Learn the tonal differences between a few of our most popular P90 single-coil pickups

Vintage P90

Magnet: Alnico V

Neck DCR: 8.0k

Bridge DCR: 9.7k

Our vintage-correct recreation of the original 1946 Gibson single-coil with all of the midrange grittiness, sparkle, and growl that make vintage P90 pickups so special. The dual alnico 5 bar magnets, and the short, wide bobbins give the P90 its unique tonal character with a powerful midrange and higher output than most other types of single coils.

In the neck position, this pickup sounds sweet and smooth, and will deliver big fat sounding chords. In the bridge position, this pickup has sparkly mids that really give it a gritty, open tone. Chords have a nice harmonic bloom, and single notes are glassy and up-front.

Hot P90

Magnet: Ceramic

Neck DCR: 12.0k

Bridge DCR: 15.0k

The Seymour Duncan Hot P90 pickups are designed with dual ceramic bar magnets and are wound to provide extra power and midrange cut. Our Hot P90 soapbar pickups combine extra coil windings with two small ceramic bar magnets to give you more output, greater sustain, and more overall sensitivity. Both the neck and bridge models have a pronounced upper midrange that will make chords sound mean and full, and solos sound fat and cutting. When used with the bridge Hot P90, the RWRP, reverse wind reverse polarity, neck pickup will be free of 60-cycle hum.

Custom P90

Magnet: Ceramic

Neck DCR: 12.0k

Bridge DCR: 14.6k

Our most powerful soapbar model, the Custom P90 high-output pickup delivers a tight low-end punch with edgy top-end grit in the bridge and a mean midrange growl in the neck. With its overwound coil and dual large ceramic magnets, the Custom is our most powerful high-output P90 pickup. In the bridge position, it will give you fat, growling chords that are full of rich midrange and sparkling harmonics. It really emphasizes the attack of your pick against the strings, and can keep even high-gain sounds detailed and defined. Chords are raucous and bold and single notes will jump out with an edgy grit that will have no trouble cutting through any mix.

The Custom P90 neck will give you fat, full chords that are nicely balanced and articulate, with the muscular clang that typifies the best P90s. Use two Custom P90s for a high-output setup or pair a Custom bridge model with a Vintage P90 neck for ultimate flexibility.

Antiquity P90

Magnet: Alnico II

Neck DCR: 7.8k

Bridge DCR: 8.6k

Capture the cool, gritty bridge sparkle and the sweet neck-position warmth of a true ’52 Goldtop with our Antiquity P90 vintage P90 pickup. Our Antiquity P90 soapbar uses two specially calibrated Alnico 2 bar magnets and a custom coil wind to deliver the gritty, vintage-correct growl of an early ’50s Les Paul bridge pickup. Chords have a warm but sparkly midrange grit, and single notes jump out nicely without sounding harsh.

The neck model is full and round sounding, with single notes that have a sweet, musical, singing quality. It is also wound RW/RP to be hum-cancelling when engaged with a matching bridge pickup. When you remove our hand-aged soapbar covers, you’ll find the same hand-fabricated bobbin, plain enamel mag wire, and flatback tape that was made in Kalamazoo during the early days.

Antiquity P90 Dog Ear

Magnet: Alnico II

Neck DCR: 7.8k

Bridge DCR: 8.6k

Capture the weathered midrange growl and grit of an original ’59 ES-330 with our Antiquity P-90 Dog Ear pickups. Our Antiquity P90 Dog Ear pickups use two specially calibrated alnico 2 bar magnets, and custom neck and bridge coil winds to deliver the sweet, vintage correct growl of late 50s ES-330 P90 pickups.

In the neck position, chords are full and round sounding, and single notes have a sweet, bouncy quality. In the bridge, chords have a gritty, honky midrange, and single notes are nice and articulate without sounding harsh. The neck pickup is also wound RWRP to be hum-cancelling when paired with the bridge position model.

P90 Stack

Magnet: Alnico V

Neck DCR: 21.4k

Bridge DCR: 31.6k

Our P90 Stacks are P90 soapbar pickups that provide all the tone of a traditional P90 single-coil without any of the hum. Our P90 Stack delivers a noiseless, vintage style, P90 soapbar tone for any guitar with a P90 sized pickup route. You get the growl and sparkle, but none of the pesky hum that traditional single coils have. The neck model sounds nice and full, with just the right amount of low-end growl, while the bridge model sounds nice and midrangy, with all the classic grit that you’d expect out of a great bridge position P90.

The 4-conductor lead wire gives you the option to split the coils if you want, or to switch into series mode for a more compressed sound. At .95 in height, these noiseless P90 pickups are a little taller than a typical P90, so you may want to make sure your guitars pickup slots are deep enough before trying to install them.