What Is The "P90" Sound?

P90 pickups were invented by Gibson in 1946 as a replacement for the Charlie Christian pickup, they didn't know at the time but they were creating one of the best electric guitar pickups of all time. What is the p 90 sound?
Thanks to ‪@CarterVintageGuitarsNashville‬ for having us to shoot.
Thanks to ‪@gibsonguitar‬ for arranging these vintage Gibson guitars
Thanks to ‪@MythosPedals‬ (Zach Broyles) for helping out with the playing.
Check out ‪@DippedInTone‬ for our weekly guitar podcast.
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[@RhettShull]

Whats your favorite P90 guitar?

[@harleybiancardi7869]

Thinline Tele's haha, they are like top tier guitars for me

[@juliorn1243]

I think the gold top les Paul with the p 90s, just like the guitarist from canned head played (don't remember his name rn)

[@hkguitar1984]

'55 style Les Paul Standard w/wrap tailpiece. IMO the wrap tailpiece gives that instrument a little extra something. Great content Rhett, thank you. EDIT, a '54 LP Custom would also work for me!

[@artinrahideh1229]

Lp junior

[@jeramym9506]

Epiphone casino

[@ryuuwyvern90]

What is the “metal zone into fender practice combo” sound next please.

[@jonbenedict920]

I'm just laughing.. that's just funny.

[@moyano6197]

I have the answer, it’s the _best_ sound

[@andyformanszombie]

Please

[@cesargomezu1459]

Metal zone into Line 6 Spyder II on Insane

[@vladimirerfan7721]

🤣

[@EnterMyNameHere]

I love how Rhett just says: "I borrowed this Gold Top Les Paul from Rick Beato..." as if we all know who the man is. But of course, we all know who the man is, ha ha.

[@anuvette]

Yes

[@alexo5861]

Bick Reato who?

[@deadoctopi5070]

Sure Rick's kid can nail pitch and ear training on the spot but does Rick know how many of us can hear his voice when we hear anything resembling the sound of "Beato?" lol

[@1badsteed]

Yeah he's a stinking musical genius!!! Love his channels too

[@oldrrocr]

What!? you don't own a gold top with P-90s???? (Hint to your lovely wife?)

[@nickcleveland2810]

What is the “Line 6 Spider IV Insane-Mode” sound?

[@cassette_ed]

Hell yeah

[@Sjrm126]

An amazing one used on your local metalcore band’s latest record

[@Sjrm126]

@Magic I wasn’t gonna be the first one to say it

[@Rxbandit421]

@Magic is* there fixed that for ya

[@radio7353]

@@Rxbandit421 no?

[@ericv7720]

I love P-90s. Everything from surf to metal. If they are too "spanky" for your high gain sound, just roll off the tone knob on your guitar a little bit, and you have instant humbucker!

[@Bob-tp3nx]

You nailed it. I was thinking of upgrading the ones in my Hagstrom but all I had to do was dial the tone knob back some. I love the versatility of P-90's.

[@cjlv]

Hey I had to do it tonight during practice

[@jaguarandi2]

They are not spanky at all

[@ericv7720]

@@jaguarandi2 Ok, barky. Feel better?

[@elephantcemetery]

@@ericv7720 Fizzy is how i'd describe them. Inarticulate.

[@1Rockstok]

In my first band, in 1968, the other guitar player had a mint condition LP with P90s. We both wanted SGs. He traded his LP for $90 toward an SG Standard which cost $335 at the time. I got an SG Special, with P90s that I played professionally until 1983.

[@allanallan4791]

For me it's the sound of the first two Black Sabbath records.

[@Gledii]

yes Sir!

[@johnfrenette]

A PICKUP IN BLACK THAT POINTS AT ME

[@rhesreeves5339]

Can never argue with that!

[@kenburkard]

60s SG Into an early model Laney amp at full bore, I believe iommi used a rangemaster treble booster as well

[@saintrhoads3375]

@@kenburkard He was known to have run everything a full except the bass, which would be backed off...idk how far...and then he would use a MODDED treble booster.

[@metalwolfdraakje]

Could you do "what is the jazzmaster sound?" I really love the sound of this guitar and there is nothing that sounds quite like it

[@sqmps8709]

Ooh yeah that’s a good one

[@FantasticExplorers]

Yes! This!

[@GuitarWithRyan]

True. Not to mention the way that Stapelton has crafted it to suit his epic sound!

[@igorbroeckel279]

Yes!!

[@benjaminfowler4513]

Hell yeah, also no one makes cheap real jazzmaster pickups like they do every other kind of pickup

[@ollielloyd4566]

'What is the Gretsch sound?' Next?

[@annekedebruyn7797]

He can't. It will destroy Gibson and Fender's market. Tho that gold top gibson with P90's will always be the best looking guitar to me no matter how much I love the Duo Jets.

