p-90 pickup

drgangrene

Joined: Apr 23, 2006
Posts: 16

Posted on Jul 25 2006 08:39 AM

Hey guys - novice question here. I have an epiphone with a p90 pickup in it. It has some noise when plugged in and I'm not playing it - I'm assuming that's normal. It was suggested by someone recently that I switch the pickup to a p100, but wondered what you guys thought of that idea. I like the tone of this guitar, though, otherwise, and eventually I'll get another guitar altogether, probably a strat when I get the money together.

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WaimeaBay

Joined: Jul 05, 2006
Posts: 969
United States

Posted on Jul 25 2006 10:01 AM

are you getting noise from the clean channel? Are you using a good amp and patch cable? Is both the bridge and neck pups making the same noise. It is hard to answer until we have a bit more detail.

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drgangrene

Joined: Apr 23, 2006
Posts: 16

Posted on Jul 25 2006 10:28 AM

Yeah, noise when I plug it in - a hum, when I'm not playing it. It is a great amp, brand new Vox. I have plugged in my other guitar (got my son a fender imitation) and it has no noise at all. But the tone can't match the epiphone with the p90.

Oh, and there is only one pickup on it, near the bridge.

Was suggested the p100 would be clean and sound just as good as the p90, but that was what I wondered about.

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19286
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Jul 25 2006 11:28 AM

If you have a single single-coil pickup in your guitar, you're going to get some hum. How much will depend on the quality of the pickup and any electric fields in your vicinity. Don't sweat it to much unless it is really loud and annoying. If it is really loud you may have another problem like a bad ground or something.

The best thing you can do is put in (or get a guitar that has) another single coil pickup that is reverse wound-reverse polarity from your other pickup, and run them together like Jaguars and Jazzmasters. That will cancel some of the hum out.

—

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

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norcalhodad

Joined: May 25, 2006
Posts: 537
United States

Posted on Jul 25 2006 01:56 PM

Use your volume knob and turn down when you're not playing.

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Kawentzmann

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1060
Berlin, Germany
3 Link Pins

Posted on Jul 26 2006 02:06 AM

The P90 can not be that different sounding then a P100, which is basically the same, with half of the windings reversed, as far as I get it.
If the magnets are closer to the strings, it might have more of a fender-like punch, which is good for surf.

KK

—

The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.

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WR

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
2 Link Pins

Posted on Jul 26 2006 03:40 AM

If the hum isn 't too bothering and if you're only using the guitar at home, then put te money towards a next guitar instead of a new pick up. Most likely, most of the hum comes form bad shiedling anyway.

WR

—

Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."

https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/

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PhatTele

Joined: Jun 05, 2006
Posts: 445

Posted on Jul 26 2006 03:42 PM

P-100s work fine and do the humbucking thing okay, but they sound pretty dull. You get more dynamics out of a regular P-90. I had a Les Paul Special that came w/P-100s. I ended up putting in regular P-90s and the guitar basically "woke up."

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drgangrene

Joined: Apr 23, 2006
Posts: 16

Posted on Jul 27 2006 12:26 PM

Thanks guys - good advice, all. I was wondering if the p100 might not quite have the same bite as the p90. I'll just start saving toward another guitar, like WR suggested.

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chad3006

Joined: Aug 21, 2006
Posts: 76
USA

Posted on Aug 25 2006 08:20 PM

If it's too loud and bothers you. Try some shielding. Proper shielding will cut down on hum and noise considerably on a single coil guitar. The p100 can also fix it, but it will be a slightly mellower pickup, plus that, shielding is a cheaper fix.

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badash

Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732

Posted on Aug 25 2006 10:11 PM

I'm a big P90 fan. They make noise, but as a wise man once said "they don't make noise when you're playing" Deal with the noise best you can, it's worth it for that unique P90 tone in my opinion. The P100s sound good, but they don't sound like P90s.

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drgangrene Joined: Apr 23, 2006 Posts: 16	Posted on Jul 25 2006 08:39 AM Hey guys - novice question here. I have an epiphone with a p90 pickup in it. It has some noise when plugged in and I'm not playing it - I'm assuming that's normal. It was suggested by someone recently that I switch the pickup to a p100, but wondered what you guys thought of that idea. I like the tone of this guitar, though, otherwise, and eventually I'll get another guitar altogether, probably a strat when I get the money together. Top
WaimeaBay Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 969	Posted on Jul 25 2006 10:01 AM are you getting noise from the clean channel? Are you using a good amp and patch cable? Is both the bridge and neck pups making the same noise. It is hard to answer until we have a bit more detail. Top
drgangrene Joined: Apr 23, 2006 Posts: 16	Posted on Jul 25 2006 10:28 AM Yeah, noise when I plug it in - a hum, when I'm not playing it. It is a great amp, brand new Vox. I have plugged in my other guitar (got my son a fender imitation) and it has no noise at all. But the tone can't match the epiphone with the p90. Oh, and there is only one pickup on it, near the bridge. Was suggested the p100 would be clean and sound just as good as the p90, but that was what I wondered about. Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19286 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Jul 25 2006 11:28 AM If you have a single single-coil pickup in your guitar, you're going to get some hum. How much will depend on the quality of the pickup and any electric fields in your vicinity. Don't sweat it to much unless it is really loud and annoying. If it is really loud you may have another problem like a bad ground or something. The best thing you can do is put in (or get a guitar that has) another single coil pickup that is reverse wound-reverse polarity from your other pickup, and run them together like Jaguars and Jazzmasters. That will cancel some of the hum out. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
norcalhodad Joined: May 25, 2006 Posts: 537	Posted on Jul 25 2006 01:56 PM Use your volume knob and turn down when you're not playing. — > Top
Kawentzmann Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1060 Berlin, Germany	Posted on Jul 26 2006 02:06 AM The P90 can not be that different sounding then a P100, which is basically the same, with half of the windings reversed, as far as I get it. If the magnets are closer to the strings, it might have more of a fender-like punch, which is good for surf. KK — The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy. Top
WR Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3832 netherlands	Posted on Jul 26 2006 03:40 AM If the hum isn 't too bothering and if you're only using the guitar at home, then put te money towards a next guitar instead of a new pick up. Most likely, most of the hum comes form bad shiedling anyway. WR — Rules to live by #314: "When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is." https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/ Top
PhatTele Joined: Jun 05, 2006 Posts: 445	Posted on Jul 26 2006 03:42 PM P-100s work fine and do the humbucking thing okay, but they sound pretty dull. You get more dynamics out of a regular P-90. I had a Les Paul Special that came w/P-100s. I ended up putting in regular P-90s and the guitar basically "woke up." Top
drgangrene Joined: Apr 23, 2006 Posts: 16	Posted on Jul 27 2006 12:26 PM Thanks guys - good advice, all. I was wondering if the p100 might not quite have the same bite as the p90. I'll just start saving toward another guitar, like WR suggested. Top
chad3006 Joined: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 76 USA	Posted on Aug 25 2006 08:20 PM If it's too loud and bothers you. Try some shielding. Proper shielding will cut down on hum and noise considerably on a single coil guitar. The p100 can also fix it, but it will be a slightly mellower pickup, plus that, shielding is a cheaper fix. Top
badash Joined: Aug 18, 2006 Posts: 1732	Posted on Aug 25 2006 10:11 PM I'm a big P90 fan. They make noise, but as a wise man once said "they don't make noise when you're playing" Deal with the noise best you can, it's worth it for that unique P90 tone in my opinion. The P100s sound good, but they don't sound like P90s. Top

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p-90 pickup