The Ultimate P90 Comparison Video

[@vinniesworld459]

Great video! Just some timestamping fun while I re-watch to feed the algorithm lol. 01:41 >>>> Whiteboard segment!!!!

[@danielmiller2886]

Super helpful timestamps. Thanks!

[@Arwndr]

Thanks a lot for timing!

[@acidfilth2007]

i went through a few times he never explains the guitar and the modular system hes using??

[@vinniesworld459]

@@acidfilth2007 it's a Somnium guitar. He has a separate episode about it (search for "quick change pickups that actually work").

[@vinniesworld459]

​@@acidfilth2007it's a Somnium guitar. He did a separate video on it (search for "quick change pickups that actually work")

[@GunsandGuitars]

Dang, that new p90 humbucker shape in the neck position 🫠🫠🫠

[@LogicalQ]

Hopefully this doesn’t make me pull a p180 on my recent pickup purchase.

[@mistergoat7357]

Growth baby

[@roberthastings708]

Pull a p180. Good one. I like it.

[@Mephilis78]

Thanks dad

[@mr1bienvenu1]

I JUST bought a Les Paul Special so I could try out P90's. FREAKIN LOVE EM !!!!

[@Hi_Ho_Methusalem]

Hi Dylan, I thought that this was a great video. I liked that you used the same guitar, amp, strings and everything else, with the different pickups being the only variable in this comparison. It really showcased the differences in the pickups themselves, in a way that you could not if different guitars were used. Great job!!!

[@sunn_bass]

great video. I liked the pallet of sounds each design had. I love variety. Been playing since around 1981 or 82. I've never been in search of my sound, so I have a lot of different pickup types in my instruments. I'm more in search of my style and use whatever sound is needed for that. It's a subtle difference in approach and it's a journey that offers more options to me. When things calm down for me, I definitely need to get a set of your pickups for one of my builds.

[@thomasd9237]

👍👍 great video with lots of info. I'm still looking for a neck soapbar to compliment my 80s rocker style guitar that has a Screamin' Demon bridge. Short of finding one I might have to get out the router ☹️

[@skidogbill]

I love bright P90s, especially in the neck. My ideal is to have a lot of the high peak and high freqs of a Strat style, but with a warm bottom. I have 3 guitars with PRails, and 1 with the Fluence set. I think what gives the PRail it’s loved sound is that the bobbin is both shorter and narrower than the trad P, which is muddier and has a lower peak. While I enjoyed this vid, I find that it’s very difficult to hear subtle differences in tone with random playing. For me, in choosing a pickup, it would be more useful if you would play the exact same brief figure back to back, so we can better differentiate.

[@davidthomas5035]

I agree with your point about wanting the same riff played back to back to back for comparison. Probably boring for the maker tho.

[@DeadFuzz]

Great comparison video, Dylan! Thanks for spending the time to do this. Very helpful!

[@FoardenotFord]

Thanks for the comparison - I’m new to all of this and currently trying to decide how best to upgrade the pickups in my Epiphone Sheraton II. I think if I were to try and get the P90 sound, I’d want to get the original soapbars in there, but that would mean an expensive and non-reversible modification. Hmm…

[@SuperMartin223]

Stick with what you’ve got and try using an EQ pedal to modify the sound. A lot of people say they can make a cheap pickup sound like an expensive one this way.

[@toddmayer6859]

I've learned a lot from all your videos, Dylan. I have an Epi Dot that sounded pretty much like mud city. Just for laughs I bought and installed some cheap Chinese made P90 HB size pickups and installed them. The Dot sounded a lot brighter & better. If I keep the Dot I will replace those pickups with your HB size P90s. I don't know how others heard them on this video, but your HB size P90s sound pretty amazing through my speakers

[@RobbieF]

Thanks Dylan! The pole magnets in lieu of bar magnets with the P90 style coil was an awesome idea.

[@ophiuchus1970]

That was a great demo. I could see a use for all those pickups. P90s and their derivatives are my favorite pickups. They seem to do everything well.

