How To Set P90 Pickup and Polepiece Height

[@drumday]

Exactly what this life-long drummer needed to know for his HB GT P90 that I got. Just because. I had to crank up the volume on your video and use CC. I'm vintage.

[@donaldkerrigan3357]

I think this is a great place to start! Set a baseline and adjust to taste. Great video - Thanks!

[@michaelgrahamwongacutemadness]

this is what people don’t understand when they complain about these videos most like natural volume per string some like me want balanced volume but I don’t think these videos give shit advice like they do

[@JRinSparks]

Cheers mate - I bought a really nice Gordon Smith Gatsby in London earlier this year. Never had a P90 equipped guitar before. I have been fighting the pole pieces for a few months now and haven't really gotten the sound I wanted. Very weak high 'e' compared to the rest (and yes I know it has a lot less mass than other strings). Never thought to raise the whole pickup and drop the pole pieces. Brilliant idea to arc them similar to the radius too. Unfortunately I had to replace the foam under the pickups too as the original foam was a bit thin, but after really loosening the strings, I was able to get just enough space to pull each pickup out and replace the foam with something a bit thicker. Anyway, thanks for posting this. Really helped me out. Much better balance now!

[@thispetec1597]

Already had the 3/32" height - I agree, it really does seem best - I always seem to go back to that.. But , I've just staggered the pole pieces too as you suggested - subtle change but really nice! Thanks for that - much appreciated.

[@CheapPartscaster]

What a wonderful video. Very informative, easy to understand, and absolutely no snake oil. I appreciate that :)

[@D-8-Tone2]

Amazing video, just bought a Harley Benton for peanuts with P90s, previous owner(s) bravely tweaked everything they could, especially the pole pieces. Having watched your I went through the things you mentioned and the guitar stepped into a different sonic level. Thanks. Subscribed! :)

[@stringtheoryx]

Thanks for the info. I always do about the same: set the whole pickup as close as I can manage, even with Strats, Buckers, etc. It grabs more of the string's signal and more detail. I've seen some players lower their pickups as far as they can, almost to the point where their Strat pickups are falling into the cavity. They often evangelize this approach, for some reason. I find that it sounds thin. For P90 foam spacers: If you're in the USA, there's a well known lutherie supply place called StewMac that carries various types. They're also similar to foam used under jazz bass pickups. They also have foam with built-in springs. Pretty cool. You may need to cut to size. Best to ask StewMac's tech support first. They know their stuff.

[@apbenes]

Very helpful video! I used this technique on my Sire L7 with P90s and the sound is now 15-20% better. The pups were set too low! Thanks

[@joehanley793]

Just love the straight ahead no nonsense information without the extraneous b.s. Thank you Paul. Well done - and my Fender Modern Player Telecaster Thinline w P90s is sounding much improved! 🙂

[@vayabroder729]

This P90 characteristic that you mention on sensitivity to volume setting is perfectly illustrated by Pete Townshend’s use of the SG Specials live with The Who. By turning the volume knob he could go from acoustic like cleans to full on growl.

[@kevinrgallagherguitarist]

my favorite electric guitar tone of all time

[@michaelgrahamwongacutemadness]

I recently started cutting the neck volume so much that middle is clean and the third position is basically mute the neck tone at this point doesn’t seem to do anything so I don’t have to worry about where it’s set idk if this would be the same for other guitars with two of each knob but I just don’t really use the middle position or an actual middle pickup much and only bridge for dirty tones

[@BostonWhoFan515]

I know there're more iconic SG players, but for me Townshend was the most iconic, with his white boiler jumpsuit playing the Tommy set. He's my favorite guitarist and The Who my favorite band so I'm probably biased. There's still no doubt he owned that SG in those years. Particularly the SG Special, which I own. Cheers 👍

[@vayabroder729]

@@BostonWhoFan515 Right on! My feelings exactly!

[@BostonWhoFan515]

@@vayabroder729 nice! A fellow Wholigan!

