Let's Compare A P-90 To A Humbucker.

[@christianknobloch934]

"I'm going to play a small section of the Bad Religion song 'American Jesus' straight into a 50-watt 1987X Marshall Plexi with no boost" might be the best sentence ever spoken on KZbin.

[@timdunn2344]

I am with you brother

[@jrodgers211]

I agree. It’s hard to find tone videos on KZbin that aren’t just generic blues riffs.

[@TELarkin61]

I spent my whole musical career using humbuckers. I've since added two guitars with P-90s, and can't believe how incredible they are.

[@Strongholle]

P90's not only have more winds than regular single coils, but instead of having the polepieces also be the magnets like on a strat, tele, jazzmaster... there are actually two magnets below the coil to magnetise it. Since output is not only the amount of windings but that in relation to the power of the magnets P90's actually really pack a punch.

[@Killadelphia_]

idk why I read "windings" as "wing dings"

[@blackguard93]

@@Killadelphia_ I read windings as win dings and wing dings as chicken wings

[@iraevans2013]

You're hungry 👍

[@adamwatson6916]

Magnets don't actually change the output. You can switch the magnets and the actually output readings won't change. Magnets don't change output they change the attack so if you switch from an A2 to A5 you will hear a precieved increase in power but the output does not actually change. The A5 just gives it a now immediate attack if switch from A5 to A2 you will get a slower more blooming attack that sounds less powerful but the output is still the same

[@Strongholle]

@@adamwatson6916 The strength of the magnets absolutely has an effect on the voltage output of the pickup. Talking crudely, according to Faraday's laws of induction, to get the volts a pickup produces you get the number of turns in the pickup and multiply it by the amount of magnetic flux inducing current in the coil. You can alter the output of a pickup by either upping the number of turns in the coil or by upping the magnetic flux inducing it. You clearly don't know what you're talking about.

[@strydersound]

All punk dudes over 40 now have teles and Gibsons with P-90’s. It’s a thing, it’s ok and it’s awesome.

[@shawnawesome7770]

No,no we don't. But I got a harley benton I modded up with p90s. 😁

[@strydersound]

@@shawnawesome7770 fair enough. And same thing 🤣

[@ChrisEck13]

Absolutely. I pretty much played humbucker equipped guitars for most of my life When I was 39 I got my first Tele and really dug it for punk a lot more than I ever thought I would when I was younger, I thought they were only the Country guitar. Then I thought if the Tele is this awesome then I bet a Gibson with P90s will be even better,. I bought a Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute and it was fantastic. I can't believe I had shrugged off P90 equipped Les Pauls and SGs my whole life. I liked it so much that I recently bought an LP Classic with P90s.

[@onionheadguy7094]

Pretty true my p90 guitar is a reverend. I don't have a tele but only because I have too many guitars already. But I do damn want one!

[@ourword3112]

Guilty as charged

[@official_ffg357]

I have been a p90 guy for 20 years. Came back to humbuckers a year ago and I’m already back to p90’s. Love the sound!

[@robbierussell9536]

I use P 90s and P-94s in all. My Gibsons and Epiphones..LOVE THEM!!!!

[@hkguitar1984]

I've read that when Seth Lover was tasked to develop the Humbucking Pickup one of his design goals was to have the Humbucker sound as close to a P90 as possible. Both pickups are amazing, I find it amazing that Seth Lover designed the Humbucker for Gibson and then went on to work for Fender to develop the WRHB pickup. An amazing Man for sure.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Thanks for the information HK.

[@hkguitar1984]

@@sgt.grinch3299 😉 I'm a multi-topic Nerd, this week it is guitars!

