svearn Posted January 21, 2010 Posted January 21, 2010 Does anyone know what type of SD P 90's are used on the following Hamers: Korina jr. (2004), Newport 90 (2007) and Monaco Gold Top (2008), ceramic or alnico magnets?Thanks in advance.
Ethan Posted January 22, 2010 Posted January 22, 2010 I'd guess alnico, but I really have no idea. I do not think I've seen a SD P90, or many P90s in general with a ceramic magnet.
atquinn Posted January 22, 2010 Posted January 22, 2010 I'd guess alnico, but I really have no idea. I do not think I've seen a SD P90, or many P90s in general with a ceramic magnet.Most of Seymour Duncan's production P90's have ceramic magnets (the Custom and Hot series do; the Vintage series does not). Also, both of Dimarzio's P90's have ceramic magnets. Specials had a Duncan Hot P90 in the neck and a Custom P90 in the bridge (that's what's in my 2004). Not sure about what they're using in the models the OP mentioned.-Austin
Ethan Posted January 22, 2010 Posted January 22, 2010 Well I'll be dipped. I did know about the Dimarzios though.
Mike Lee Posted January 31, 2010 Posted January 31, 2010 My Special and Artist Korina 3 P90 both came with the Hot/Custom setup, and it absolutely SUCKS!The ceramic Duncans are just too hot for anything but Mississippi Queen tone. I use Harmonic Design VP90's instead, but Vintage Duncans (alnico), Fralins, Lollars, etc. are all good and closer to real P90 tone.
atquinn Posted January 31, 2010 Posted January 31, 2010 ...The ceramic Duncans are just too hot for anything but Mississippi Queen tone... And? -Austin
burningyen Posted February 1, 2010 Posted February 1, 2010 I've gotten decent clean tones by turning down the volume knob on my Special. I like the range of options the stock Duncans give me.
svearn Posted February 8, 2010 Author Posted February 8, 2010 Thank you all for helpful responses. I was beginning to wonder about the output, because vintage style strings sounded really muddy on the Newport and Monaco, typical, I would think, with high output pickups (Had the same experience with a guitar with Gibson T498) Checked output with multimeter and got high readings (12 something) on both pu's of the Newport and the bridge pu of the Monaco, and a low reading (around 8) on the Monaco's neck pu. Haven't done this with the Korina Jr., but it sounds like a really hot beast. (Playability of all these is supreme, though - they just seem so well made)I've always thought that alnico magnets give better classic/vintage tone than ceramic. Maybe I'm mistaken about this, but if it's true, why would Hamer use pu's with ceramic magnets?I'll follow burningyen's suggestion before considering any changes.Again, thanks for responses. Further comments are welcome.
HamerHokie Posted February 9, 2010 Posted February 9, 2010 ...The ceramic Duncans are just too hot for anything but Mississippi Queen tone... And? -Austin Yup, that IS the real P-90 tone!
tbonesullivan Posted February 10, 2010 Posted February 10, 2010 I don't know what p-90's are in my '93 Special, but I like them! I used to have a 70's SG special with p-90s, and it's like that, but a bit more bite. I didn't get p-90's to play them clean, that's for sure.
svearn Posted February 11, 2010 Author Posted February 11, 2010 I don't know what p-90's are in my '93 Special, but I like them! I used to have a 70's SG special with p-90s, and it's like that, but a bit more bite. I didn't get p-90's to play them clean, that's for sure.But it seems to me that a clean option is good to have. I'm not too fond of Fender type pu's and tones, but like the clarity and definition of single coil pu's. But of course, it depends on type of music. Wouldn't one problem with high output pu's (p 90's or anything else) be that the higher frequency notes are not so prominent or that treble is subdued?
Mike Lee Posted February 13, 2010 Posted February 13, 2010 ...The ceramic Duncans are just too hot for anything but Mississippi Queen tone... And? -Austin Yup, that IS the real P-90 tone! It's A P-90 tone but not necessarily THE P-90 tone. It's the sound of a P-90 (likely rewound hotter) overdriving the hell out of the mic input on a Sun head. The old P-90's where clear and clean, not nearly as hot, but still rich sounding. The SD ceramic P-90's are to vintage P-90's like a Super Distortion is to a PAF. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it results in a one-trick pony of sorts. Whatever you like is cool - I just like a P-90 that isn't so hot and has better versatility.