[@ollielloyd4566]

@@annekedebruyn7797 Yes in my time i've played les paul's, telecasters and strats but haven't found anything as good as Gretsch

[@Cadet44642]

I'm pretty sure my wife just bought me a Gretsch for Christmas. fingers crossed.

[@annekedebruyn7797]

@@Cadet44642 Can I borrow your wife in that case? Lucky man if she does that for you!

[@Cadet44642]

@@annekedebruyn7797 She has bought all of my favorite gear. Most of my favorite gear. The best story is she wanted a dog. We mad a bargain. I get a guitar she can get the dog. The dog is gone because it kept biting our kids. But, I still have the guitar. She is the best. 15 years strong.

[@keentobekeane3712]

Tittle : "What Is The "P90" Sound?" me a CSGO player : BBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[@manifestgtr]

Dude, the *second* you mentioned “the solo you thought was a strat”, I knew exactly which tune you were talking about. I was mindblown when I first found out that was a p90 Les Paul. I always had that solo categorized in my brain as “a killer strat neck sound”. Finding out that was a p90 made me reevaluate a lot of what I know about single coil sound and personal finger tone, in general.

[@wesboundmusic]

Same here, my jaw dropped from here to Antarctica! Would have _never_ thought!

[@f2detaboada]

I used to think of that solo as "the one fender strat sound I like", I guess not lmao

[@manifestgtr]

@@f2detaboada Really? That’s funny…strat neck tones a la “shine on you crazy diamond” and middle position sounds like “free ride” are some of my favorite guitar tones. They just sit so perfectly within a band context imo

[@f2detaboada]

​@@manifestgtr I thought about it and I realized I forgot the dual lead tone in Any Colour You Like, which is actually a fantastic strat sound of both the bridge and the neck pick ups calling and answering each other. But as for the songs you mentioned, within the context of the music they sound great but if I isolate the sounds, they stop being pleasant for me. I think that if Gilmour used p90's on Shine on, it would have sounded even better.

[@johnvolume3384]

Before punk,Leslie West,played a burst SC Junior,and Mick Ralphs,an Englishman,from Mott the Hoople ,who saw West, get a Junior in a pawnshop in the US before joining Bad Company.Punk came ,and the great Johnny Thunders is the one that put the DC Junior on the map.Mick Jones,and Steve Jones,who was just an occasionnal user of a Junior followed. The story is ,when the NY Dolls get their first record deal,the two guitar players of the Dolls get some money to buy good guitars before recording.Sylvain Sylvain,the one who taught guitar to Thunders,and who knows the power of P90s took a TV Yellow Special,and Thunders a black Les Paul Custom.After a few days,Thunders,in love with P90s played loud,change guitars .And got the Special.During a TV show,the Midnight Special,he accidently changed pickups during a song,and got a one pickup DC Junior after that.

[@JWhitneyInc]

I recently picked up a 2019 Les Paul Special with P90's and honestly, it's really hard to not say it's now my number 1 after being a huge strat fanboy for ages. I still love the strat for cleans and that bright "edge of breakup" tone. But for raunchy leads, the P90's just do a thing I didn't realize I needed so badly. I'm in love with the thing.

[@mouluc9969]

Exactly the same, here. Except it's a 2008 SG with P90s I've bought. It's got some magic my strat and my tele don't. And I love the whole spectrum from clean, crunch... to fat early Black Sabbath tones. Only con : you might need a bright channel on your amp...

[@robjgolde3221]

@@mouluc9969 ugh I had an ‘08 SG Classic that I absolutely loved because of it’s fat neck and the p90’s it came with. Had to sell it to save up for my wedding. Someday I’ll have a p90 guitar in my arsenal again if not an SG, then probably a Revstar

[@mouluc9969]

@@robjgolde3221 The sad thing, here is both a wedding and a divorce cost as much as many nice guitars with P90s ^^

[@frankrizzo5710]

Just picked up a LP special tribute. I love this guitar, the neck is amazing.

[@theramatube]

Planning to get an Epiphone Les Paul Special SC Pro TV Yellow as soon as possible. After having both Strat and Tele, my inner soul just always reserves a special place for a Les Paul since it's my first love for electric guitar back in 2009... But I don't really want to get a humbucker, so the LP Special SC Pro is my best bet with a really reasonable price at $375 brand new!

[@dkpitt3912]

I’ve been playing for over 40 years, and I unbelievably have never played P 90s until the other week. My friend bought a Harley Benton with P 90s and he said give it a try. I couldn’t believe how awesome the pick up sounds! Just one pick up and using the tone and volume gives you so many variations of sounds unbelievable! I love them.