[@DavidRavenMoon]

There wasn’t one type of P-90. My mid 60s ES-330TD had chrome dogear P-90s that measured around 8k. Later P-90s were much hotter. Seth just decided that an average P-90 was 10,000 turns. So he made each coil in the humbucker 5,000 turns. Gibson was not so concerned about how the pickups sounded. They chose parts based on availability and cost. As long as the pickup worked it was good enough. Seth wanted a closed stainless steel cover on the humbucker with no adjustable poles. The Gibson marketing department wanted adjustable poles because Fender didn’t have them, and the bean counters said no to the stainless steel covers.

[@hkguitar1984]

@@DavidRavenMoon Thanks for the clarification Raven, much appreciated. Yeah, I had read about the stainless steel covers getting the axe due to cost, Marketing Dept. was King (an still is). A guitar with the WRHB is on my bucket list, thank goodness Fender was able to source CuNiFe magnets again.

[@robzilla69]

I agree with you for studio / home use. Love my p90s. For the road it's more difficult to justify.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

There are a lot of hum-cancelling P90's on the market, if that's the concern.

[@robzilla69]

@@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t They all loose something from those I've heard but that is a big part of it.

[@jonathanpeden9930]

Been playing single coils and Humbuckers for decades but only started using P90's for a few years - Love the differences!

[@dennisapplegate7553]

Check out Lollars P90s absolutely astounding.

[@jonathanpeden9930]

@@dennisapplegate7553 I will look into that, thanks for the tip!

[@perezpoetry7177]

This is a great side-by-side comparison. Very helpful. Thank you for posting.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

P-90s are my favorite pups. I’m an old Grinch so I have experience. Beautiful guitars bye the way.

[@Joe_Montfort]

2:26 "the P90 is going to be 'stringier' than the humbucker..." Yes! That's it! I've always liked P90s, but for decades could never describe exactly why. You summed it up in one word.

[@robw9994]

Great video. No frills comparison between the 2 pick up types. Perfect!

[@thomasshigoka5004]

This is the best P90 VS humbucker shootout video I’ve ever seen.

[@lethrbear32]

I always loved the way a P90 sounds in a 59 Goldtop Les Laul. The 60's band Canned Heat is a great example of their creaminess. They almost sound like a cross between a humbucker and a single coil.

[@hijikataissei9623]

lol, Goldtops with P-90s are from 1952-1956.1959 was humbucker and burst color only.

[@fivewattworld]

How did I miss this?!? Oh it’s because I’m looking at p90 Collings guitars right now. ;)

[@GenXtra65]

I have waited a long time to HEAR the difference done that way individually and in a mix. Others have tried. You succeeded thanks!

[@booifojoe]

Thank you for this. The side-by-side comparison was very informative.

[@billydworrell8259]

Thx for the breakdown and the diagrams of the pickup s themselves. That was helpful. My latest purchase was the EPIPHONE Worn Cherry SG with P 90s. I have 4 other guitars all with varying Humbucker pickup s. I love them all , but my biggest surprise came from how well rounded and diversified the P 90s can be. Thx for the insight.

[@ronchorivera]

Its such a breath of fresh air to see an unbiased metal youtuber. Thank you.

[@collection_of_misinformation]

As much as I like fluff he's a gear shill, for the most part he's paid to say "company x paid me to show you product y, I love it wink wink"

[@ronchorivera]

@@collection_of_misinformation yes he gets stuff for free, but at least he points out the differences in an intellegent manner. Glenn has an agenda before he even makes a video. Then Glenn uses TONS of effort and time just to *try* and prove himself right every video. He even by his own admission purposely misleads people. Then gets butthurt when people point it out. Fluff just shows stuff and let's people decide for themselves, free or not. I respect that.

[@jlepre752]

Thank you for this comparison. I'm a new guitarist who's been a gigging bassist for over 30 years. I have this Ernie Ball Music Man MM90 Custom Hardtail Piezo Albert Lee Signature Dargie Delight coming from USED GC sight unseen. I'm pretty stoked, and love that it has the piezo option.

[@glendoggett9670]

very nice discussion and demonstration. So what's the difference between Dynasonics and Filter'Trons?

