Gibson P-94

Pickup features: Single coil, passive. Distinctive feature: fits in a standard humbucker slot
Impedence or other specs: N/A

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul classic
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Gibson Classic 57's
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues, jazz, rock
Reason for pickup change: Loved the sound of my old 1959 original P90. Wanted that sound on my Les Paul.

Perceived output level: These pickups are loud. Typically with a single coil pickup the concern is that the output won't be hot enough. Not so with the P-94's
Tone: Very bright pickups. Have some nice growl to them thanks to their single-coil nature
Sonic evaluation: I play clean; run through a Fender PowerChorus.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues, Jazz, Rock.

Comments: OK, here's the scoop as I see it - the good, the bad and the ugly:
The Good - These pickups are bright, they will liven up a dull instrument. They are everything the previous opininons stated: nice high end, loud pickups. Have growl to them, as well.
The Bad - I dunno, maybe it's the placement of the coils, the windings, etc. I found the bridge pickup not to have the midrange bite of my Classic '57. The neck pick was somewhat warm but didn't give me a smooth, creamy sound - even with the tone knob set down to around 4.
The Ugly - IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THAT OLD '50s P90 TONE, THESE PICKUPS DO *NOT* DELIVER. I'VE PLAYED SEVERAL EARLY '50s GOLDTOPS, AND OWNED A 1959 LES PAUL SPECIAL AND I CAN TELL YOU: THEIR PICKUPS WERE WARM, RICH AND SMOOTH. THE ONLY THING THAT THE P-94'S HAVE IN COMMON IS THEIR SINGLECOIL-NESS. IF YOU WANT A P90 TONE, BUY THE REAL THING, STAY AWAY FROM THESE PHONIES!

Pickup features: P-90 style single coil fits exactly into humbucker position
Impedence or other specs: don't know but output is high

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Standard
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: pat.no.2,xxx,xxx,xxx, and then '57s
Other pickups on guitar: both P94s now
Artists using this pickup: me ;-)
You musical style(s): hard rock, everything from '70s to today
Reason for pickup change: I have 3 Gibson LP Std's and wanted different pickups in each. I use stock 498T/490R in one, 500T/496R in another, and tried '57/'57+ in this LP but those just sounded like weaker versions of the 490s.

Perceived output level: VERY LOUD, they easily overdrive my '65 40W Bandmaster
Tone: Middy and the perfect word to describe them is SNARLY, like the rotweilers in The Omen
Sonic evaluation: For a level playing ground I test all new guitars and pickups thru my '65 Bandmaster; but primarily I use a 2112 processor for any real work I do.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play hard rock, the P94s are excellent for many songs and excel at nasty snarly rhythm such as AC/DC type sounds

Comments: --here's verbiage I posted at the Gibson Forum---
Until recently I never knew the P94 existed but I had always been curious what one of those reissue Les Pauls with the P90 pickups would sound like.
For those that don't know the P94 you can see a cool pic of it at www.gtrheaven.com, it's a P90 pickup that fits directly in a standard humbucker spot with no mod to the guitar, --excellent physical design!
The sound:
being a single coil it's of course got a lot of noise, but for rock music with mild -to- moderate -to- high distortion that noise is a normal part of the sound. Plus I sometimes use fairly heavy noise-gating on my processor; if you use a noise gate at the proper points it won't chop the sound, my 2112 has a ton of params for setting noise gate, way more than my DOD 866s. Note also the noise is squelched in the middle toggle position.
okay, beyond the expected noise thing, the TONE STOMPS! and the output is VERY HIGH. I was amazed the output of this thing, it overdrives my '65 Bandmaster (40W all tube) easily, and creates excellent sounding tone and distortion.
The distortion tone is not at all clean or clear, it is very very rude & nasty and sounds like a snarling dog, like the nasty mid-ish tone you hear people often describe about SGs. These pickups would make a killer tone to emulate rhythm guitar on AC/DC songs.
At high gain there is quite a bit of feedback and it's all good (to me); a lot of bands on the radio the last decade have been using loud feedback screeches at key points in the rhythm, and I've had a hard time getting that without going to extreme volumes or using too much distortion for the rest of the song. The P94s feedback as easily as my ES-135.
Note that the extreme amount of output from P94s may make it not match up with a humbucker; I originally tried the P94 in the neck and left a Classic '57+ in the bridge, and the Classic was way weak in comparison, so I put another P94 in and life is grand ;-).
The P94s went in my 3rd LP Std; I was looking for a varation from the 498T and 500T in the other 2, and first I tried the '57/'57+ pair in my 3rd LP. The '57s sounded good, but to my laymen's ears just sounded like weaker versions of the 498/490 thing, so I decided to give the P94s a try. Boy O boy I am glad I did :-). If you've got too many LPs and want different tones from each I highly recommend the P94s. I'm sure that P90 purists will find something less than P90 about them; I've never had a Les Paul with P90s, all I can say is the P94 kicks! I never expected this much output and overdrive from a single coil.
If I could only own one Gibson LP Std it would have the 500T/496R combo because I'm mostly a humbucker guy, but as long as I could own 2 Gibson LP Std's the 2nd one would get these P94s for sure.