[@Br4dButt0wski]

This is great. Now "What is the sound of the Firebird" PLEAAAASE.

[@less_concerned1221]

I liked Pete Townshend’s tones playing an SG with P90’s into a cranked Hiwatt!!!!

[@N01NP]

Indeed - as he did at Woodstock.

[@maggieo]

When I think of P-90s, I think of Pete Townshend thrashing his SG Special on "Live At Leeds." Heaven.

[@CommonGroundser]

yeah, I was gonna say... Let's not forget their performance of "A Quick One" for the Rolling Stones' Rock n Roll Circus, as well.

[@fivewattworld]

My two PRS 25th Anniversary 245’s. They beg for new pickups ..,then I play them and they just sound so sweet just as they are.

[@JasonChannell]

Keith, I need one of those now.

[@johndkeene]

Slightly off topic, but PRS made a "narrowfield" pickup on the 25th anniversary line that was billed as humbucker style P90's. Have several guitars with those pickups. Quite awesome to my ears.

[@OnTheOne.]

Two! but I thought we were trying to get the most music from the least gear ;)

[@karlcarlsburg9641]

I don't think they beg for new pickups if every time you play them they sound sweet... I think you're just gear obsessed and have a hard time being happy with what you have.

[@hugomolinaOG]

They're not begging for nothing man. As u said, they're perfect already. 💚

[@carloschon]

Pete Townshend's tone during the Tommy era is my favorite P90 tone.

[@JeremyJames_studio]

i love that tone too...Townshend himself wasn’t a fan though, he expected all the Tommy guitars to be re-recorded but it never happened.

[@edwardleaver7838]

@@JeremyJames_studio Producers can be soooooo clueless.

[@TheMichaelCox]

I can't believe you didn't mention The Beatles - Paul, George, and John all bought Epiphone Casinos, and John in particular used his Casino a ton from 1966 on, famously playing it at the rooftop concert in Let It Be. Paul McCartney played the leads on Ticket to Ride, Drive My Car, and Taxman on his Casino, and 2 of the 3 guitars in the "The End" solo "battle" were John and Paul on Casinos.

[@bobbystereo936]

Maybe? He could have used his tele. The same 1 he used during this era for Mccartney 1

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

You are correct on all counts except for the solo on Taxman was Paul playing a Gibson SG through a dimed ac30. I got that information from the Beatles recording gear

[@DanielPalmisano1]

There's also that reggae guy... Bob Marley

[@christyrpak4378]

I have always found a P90 to be a brilliant marriage between the spank of a single coil and the balls of a humbucker.

[@mcd5778]

Yes he meant the literal testicles of a male human being lol Relax.

[@alexad7570]

yep, thats why the p90 spank balls!

[@GlennJimenez]

Amen

[@mihailmilev9909]

@@alexad7570 couldn't be said better

[@karterdowd606]

And I love my some spanky balls

[@tjmacworship-team1208]

I'm officially shocked! Gilmour played a P-90 gold top. WAAAAAY back in 1980 I was trying to emulate that sound on a P-90 LP junior and got so very close. And I would tell people it would sound right if I had a Strat! wow. Thanks, Rhett, once again you have been a major confidence booster! Great info and excellent video!

[@ThibaultKV]

Good shout out for the 77 punks, it's common to overlook their choices of guitars and how it shaped their sounds, but Steve Jones or Mick Jones were really digging the possibilites of P90!

[@unclefoiley819]

That's why I've been playing P-90s for the past 35 years.

[@RC32Smiths01]

I am really enjoying this series man. It is so appreciative of what makes a tone so unique and killer! Great work

[@leftyguitarist8989]

You forgot to mention Tony Iommi, who used a 1965 Gibson SG Special with 2 P90's on the vast majority of Black Sabbath's first 6 albums.

[@jplew138]

Word 👊

[@alexlogan124]

Actually they aren’t p90s, they’re custom pickups made from a luthier named John Birch

[@IgnorancEnArrogance]

@@alexlogan124 The John Birch Simplux was still a P-90 style single coil and it was only the neck pickup. A regular Gibson P-90 was in the bridge position.

[@juniorfreitas15]

Vol. 4 was recorded with a Les Paul with standard humbucker pickups

[@leftyguitarist8989]

@@juniorfreitas15 What evidence do you have for this?

[@oldrrocr]

What!? you don't own a gold top with P-90s???? (Hint to your lovely and generous wife?)

[@steelwarrior105]

I mean P90s gave us everything from The Wall to War Pigs which is kinda insane

[@spideymarino]

For me, the classic sound of a p90 is Leslie West of Mountain fame. Killer tone. Great vid Rhett.

[@flamulated]

Mississippi Queen!!!

[@StarQueenEstrella]

Agreed! That is the Les Paul Junior sound defined!

