Modern P-90s sound more tame to me. Or is it just me?

[Codeaiwi]

I've had several newer P90s in the last few years lollar, LP50s standard, Revstar, another set of lollar on a Collings 290 (love this guitar!). Don't get me wrong, I still love them, all of those sounded great. Just less alive or something than some older ones I've played. Definitely seemed less microphonic. Anyone else find that to be true?

[Naillerz78]

Just try hitting them harder with the picking hand (?) Lollar are rated v highly in P90-land they should be able to Roar..maybe it’s the guitar type.
I just sold a LP Special copy with P90s they were of the cheaper variety, very “alive” and quite raucous. Noisy also tho.

[Naillerz78]

Double post

[Uncle E]

Just less alive or something than some older ones I've played. Definitely seemed less microphonic.

Maybe it's the wax potting. Certainly that's what's causing them to be less microphonic and some people believe that it changes the sound/response (I've never done a before and after test to find out). Apparently you can use a heat gun to remove some of it:

https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/swd/ ... %20plastic.

[tapper mike]

Can you raise them?

There are two varieties of old p90's Dog ears as found on older gibson boxes and the like and in body. Dog ears have a lower output.

I know it's not a P90 but I hated the probuckers installed on my Epi Joe Pass. Actually I'm not impressed with the too much wood formed laminate. It was simply too dark the sympathetic response was pathetically dark as opposed to my other boxes. (D'angelico EXL Ibanez GB, Eddie Durham Jx1. 17 and my RWG 450 The output was extremely low even after trying to raise the poles. I actually put a Duncan JB in the neck to boost the output and enhance the treble response. It did just that. Now my Joe Pass has punch and brilliance similar to a Heritage Kenny Burell

[Codeaiwi]

Yeah, currently on soapbars. I've lifted them up pretty high and adjusted down to suit. It does help but there is little oomph missing.

[Codeaiwi]

Just less alive or something than some older ones I've played. Definitely seemed less microphonic.

Maybe it's the wax potting. Certainly that's what's causing them to be less microphonic and some people believe that it changes the sound/response (I've never done a before and after test to find out). Apparently you can use a heat gun to remove some of it:

https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/swd/ ... %20plastic.

I'm too risk averse for a heat gun, but i suspect the wax as well

[Codeaiwi]

This is the culprit. It plays like a dream

[Naillerz78]

This is the culprit. It plays like a dream

Nice!! How much does a Collings cost ..

Can you define a bit more what u mean by “alive” sounding.
What amp are you using and what songs/bands/music are you going for?

Put a distortion box in front of it!
It will come alive ..like a chainsaw

Also I have a post here about my esp w/ similar style guitar if you have any info re famous players/songs using that type. Love to know more.
viewtopic.php?t=612566

[Uncle E]

I'm too risk averse for a heat gun, but i suspect the wax as well

Many builders are willing to sell you unpotted pickups. It saves them some work.

[Codeaiwi]

My unpotted PAFs are the best I've got. Straight from Gibson that way and they sounds so good.

[Codeaiwi]

This is the culprit. It plays like a dream

Nice!! How much does a Collings cost ..

Can you define a bit more what u mean by “alive” sounding.
What amp are you using and what songs/bands/music are you going for?

Put a distortion box in front of it!
It will come alive ..like a chainsaw

Also I have a post here about my esp w/ similar style guitar if you have any info re famous players/songs using that type. Love to know more.
viewtopic.php?t=612566

I got it used a couple of years ago, so I got a pretty good deal — steal hurt, ha. They're pretty pricey boutique brand but they live up to the rep on all of the ones I've played. By "alive" I just mean expressive and very touch sensitive. All of the old P90s seem to be ready to bust loose when digging in. I'm a big P90 fan, dog ear, soapbar, I love em all.

[tapper mike]

Thought about a pre boost pedal? I used to use a compressor pedal for clean and compressed gain on my lower output boxes when I'd run them into a bass amp for live performance. I've found that most people reall don't know how to use a compressor to keep things punchy without squeezing all the dynamic range out.

[Uncle E]

It sounds to me that he’s looking for the microphonics. I don’t think a pedal is going to do that, unfortunately.

[Codeaiwi]

A compressor does help with the expressiveness for sure. The stacked cali76 is great for that. Yeah, probably some of the microphonics without the overzealous squealing, but the growl.