Kent Armstrong P-90

single coil. alnico magnet.

installed in a epiphone casino instead of stock neck p90.reason:i play in a trio with dobro and sax. needed a tighter bottom end while keeping the twang of a single coil.

i play country/blues, rock a billy and a little jazz.I needed to upgrade the stock pickup and didn't want to go humbucker, although i tried that first, and failed to get the sound i wanted. You need the p90 twang for the fingerpicking stuff, for sure. It's also much more an acoustic sound in conjunction with the epiphone casino.
Unfortunately Seymour duncan doesn't make dogear p90. I would've tried that first, as i have good experiences with them. so Kent Armstrong it is.As others have mentioned before, this is not a classic p90 sound, but a hybrid, something between a p90 and a humbucker, and closer to the latter.Still an alnico magnet.Output is to high, i.m.o. .Low in highs and a nice fat, tight bottom end. Doesn't sparkle as much and not as twangy as a normal p90. A little 'duller'.But overall, the sound that i need for my trio. If you don't need such a tight bottom end, and you want a classic p90, don't go for this.
I play the casino through a fender vibroverb with alnico speakers

something has to give, i think. Every pu has limitations. this hybrid one does the job. Theres always a nagging thought that somewhere else the perfect pu is waiting.the grass is always greener on the other side.Until you get there ,of course.
I've been playing for 25 years, mainly a tele player and casino through fender.

Pickup features: Single coil; passive
Impedence or other specs: don't know

Model of guitar or bass: PRS SantanaSE
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: Armstrong PAF at the neck
Artists using this pickup: don't know
You musical style(s): country, rock , originals, vintage rock and roll, blues , hillbilly
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickups on the $500 Santana SE are worthless. The Torres matched set was somewhat better, but marginal. The PAF and P90 at neck and bridge, respctively are a good pair and blend well together. The middle position is not so different from the bridge alone. These would do well together in a dual volume/tone (like a Les Paul, ES335, etc control setup).

Perceived output level: fatter than a Tele bridge and more round, yet tight and crips with punch.
Tone: crisp: percussive, between firm HB and Tele bridge sound with firm bass
Sonic evaluation: DrZ Maz38 Senior 1X12 and VibroChamp w. Weber 10" VST speaker. This PRS SantanaSE in mahogany, set neck, is a good inexpensive guitar. Buy the wraparound bridge model,though. The P-90 is plenty loud, clear, quiet, toneful with bit and a crispy sound yet fat andf full. Its good for country picking and sounds good overdriven . I think an SG would do well with 2 of these.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: mostly originals & blues, country, rock, vintage stuff.

Comments: at $45, they are a bargain. The PAF is good too, not great, but I got a PAF for $30! Listen to a stock Santana SE and then multiply by a quality factor of 3 and you'll be close. I never played P-90s until now and for country guys it's a good choice at the bridge. I think a Strat wit ha very good neck and middle would sound better with qa P90 at the bridge than a beefy HB. I have to rate 10 on 'fantastic value' because they are : well made, packaged, priced, and they sound very good and look good too. Farlin's luthier uses them on occasion and likes them. And I agree: Kent Armstrongs are a very good value.

Pickup features: Single Coil (Humbucker Retro-Fit)
Impedence or other specs: Alnico/DC = 9k

Model of guitar or bass: Jay Turser JT-137 (ES 335 Copy)
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock Humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: Stock Humbucker
Artists using this pickup: ????
You musical style(s): Rock, Psychadelic, Mod
Reason for pickup change: Wanted to improve sound quality.

Perceived output level: Very loud pickup. This pickup is very hot.
Tone: This pickup has the tone I have been looking for, right inbetween a humbucker and a single coil. Not to bright and not muddy. Defined mids and highs with really clear bass.
Sonic evaluation: I play a Turser Hollowbody through a 1968 Fender Twin Reverb loaded with JBL D120F's. It is a very bright amp and JBL's are known to be very trebly. So the single coils can be pretty piercing at high volume through this twin. But this P-90 is not piercing at all but still has the definition of a single coil. It's perfect for what I want. I am a tone nut and have searched high and low for the combination of guitar, amp, tubes, speakers and pickups. I think I am their. This a great sounding pick up for a great price.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly psyche stuff like late 60's stones, Small Faces, etc. This is a great pickup for vintage sounds.

Comments: I have been playing for about 10 years and have gone through many guitars and amps. I have driven myself mad trying to get the sound I want. But I seriously think this pickup is the last piece of the puzzle. I am very happy with it this far. It sounds great with my setup and it was a very good price at $55. I would definitely replace it if the guitar was lost or stolen. It isn't a true P-90 tone, but it is definitely a single coil pickup in sound quality. Great pickup.

Pickup features: single coil, humbuckers
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Custom made
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: None, it was custom made with Kent Armstong pickups in mind
Other pickups on guitar: None were ever considered
Artists using this pickup: None original guitar
You musical style(s): hard rock to classical metal
Reason for pickup change: Didn't want to change pickups. I designed a guitar which I build out of Mahogany (by hand (with power tools of course)hard maple Warmoth 24" mustang neck, wanted really hot KA P-90 pickups, but was unable to reach KA through WD music site. It seems if you want KA pickups you have to buy the Korean pickups off the shelf. Nevermind. I'll call Bill & Becky. If they even exist along with Willi. Fuck it. I'm going to learn to build my own pickups just like I built my own guitar because there are too many asswholes in the guitar business.

Perceived output level: 0 - never heard it
Tone: hollow and empty
Sonic evaluation: Never got a chance to use it.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: hard rock to classic metal

Comments: Still looking