[@jamesthe-doctor8981]

I think that’s true of most of us who grew up playing, or learning to play during that time frame. But one of the problems back then was that the Internet was still decades away, and the only way to find out what our guitar heroes were playing with was, 1. By the incredibly inaccurate way of studying every album cover and sleeve, and pray that the guitars and amps in the photos actually were what they were usually playing live and in the studio. 2. Subscribing to Guitar Player Magazine (the only guitar mag way back then,) and pray that the interviewer asked them about their equipment, and 3. Never miss any of their concerts. (Definitely the most fun choice!) I remember him saying in the GP Mag interview that his main axe was a ‘50s (don’t remember what year) Les Paul Jr., and another Jr that was his backup which, while it sounded great, wasn’t as great as his main. But I *SWORE* back then that he lied like a thief about the amp he played through! In fact, nobody believed it...until they attended the concert. The story West told is that they opened the boxes that were supposed to contain the Marshall amps and cabs he (and damn near everybody else back then) always used live and in the studio, but what he found was the Sunn P.A. amp we’ve all heard about by now, along with four 4 X 12 cabs... He went on in the interview, talking about how he wondered WTF he was gonna do because he could NEVER get a good sound out of that equipment, much less a *great* sound...but those old Sunn P.A. heads had four input level controls (basically the same as a Gain control today,) and a Master Volume control, just like guitar amps would eventually have in the future. Yep, guitar amps by and large usually had only a volume control with no preamp gain control stage. Nobody was more surprised at the sound he got so easily, than Leslie West, himself, and the best thing about it...? Nobody else sounded like him with a “student guitar and one P90 pickup,” because nobody else was using a P.A., and most of all, nobody else had his hands.

[@stickman33]

@@StarQueenEstrella Vastly under-appreciated guitars by many. I've shown up for jams with an LP Jr. and early smirks turn to appreciation by the end of the jam.

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

@@flamulated I know what you mean!

[@danielbaird6662]

Since you mentioned Mesa Boogie, what's the Mesa Boogie sound? I'd like to get your take on it. Thanks!

[@thechannelforeverything2170]

It's crazy cause the Boogie sound is either Thrash, Grunge, Funk, or Santana.

[@gfunkk]

lot of different boogies out there but the initial boogie sound is a hot rodded bassman circuit.

[@vorpalblades]

@@0megalul309 early Metallica was Marshall.

[@jgmedina]

@Dan D Weezer used it in the blue album with p90s

[@vorpalblades]

@@jsullivan2112 yeah, that's what early means.

[@rodriguezelfeliz4623]

9:22 Dear youtube, please do not do that again. 2 unskipable adds there? Do you want to kill me of suspense?

[@ParaBellum2024]

Download a free adblocker.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@ParaBellum2024 That’s a great idea (do you have any links you could recommend?)

[@andrewpartington7274]

@@BeesWaxMinder Firefox has a built in adblocker extension for youtube

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@andrewpartington7274 Ah! I’ve only got Internet on my iPhone am afraid but I suppose I could stop using the app and go direct… Thanks🙂

[@ParaBellum2024]

@@BeesWaxMinder I only use a PC, never a phone so I'm not sure what phone adblockers are available. On my PC I use Adblock Plus.

[@richardlynch5632]

Mountain's Mississippi Queen. Leslie Wests usage of the P90 was a huge part of that sound if not mistaken?

[@TejoAgus]

That Gilmour thing was THE guitar revelation for me this year... Man I would have swear on that being a strat! Loved the whole video approach, it would be great to see one with the sounds of Jazzmasters and the Filtertrone styled pickups.

[@joetamm]

Classic P90 tones; Leslie West, Charlie Hargrett on Blackfoot’s first two albums, The Henry Paul Band Feel the Heat album, Martin Barre Aqualung solo, Pete Townsend Live at Leeds.

[@titi64230]

Albert King hide away, the doors, sean costello

[@robertstager6538]

Pete Townsend Live at Leeds sound reverberates for me, big time. Love me some P90s with their snarl and attitude. Also love Gretsch style pups, with that 'in between' (between single coils and humbuckers) sound that has some treble bite and midrange snarl.

[@oldschool1107]

Black sabbath

[@jaybee4694]

You're like Rick Beato and Five Watt World's son; and I actually kinda love it.

[@johnnymovz]

Best comment ever...!

[@81ghale]

Aaaah the days they had the naive believing the world was going to end and you’d kill grandma if you didn’t wear a piece of t shirt covering your nose and mouth 😂

[@alexpurcell2012]

That’s blown my mind. That has always been one of my favourite solos, guitar tones and the main reason I bought a Strat! 😂

[@wesboundmusic]

Same here, Alex! Not in a million years would have had an idea it might have been anything BUT a Strat! Blew my mind, too!