Pickup features: Passive single coil that fits in humbucker slot
Impedence or other specs: Don't know. I have never like active pickups or high output passives,so this limits what I look for.

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Korina Flying V
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Epiphone Pickups
Other pickups on guitar: P94R and P94T matching set.
Artists using this pickup: No idea.
You musical style(s): 60s & 70s covers; power pop; guitar hook driven materials; some punk
Reason for pickup change: Stock Epiphones were very mediocre. Neck was muddy. Both lacked clarity,definition and good range. I very deliberately wanted to try single coil, P-90 type pick-ups in a solid body as I was looking for very specific sounds.

Perceived output level: Moderate to high for passive single coils.
Tone: Bassy tendency, but not overly so. Very well balanced and exceptionally clear.
Sonic evaluation: They really sound great. See comments in next section. I run this set up through a CRATE GX-140D stereo chorus amp with 2 Carvin Legacy 2 X 12" (Celestion) extension cabinets.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I was very deliberately trying to reproduce Pete Townshend's late 60s, SG Special sound. Those SGs had P-90s. This set up comes amazingly close, and has better definition. I think they do the clean sound exceptionally well. That is particularly impressive when you consider that this is a mediocre quality solid body guitar. These are not pickups for the metal player.

Comments: Steal the guitar...please do, but leave me the P-94s!
The pickups saved this guitar from going to guitar heaven (or from getting the full Pete Townshend impersonation!) The Epiphone Flying V is hands down the worst guitar I have ever owned, and I have owned about 14 guitars over 22 years of playing. Prior to the P-94s, its most reliable sound trait was fret buzz - more than on than any guitar I have ever owned. Despite the guitar's shortcomings, the P-94s deliver a tone that make me want to keep the guitar. They allow for a very full, dynamic tone which also sounds very nice played clean. You can sound almost jazzy if you want. And I really enjoy the Pete Townshend sound-a-like quality.
I think these are fantastic pickups. What they have done for this guitar really is impressive. When you consider what I paid for them vs. their suggested list price and how great they sound, they get a 10.

Pickup features: humbucker sized P-90
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Tennesean
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: 490T
Other pickups on guitar: 492R
Artists using this pickup: don't know don't care
You musical style(s): blues
Reason for pickup change: The 490 sounded thin, especially with the hotter 492 neck pickup
which is standard on Tenneseans

Perceived output level: very close to the Gibson 492R in output, ie slightly hotter than a normal humbucker.
Tone: clear chimey highs, balanced mids and slightly grindy bass
Sonic evaluation: I use an old Fender Vibrolux (40 watts, 2-10's) or a Roland Bluescube
when I don't feel like waiting for tubes to warm up. This pickup is a good match with both, although I think it really shines with tubes. Cleans up nice with the guitars volume down and gets real gritty when
cranked. Sounds good with the semi-hollow body, no feedback at any sane volume. A little bit of hum, but no big deal.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This a great pickup for blues and "classic rock" and works well in the bridge position.

Comments: I bought this pickup a couple years ago because I was unhappy with the stock bridge pickup on my Tennesean, I like P-90's but I didn't want to alter the guitar. I ran into a Gibson rep at a local store and he told me about the P-94. The first one I bought was DOA and Gibson took a month to replace it. It was worth the wait. It matches up great with the 492R and gives the guitar greater clarity on the highs and tighter bass It is not a P-90 clone but it gives a good single coil vibe without being too shrill. If I could have put a P-90 in, I would have. This was the next best thing at the time. There are more options now, Harmonic Design and Rio Grande both have humbucker sized P-90's now.

Pickup features: Passive single coil in humbucker size
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Sheraton II
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Epiphones
Other pickups on guitar: Just P-94R and P-94T matching set
Artists using this pickup: No idea. Not a consideration.
You musical style(s): Lots of 60s & early 70s covers; power pop.
Reason for pickup change: Poor tonal quality and microphonic tendencies of stock Epiphone pick-ups. Stock neck pickup in particular was very muddy. Practically no tonal definition out of either stock pickup. Stock pickups had to go. Question was finding the right ones.