[@jonathanhorne6503]

The Tele sized p90 still sounds like a Tele. I like your p90 and have a dog ear on order for my Epiphone Coronet. P90 has been my favorite since I was a kid, my brother had a LPjr SG about 1964 and my first band had a guitarist that had an SG Special. That was about 1967. I’m 70 now and still at it.

[@asdaven1]

They all sound good. Thought the Humbucker P90 was the "closest" P90 copy. The new P90 I would have to say sounds like and would be more similar in design to a Jazzmaster pickup but in a humbucker sized (compared to Regular P90 and Humbucker P90). Its a really good sound though. Could more ideas would be cool to compare.....some pickup winders have used a thicker humbucker bobbin (top to bottom) to get 10,000 winds like on a regular P90 and have gotten a closer sound to a normal P90 in a Humbucker sized package. Deeper top to bottom is the only way you you could go bigger. The second thing would be more on the topic of humbuckers. Im curious if you took a standard humbucker bobbin and instead of steel pole pieces and screw...use all Alnico 5 rods in an attempt to sound closer to a Fender Wide Range pickup. It is true Alnico 5 cant be machined into screws but would about using all rods?

[@timothypotter2137]

I need a pair of those new P90's! Don't know what guitar they will go in, perhaps the Shell Pink T-style I have been wanting to build. Shell pink w/black hardware and a red tortoise pick guard. Turn it loose.

[@blaiseutube]

I like the humbucker size p90. Is there a p90 for the Bass? Is that what the Gibson eb use?

[@flatroc1]

I've got a Reverend Charger 290, that somebody previously replaced the P90's with Dimarzio PG13 mini humbuckers but I'm not sold on it. Thinking seriously about your new design P90. It really sounded nice. Plus I never really got that you where so handy as a player until this video. Great job. Thanks

[@Hodgkins91]

Could you explain the Squire jazzmaster pickups? They're not a real jazzmaster an not really a P90.

[@C_Moore]

Question. Why don't you make an Alnico 3 P-90 like the originals came with? I'd be interested to hear what the New P-90 sounds like with Alnico 3 or even 2 magnets.

[@jeffreycharroux4577]

Great comparison! The traditional one, (first), was good. distorted, as expected-unmistakable. The Humbucker-sized was okay clean but great distorted. The tele-sized had great clean and distorted sounds. Your new one is an improved P-90 because, clean, it sounds better than the original P-90. And the distorted sound was great, too. Not exactly like the traditional one, but fantastic, in a similar way. I have a Squire Tele body guitar that came with Duncan-Designed ceramic P-90s. Whenever I’ play it live, Telecaster players always come closer to see what telecaster could sound like that. I bought Gibson Alnico V P-90s, used, but haven’t changed to them because the ones in the guitar sound so good.

[@CC-fi3pp]

Seymour Duncan Vintage P90s are AWESOME! One in a bridge is all you need. God bless the hipsters for loving low output pickups, following any trend and for driving up the price of Antiquity up and keeping the Vintage in stock and reasonably priced.

[@chefbarona3052]

That put me in the right place. I was considering a P90 in my new Tele build. I've been looking @ the Humbucker size offerings. The soapbar is the thing. Just a different sized hole. Thanx!

[@toddhildebrand6057]

Yeah, my favorite/most played guitar is my PRS Soapbar with the P90’s in them. The tone has massive range from creamy and warm to snarly with serious bite. Enjoyed the post. Good job!

[@thmmke6926]

This is a great video, I really could hear differences between them, and finally understand a bit when people say that humbucker size p90 just loose a bit, they still sound great but diff, then then Tele was again very good and a little bit different, this was all so interesting,

[@michaelbevins2405]

The humbucker size does sound very good, They will both do the same bright job,Its a matter of preferance ,For modding the humbucker size is great to replace a old P A F ,I did it and I get really great Rock a billy sounds now,Sounds really close to my 78 tele .

[@jacknorton3771]

Thanks for this video bro. I bought a cheap pair of those on Amazon and used .033 cap in my a strat build. I didn't know what to expect but like you said, if it sounds good and you like it. It was a success in my opinion I like the tone from them. Doesn't sound like my other guitars.