[@tomandtheoutlaws]

David Gilmour’s 5am solo is a cracking P90 tone. Great version on Live at Pompeii.

[@dr103]

Pete Townshend+SG Special+Univox Superfuzz+HIWATT= Stellar Tone

[@robjgolde3221]

I’m a simple man. I see a video about P90’s and I click.

[@tyrssen1]

Likewise!

[@Matthordika]

The Brick in the Wall solo is such a great example of what makes the P90 special. Its a sound only a P90 can really do. Really glad you made this video, I always wanted to know more about these pickups!

[@Banksharper7]

Kinda proud of myself for guessing another brick in the wall when he was talking about p90 solos that sound like strat solos. Btw before this video I thought that solo was recorded with a strat too.

[@brandonlesko3126]

The P90 sound is the sound of pure awesomeness.

[@PANICBLADE]

P90s and Hiwatts were the Live at Leeds tone, probably one of the most dynamic combos ever.

[@schmoemi3386]

Plus Pete's fingers...👍 😄

[@PANICBLADE]

@@schmoemi3386 Goes without saying. Saying Pete Townshend is good at guitar is like saying grass is green in spring.

[@dylandenney3980]

@@PANICBLADE u ain't lyin'.

[@davidewing55]

@Marcel Funny you should say that. I actually did jump head first into the ceiling once from being inspired by Pete. It was the opening chord to Have You Seen the Real Me. With guitar in hand I jumped off my coffee table, imitating Pete, forgetting that the coffee table put me only a few inches from the ceiling. I came to a few seconds later with the popcorn insulation in my hair.

[@robmac6508]

Pete Townshend - the Who used this same setup (guitar/amp) at Woodstock also in August 1969. Listen to Sparks from Woodstock. That Classic Guitar sound.

[@sergioserramusic]

That Gilmour solo discovery shook my reality like nothing else in the last few years. How did I not know that?!

[@johnjenkins8782]

Blasphemy I say!!

[@anmolatwal]

For me, i was shocked early one when i found out that the comfortably numb solo was a strat and not a les paul!!

[@1badsteed]

@@anmolatwal and I thought that pinched harmonic at the beginning of the 2nd solo (the greatest guitar solo ever) on Comfortably Numb screamed Fender Strat!

[@redielg]

I thought it was common knowledge

[@christurner4392]

Actually a 54 gold top, wrap around tailpiece

[@TheTwangKings]

Totally agree that P90s are very versatile. Once you get over that "weird vintage guitar" look, you realize that they sound very good and articulate really well. You don't get the muddiness you sometimes get with humbuckers, yet they have that big tone. That's why they work well for jazz and fusion in solidbody guitars. I've got a pair of Seymour Duncan P90s in my Godin LG, and it sounds like a jazz-box in the neck position. At the same time they've got some nasty rockabilly bite in the middle, and cool surf tone in the bridge.

[@gregmullins6927]

It's all personal taste but I like the mini hambuckers and P90s for versatility of tone,you get a more refined Fender tone and a less muddy Gibson tone with lots of ballsy punch,unbeatable for me.

[@hreiarevarsson7900]

You need to make a "What is The "Position Four" sound" episode!

[@billwhitton500]

Leslie West....his tone , along with superb playing was a huge endorsement of P90 tone...influencing guys like Mick Ralphs & others...two superb examples....Mick's solo on Mott the Hoople's version of " Sweet Jane."...Leslie on Mountain's " theme for an imaginary western "....both probably Les Paul juniors.....both are magical solos with classic P90 tone....

[@richienicosia1986]

Thanks for mentioning Leslie West!

[@bobdobslob]

I had no idea about the Brick solo! That's awesome, explains a lot.

[@edwardjamyangmacarchick1847]

I know what Gilmour used, but all of my Strat clones come pretty close to it.

[@peaceman7321]

Dude, LOVE your videos & how you explain everything musical -- you never disappoint. (Side note: couldn't help but notice it sounded like someone had turned down the high/presence on the amp in the guitar store - was excited about hearing that top end sizzle/"chirp" of the 90's there, but it sounded more jazzy. However, in YOUR studio, you had it dialed in!!) As always, THANKS!

[@kenteel2944]

How about showing the P90's without distortion. A demonstration of clean (and some jazz) would be nice.

[@1mespud]

True! Distortion, fuzz and overdrive will only masquerade it's true clean pickup sound. These youtubers should always demo the clean tone first before any distortion is used. The inventor of the p90 didn't even have distortion in mind. Rockers love overdrive, Jazzers want a clean tone. There is a place and a moment for everything.

[@stickman33]

I prefer humbuckers in my rock band, but I keep my Blueshawk around mostly for cleaner jazz tones.