[@somebodyelseuk]

Great video, Paul. I had a couple of sets of Strat pickups from you last year... anyhoo, re: 'dogears', I have a Gretsch that needed the (Filtertron) pickup rings 'spacing' up a little to get the adjustment. I made my spacers from a mouse mat - the type with a fabric top, rather than the plastic type. Works a treat. For the Strat players out there, Radioshop CS 63s. Thank me later.

[@howardmaryon]

Thinking of putting a dogear in the neck position on my Gretsch 5420T, you know, the Eddie Cochrane vibe, do you have any thoughts about that?

[@somebodyelseuk]

@howardmaryon if you're not squeamish about drilling holes, go for it. In terms of spacers, you can make your own from a mouse mat or similar foam mat, or just buy spacers ready made.

[@philipmarsh3522]

This was really helpful. I started with your setting and then pushed them away from the strings a bit which darkened the tone a touch (my ears just like it a bit better). I really like the sound of P-90s, they just have a perfect mix of sweet and raunchy. I think I might pick up a studio like the one in your video and order some of your 'punk rock' pickups, I bet they sound amazing.

[@davide88rn]

So 3/32 both high and low E and neck and bridge? Thanks

[@hock4540]

Dialed in my cheap-o Epiphone LP Special project with your tips. Thanks for sharing your knowledge mate!

[@geoffmead9081]

Ooh, thank you. Very nice. Smoothed the sound out very nicely.

[@raydowley1038]

thanks, great information bought some Seymour Duncan antiquity pups sorry was not aware of yours and I'm having problems with the bridge pup sticking out of the cavity due to the pup been thinner than a normal P90 might have just lump it and live with it 😂

[@mangojimson6481]

worked like magic. Great tone, thanks!

[@13amplifiers]

For my dogear P90s I use special P90 shims from Lollar to raise them up. Works a treat1

[@tiki_trash]

I don't know if it's true, but I read in Guitar Player Magazine back in the 70s that the screw slots should be alternately diagonal to the strings, like this: \/\/\/ Something something about the magnetic fields. I have no idea if that actually does anything, but I still do it. LOL!

[@YannGUTTER]

Hey Paul, I didn't watch this one until today, and... well...There's even my name in it 😜! As usual great Job !

[@michaellassley30]

I have an epiphone archtop that has three P90 pickups on it the string Heights are quite High and in order to raise the pickups I have risers that are made the shape of the pickup housing

[@ChrisJones-ht9zn]

This worked perfectly for me. Thanks Paul

[@adammono1839]

Good to see your videos on KZbin!

[@karl-wilhelmarvidsson156]

Hello there! Thanks for the video! I find on my Les Paul Classic that I have to use force to screw down the pole piece screws so they are level with the pickup, it seems so easy when you do it in the video, what's your thoughts on this? Is it better to leave it is it is (the screws a little bit higher than the pickup) and then measure 2,4 mm from there? Thanks!

[@wolters1953]

The height of the dog-ear on my Les Paul Junior is fixed , not adjustable . The mounting screws that go trough the ears of the cover also go through the side brackets of the pickup's bottom plate , the dog-ear therefor does not have/need the two screws between the pole pieces to adjust height . The cover does not have the two extra holes (the coil does) I prefer the dog ear because it is mounted onto the wood itself rather than floating on springs and or foam : more interaction between string vibration and wood through more direct contact , ergo more resonance , better sound and more sustain . The experience came before the reasoning . A fan of the P90 ( dog ear ) because in comparison to a humbucker it allows for much more expression , it is very sensitive to how hard the strings are hit . In that sense the humbucker is a one trick pony , nice trick , but one trick . Also the P90 reacts more to using the tone and volume pots compared to a humbucker . Again more expression , more different sounds . Also : for a P90 I prefer the fifties wiring .

[@northernmonkey8652]

Nice vid. I put washers under the screws on my dogear.

[@PeteEllson5656]

Thanks for making this vid. Very helpful.

