair number of 50s/60s P90s on Reverb and probably elsewhere. $$$$$ 

[Dave Scepter]

It would also narrow down your choices by telling us what sound/music style you're after

Edited June 1 by Dave Scepter

[The Shark]

Ron Thorn makes a staple P-90 that is really great too.  I might know where a used set could be had...almost half the price of new.

 

 

[murkat]

TV Jones T90 or Gibson custom shop spec'd p90(brass plate). The key to a good p90 growl is shimming the bobbin as close as you can tolerate to the strings, then balance out with adjusting pole pieces.

[bubs_42]

All I will say is that when I was gigging, my main guitar was a Gravelin Loaded 2001 Junior. Josh wound me a multitap P90. I could switch from Vintage, Underwound, Overwound with the flip of a switch. Only complaint I ever had was from the other guitar player. “Is that the only guitar you’re going to play?” LOL Rock N F(&King Roll Machine. 

[DaveL]

I like Gibson Custom Shop (believe they're available on the used market regularly  because

some folks go boutique.)

Rock N Roll Relics P-90's (forget the various names and who builds them but I dig em).    

 

  One thing I do like is the Lollar shim set,   they include about 6 or 7 shims of varying 

heights.    takes 5 minutes to install.   

 

[scottcald]

On 6/1/2026 at 1:38 AM, veatch said:

Can't go wrong with Gravelin. I would start with Josh. 

Lollar and Fralin also make great P90s. 

I haven't tried them but I like Fralin's series on YT where he shows himself fixing pickups. 

Edited Friday at 07:07 PM by scottcald