[@MDonovan]

He touched on that with the different windings. I think the versatility(headroom and breakup) he found comes from the large magnets but its harder to get a real clean tone from P90

[@MDonovan]

@@1mespud the amps in those days were so simple !

[@IHaggs07]

The greatest example of what a P90 can do is Pete Townshend’s playing on The Who’s Live at Leeds.

[@juangi_mx6774]

For some reason, before you said Another brick in the wall, i thought about that song, it was mindblowing lol

[@edwardjamyangmacarchick1847]

Gilmour is my favorite guitarist and a great vocalist!

[@Fastlane05]

Would also love a discussion about the difference between P90's and a split coil humbucker as far as tones.

[@stickman33]

I have both. Apples and oranges when it comes to tone. The split coil tone is much thinner than the P90s.

[@tomasvanecek8626]

@@stickman33 Split HB sounds like... you know it, a shlt

[@stickmanmusic5840]

@@tomasvanecek8626 Depends. I get a cleaner sound for rhythm with some light overdrive. Full humbuckers can get mushy in the midrange.

[@EduardoLopez-bl6gj]

4:01 that has to be one of the most awkward transitions I have ever seen in this channel

[@RetroPlus]

Not as awkward as 6:50

[@tyrssen1]

Gee, I just learned what "alnico" means. Thank ya. Love P90's, in anything.

[@Dedmine]

Hey! Question, are the P-90's good at clean sounds? Or are they only meant to be used for distorted sounds?

[@sammccomiskey5882]

They're amazing for cleans, especially when they're set a lil bit lower than they usually are. They've got a nice depth to them without being muddy. Also sound great as individual pickups, as well as the middle position. I put one in the neck position of a 7 string, and it's such a versatile guitar now because of it

[@Dedmine]

@@sammccomiskey5882 Yeah, I just got a guitar built to sound exactly like gibson SGs but without the neck-dive with some p-90’s!

[@alohamark3025]

The answer to your question is YES. Why? Every P90 guitar sounds a little different from its cousin, as explained in Rhett's video. I have around a dozen 50's Gibson guitars that span the range of tone from pristine to crunchy, all from the same amp (Overdrive Special Dumble clone). Clean with a hint of overdrive is a specialty of the Klon Centaur. Heavier and bluesy overdrive can be achieved with BK Butler's pedal. If you want even more flexibility hook up the guitar to an Axe FX-3. To avoid spending thousands of dollars on vintage guitars, try out a modern Gibson Les Paul Junior or Special. Let your effects pedals do the tone shaping.

[@victorleon3173]

My first real guitar was a Gibson sg special with P-90s. This was stolen years later but I recently found another. I absolutely love its sound, there is nothing else that comes close.

[@mattwilliams3104]

Just bought my first P90! A Yamaha revstar. Super stoked to get to learn its nuances

[@theramatube]

is it the RS02T? That thing is such a beauty!

[@JosephGallagher]

How is it a year in?

[@ocnlltgic]

For 20 years now... I have been nothing but fingers... no picks

[@Mr68Strat]

I own a '76 Hagstrom Swede that I modified with a Filtertron at the bridge and a P90 at the neck. The two p'ups blend so beautifully for my clean tones that it's become my go-to clean guitar over the other 3, very fine guitars in my collection (Epiphone 335 Deluxe with LR Baggs T bridge - close second... / '69 Strat / Squier CV Tele thinline). Love ALL these instruments, but there's something so inspiring about the P90 neck tone... :-))

[@MCMFF1]

I will never in my life hear a guitar sound and go "oh yea that's a P90", difference between a humbucker and single coil is obvious but I have no clue about the P90.

[@edwardjamyangmacarchick1847]

I feel the same. Maybe if I heard them back-to-back, or the same licks with different guitars I would be able to know the difference.

[@OliSoydan]

this video literally kept me from selling my p90 goldtop lol

[@SyntagmaStation]

Rhett, you’re definitely coming into your own as a true knowledge resource on KZbin. Good stuff.

[@popogejo7245]

Have to agree! Rhett is becoming mi go-to watch

[@goldenultra]

Trying to play that Gilmour wall solo on a superstrat hsh washburn x40 is a no no. Maybe I should try the middle pick up, any advice? Bending that c note Gilmour turns that P90 trumpet like sound to a Synth like sound, but no Synth has that sound.

[@markschuth8036]

Thank you Rhett. Been playing almost 30 years and nobody told me I needed p90s. Just got Epi LP P90 today. $119 and is as fun as any $1000 guitar I've played. Kinda hurt it took so long. Perfect for me. I'll get over it when I pick it back up.