[@sdcoffeeroaster]

After setting up a very cheap Douglas thinline guitar (basswood) with GF mean P90's and then a Fender thinline tele (ash) and wanted an ultra light guitar due to a shoulder injury. I bought a new Squir Affinty (surprised at the quality) made from poplar and set it up as a Noventa with the same model P90's. It's only 6 lb 9 oz and NOT neck heavy but sounds way too bright compared to the other two p90's guitars. And the tone is just not the same. I'm going to go thru the 3 guitars to try to find the differences but I think they all have the same pots and caps and heights. Could this be due to the much lighter guitar and wood build? Or maybe just the difference between the pickups? I bought the first two sets of p90's many years ago and the new ones recently. I even tried a humbucker sized p90 before these soapbar p90's and wasn't satisfied with that. It just seems it's too bright, especially the 3 unwound strings. I'm going to try your setup today to see if that might help. Thanks

[@TakeControlUSA]

Excellent tutorial

[@chuckbouscaren3898]

Great instructionl video Paul!

[@Mr.Giggles]

How about the bridge pickup....iis the optimal height the same as the neck pickup?

[@danielmiller2886]

I am wondering the same. I guess its 3/32 from the highest fretted point as well?

[@joncrookVIDS]

4:40 He says “3/32 on both pickups”

[@KD-mi9gp]

I have a Gibson LP jr and an American Strat, I got frustrated with the sound on the Strat believing that the closer the pickups were to the strings the more volume I was gaining, however, I lost most if not all of the Harmonics as a result up raising and lowering their height, I ended up lowering all three pickups down flush with the pick guard with a hair-line radius, and Was Washed over with incredible harmonic value-. So, I proceeded to do the same lowering of the P90s on the LP jr. And got the same result of Increased Harmonics as on the Strat. The P90’s on the Gibson were giving off the Tone that Leslie West had. -The Amplifier has virtually nothing to do with harmonics, and Your Volume should be More about the ability of what your Amplifier is capable of. not the guitar.

[@billholman279]

Great video! Extremely useful.

[@jamescassidy4045]

Can I ask a quick question. I just got a LP DC SP, and I was adjusting one of the screws on the bridge P90, loosening I believe, and the screw came loose to the point it just spun freely. Is that normal on some P90's? Also, the guy didn't tell me, but there's one screw on the Neck pickup that feels stripped, and wont turn either way. Also the head is a bit stripped too, because you can tell it's been forced, but it's also just sort of sticking out halfway. Almost seems like someone maybe lost a screw, and tried to force the wrong screw in, but it's hard to tell if it's different, but was curious if you've ever seen a screw that was stuck, and wouldn't turn? I'm gunna open it up, but just curious if anyone's ever had these two issues.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Which potentiometer value is standard on P90 Gibsons; 250k/300k ? Thanks.

[@HappyHermitt]

A little off subject, but can i ask about Pots? Whats the best for P90s?

[@belo1971]

No matter Alnico 5 or 2 ? Thanks a lot...😊

[@ijamsum]

I adjust my P-90s by playing with good gain and volume and if using both neck & bridge the neck pickup dominates the tone i raise the bridge and lower the neck pickup until the tone is more even between the pickups when played together ! In my opinion P-90 pickups are not placed in the exact right positions as the neck pickup is too far towards the neck and the bridge is too close too the bridge for my ear ! Playing the bridge p-90 only is far too strident with highs only and the neck is too boomy or has too much bass to use on most songs. The dynamic and harmonic tones from P-90 pickups are fabulous and with gain a slow bend has a growling texture to the note and can be so musical it is wonderful . Awesome pickups out there but they are expensive but worth every penny if you get good ones !

[@els1f]

I hate the "just use your ears man!" Stuff lol. I need a baseline to begin and then I listen, damn

[@Gavatron5000]

You can buy shims to lift up dog ear P90’s to the perfect height of 1/16” from the bottom of your strings. You’re welcome. 😉

[@PNWJEEPER01]

No one has addressed your question, so let me be the first: In the U.S. we call a sponge a “sponge”.

[@nurbsfoto]

buy a new screwdriver! :)

[@KevinDick-h6f]

Well all this was a horrible presentation . You could have given a sound demo first . Then your demo of adjustment . Closing out with the adjustment sound demo . All the tech stuff is good but you just seem to miss the complete education mark .

[@Popskull_666]

Paul, How would you set up a dog ear p90?

[@redpaul101]

Watch from 7:20 :-)