[@ZackSeifMusic]

I recently acquired a Novo Serus J with Fralin P90s and it it literally the perfect blend of single coils and humbuckers. I can play everything from Funk to Prog Metal and it all sounds so good. They just kick butt.

[@althulhu8537]

I bought a Les Paul Special Tribute with p90s this year and I absolutely love the way it sounds.

[@snorkyblundabus7063]

Great review.. thanks for posting. The P90 defo takes it for me. I have 2 SG's, one is standard with Gibson hum-buckers the other one has a Bare knuckles bla bla P90 in the treble and my side by side comparison threw up the same results with the P90 being a lot clearer/sharper so I'm hearing (in my head) all 6 strings. :)

[@snorkyblundabus7063]

I 'liked' my own post 👆🏽 😂

[@douglasdog1]

I have a Dimarzio Bluesbucker that I absolutely love. Its basically a noise cancelling P90 in a humbucker size. Its crisp without ice pick, clear and full, I hear all the definition and it chugs. I have it installed in a Hagstrom Pat Smear signature. Love that guitar!

[@antoonhermans8953]

I have played strats/tele's and lp's my whole life and never thought about P 90 pu's until a few years ago , since then i am big fan of them , they do have the best of both worlds .

[@Luke-Emmanuel]

p90s are just made! For punk, its perfection♥

[@christianknobloch934]

I discovered the P90 on a Les Paul Special Tribute in a Guitar Center in my hometown of Saint Louis, and the sound immediately pulled me in. And I haven't looked back.

[@BayAreaBrenner]

My favorite part of this video is the Mammoth hat. Really happy to see that company take off.

[@Thirteen31Music]

P90s are underrated gems. Having a p90 loaded guitar in your collection is a solid investment.

[@TheStrykerProject]

Thanks, Fluff. I always appreciate a good shootout! 👍🏻

[@joeledwardgunscristinoponc983]

Leslie West was the guy that made the Les Paul Jr sound amazing

[@jasonbates2687]

I bought a Pelham blue Epiphone SG special with P-90s in 2020 mostly because of my love for Pete Townsends sound on Live at Leeds. It is my only P-90 guitar but it has a crunch and presence than not even my active guitars do. It's a keeper.

[@alexrharvey7]

I have a 50s Standard with P90s and I love those pickups. So much that my next guitar is gonna be an SG Special just so I can have more of those amazing pickups

[@ryosapien27]

Have a Reverend double agent with a p 90 and a humbucker. It’s awesome roll the p90 or both coils for cleans. P90 for thick rhythms and the bucker wide open for cutting leads. I’m not a huge fan of humbuckers but there’s no denying its prowess when getting on a the overdrive .

[@adamsabaz2415]

Pushing 50 and I've all but retired my Les Paul. It seems to get heavier every year! My back! PRS SE for the pain relief.

[@murrayguitarpickups9545]

Thankyou Fluff I think a lot of people needed to hear this. Some people seem to think there is no tonal difference, which seems crazy to me! ...Cough....Glen Fricker.....cough cough.

[@corneliuscrewe677]

Got my first P90 guitar in ‘89 when everyone else was playing fluorescent pointy shred machines. A 1977 double cut Les Paul Special. It was pretty awesome back then, no one wanted them. They were cheap and plentiful.

[@homeboyjon4885]

Great vid and highlights what makes P90’s awesome. I got a Gretsch with P90’s a couple years ago and it does everything awesome, blues, punk, PNW, whatever.

[@sharihaynes816]

I am a P-90 guy. I have a 2010 LPJ Great review comparison.. Thanks!

[@ChuckNicholsonTRM]

The P90 isn't Gibson's oldest pickup, but it's the oldest one still in production by them.

[@andrewgeary9749]

Yeah I was expecting more mention of the Charlie Christian in the comments, lol.

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

Reminds me of the John Lennon’s Les Paul JR with a Charlie Christian pickup in it.