[@masonianbund]

The “Gilmore used a P90 loaded Gibson for The Wall solo” factoid kind of just blew my mind. 🤯

[@edwardjamyangmacarchick1847]

Gilmour

[@masonianbund]

Him too

[@daro9582]

I need a source for that

[@gentlewolf1279]

Love me a P90... more and more of my guitars have them.

[@allanallan4791]

You also need at least one P94 equipped guitar too.

[@gentlewolf1279]

@@allanallan4791 Just put one in the bridge position of one of my Strats

[@BKRMON]

I have owned at least one P90 guitar (Les Paul) since 1978. Have had quite a few in the last 20 years. I love P90s! Check out Les Dudek's first 2 solo albums.

[@tubesrule123]

Got to meet Les and drink with him at soundcheck in San Diego. Was a gas - what a cool guy!

[@BKRMON]

@@tubesrule123 I have owned his first 2 solo albums since the late 70s. Great stuff. I believe both featured him exclusively playing P90 Les Pauls.

[@sephiroth762]

I just bought my first P90 guitar, a Gibson Historic R6 Goldtop just like in your video. Wow, yours sounds a lot better than mine! I don't get these pickups at all. They're far too hot and aggressive (and have a ton of background noise). They slam the front of the amp super hard, instantly catch fire when you strike a string, and have a ton of compression. They don't have a lot of dynamics and have very little "tone." They just sound fizzy and shrill. To make sure I wasn't crazy, after jamming on those P90's for awhile, I plugged in one of my other Les Pauls (a 2007 Custom) and it sounded so much better. Am I missing something here? Any help is appreciated before I relist this new guitar on Reverb.

[@zachariahwade8482]

I’m having much the same experience with my first P90 guitar, a 2019 singlecut LP Special in TV Yellow with wraparound. My other Special with Pearly Gates and my Standard with BB Pros just sound so much better. More depth/complexity, sparkle. The P90 guitar sounds abit flat and middy in comparison. That said, with time and a few tweaks to the pickup heights and amp settings I’m liking the P90’s abit more everyday. Hated them when I first got the guitar.

[@tomandaj1]

Only the greatest pickup there ever was !!! That’s the P-90 sound ...

[@yazdog]

3 words for the P90 sound...LIVE AT LEEDS.

[@Dead_Solid_Irish]

She gooooes like thunder

[@kenimiller3896]

True, and best heard on the original vinyl. I don't like any of the remastered mixes.

[@justinpridham7919]

As I got older and developed my own taste for guitar sounds and quit focusing on aesthetics the P90 became my favorite

[@DanCooz323]

Same here! I put one into a buddy's LP (SD Phat Cat), and it was incredible! I ended up getting an LP Classic with P90s (and modded it already!).

[@renatobernal7674]

Man, the quality of Rhett videos is so amazing... Impressed with the informative content and great playing of this one!

[@yonceydelatorre3802]

Mike Ness, Social Distortion, Gibson Les Paul, Gold Top with p-90's!!!!!🔥🔥🔥

[@andrewcruz7595]

9:21 "Aaand if you don't know the solo I'm taking about ....it's this* 9:23 "wanna learn how to play guitar .. don't click that skip button*

[@hydro5168]

That was a killer rendition of Third stone from the sun holy heck

[@toneshop]

When I got a Gibson '56 reissue, I fell in love with the P-90's on the middle position. Just heavenly!

[@robrdavis]

I'm really liking the "What is the sound" series. I'm learning so much from them. Great idea.

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

Need to get myself a P90 guitar, probably a Goldtop Les Paul. Great video and tones Rhett.

[@Maxime_L91]

Mini humbuckers next?

[@dfoe108]

I'd really like to see a "What's the Plexi Sound?" or a "What's the SG Sound?" Great video as always!

[@karlcarlsburg9641]

Rick Beato did the "what is the plexi sound" a few weeks ago. Go check that out.

[@bigbrownhouse6999]

9:24 I’m sold! Hearing that guitar solo was what convinced me to pick up the electric guitar when I was 14. I’ve always wondered why I couldn’t ever get that exact sound out of a strat.

[@jts3339]

Santana performing Soul Sacrifice at Woodstock with a P-90 equipped Gibson SG: THAT is the P-90 sound.

[@howardjohny]

But those amps! GMT Spaceship.226 watts of raw power. I got one that supposedly belonged to the Santana bass player. It was cool to watch the movie years later and see those again.

[@qjarman7753]

I love P90s for all these reasons, everyone needs a guitar with P90s in their armoury

[@andrewmannie234]

I love P-90's and hope to own a guitar with them some day...but that Gilmour solo was on a Les Paul????? Wow, just confirmed that my next guitar will not be a strat but a P-90 loaded axe. Thanks!

[@onenotesolo256]

I believe it was a LP Goldtop with P90s, direct into the desk.

