Tell me about P-90 staple pickups

tiger roach

tiger roach

Urban Bovine Knievel
“Asking for a friend” - a guitar that might be irresistible has a P-90 staple in the neck position. (Bridge is a standard P-90).

A quick google tells me they tend to be a little more articulate, maybe more extended highs. That seems like it might be a good thing for a neck pickup.

Anyone have any experience with them? Good idea or better to stick with regular P-90s?

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I can tell you that I've been wanting to try them for quite a bit. :)

Though both of those attributes, if true, would be negatives for me. I like less highs, and the last thing my playing needs is articulation.
 
A college roommate had a staple P90 SG back in the late 70s that I played a bit thru a little SS practice amp, just dinking around the apartment.
I wasn't experienced enough back then to comprehend the subtle differences in pickups.
All I remember was it was a nice SG and sounded good.
If the prospective guitar feels and plays good I wouldn't let it bother me.
You can always pop in a regular Gibson P90.
Sorry I can't be of more help.
 
Hmm so it looks like there isn't much staple experience here in Weinworld, that is interesting.

Anyway, my trigger finger is getting itchy - the window for posting negative comments closes when I hit the "add to cart" button... :bigg:
 
Do it!

If you’re already on board with p90s in general, then you dig em…different but close enough that they are in the same kinda wheelhouse
 
The first thing is they are not P90s. They actually more similar in construction to a Jazzmaster PU than a P90. Like Gibson humbuckers, P90s have steel pole pieces and bar magnets underneath. The "Alnico V" pickups have alnico pole pieces, like most Fender PUs, and are brighter and snappier and more Fender-esque as a result.
 
tiger roach said:
Hmm so it looks like there isn't much staple experience here in Weinworld, that is interesting.
Click to expand...

Mine is consolidated to the Thorn GT with the staple pickup.... From what I understand, it's a cream-of-the-crop staple, but I don't have much to compare it to. Also, Thorn guitars are so goddamned good that it would be difficult to tell how much different the Thorn pickup is.

GT047_3.jpg
 
baimun said:
Mine is consolidated to the Thorn GT with the staple pickup.... From what I understand, it's a cream-of-the-crop staple, but I don't have much to compare it to. Also, Thorn guitars are so goddamned good that it would be difficult to tell how much different the Thorn pickup is.

GT047_3.jpg
Click to expand...

Thats one fancy Tele shaped object thingamajig!
Bet it sounds "woody".
 
baimun said:
Mine is consolidated to the Thorn GT with the staple pickup.... From what I understand, it's a cream-of-the-crop staple, but I don't have much to compare it to. Also, Thorn guitars are so goddamned good that it would be difficult to tell how much different the Thorn pickup is.

GT047_3.jpg
Click to expand...

whoa
 
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I’m excited to try this configuration out now. And, as pointed out above, if I decide the staple isn’t for me, it would be pretty easy to drop a standard p90 in there.

NGD is Thursday! Actually Friday, allowing for the requisite 24-hr temp equalization before unboxing.
 
tiger roach said:
Great thread there, thanks for posting Mr. M.

Those guys definitely aren’t afraid to get into the weeds. :bigg:
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They are not afraid to hash out the fine points:bigg:

The guy who posted clips playing 'Red Hot' sounded really good.

I'm really glad you pulled the trigger so you can tell us first-hand what you think of staple P90s. :thu:
 
Well my early impressions of the P-90 staple are very positive. I think the review I linked above is spot on - I wouldn’t call the staple more trebly or twangier, just more open and resistant to getting muddy. It is perfect for the neck position. It has all the attitude of the bridge P-90, but doesn’t give you the urge to go for the tone knob when you switch. You get plenty of that metallic hollowness you want from a neck single-coil, without the mud. Of course, if you want that smooth “woman tone,” rolling off the treble will get you there.

I also give it high marks for blending with the bridge P-90 in the middle position. I like the middle position for rhythm work, that percussive scooped sound is perfect for gettin’ my Bob Weir mode on. In this position the difference of the staple is less apparent, I could be fooled into thinking the 2 pups were the same if I didn’t know better.

I am gradually getting my act together to be able to record, so maybe next weekend will have some clips to post.
 
Wyatt said:
The first thing is they are not P90s. They actually more similar in construction to a Jazzmaster PU than a P90. Like Gibson humbuckers, P90s have steel pole pieces and bar magnets underneath. The "Alnico V" pickups have alnico pole pieces, like most Fender PUs, and are brighter and snappier and more Fender-esque as a result.
Click to expand...

This^^ and they magnetically pull on the strings like a strat pup.
 
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