Supersonic with P90s?

[Thomas]

I picked up a Vista series Supersonic from one of my friends. I remember from my old Jagmaster that these pickups are a bit uninspiring so they’re fur the chop. I have a spare set of DiMarzios (Evo2 and Breed) kicking about as well as all the stuff needed to make them splittable but I’m also considering a humbucker sized P90 in the neck instead. Have any of you tried out this combo in one of these?

[dots]

haven't used that combo of pickups, but i've been running GFS Dream 90 in the neck and Mean 90 in the bridge of my HH jag for over 10 years. no complaints on crunch, overhead, clarity, beef. most versatile pickup set i've ever had.

[paul_]

I use a Dream 90 in the neck of my main SG and it's great with the Duncan '59 in the bridge. Best of both worlds if you're going to mix single coils and buckers, in my opinion... YMMW (and what does Slash's dick taste like while we're on the subject Mr Throaty Leadz LMAOOOO)

[Thomas]

haven't used that combo of pickups, but i've been running GFS Dream 90 in the neck and Mean 90 in the bridge of my HH jag for over 10 years. no complaints on crunch, overhead, clarity, beef. most versatile pickup set i've ever had.

I might order in a set of those just to try. They sound right up my street! I think the DiMarzios might be a bit too full on for what I’m really looking for. I’m also a total sucker for the P90 style punch. GFS are great bang for your buck too. I might already have one of them in my parts box too.

I use a Dream 90 in the neck of my main SG and it's great with the Duncan '59 in the bridge.[/size]

Usually this is my go-to for versatility. Either way I’ll def try the dream90 at least!

What capacities are you guys running with the Dream90s?

Thanks for the input!!

[dots]

haven't used that combo of pickups, but i've been running GFS Dream 90 in the neck and Mean 90 in the bridge of my HH jag for over 10 years. no complaints on crunch, overhead, clarity, beef. most versatile pickup set i've ever had.

I might order in a set of those just to try. They sound right up my street! I think the DiMarzios might be a bit too full on for what I’m really looking for. I’m also a total sucker for the P90 style punch. GFS are great bang for your buck too. I might already have one of them in my parts box too.

i've become a bit of a one-brand guy when it comes to electronics, but at the price point and quality of sound i get, i can't see spending another $50 or more for wound copper and magnets.

[paul_]

.022uf for me, standard for Gibson/humbucker schemes.

I guess the Duncan "Phat Cats" are the primo equivalent of these GFS 90 pickups, but they're actually closer to a P-90.

The GFS Dream 90s are just an overwound single-coil which is built around one humbucker bobbin (so half an open coil humbucker).



And the Mean 90s have a larger bobbin and higher output, increasing the magnetic field



The Duncans have a bobbin closer to the size of a whole PAF, fully populating their baseplate and cover




I agree with dots that pricey pickups aren't always worth it. For me I prioritize having a nice bridge pickup, and the neck pickup can be any old shit that works with it. In my favorite Epiphone LP I have a DiMarzio DP100 in the bridge and a GFS Fat Pat in the neck, that's another great set.

[Thomas]

Hopefully I can source some here, if not I think the Toneriders are the same thing... I’m going to see if I can buy a spare guard too as I don’t want to hack up the stock one to fit regular shaped pickups in there (I never realised that the routes on these are shaped like the coils instead of the standard humbucker route.

I have some orange caps that are the right capacitance.

[dots]

right, the p90s i am using are humbucker spaced by design. that was attractive to me when i originally selected them as the dragster humbuckers the HH jag comes with stock didn't clean up as crisp or drive as hard as i wanted.

i also put a set of GFS gold foil p90s in my toronado to replace the uninspired fender p90s. i need to shave down the bridge pickup cavity a little bit, though, as i think the pickup is about 1/8" too close to the strings. i don't have any complaints on tone, but it just doesn't look right and leads me to believe there could be something off.

[Thomas]

Yeah I think that it’s definitely the laws of diminishing returns, especially especially once you go past SD prices. I have phat cats in my Eastman and they are great pickups.

It’s interesting to see the construction of the GFS models. The one in my parts box is a Warman version. Pretty similar construction it seems. I might try that with the Evo in the bridge (it sounds decent split too) at first then buy in some replacements if needed.

Probably the best sounding p90 I’ve ever had I bought from someone on here yonks ago. It was an SD antiquity. I’d love to go down that route but I don’t want to hack up the old supersonic. Tho I’ll have a look at the routing under the guard I crack it open tomorrow to see what the state of play is.

[kingkiller]

Just adding another +1 to the Dream 90, I use one in the bridge of a single pickup strat I put together, it’s a great choice.

[dots]

and if you get the chrome version, you can look really cool like this.

[Thomas]

Very cool. Tho this is white so I’ll most likely go for black.

[GreenKnee]

I've just received a blue sparkle super-sonic and was thinking about P90s as too.
I've had the DiMarzio bluesbucker recommended to me, and I've been looking at the Mississippi Queen by Bareknuckle.

I love the zebra stripe aesthetic of the stock pickups so might give a bluesbucker a try. Apparently the main coil is wound big and wide like a P90 and then the slug coil is just for bucking the hum.

[theshadowofseattle]

I've just received a blue sparkle super-sonic and was thinking about P90s as too.
I've had the DiMarzio bluesbucker recommended to me, and I've been looking at the Mississippi Queen by Bareknuckle.

I love the zebra stripe aesthetic of the stock pickups so might give a bluesbucker a try. Apparently the main coil is wound big and wide like a P90 and then the slug coil is just for bucking the hum.

I have the Bluesbucker in my SGuar and it is awesome.

[GreenKnee]

I've just received a blue sparkle super-sonic and was thinking about P90s as too.
I've had the DiMarzio bluesbucker recommended to me, and I've been looking at the Mississippi Queen by Bareknuckle.

I love the zebra stripe aesthetic of the stock pickups so might give a bluesbucker a try. Apparently the main coil is wound big and wide like a P90 and then the slug coil is just for bucking the hum.

I have the Bluesbucker in my SGuar and it is awesome.

That's good to know, the people who have them love them so I'm definitely leaning that way. Plus the DiMarzio are a much more sensible price than a set of Bareknuckles

[Thomas]

I’ve never pulled the trigger on any Bareknuckle pickups. Everyone I know who has used them has ended up taking them back out and selling them. The Bluesbucker sounds interesting too tho.

I’m currently quite pleased with the splittables in this just now. So I’ll probably hold off on the P90s until I need these pickups for something else.

[Thomas]

Here it is as it is now. Somewhat of a stealth upgrade. Needs a mint guard tho. It definitely needs a black tip whammy too.

[sunshiner]

White on white looks super classy to me

[Doog]

Needs a mint guard tho

this is why we're not allowed to have nice things

[dots]

i think it would look awesome with white or chrome pickups/covers. you'd need to slightly trim the pickguard in its present state, tho, since the current pickup routes form fit to the humbuckers.

still, looks great, imo.