[@garrysimmons111]

I'm liking the T90 pups. Once the weather warms up and I can paint my partscaster Tele, I'll order a set.

[@garyeggleton1142]

what do you think of the P-90s in the newer Gibson tribute guitars?

[@J0HN01DATA]

Good stuff with interesting style topolgies in this comparison. Thanks for the explanation.

[@davidfoster5906]

I prefer the pick up out put wires are shielded preferably with metal braided ground jacket. I whelks install the neck pickup in my Epi SG.

[@JazzRockswithAdam]

I was surprised how good the T90 sounded. Your H90 sounded cool too.

[@fram8045]

This is a great video comparison...please do more. My guitar dictates the humbucker size so I play Seymour Duncan Phat Cat P90's & Irongear Alchemist 90's Humbucker size, I'm very happywith them. Your P90's all sounded great & I really liked your new P90. Dylans Pickups rock

[@zao1696]

i think one of the most important factor that makes difference is the length of pickups longer pickup will pick more range of standing waves on the string and will have more chance to cancel out high frequency standing waves if the wavelength of standing waves are shorter than pickup's sensing range i haven't verified this hypothesis though

[@SiberianTHRASHer]

I just realized that it's easier for me to buy a cheap guitar like the Aria Jet-2 to have the sound of a P-90 than a boutique "humbucker sized" P-90 or seymour duncan phat cat. Because that’s the kind of sound you can’t get anyway. Thank you.

[@Gtrtech]

I've been putting rod magnets in p90s for 25 years. Great for neck pos, a bit too bright for the bridge. The added chime and spank works for me since I'm a strat kinda guy. I donl the same with neck humbuckers too...

[@daleturner3507]

Damn now I really gotta think about my next move. My plan was to just swap my humbucker bridge pickup in my Strat for one of your DAFs. I really liked that new P-90 humbucker. So my HSS Strat might need that instead. I, like you, love the P-90. My favorite is in a Gibson LP Junior DC. So many things I need to work out now! 🤔

[@aureliusandthespiral]

Stonewall makes some really, really good h/p90s. He wires them differently, but is a true single coil.

[@Robowx]

I definitely like the Tele P-90 and The New P-90! I have a 335 sale guitar that came stock with Kent Armstrong hum bucker sized P-90's. I would definitely would put in your New Humbucker sized P-90 in my guitar!!!

[@bucketbot1]

Also a big P90 fan and have them in 3 of my guitars. 2 sets of Irongear HB size P90's in my Gibson Baritone SG and my Chinese made AIO Les Paul. I also have a set of Kent Armstrong HB sized P90's in my 2015 Gibson SG. I'm Tempted to try a set of yours, the ones you refer to as the New P90 but cant see these listed in your online shop?

[@dylanlee4776]

hey Dylan, Dylan here, was curious if you're familiar with the Guild Franz pickups from the 50s. would love if you made a video on them. im restoring a 58 m-75 which I need to rewind a vintage pickup for.

[@shawnway8554]

Very nice comparison. I have wondered for a while about a P90 in a Fender Wide Range size housing. Could possibly even fit the bobin in diagonally. Any thoughts?

[@SiberianTHRASHer]

What can you say about the EMG P81/85? They have the dimensions of a regular P-90, but the mounting holes are located at the edges and not in the center, does this limit the size of the coil? Any thoughts on the preamp?

[@StH00D]

First, thank you for playing them and not just talking about them. They all sound the same to me, must be the guitarist

[@nicholasjefferson8709]

I think the “new” one sounds pretty similar, very cool either way. I’m going to pick one up for my SG. Is that the “Enduro”?

[@LilGeezer82]

Love p90s! Ive got a schector tempest that Im putting 2 humbucker sized p90s in. What im having a hard time deciding is how to wire it. What hardware should i use{pots caps ect.} should I uese a treble bleed? Ive seen where you can bypass the tone on the neck. Ive seen a blend pot used for the 3rd pot as well. most diagrams ive found are standard 1or 2 volume and tone pots not two volume 1tone. I am looking for maximum tonal and volume control potential. what would you do?