Perceived output level: These are passive single coils, so let's put this into perspective. These have plenty of output to overdrive every amp I have ever run this guitar through (Line 6 Flextone, Ampeg 120 tube stack, Crate GX-140D and others). You are not going to get Gibson 500T or DiMarzio Super Distortion sounds out of these; nor did I want that. To my ear, these have more output than Fender single coils, but a little less than the high output single coils you find on a (long live the Jam!) Rickenbacker 330 .
Tone: These sound beautiful. Clarity best defines the neck pick-up. I have grown not to like the sound of a humbucker in the neck position. They tend to sound too muddy. The P-94R gives very nice, full sounding but-not-too-bassy response. It sounds very clear and completely lacks the muddiness that too often plagues a neck position humbucker. When rolling off the volume, the P-94T does a wonderful job of giving that jangly, Rickenbacker type sound associated with lots of 60's records. Crank it up a little and it ROCKS! Using the center position - both pickups - and there is not a note that will not articulate. Tonal clarity is what these pickups offer, and they compliment each other very well.
Sonic evaluation: I have these on an Epiphone Sheraton II which I run through several different amps, but my favorite set up is a CRATE GX-140D stereo chorus amp with 2 - 2 X 12 cabinets (usually Carvins).

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: These pickups are perfect what I play - especially 60's and early 70s covers and power pop. If it is melodic at all and would benefit from a good, full tone sound, these pickups will do it honor. I am not a jazz player, but many of my jazz guitarist friends have been very impressed with the tonal range and sound quality of this set-up.

Comments: Been playing over 20 years. Own Gibsons, modified Epi's, Rickenbackers, Fenders, etc. I definitely have a range of sounds I set up specific guitars to deliver.
For the Sheraton II, most of us have heard over and over that you should replace the stock pickups with either Seymour Duncan 59s or Gibson 57 Classics. I considered those plus Seymour Duncan Jazz, Alnicos; DiMarzio Air Nortons and others, etc. I listened and listened and listened to all of those and others for almost a year before buying.
I think both the Seymour Duncan 59s and the Gibson 57 Classics sound great in the bridge position. I think the P94T is every bit as good, and even better because it gives you the option of either going jangly, or turning the volume to 10 and rocking, or bringing out a clarity the other two just can not quite match.
For the neck, the P94R simply gives a cleaner, fuller, better defined tone. IMHO, it is simply "the" superior sounding pickup - the best sounding I have ever heard - for the neck position. The only neck humbucker I have ever heard that even comes close to this kind of clarity is the Gibson 496R, but that pickup sounds very different in different guitars.
I like using a P94R in the neck position and a good humbucker in the bridge position. I have an Epiphone Flying V which is going to get a P-94R in the neck and a Gibson 57 classic in the bridge.
The one complaint: a little noisy, as is typical of many single coils.
I love these pick-ups. In fact, I purchased extras just in case something happens to the ones in this guitar. Particularly if you have a hollow body, I strongly recommend a break away from the mold, i.e., try these!

Pickup features: single coil, passive
Impedence or other specs: single-coil pick up that fits in a 'bucker space

Model of guitar or bass: '96 Lefty S.G. standard
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: '57 classics
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Kenny Blue Ray
You musical style(s): Blues, Rock, Pop, Jazz
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a guitar w/ a different sound than the usual humbucker or fender single coil.

Perceived output level: pretty hot, not as loud as a humbucker, definitely louder than your average fender pup.
Tone: definitely TREBLY. Good clarity. Don't know if theynail the classic P-90 sound, but I love 'em!!
Sonic evaluation: I use a '60 tweed bassman, and the SG ROCKS with these new P-94's. Much better than the generic sound I was getting w/ the '57 classics. Even my band mates complimented me on how good I sounded. The only complaint is that if I touch both pup's w/ the strings, the sound gets cancelled out. Very unusual. Also, the output isn't matched on both pup's. the neck pup seems hotter. Had to move the bridge pup really close to the strings to balance both pup's out.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great for anything I can think of, especially rock 'n' roll.

Comments: Aside from the complaints above, I love these!

Pickup features: Single Coil, replaces humbucker, fits into same slot
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Special (Cheapo Les-Paul style guitar -- approx. $199)
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Open coil epiphone humbuckers (both)
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues, folk, light rock
Reason for pickup change: The humbuckers in the epiphone are really cheap and don't sound very good.

Perceived output level: High, better than the humbuckers on guitar now
Tone: Brassy, bassy, honky, more strat-like, hollow
Sonic evaluation: Using the Fender Frontman 25R on this inexpensive Epiphone. It's the guitar they sell with the Epiphone starter kit with small amp and all. But you can buy guitar separate for $199.
Anyway, the sound from the new pickups is really great. So very much better than old stuff. They should -- cost as much as the whole guitar just to replace 'em. I did it myself. Email me and I'll tell you how to do it.
It doesn't make your guitar into a strat, of course, but it does give a very must strat-like sound, lots of deep base, high treble, hollow, honking tones, really made my cheap guitar into a professional instrument. Afterall, the other parts on the epiphone are very good: tune-o-matic bridge, good wood, rosewood fretboard.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Just learning -- blues, rock, hendrix (I wish!), etc. Replaced both humbucker picks with these P-94s: A P-94T for bridge position and P-94R for the neck position. Use black wire for positive on "R" pickup and white wire for "T". This combination automatically reduces hum.