[@JefferyHagen]

@@thepostapocalyptictrio4762I read an article in Guitar Player magazine with the luthier that installed that pickup for John Lennon. He said it took a lot of routing to install it.

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

@@JefferyHagen yeah. That’s the main reason I haven’t jumped on buying a Charlie Christian style pickup like I really wanted to.

[@thac01979]

I have an SG standard with P-90s I got years ago and it’s amazing.

[@D34THC10CK]

Part of it is also the potentiometers they puck in the 60's standard (300K pots usually), putting in 500K pots does help add to the top end, which is nice on covered humbuckers which naturally have a little less top end than uncovered pickups

[@thecappy]

Such a timely video. I’ve been debating this all week for a project guitar I got going on. Older 7ender MiM cyclone, 24.75” scale.

[@jacobpaul81]

P-90s have long been my preferred pickup.

[@jamiemcparland]

I did a weekly podcast where we did a new song every week. I have probably 30 guitars. Some custom shop Les Pauls and SGs etc. I would switch out the humbucker guitars each week on one of the channels. But EVERY single week, I would always play a mid 90s Les Paul Special with a P90 in the other channel. It just sounded that good.

[@morrismorrisson6161]

I always thought I prefer the HB, but when I tried a P90 all changed for me

[@allanrodriguez4547]

Me too

[@TheMoneyMakingMentor]

Very good comparison and explanation for the P90 and Humbucker. Thanks

[@dr.stevenpennym.d.3241]

How was the intonation on the last Paul Junior? Great video thank you.

[@haroldcory3587]

I loved this video. I learned a lot today. Thanx.

[@jesperbc]

I like the sound of P90's, but I can't get over the hum. I had humbucker-sized P90 Bare Knuckle Nantucket (bridge) and Mississippi Queen (neck) in an LTD EC1000 playing through an Orange Rocker 30, and it sounded amazing, but I could hear the hum even when I was playing. My ears just tuned in on it, and I couldn't unhear it. Swapped the HSP90's for a Bare Knuckle Riff Raff set, and have been happy since.

[@z6nestudio]

There's just something really special about a single P-90 guitar. I feel like I can be really expressive with such a simple setup. Just plug straight into the amp and utilize the volume & tone. So many sonic possibilities and just plain fun to play.

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

I had a set of GFS Mean 90 pickups in a guitar for a while. Great sound, it just made the guitar "growl", but the single coil hum was just a LOT of noise.

[@abebabo4315]

Great video, now explain how Gibson burstbuckers fit into this....my 2011 LP Studio came with Burstbucker pro pickups...

[@tomwalzem8797]

BRO! That was awesome. well done. I am bringing my P90 to the next gig.

[@IanHaghighat]

Back in 2009 it was excessively more difficult to try and find a guitar with P90s that wouldn’t have to be modded in some way. Even more affordable guitars like Schecter would make a guitar routes for soapbars but put P90 sized EMGs in it. No one could understand why I wanted P90s, either. I’m glad the single coil renaissance happened. It makes all the cool guitars a lot more accessible!

[@jeffdugger3276]

Both types of pickups have their place. And I love the grit and growl of the P90.

[@acinemastare]

I placed Fishman Fluence P90s into my Fano and I am totally on the bandwagon now. It sounds great for every single style of rock music.

[@Mudder1310]

Fluff, you call it stringiness but I always thought of it as snarl. You get to have both aggression and clarity. Plus p90s are so flexible with the volume knob. Love me some p90s. The G&L mdf singles are close and sound killer too.

[@paull8678]

This has helped me decide between a P90 and a Humbucker for my next build, thank you!

[@thecappy]

Did you pick the p90?

[@sprague49]

Helpful video. An R9 Burst and a 56 Goldtop RI would make the perfect shootout someday.

[@KakavashaForever]

P90s are slick, I've got the Revstar standard with P90s and its just a beast.