[@rayschurr9337]

Hey... That tele sized p90 sounds great and the last p90 was a tone of it's own. Nice . Btw how are you liking the Somnium?

[@danielmiller2886]

This is a perfect video and answers so many questions for me. New sub. Thanks!

[@DylanTalksTone]

Thanks for the sub!

[@rodgoodbrand5359]

I don't see the tele p-90 option available on the website anymore. Are they still available?

[@tonkageorge]

I really enjoyed this video. I think each pickup had its own flavor and sounded great in certain configurations. I especially liked the Humbucker sized in the neck. I put Humbucker sized P-90s in one of my 335s and it’s one of my favorite set ups. Does it sound exactly like a dog ear? Don’t care. I like it.

[@frankiechan9651]

Great video Dylan. I so love the sound of a P90 in the neck position - clean or overdriven. The Tele-style is the one that most differs from the flavour of a P90 for me. The two HB-sized ones veer closer - with some small differences - but still very much in the P90 space rather than sounding like a humbucker. Your Enduro has a lovely bit of extra rawness/growl in my opinion.

[@grene1955]

I thought they all sounded great and had different characteristics. But that "New P90" kicks ass!

[@jimcamp2423]

I thought they all were really close, all of them were good too. And you're right about whether they sound good, even though they aren't one for one matches. Maybe, it's a signature sound that works better for the music is what it's about rather than the exact matching ? These P90 products seem like they're geared towards the Telecaster player wanting their Telecaster to be LP territory to exact match for P90's. Gibson LP & P90's are just the benchmark for me, I have the Epiphone LP Special I P90 & love that configuration, but I have heard Gibson Special P90 guitars that I preferred, even though the Epiphone Special P90's that I lucked into are some of the better Epiphone P90's I've heard, whether they're installed in a SG or LP guitar.

[@johnp6269]

I love the new p90!!!! I like the soap bar the best but id definitely go for the new one since I don’t have a soap bar guitar i do have hand wound humbucker size in a les Paul jr and that’s my most played guitar, love the video thanks for the comparison!

[@bobcraft3458]

Very good, thourough, informative and professional job...thank you!

[@zeffneeson5214]

P90s are by far my favourite pickups I was put off them for years by just how they looked kinda old fashioned I though how dumb I was lol The tele bridge one is all kinds of cool . I’m a big tele fan but struggle with the bridge pickups . I’m mostly a neck pickup player anyway . The only bridge pickup I’ve found I really like is an iron gear coil tapped tele bridge but I just wire it to the full coil like 14k whatever that actually means lol just sounds soo good tho not ice picky at all . Must be wound with 44 gauge I imagine there a fare few k wraps on there . Love love to try a p90 type tele bridge in a standard tele bobbin I’ve a feeling I’ll like it a lot 😁

[@boxerfencer]

Great sounding pickup. I liked yours best out of the bunch. Do you offer jazzmaster and jaguar style pickup, too?

[@DylanTalksTone]

They are all mine. And yes we do

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

I video to come back to. Most excellent demonstration and explanations.

[@MaxRadin]

Any thoughts on MiniHumbucker sized P90s? Thx

[@DrJeebles]

It's always nice to see the whiteboard make an appearance, even if it is digital. It's hard to tell if I am fooling myself without hearing them back to back. My ears probably just suck. I like all the sounds, but something about the 'New P90' stands out. I like it a lot. It has a great sound for a single coil I feel I have never heard before.

[@ravenslaves]

The only problem here is comparing all these pickups to "the P90". Only because there are so many variations of the P90 since they first came out, that two P90's can sound very different. Even from the same manufacturer (Gibson...big time). That it's hard to nail down "the P90" sound. That being said, I've never met one I didn't like. Franz made a great one for Guild. DeArmond made their own variation for Gretsch. Rickenbacker also... the list continues. What this video accomplished is showing how ultra cool the variations are. But in a World where a single coil either means Strat or Tele, I know a lot of people are unaware of how amazing the large single coils (P90ish) truly are. So, well done!!!!

[@777ikram]

Where are the Tele sized p 90s located? I could use a set of those!

