SD Antiquity P-90 pups

I have no idea how a P-90 would sound in a bass.

If your old pickups works, but is just microphonic you might be able to have it wax potted or maybe even do it yourself for little money. That should solve the problem.

Another option would be to have your old pickup rewound by one of the pickup gurus out there. A cheaper custom pickup manufacturer might be SK guitar specialties. I've used his pickups (on 2 guitars) with good results. If you go with a rewind, you can have it made to sound how you want it to.

 

If you're okay with altering your bass at all, there's always the option of routing out the cavity (or having someone else rout it out) for a new, larger pickup. Not sure if this is a reasonable option for you . . .

 

I just can't see how a P-90 would work in a bass application because the pole pieces on the guitar pickup will not align with the bass strings.

The idea of dropping in the SCPB pickup is probably a good option as it will give you good tone, correct output levels and should require no routing to your bass.

I can assist you getting a pickup if needed ...

 

+1

Its all down to the polepiece spacing. Guitar and bass pickups are made the same way and are usually around the same power, but the polepeices dont match. And the polepieces on P-90's are quite small so its even less likely to match. It will work but the output between srings would probably be uneven. Some people believe you can alter this by putting a metal bar over the top of the polepieces to even out the magnetic field, i havnt tried this and cant imagine it working very effectively. It really would be a better option to stick with something that has the correct spacing in the first place. Fix the one you have or rout for a new one.

 

You do have options with the P-90 Idea.

Fisrt off, a pickup does the same job in guitar or bass. The difference we hear are mainly the inductance and the shape of the aperature and materials used.

Personally I think using a P-90 is a cool idea. But you'll have to find one that uses a single blade rather than pole pieces.

First, check out Billlawrence.com - L-500's drop into p-90 routs with out the ring http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/Pickup_Window/500.htm

Someone mentioned http://www.skguitar.com/ he's done custom P-90 fits.

If you're going pricey try curtis Novak http://www.curtisnovak.com/pickups/P90/

Hope this helps.

~M

 

Here is another idea .... Duncan now makes a passive 4-string soapbar pickup and the dimensions very close to what a P-90 is.

Check it out!!

Passive 4-string soapbar