LittleC Posted February 19, 2010 Posted February 19, 2010 I've got the stock P90 Phat-Cats in my Newport and I just love them. Use the guitars volume and tone controls as per Ben.
svearn Posted March 10, 2010 Author Posted March 10, 2010 Thanks to all for replies and comments. If I were to replace the stock P90's (Korina jr, Monaco Goldtop, Newport 90), what would people recommend? I play classic rock, some country, some blues. I've read some very good things about Lollar P90's.
Mike Lee Posted March 11, 2010 Posted March 11, 2010 Thanks to all for replies and comments. If I were to replace the stock P90's (Korina jr, Monaco Goldtop, Newport 90), what would people recommend? I play classic rock, some country, some blues. I've read some very good things about Lollar P90's.Harmonic Design VP-90's. My favorite and extremely versatile. With the volume full up and the tone rolled off a little, you get classic P-90 tone. Tone full up you get a little more brightness and dynamics. Then roll down the volume to clean up the tone and cut the mids. My P90 Special can get all kinds of tones - P90, Stratty, Tele-ish.
Camstone Posted March 11, 2010 Posted March 11, 2010 I love the Lollar P90's in my Hamers. When I replaced the stock SD's in my Duotone with Lollars, the guitar came alive.
Bloozguy Posted March 11, 2010 Posted March 11, 2010 Thanks to all for replies and comments. If I were to replace the stock P90's (Korina jr, Monaco Goldtop, Newport 90), what would people recommend? I play classic rock, some country, some blues. I've read some very good things about Lollar P90's. I put Fralin Underwound P90's in my Archtop GT and they sound great. They still have the P90 "growl" but not quite as edgy as the stock Duncans were.
jasonic Posted September 14, 2011 Posted September 14, 2011 I love the Lollar P90's in my Hamers. When I replaced the stock SD's in my Duotone with Lollars, the guitar came alive. Thats what I'm hoping will happen to my 95 Archtop GT. The stock ceramic SD's are definitly on the muddy side, and seem to lack the bite and clarity of current gibby's, and even stock epi's I put them up against recently. Almost seems like their muffled. I had to jack the treble thru the roof on the HT-5R I was demoing to get close to the sound of the stock gibby's. Out of curiosity what combination did you go with. Did you go for overwound bridge or an underwound neck? I'm looking to get clarity and bite..and nail some of that chainsaw snarl when i pour on the gain What lollar combo would you recomend? thanks! -jason
veatch Posted September 14, 2011 Posted September 14, 2011 Jason,There are some examples here: P90 Cork SniffingThe Boogie at low volumes isn't the most transparent amp to use for this test, but at the very least, it will give you an idea on the differences between the pups. Hope that helps.BTW - No making fun of the guitar playing... The player is an "artiste" with self image issues requiring periodic praise and encouragement.
gorch Posted September 14, 2011 Posted September 14, 2011 My favorites are LeoSound P90s, hand wound excellence. http://leosounds.de/EN/p90_soapbar_en.html
tomteriffic Posted September 14, 2011 Posted September 14, 2011 Schlabotniks. Period.Especially if you can find the Sutter Special #42's.
veatch Posted September 14, 2011 Posted September 14, 2011 Schlabotniks. Period.Especially if you can find the Sutter Special #42's.Are the SS42's really better than the PigPens?
whiskeyzulu Posted September 14, 2011 Posted September 14, 2011 Jason,There are some examples here: P90 Cork SniffingJason - thanks for that, very helpful and insightful thread.
tbabinec Posted September 14, 2011 Posted September 14, 2011 Lollars and Fralins are often mentioned. Note that the manufacturers produce a range of pickups that differ in the number of winds and "hotness." I prefer the vintage winds for the classic Freddy King sound of his early 1960s tunes.
jasonic Posted September 14, 2011 Posted September 14, 2011 Jason, There are some examples here: P90 Cork Sniffing The Boogie at low volumes isn't the most transparent amp to use for this test, but at the very least, it will give you an idea on the differences between the pups. Hope that helps. Fantastic! That helped very much Out of them all I seem to be leaning toward the Lollars..they sing like crazy in the light OD, and generally seem the least "warm colored" out of them all, and as a result seem the cleanest sounding to me. It does lead me to wonder however how far a nice EQ pedal can go to bring any of them to the general tone of the other..hmmmmm. Anyone have experience trying one as an option to a swap? thanks, -jason
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svearn
Does anyone know what type of SD P 90's are used on the following Hamers: Korina jr. (2004), Newport 90 (2007) and Monaco Gold Top (2008), ceramic or alnico magnets?
Thanks in advance.
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