[@weczq4]

Kinda want to give HB-sized p-90's a shot. It sounds like a happy medium to me.

[@Kraatzman]

What is the guitar pickup system that is installed. I have the Relish system that is similar but different.

[@frankwebster9110]

The tele sized definitely has a bit more fizz under distortion. Pretty killer. I wish you made a neck p90that would fit my LP special.

[@SpartacusPlanktonpants]

Nice! I've been wanting to hear the Tele90 (T-90?) for a while now. Makes me want another Telecaster 😛

[@richclayton5785]

Is the Gibson P100 a quiet P90 or something totally different?

[@cw5365]

Would the tele style pickup fit in a strat style guitar? What are the dimensions of the tele pickup?

[@Arwndr]

Was very excited to hear p90 in telecaster variation sound. Something very bright and interesting 🙌🏻✨ ) Now I understand that I really Like and love that kind of sound.

[@BigThomTattoos]

I'm looking for a P90 for my Les Paul Junior...What do you suggest?

[@hans-hinrichthedens706]

Nice video, and the new ones sound good. Thank you! But now you ought to compare them to Dynasonics.

[@phrelancelotmusic]

The way you played the pickups allowed me to hear the possibilities of of upgrading to a P90 from a single coiled

[@jeffro.]

Wow, they all sound good! But, I'm obviously a P90 fan! Honestly, I think I liked the last 2 best: The Strat- size P90, and the "new P90." That new P90 certainly sounds like it has more output, at least in the treble range...more bite. Yeah, how much do those dudes cost? I'm wanting to build a Strat with P90s. I still want 3 pups, though. Is there a way to put 3 pups in with st least 2 of 'em P90s? Can you tell me that? One last thing: what were the switches he was playing with on the back of the guitar? I might like those too (but on the front). Thanks! 👍👌

[@michaelmenkesOZSKIB]

I only noticed a big difference with the Tele P90. Might be that the humbucker shape accomodates enough of the P90 bobbin/coil shape to get it done, but it might also narrow the bend range of the high and low E strings if less coil/magnet is on the edges. In theory. In practice, who knows? The New P90 sounds great but also seems brighter and tighter. Maybe a bit mid-scooped. It doesn't roar quite like a SG special will in the neck. the constraints make it a bit more jazzy, but without the usual jazz low-tone-knob mud when cleaned up. Its a really nice pickup I think a lot of people will like, but is it a P90? I'm about to install a Bare Knuckle Nantucket HBP90 in the MIDDLE position between 2 humbuckers, and it shall be what it shall be. BK claims there is no distinction between its P90 and its HBP90 and I could hear none in their samples. Dylan, you're definitely bang for buck over BK and I think your center punch/new P90/center punch would have made an awesome alternative on this particular overly expensive project.

[@allanflippin2453]

The Tele version sounds like it would be a great replacement for a gutless Tele neck pickup :D

[@Meobros43]

I loooove the sound of the New P90. I have to get one. Which one is it on your website? Thanks.

[@DylanTalksTone]

The enduro

[@waynegram8907]

DYLAN, I'm glad you use the chalkboard again, try explain how goldfoils pickups work in theory and instead of using magnetics they use goldfoils instead

[@petset77]

Not all the way through the demonstration yet, but the humbucker size P90 sounds great at the neck and clean. The others all sound good at the bridge, especially with gain. The Tele version sounded best at the start of that demo, however you were using settings. "New" style sounded better at the bridge to me while driven. Also sweet clean. Just my opinion. As far as the differences in different size/winding and the sound, it physics. Different windings and spacing in transformers have them reacting differently. In pickup design, it's the sound that matters. Thanks for the demonstration and discussion.