Comments: I really really like these pickups. They change the tone of the guitar greatly. They give your guitar a very professional, vintage, single coil sound. It's a very clean. It does have the hollow, honk and bass that you expect. However, it's not as dramatic a single coil sound as a strat. The gibson P-94 is a very high-end pickup that costs more than some other pickups, but it's definitely the choice if you want to replace one or more of your humbuckers with a high quality, great-sounding true single coil pickup -- it's not a humbucker that promises to "sound" like a vintage single coil -- it IS a single coil. It's the first gibson PAF pickup in some time.

Pickup features: single coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: PRS Custom 24
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: HSF bridge, Vintage Bass neck
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): blues, roots rock
Reason for pickup change: Bought the PRS used, pickups sounded too muddy, not rude or blusey enough. Wanted that single coil sound. Gibson 9-94s are single coil pickups that fit into a humbucker slot.

Perceived output level: Somewhat hotter than standard p-90s.
Tone: I have read many evaluations of the p-94, some good some bad. I find them to be very similar to the regular p-90 tone. It's fantastic. Has single coil bite but fatter than a fender-style single coil. I love treble so I tend to put a lot on the amp and turn the base down somewhat. They do bite the way I like when I do this.
Sonic evaluation: I don't care what other people think but I think they sound great. They saved my PRS Custom from being sold. I play through a 63 vibroverb reissue and the sound just cuts through the band in a clear yet fat way. A tube screamer sends them right over the top. If you are looking for ice, you won't get that tone but you wouldn't with any p-90. To me these are faithful to the p-90 sound and, or course, the best thing is that they fit in the humbucker hole with no routing, etc. If you want to return the guitar to stock to sell, it's easy.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues, roots rock. Great for these styles, and in any position.

Comments: If they were destroyed or stolen, I would buy them again. I have been playing for about 30 years and have two other electrics -- a strat and a jazzmaster. All guitar players search for the holy grail and never quite find it. These pickups are great for what they are intended to be.

Pickup features: passive single coil
Impedence or other specs: Don't know

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson ES-345
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Gibson Humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan JB in bridge
Artists using this pickup: don't know
You musical style(s): Blues, Blues/rock
Reason for pickup change: Wanted "something different"

Perceived output level: Similar to humbucker - slightly less output
Tone: Clear lows, interesting bell-like mids, a little weak on the high-E string, otherwise pretty balanced
Sonic evaluation: ES-345 and modded Fender Bandmaster, 50-watt JCM800 Marshall

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues, Blues/rock. A decent match for this type of music, and suitable for either pickup position.

Comments: This pickup was a disappointment. It has it's good points - clear lows, bell-like, somewhat nasal mids (but interesting sounding). Weak on the high end (like most Gibson-made pickups seem to be), no snap on the highs. Noisy, as expected. Does not sound single-coily.
I wanted something different, however, this pickup really came across sounding like a noisy humbucker. When compared to a Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro on my ES-335, the SD sounded VERY similar, with better high-end response. I would think that an after-market humbucking pickup could be found that replicates the P-94 sound without all the noise. I could tolerate the noise if it had a truly distinctive sound, but the P-94, to my ears, anyway, is just not that much different sonically from certain humbuckers anyway
I certainly would not buy it again knowing what I know now, and have contacted Dave's Guitars about returning it if possible.

Pickup features: Single coil, passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Stratocaster
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: New project.
Other pickups on guitar: Duncan Alnico Strat- neck only, no middle P/U.
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues
Reason for pickup change: I wanted to get a P-90 sound- didn't happen.

Perceived output level: Decent output level.
Tone: The P-94 has is own, fat..........just plain fat sound. Not like a P-90 at all.
Sonic evaluation: I have a large selection of guitar amps. The P-94 does not sound
'special' through any combination. This just does not have the charm
of a real P-90....sorry. Real is real, and this is NOT a P-90 without the mounting ears! But if you want a F A T......round......one dimensional tone (and I don't know why you would) your search is
over. Maybe it would be better in the neck position- but no highs/clarity shouldn't be too cool in that position, either. This is a nice, light body, and the Duncan Alnico sounds wonderful in the neck- it's a keeper.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues

Comments: If you like a nice, mid-rangy P-90 tone, get an old Les Paul Special or Junior.
This is not even a 'close' approximation. But it is as advertised- a
single-coil pick-up that fits exactly into a standard humbucking spot.
If the pick-up were stolen, that would be fine. If they take the guitar
also- I'd be furious!!