[@thepizzaveteran]

I love the P90's in my Les Paul Classic Player Plus, that guitar just rips.

[@leewayne1609]

Great comparison!! P90`s definitely have their place in the mix..

[@toms5951]

P90s have always been my favorite, especially at the neck. When I first saw a '56 Gold Top it pretty set the standard for me.

[@lamontprospect9974]

What I loved about this video is not only the comparison and break down but the illustrations of all three pickups. Those illustrations are priceless. So with one pickup the magnet looks like a flat piece of metal and with the other pick up they look more like round miniature dowels?

[@surefire1333]

Great video comparison, man. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.👍❤️🎸

[@KHGuitars]

I’m building a partscaster with a humbucker shaped p90, single coil shaped Duncan rail humbucker and a humbucker shaped p90 configuration. Can’t wait to hear how they sound together!

[@petset77]

Nice side by side. Yes, the P90 is brighter, but it's the midrange tones and the way it picks up harmonics (probably thanks to the solid mahogany as well) that sold me on the P90 decades ago. Thanks for both of these videos. I don't think American Jesus would rock quite as hard with a Tele!! 😜

[@asdrubalperezrocha1070]

The bass in the second mix it gets more definition with the hambucker and also seems to be more space for a voice or an overdub ...for me its better the hambucker . THX!

[@thomasshigoka5004]

I think Brain Baker would approve of this video 👍

[@sallopiccolo7336]

Yep. The P90 is always the dominant guitar in my mix. I love them.

[@mougabo]

i wonder how a p90 neck would sound in that junior in bridge position

[@DraftZJ]

i have this same junior and i love it. completely different guitars but i like playing it more than my 335 rhat costed pretty much double

[@jonathanhorne6503]

I have five P90 guitars and only one Gibson semi with H’buckers and a jazz box that is too much guitar for me. I even have a fender (made in Indonesia) electric mandolin that I installed a P-90 in. I’m 70, and have had a lifelong P90 passion.

[@bradleyard4195]

Love me some P90s! I primarily play humbucker-equipped guitars, but I have one guitar that has "gold foil" pickups, which have similar sonic characteristics to a P90. It's such a ridiculously fun guitar, especially paired with something like a Les Paul or a PRS.

[@jasoncarrasco7682]

Best P90/HB comparison video I've seen. Most hold their opinion back, but we can't be in the room with them. So I like how you give your honest opinion.

[@Baci302]

I'm thinking about replacing the neck pickup on my Telecaster but can't decide between the P90, Minihumbucker, or Filtertron.

[@andreauedelman1367]

As always this video wad tasteful and information. Thank you

[@gamer6550]

I just got a guitar I never heard of before from Amazon. GearIT GLP-100 Les Paul copy with P90's (Black Friday special, List $229 I got it for $90) The sound blew me away. I've never played P90's before and now I can hear what I was missing.. Happy Holidays my Friend

[@hiimawasteoftime8678]

Can't wait for that clean tone

[@jempyke]

Which speakers did you us? V30's, greenbacks or something else?

[@wagonet]

the side by side was perfect, thanks.

[@AvenueProducciones]

I always thought of the p90 as if they were the telecaster sound of a humbucker. Nice video!

[@SyntagmaStation]

Someone who knows how to document a tone comparison. Finally.

[@mvenuti1980]

My SG Special and the PRS HDRX is amazing.

[@jpadilla132]

Love my aerodyne telecaster with a Fralin p90

[@deadsoundradio]

Just added a few P90 guitars after playing only hum buckets for years… Definitely lives up to the hype!

[@deadsoundradio]

@asdfghjkl; ‘Need’ is a strong word, but they sound different based on body style just as any pickup would. LP special vs SG classic w P90s sound completely different. The LP sounds more ‘Garage’ but the SG is more versatile and aggressive w better sustain

[@Driftuner]

Been looking for a P90 guitar for a while now. Taking a hard look at those Sire L7Vs

[@CasaDeBarbaYBurro]

My KMA Pylon noise gate handles my p90 hum amazingly. I prefer 90’s to most of my hbs and would definitely recommend checking them out.