[@DoobTube71]

Do you make a P90 in a MINI-humbucker sized format? Thoughts on the concept of a mini-hum bucker sized P90? I know Seymour Duncan has a mini-hum model P90 style pickup. I am doing a three-pickup build with mini-hum / wood mount hum / mini-hum routing configuration. A bit of an odd bird found from Warmoth in a Jazzmaster body. Should be a bit unique. I am thinking a real mini-humbucker in the bridge posish; a Seymour Duncan P-Rail in the middle posish (w/ three-way toggle on the body); and, a mini-hum sized P-90 in the neck! Have no idea about series or parallel wiring, especially given a SD P-Rail in the middle position. Should be fun to figure out! Will your Dylan Firebird pickup fit in a mini-hum routed cavity with a pickup ring to mount it? You are handmade in GA and I am in FL (married to a GA Peach!). Will support a local business! Your Firebird may be perfect for the bridge position pickup!

[@SlavaGen]

Wow, didn't thought I'd like T-90. I will definitely consider one for shorter scale guitar paird with fat strings. Or T-90 neck and HBP-90 bridge.

[@ltaylor2238]

Who makes the Tele size pickup?

[@Rotary_Phone]

I would have done the "new style" p90 after the humbucker sized p90 demo, and saved the Telecaster size for last. Other than that, they all sounded awesome, no complaints whatsoever....Also, the Telecaster p90s were great because they had a totally different flavor IMO.....THey were all great though.

[@marknielson2099]

All sound great but definitely like your new humbucker P90

[@DylanTalksTone]

I love it!

[@mikestillwagon5675]

Those are all totally useable sounds. I have become a hopeless P-90 junkie, and I would use any of those.

[@MikeKurka]

Would have been nice to know what pickups you were trying.

[@DylanTalksTone]

They are all linked below

[@cosmicdog62]

The new P90 sounds great!

[@mantashaft]

What do you think is the perfect guitar or shape for a P90 equipped guitar?

[@jimiwills]

I just got a humbucker size p90 for neck position. HSP.

[@drewsleyy3836]

Please do a pickup video on Dynasonics!! love your channel 🙏🏻

[@bpmore]

I should have pulled the trigger on those T90’s a few weeks ago. May have to do that soon.

[@TyRobertsmedia]

Hey, If you took the magnet-thru design and wound/spec-ed them the same as a JAZZMASTER - that would be something I'd buy.

[@DylanTalksTone]

Go to our contact form on the website and send me a note. I’d totally do it

[@fiddlix]

Your pickups sound awesome. Great testing and work. Thank you.

[@DylanTalksTone]

My pleasure!

[@lazylester1]

The telly sized p90(Ish) sounded pretty awesome to me, also the new P90 sounds great!

[@famousaimless2]

Really cool demo, they all evoke such classic tones, I’m really impressed. I’ve actually gotten a cart with some of your pickups ready to purchase, but keep getting an error when I try to check out. Is this an issue with iPads, or was something going on with your site? Any alternative way to order from you? I’d love a set of your pickups in some upcoming builds.

[@DylanTalksTone]

What sort of error

[@famousaimless2]

@@DylanTalksTone I’ll try again when I get home from work, I got the error maybe a month ago when I tried several times to order. If it still does it I’ll get you better details.

[@famousaimless2]

Looks like I will be ordering some pickups, it’s working now! Musta been something stupid I was doing 😬

[@DylanTalksTone]

Excellent

[@matthewscotti8077]

Great clean sounds!

[@tomaszmazurek64]

A standout to me was the telecaster sized ones - it doesn't sound exactly like a P90, but rather it sounds like really, really good supercharged Tele pickup. Too bad shipping from US to Poland is kind of a pain in the ass.

[@andresilva8444]

Does the P90 and the humbucker sized P90 have the same magnet size? or is the P90 longer?

[@RYANCASTLE-o3t]

you know how to sell, in a subtle, humble way. I especially liked how you ended it.😉 Well done my friend. Stay true to thyself, cuz you did fucking great, and your own.

[@liamschweppe]

Hi .... I have the jnguitar hogscoal 4 string with the P90.... Yea I do miss those sharper tones... There is something almost acidic about your new P90 pickup :-)

[@216trixie]

"jnguitar hogscoal" "4 string"? Please translate.

[@TheRealDealBobbySteele]

What about p90 sized humbuckers if you split them do they sound like a p90

[@mikedspringstead5974]

You could tap it instead, but what is there to split?