Vintage Vibe Guitars P-90

Pickup features:
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Homemade Tele
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Soul, funk, blues
Reason for pickup change: This was a new project guitar and not a replacement.

Perceived output level: These things are mighty, mighty! They make my other guitars seem a bit puny sounding.
Tone: Great growl, but back the tone off and the neck pup gets buttery and bluesy.
Sonic evaluation: I am playing through either a victorilux or a marshall 50w with a 2X12 cabinet. The P-90s sparkle through the victorilux and quickly head into Pete Townsend "Live at Leeds" terrotiry thru the marshall.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: These Pups would be great for just about anything, with the exception of a mellow Joe Pass jazz sound.

Comments: These are THE P-90 pickups. Pete was also VERY helpful when I had some wiring problems. He told me how to troubleshoot through my sloppy soldering and bring the guitar to life.

Pickup features: single coil / passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Special
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Gibson P-90's
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock, Blues, Jazz
Reason for pickup change: The Gibson pickups were too noisy when using a lot of gain on the amp.

Perceived output level: slightly more output and very quiet
Tone: balanced and percussive with nice cut
Sonic evaluation: These pickups are a vast improvement over the Gibson P-90's in my '96 Les Paul Special. They are extremely quiet and are very percussive sounding, kind of like an old strat pickup with a lot more output. Great low's and high's without being harsh and brittle sounding. They are reverse wound so that when both pickups are used the single coil noise (what little there is) magically disappears! They sound great through all of my amps, vintage or high gain. They are simply the best, most toneful P-90 pickups that I've tried and are as quiet as most humbuckers!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great for all styles of music.

Comments: I am completely satisfied with these pickups and would buy them again without hesitation!

Pickup features: Single Coil (Passive)
Impedence or other specs: 9.08k Neck / 10.85 Bridge

Model of guitar or bass: '96 Gibson Les Paul Special (TV Yellow Single-Cut)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock P-100s'
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Mostly Blues based rock (no "Heavy Metal")
Reason for pickup change: Stock P-100s' were kinda' dull sounding.

Perceived output level: Stock/Vintage in output. The impeadance would make you think otherwise though. Pete uses ceramic magnets so the sound won't deteriorate over the years. Also with P-90s' it's more accurate to go by the # of turns on the winder than by actual impeadance. They ohm on the high side but have a natural vintage sound and output.
Tone: Very balanced, clear articulate. Not too shrill and not muddy at all.
Sonic evaluation: I run this guitar through either an Orange AD15-12 combo, or a Soldano Atomic 16 head through a Mesa 3/4 1x12 cab. loaded with an Eminence GB-12. These are exceptional pickups, they nail that great old time P-90 sound. These are not hot, so if you looking for that extra greasy sound you may want to ask Pete to throw a few more winds in. Very clean and balanced tonewise, more on the bright side. The neck sounds clean but fat, with absolutely no "muddiness" whatsoever. Again, they are not hot, so you may wish to put an OD pedal in front if you want a heavier lead tone. I have an Analogman modded TS9 that I use for a lead boost, and it works great in conjunction with these PUPS. Some say that these are super quiet. I've found them to be about normal for P-90s', they aren't super quiet but they are better than some I've used (I find the newer stock Gibson P-90s' to be noisier than these)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: These suit my style just fine, but if you play super heavy or gainy styles you may wish for something a bit hotter.

Comments: I would get these again without hesitation. I may get one made for my Junior, and if so I'll ask for a few more turns on the winder. For this price they are an absolute steal! I have used other P-90s' from Fralin, Duncan, Gibson, DiMarzio, and Rio Grande. I rate these as good as any of those, and better than most. Great quality handwound PUPS for super reasonable price, get some now before people get hip to these and the price goes up! Even if they went up another $50 a set, they would still be a bargain.

Pickup features: P-90 single Coil in humbucker replacement size
Impedence or other specs: 8,5Kohm neck, 10kohm bridge

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez 335
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Gotoh Humbuckers
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): All styles
Reason for pickup change: The guitar had no personality with the stock japanese humbuckers.

Perceived output level: Good output. Keeps up with my Les Paul humbuckers and no noise!
Tone: They have a good clean tone like a single coil but much fuller and don't have the country spank of a Fender type guitar. When used in an overdrive setting they have a cool distortion sound that is not as grungy as humbuckers and the notes seem more distinct. I can see now why blues players like P90 pickups so much.
Sonic evaluation: I use a Johnson J-Station direct to PA or direct to studio recording board.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I bought the tortoise shell colored ones that look really good on my red sunburst Ibanez 335. I now take this guitar along with a Les Paul and a G&L ASAT to every gig and can cover any sound and style. I play in a cover band every weekend and play everything from swing to 60's rock and roll to country to 80's rock so I need a variety of sounds. I mostly use the 335 for clean jazz or swing sounds and blues songs.

Comments: I had a pair of Kent Armstrong P-90's for a couple of months before I bought these. The Kent Armstrongs were very muddy and had no highs. The Vintage Vibe pickups are also shielded very well so there is no noise. The Vintage Vibe guy was very good to work with also. I have found the sound for this guitar!

Pickup features: Single coil
Impedence or other specs: Neck 10.2, Bridge 10.6

Model of guitar or bass: Silvertone Jupiter (1963)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Original
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): BLues, jazz
Reason for pickup change: Bridge pickup was dead and couldn't be fixed or rewound due to pickup up cover construction.

Perceived output level: Higher than stock but very smooth
Tone: Balanced, open and articulate
Sonic evaluation: Using these with a Magnatone 210 (Champ style amp with Magnatone vibrato circuity). What a sound! The neck pickup is perfect for jazz - round and smooth, the bridge pickup is punchy but not as raw as many P90s I've used and the middle position is a great blend for Tele-esque rhythm playing.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Good for: Jazz, smooth blues, 60s r'n'b. Bad for: raunchy blues, punk

Comments: The Vintage Vibe pickups were a complete revelation - less than $90 for a pair on eBay but just great P90s. I've played P90s since the late 80s and have tried most in my time. IMO, the VV P90s are less raw and more articulate than many others. Definitely worth checking out.