[@ChrisEck13]

I would recommend looking at Epiphone, Sire, and Gibson. Epiphone has a lot of options that are pretty affordable, LP Jr, SG and LP Special, LP Standard with P90s, and several hollow and semi hollows. They range from about $400-$650. Good all around. Sire is around $700. They feel very good with a little more time spent on the fretboard than Epiphone, though I don't care for Sire pickups that much they're not bad, just not my favorite The Gibson LP Special Tribute is $999 new, though you can find them used for less. The Gibson pickups are fantastic, the same ones that you would find in a $3000 guitar. It's definitely a more stripped down guitar, nothing fancy. Whatever one is best for you just depends on what things are important to you. There are other options under $1000 but I wouldn't recommend any of them if you're looking for the classic P90 sound.

[@nelliejones1]

Shout out for playing a bad religion song! Hells yeah!

[@jhonlynayky_elnayky]

Which one is right one for play Blues and pop

[@angusmorrison1557]

The P-90 “is” the “sound” of Rock and Roll. 🤘 I’ve always been a fan.

[@scottbrower9052]

Really good explanation, Fluff. Thanks.

[@uncleenis9730]

I love my 59 cherry red lp jr!!! P-90's are amazing. Owning that guitar is an absolute pleasure I'm so lucky to have found it.

[@albertcamlek1856]

Junior all the way❤️

[@markpell8979]

I have a couple HH guitars with coil split and got my first P90 guitar this year, an Epi LP Special. The P90 is not at all what you get when you ground out the hum coil on a splittable humbucker. Kinda feels and sounds to me like a cross between a guitar and a chain saw and I love that. But the noise, while manageable, is worse in some situations and is not for everyone. You may pick up EMI in a place with bad wiring, or flourescent and/or neon lights. TVs and computer monitors can mess with them, or you may find you're picking up interference from your own speakers or the PA depending on your playing distance and orientation. As a general rule don't stand with your back or front to your amp or cabinet(s) if you need to be quiet. Turn sideways to them or angle them away from your playing position, as P90s (as well as Fender-style singles) are excellent directional radio antennas. Ha! Or just get a good noise gate and you won't be giving up a lot, but it won't be as raw and real. An interesting feature on my LP Special is that in the middle switch position you get the two pickups in parallel but out of phase, so in effect a humbucker with widely-spaced coils. It's still raw with a lot of range but quiet, and either single-coil P90 is always just a flick of the switch away when you want it. This is my first electric that I play a lot in the middle position. That's mostly to avoid the 60-cycle mains hum, but it's a great sound all by itself- maybe the second best sounding 'humbucker' guitar I have.

[@Ledzepfan88]

I was literally just commenting in another video asking for this comparison because I couldn't seem to find it anywhere!! Ps noice beard bro, been growing mine out a little over a year. On paper I've been curious about the gold top p90 vs junior but however unorthodox it may be I was also curious about the junior/standard ie David and Goliath lol the junior being the underdog. Ha! Someone should totally do a video series of what if (insert famous LP Standard player here) _played a junior I'm dying to hear the Free- all right now solo on one 😂 that would be so wicked

[@the_nondrive_side]

Dream Guitars of mine.. One is the SG Special in Burgundy Metallic with p90. Otherwise I'm still boning over the old Special p90 Epiphone Les Paul.. Them $99 deals used to ve everywhere

[@larryn2682]

I bought a new Gibson Blueshawk in the late nineties. It had P90's with Fender style alnico magnet/polepieces. Ended up being disappointed with the whole guitar and sold it two years later. Just got a new Telecaster Thinline '72 copy with humbuckers. Will probably swap the pickups for a pair of P94's, so as to give P90's another try.