[@BangerOMGman]

The p90's in the epiphone casino ohh yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh

[@darwinsaye]

I've heard magical, clear, bell-like tones from original P90s on Goldtops from the 50s, but all the modern ones sound way too muddy for my taste.

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: You are right, most of them these days are wound hot and have strong magnets that drive hard. They do still make the old design P-90's. Vintage or under wound. I like them better also.

[@auntjenifer7774]

Lindy Frailin vintage p90 ! You're welcome.

[@gilby1640]

Never thought that about Gilmore's solo. Really cool.

[@BigEdWo]

gilmour

[@garygrinkevich6971]

I always figured it was the the neck or center pickup on a stratocaster with a compression pedal sounds pretty close, i'm still unsure if the compression came from the FX or the pickup.

[@jakeforder9435]

My 1997 Les Paul Studio has P90s and a Bigsby and is cool as fuck

[@BenKrisfield]

I love that Gary Clark Jr P90 sound, eg Bright Lights.

[@thejasontlewis]

Hey man, love the video. Love p90s. One suggested: don't record the voice over sections of your videos in stereo. Every time you moved left or right I'd have to move to not feel a little sick. Thanks.

[@Otis-Isom]

Your ear must be really attentive.

[@ChristopherDowning]

@@Otis-Isom Think he must be on phones

[@Otis-Isom]

@@ChristopherDowning ah, that makes sense

[@newthrash1221]

Seems like you’re the only one who had that problem.

[@DirtyCityMick]

I hope he makes his voice swirl in your headphones so you vomit and ruin your day. You are lame.

[@matthewcole6456]

Rhett, what is the story behind “remember there is no plan B?”

[@johnjenkins8782]

He explained it in a much earlier video if you felt like looking through them maybe in 2018??

[@anonymousforensic]

Reminding everyone of the potential of nationwide pharmacy shortages at inopportune times.

[@TheSilence1]

It's his motto which means somethinge like "risk it all to make your dream come true".

[@gkniffen]

It’s basically lousy advice...

[@Birkguitars]

@@gkniffen He also says in the video that explained the background that sometimes Plan A has to be adaptable. He has found what he loves and is trying to make a career out of it. That requires commitment and this is how he maintains focus.

[@jpalberthoward9]

The neck pickup on my P90 Goldtop is slightly under potted. You can't talk into it, but if you stand facing away from the amp, (I use my Tweed Tremolux) and crank it, then turn and walk slowly towards the speaker, the sustain will gradually morph into an amazing feedback that's totally controllable, depending on which way you're facing, the volume control, and your vibrato. Harmonics explode off of my fingers, and it all goes away with hand damping. If you ever come across a P90 guitar that has an under potted pickup like that, or even just the pickup itself, grab it. You'll have lots of fun with it.

[@lqr824]

That description sounds totally like regular feedback, not microphonics.

[@Randy-jz9ox]

It sounds like what Jared James Nichols has going on with his 52 gold top. Unbelievably killer feedback!

[@jpalberthoward9]

@@lqr824 Whatever it is, it's totally useable and controllable, and that makes it a useful addition to the sonic pallete.

[@lqr824]

@@jpalberthoward9 sure, I believe that it has great feedback! I'm just saying it's probably not due to pickup potting.

[@jpalberthoward9]

@@lqr824 You might be right, but whatever it is, it rides that saturation/cutoff curve that you see in the old tube books. The little ridges in your fingers that make your fingerprints will generate those harmonics, and the spot you choose for your right hand is all the EQ you need. The tone knob on a Tremolux doesn't do much anyway. This is the poster rig for "Less is More" Pedals? What's a pedal? I have two on the bike. People with no technique hate this rig.

[@ALF1996xx]

Have underwound p90s in my ES330 and they blow me away.

[@5150show]

Incredible video

[@stevelucero9047]

Mike Ness of Social Distortion has a great P90 tone....

[@potlickerhound7262]

he is the master of p90's in gold tops 1975 era tone.

[@jray5363]

Always loved the sound of P90’s! It’s nice to learn a little more about them. Thank You!

[@hayden911]

I loved hearing Bored And Razed

[@stevegandalf4739]

Are you serious when you say you had no idea for years that the ABITW solo was played on a Les Paul? I've never played a P90 equipped guitar but it seems too obvious to me that Gilmour's sound on that solo is far too fat and rich to be played on a Strat or a Telecaster.

[@edwardjamyangmacarchick1847]

I think it sounds like my Strat-clones. And most other solos Gilmour played on Strats.

[@5se7en]

Great video! I didn't know a P-90 was half of a PAF. I use PAF's on my main guitar that has a coil split on it and I always use it split. Now on my next guitar I'll just get P-90's! Thanks!

[@5se7en]

Since that's the sound I'm always using anyway.