mixing p90's and JM pups

[fourmations]

hi all

i hear some people drooling over the novak p90's
and others dont even mention them when talking pups

whats the deal with p90's?
do they still sound like a jazzmaster?
can/should you mix then with another pups?
whats the best position for them? both?
are they hot?
are they versatile?
whats the difference between them and the other popular pup choices?
should i get them for my cij JM?

one of my heroes and a JM icon (j mascis) says its the nicest pickup out there
and actually uses p90 loaded gibsons for all the rythym guitar on his albums
(which not many people know!)

rgds

4

[NoFi]

and actually uses p90 loaded gibsons for all the rythym guitar on his albums

Not all, or i'd be very surprised.

Is the Jazzmaster still your main guitar?
JM : Live, yeah. And on record, I use it for about half the leads. Not much for rhythm. I usually use Gibsons for that. I've got a Les Paul, but the SG Junior is my favorite. Anything with P-90's. I don't have any humbuckers at all.

That's from here :
http://www.mybloodyvalentine.net/press/ ... apr93.html

And a regular P90 with a bar magnet will definitely not sound like a jazzmaster pickup. You can listen to the sound samples on the seymour site.

[fourmations]

ok, all may be a bit strong, but he has practically confirmed my comment....

Not much for rhythm. I usually use Gibsons for that. I've got a Les Paul, but the SG Junior is my favorite. Anything with P-90's.

anyway,any more thoughts on the p90 option

rgds

4

[Taylorplayer]

don't know about fitting one, they different sizes to the jazzmaster pickup, but someone who winds pickups might be able to make you a pickup that sounds similar to a P90. I personally love P90s and they're easily my favorite pickup. When pushing the power tubes they have a great 'hairy' clean sound, and they get good and dirty in overdrive. Great for hard rock and blues.

They only deterant is that they're noisy as hell. I more or less had to never stop playing just so I couldn't here that damn things.

[mjet]

Curtis Novak makes a P-90 that fits under a stock JM cover. As others have said, P-90s are a different kettle of fish entirely from a stock JM pickup, so it's more of an either/or situation that you find yourself in. Some pickup winders might be able to combine some elements of the two, but you'd best be served by writing to them directly to start a discussion on the topic.

http://www.curtisnovak.com/pickups/jm-90.shtml

 

[fourmations]

hi all

i emailed curtis novak and told him
the sound i am after (dinosaur jr) and that i like to solo

he suggested his vintage in the neck and a p90
in the bridge,
i am unsure of the mix as its not something
i had though (or read) about, but he says
it works well and the middle position still hum-cancels,
he also said its quite popular and people like the result

what do you think?

i dont doubt his expertise for a second but was
wondering if anyone had first hand experience
of this mix? my biggest concern is losing the JM sound
as the p90 is different to the jm bridge and very slightly hotter

there are audio samples on http://jazzmasterjam.com/mp3
(as you probably all know)

i suppose it could create the ultimate mascis guitar
as he loves to play his rythym tracks with p90 loaded les paul jrs,

(im not obsessed with J, i swear, im a 33yr old lifelong fan! and he is the singular
reason i bought a JM after all these years)

thanks

4

[mezcalhead]

Putting a P90 or a humbucker in a JM still leaves it sounding like a JM just chunkier as much of the distinctive sound of the guitar comes from the wood, bridge arrangement, trem, etc. Think of Sonic Youth, who have WRHBs in most of their JMs - they still sound like JMs to me.

I'm going to merge this into your other thread on P90s since it's essentially the same question.

[benecol]

and actually uses p90 loaded gibsons for all the rythym guitar on his albums

Not all, or i'd be very surprised.

Read it and weep, homie...

GC: How many guitars do you have and do you have a preference for new or vintage?

Mascis: I'm more of a vintage kind of guy. I don't know how many guitars. Over 30. I like the new little Baby Taylor guitar. I've got three Jazzmasters and a Tele and two Esquires. I have a bunch of Gibsons with P90s. I've got a Les Paul and four Les Paul Jr.s. The P90 is my favorite pickup.

By my reckoning, J has more Jrs than Jazzmasters 

Full article here:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/interview/jmascis/

[fourmations]

i decided to stay vintage, so dont tell me how great p90's are,
i dont want to know anymore!

i had a good listen to the samples and found the p90 too middley for my liking
i am loving the fender twang as its the only guitar i have that sounds anything like it
so i decided to stay vintage

i plugged in my ibanez yesterday and ran it through a few of my favorite
crunchy gt6 patches that I made for the JM and it was just puke!
I just love the sound off the JM even with its stock CIJ pups,
and now with the novaks on the way 

thanks for the input all,

rgds

4