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Post subject: P90s in a Stratocaster? Two or Three pickups?
Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 4:19 am
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I'm a Strat guy through and through. I prefer the body contour, love the neck profile, make use of the tremolo, and much prefer the control layout to any other, especially the 5-way switch. Ergonomically the Strat is all but perfect for me.

I want to install a set of P90s in a beater Partscaster and wanted to run it past the experienced techs here to head off potential performance problems. If you have any experience with laying out a pair of P90s in a two-pickup configuration or better yet, a P90-SC-P90 three-pickup configuration then I'd like to pick your brain.

I'd mainly be using this guitar for slide and mostly overdriven sounds instead of beautiful cleans we typically associate with a Strat, mainly. I'd like to dial in the piano-string cleans the P90s are known for as well.

Q: Would a 2-pickup configuration be preferred to a 3-pickup arrangement. Why? I love the 5-way switch if all the tones are useful.

Q: I am concerned with pickup layout and how it affects the overall response and balance between the pickups. Should the routes for the P90s be centered over the existing single coil routes or offset one way or another?

Q: Are there standard layout templates for 2 or 3 pickups that include P90s?

Q: Should the bridge pickup be installed parallel to the middle pickup, or would you suggest observing the original angle of the bridge pickup? Why or why not?

Q: If using a P90-SC-P90 configuration, I am concerned with how positions 2 & 4 will sound when a P90 is coupled with a standard single coil. Would the 2 & 4 sounds be musical or just another cobbled together sound that makes a different noise?

These are the initial caveats that come to mind. I'm sure others will raise some valid questions and point out potential gotchas as well. Any input is appreciated.

I will probably use Lollar or Porter P90s and am leaning toward a P90-SC-P90 setup. Here are a few configurations that came up in my research.

Image

Image

Image

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Post subject: Re: P90s in a Stratocaster? Two or Three pickups?
Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 10:54 am
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I guess it depends on how much use you normally make of selector positions 2 & 4.
If you rarely use them and are not fond of that out-of-phase sound then drop the middle pup from your configuration.
I think only you can answer your own question.
A partsocaster is about building what you want.
It's not about building what others want or prefer.

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Post subject: Re: P90s in a Stratocaster? Two or Three pickups?
Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 11:53 am
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I would keep the traditional three pickup set up as it is more versatile and just plain looks "Right".

T2

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Post subject: Re: P90s in a Stratocaster? Two or Three pickups?
Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 12:03 pm
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Ever consider some P90-ish Strat pickups?
http://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/p90-s ... p-set.html


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Post subject: Re: P90s in a Stratocaster? Two or Three pickups?
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:17 am
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I once had a Strat that I used one P-90 (only pickup) and
it was pretty cool for awhile. I kept it for a few years then
traded it away. It was a cool one trick pony though.

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Post subject: Re: P90s in a Stratocaster? Two or Three pickups?
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:26 am
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Don't know if I can be of much help here, but as a big fan of P-90's, I'd love to hear the results of your experiment!
I am curious about how you plan on mounting them, tho'. Other than the provided link to the maker who makes a Strat sized version of the P-90, I don't know how you would mount a regular sized soap bar P-90 to a Strat pick-guard. Your second photo does seem to show such an arrangement, however. Maybe a dog ear style could be top mounted to Strat pick-guard? That'd look pretty cool, if it left enough clearance space. Perhaps such things are made, but I've never seen them. I would think a swimming pool route would provide you with enough space, even for 3 P-90's. I just don't know what you could screw them into to hold them in place.
Hah! Made me curious enough to start looking. Found this "how-to" video of Jason Lollar switching out P-90's for humbuckers in an Epi SG. He epoxies some mounting shims into the route, then drills shallow holes into the guitar body for support. The P-90 mounting screws go through the shim and into the body.
http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/mercha ... stallation
You mention the "piano string cleans that P-90's are known for." Recently I got rid of a Doublecut LP Special with twin P-90's. Loved the look and sound of the guitar, but just couldn't get used to the feel-action seemed too low, neck too slim, body wasn't comfortable, etc. Anyway, I wouldn't describe the P-90's sound as "piano string clean." A little more powerful than a Strat or Tele style single coil, not as bright, more mid-range emphasis, and while not muddy, I wouldn't say the sound was as clean as a Strat single coil. Just my opinion.
Let us know how this project comes out, inquiring minds want to know!


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Post subject: Re: P90s in a Stratocaster? Two or Three pickups?
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:47 am
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T2Stratman wrote:
I would keep the traditional three pickup set up as it is more versatile and just plain looks "Right".

T2


Indeed so.

Would Lace Sensors give similar results (and still retain the integrity of a Strat looking like a Strat)?

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Post subject: Re: P90s in a Stratocaster? Two or Three pickups?
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 7:04 pm
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Thanks for all the replies, all comments and advice duly noted. I just restored a 1963 two-pickup double-cutaway Melody Maker and used Lollar P90s and the cleans were indeed piano string clean. I'd like have those tones with a Strat and keep the ergonomics the same with the traditional 5-way switch and volume-tone arrangement.

At this point, the consensus seems to be 3 pickups rather than any of the other possibilities, but I have time and will see what some others have to add. I will definitely research it thoroughly and have everything laid out before I order any parts or cut anything. I won't be butchering a fine instrument either, I'd either build a partscaster or find a MIM candidate to bastardize.


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Post subject: Re: P90s in a Stratocaster? Two or Three pickups?
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 4:47 pm
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John Sims wrote:
T2Stratman wrote:
I would keep the traditional three pickup set up as it is more versatile and just plain looks "Right".

T2


Indeed so.


Would Lace Sensors give similar results (and still retain the integrity of a Strat looking like a Strat)?


No, Lace Sensors don't really sound like a P-90 IMHO. That first pic you posted looked great! Lollars P90's sound great.

T2

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Post subject: Re: P90s in a Stratocaster? Two or Three pickups?
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:07 pm
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I was just wondering,..how closely do the large G&L MFD (ala ASAT Special, or SC-2) pickups mimic traditional soap-bar P-90 dimensions?


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