jaded_musician Posted October 24, 2014 Posted October 24, 2014 I love the bite of my p90 hamer special.I think the Newport Pro with humbuckers almost seems to refined. Maybe because I play a lot of teles.Any thoughts on how the phat cats sound on a Newport Pro? I'm also open to other p90 style pickups that fit in a humbucker sized space.I'd love to hear opinions, leave it alone or swap them out.Thanks!
gorch Posted October 24, 2014 Posted October 24, 2014 There's no doubt Phat Cats should be put into a Newport Pro. It doesn't need a Bigsby to make a Newport Pro a Newport, soundwise.
JohnnyB Posted October 24, 2014 Posted October 24, 2014 Phat Cats were designed specifically for the standard spruce top Newport. The only differences with the Pro are gold-plated hardware and a trapeze tail instead of a Bigsby. As a 14-year owner of a standard Newport with Phat Cats, I can say with confidence that the Phat Cats are exactly what you are looking for. They are fabulously expressive pickups, especially on thinline hollowbodies with spruce tops.
ghamerinfrance Posted October 24, 2014 Posted October 24, 2014 Depending on the P90 style Humbucker size style; I would advise you to check precisely what you want....Many possible choices as the Phat Cat is a powerful single coil pickup.
ghamerinfrance Posted October 24, 2014 Posted October 24, 2014 From the jazzy Bare Knuckle Manhattan to the rawer Phat Cat, many in between....
gorch Posted October 24, 2014 Posted October 24, 2014 Hey Gilles, there's no doubt that Phat Cats are the right pickups to go. You are confusing here.
ghamerinfrance Posted October 24, 2014 Posted October 24, 2014 You are right...I guess I made a confusion with a set of Gibson P94 I had...and maybe the Phat Cats are different. Sorry for confusion
hamerhead Posted October 24, 2014 Posted October 24, 2014 Phat Cats make the Newport one of the most unassumingly versatile guitars around. They cover an extremely wide range with just a twist of the volume knob. Do it!
G Man Posted October 24, 2014 Posted October 24, 2014 I dropped Harmonic Design Z90s in mine, similar to Phat Cats but different. Great clarity and punch, clean to mean with the twist of the vol. knob. I think either will get you where you want to be.
Caddie Posted October 26, 2014 Posted October 26, 2014 I'm not a pickup swapper. But I put PhatCats in my Newport Pro and it made that guitar REALLY come alive! And it was quite alive before the change. Do it. Put in the PhatCats.Cheers!caddie
Thundersteel Posted October 26, 2014 Posted October 26, 2014 I've heard similar advice, but what about those of us that have a maple-topped Newport? Add Phat Cats, or keep the Seth Lovers?
django49 Posted October 26, 2014 Posted October 26, 2014 To echo, at least for the spruce tops, Phat Cats are more unique. But the IDEAL choice is to have one of each. I TEND to think Humbuckers might be better for the maple topped versions, but someone more informed may have a more detailed opinion.
Tres Aardvarks Posted October 27, 2014 Posted October 27, 2014 To echo, at least for the spruce tops, Phat Cats are more unique. . You are a cruel, cruel man!
django49 Posted October 27, 2014 Posted October 27, 2014 ^^^^So long as my redheaded wife knows all my blondes are inanimate objects, however much I love the way they feel and squeal, I can escape with my life......
vexed73 Posted October 27, 2014 Posted October 27, 2014 I like my BG p90 set alot! Cool thing is bryan makes a p90 then trims it to fit the humbucker route so truly a p90.
JohnnyB Posted October 27, 2014 Posted October 27, 2014 You are right...I guess I made a confusion with a set of Gibson P94 I had...and maybe the Phat Cats are different. Sorry for confusion "MAYBE the Phat Cats are different?" They were originally custom-designed in the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop specifically for the Newport with routed mahogany body and carved arch spruce top. They can sound as refined and jazz-like as you want to play. They can also rawk like a rockabilly.
Disturber Posted October 27, 2014 Posted October 27, 2014 I could never dial in the Phat Cats 100% properly in my Newport. They did not sound like P90's at all, and they were kinda thin and trebly.I did a mag swap. Now they are killer sounding. Full, phat and very P90 like, with a twist of a great PAF. They grind!I posted on how to go about to mag swap them here: http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/65224-i-played-a-newport-pro-and-then/?hl=%2Bphat+%2Bcats#entry706518Here is part of what I wrote in that thread:"I swapped the bridge for an UOA5 and an A8 mag. And the neck has an A4 and an UOA5. I think that makes the Phat Cats much better pickups. They sound warmer, fatter, bluesier/jazzier and they drive my amps just right. Through a vintage Marshall they sound like a very good P90 pickup. The only downside is I lost some of the Gretsch vibe for a more 335'ish vibe. But I used to fiddle with the bridge pickup constantly before, now It sounds just great. So it's a very good upgrade to do with the Phat Cat pups if you are playing rock."
gorch Posted October 27, 2014 Posted October 27, 2014 The magnet swap sure preserves the impedance of the PC. They are definitely hotter than a typical P90. That might be a great go though for a solid body use. In the Newport, personally, I don't miss any low end really.
Question
jaded_musician
I love the bite of my p90 hamer special.
I think the Newport Pro with humbuckers almost seems to refined. Maybe because I play a lot of teles.
Any thoughts on how the phat cats sound on a Newport Pro? I'm also open to other p90 style pickups that fit in a humbucker sized space.
I'd love to hear opinions, leave it alone or swap them out.
Thanks!
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