How to mount a P90 in a Tele in the neck?

I want to put a P90 in the neck of my MIM tele body. Question is how is it mounted? To pickguard, bottom of route, dogear or soap? Thanks.

Connected to the wood would seem to be the first option

Anyone have a picture of what this looks like. Never used a P-90 before. Did a bunch of searching but came up empty handed. Thanks.

Well, here's the Fender JA-90:

http://www.fender.com/themes/products/images/prod_images/guitars/0262350539_md.jpg

If you look closely at the pickups, you see the screws between the pole pieces. Those screw the pickup into the wood.

Excellent. Thanks!

If you're mounting to the wood, don't forget thet you will need to add springs or foam under the pup to allow for adjustment.

Here's a diagram from Warmoth:

http://www.warmoth.com/Options/images/pickup_routing_p902.gif

And I'm pretty sure the MIM Standard neck route won't fit a soapbar style pickup without additional routing. (It will take a humbucker, however).

Here's a diagram from Warmoth:

http://www.warmoth.com/Options/images/pickup_routing_p902.gif

Awesome, thanks!

And I'm pretty sure the MIM Standard neck route won't fit a soapbar style pickup without additional routing. (It will take a humbucker, however).

I have found a few internet postings on that topic. A few say no but the majority say the route in modern MIMs is as wide as a P90 and as tall as an HB. Saves on tooling. I'm gonna pull the PG off tonite and check it out.

Lemme know what you find, chipbutty!

I'm itching to do the same to my tele.

I have found a few internet postings on that topic. A few say no but the majority say the route in modern MIMs is as wide as a P90 and as tall as an HB. Saves on tooling. I'm gonna pull the PG off tonite and check it out.

The only problem with that plan is that a P90 is taller and narrower than a HB.
[Edit: Nevermind, see my correction below.]

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/dimensionpages/sh-1.shtml

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/dimensionpages/sp90-2.shtml

There are plenty of P90 options sized like a HB -- Duncan, GFS, Tonerider, etc.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/specialized/progressive/sph901_phat_cat/

http://store.guitarfetish.com/me90glbltral.html

http://www.tonerider.com/pickups/r90spickups.html

And I'm pretty sure the MIM Standard neck route won't fit a soapbar style pickup without additional routing. (It will take a humbucker, however).

P-90 fits fine in the neck route on my MIM body:

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q246/biliousprudence/IMG_0903.jpg

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q246/biliousprudence/IMG_1252.jpg

P-90 fits fine in the neck route on my MIM body

Cool. I'm pretty sure mine (1991?) doesn't, but sorry about the mis-info. What year is yours?

Cool. I'm pretty sure mine (1991?) doesn't, but sorry about the mis-info. What year is yours?

Not sure of the exact year, but mid-00s.

@Dirty Steve
That's exactly what my tele looks like currently but with a tonerider rebel 90 in the neck. I want to put a real p90 in though. Was the install fairly easy?

The only problem with that plan is that a P90 is taller and narrower than a HB.


you have it reversed my friend

P-90 fits fine in the neck route on my MIM body:

Thanks for that info. Taking another look at the dimensions I linked above, I was initially looking at the HB dimensions from mounting hole to mounting hole (3.063 in.). Assuming the MIM is routed to fit the outside dimensions to the tip of the HB mounting brackets (3.315 in.), the route does indeed appear to be long enough to handle a soapbar P90 (3.300 in.).

you have it reversed my friend

I was just clarifying when you posted, but as for the top (surface) dimensions the P90 is indeed taller and narrower. Not that that matters when you have to route for the mounting brackets too.

@Dirty Steve
That's exactly what my tele looks like currently but with a tonerider rebel 90 in the neck. I want to put a real p90 in though. Was the install fairly easy?

No harder than body-mounting a standard Tele neck pickup.

I had more trouble finding a pickguard to fit. I bought a pre-cut guard, but the the pickup hole wouldn't align with the body rout. Ended up cutting my own from an Esquire guard.

No harder than body-mounting a standard Tele neck pickup.

I had more trouble finding a pickguard to fit. I bought a pre-cut guard, but the the pickup hole wouldn't align with the body rout. Ended up cutting my own from an Esquire guard.

Was the pre-cut guard from GFS? They have 4 colors cut for P90s.

Yup, a GFS guard. I've had good luck with their pickguards otherwise, but the P90 one didn't work for me.

A year ago I bought this Tokai TE120 (rebadged as a Fender) from Japan. I knew what it was (the abalone binding must be unique?), & I knew it had been roughly routed for a neck humbucker. I decided to try fitting a P90.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x153/stratman323/Tokai%20TE120%20Breezy%20Sound%20natural/IMG_2827.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x153/stratman323/Tokai%20TE120%20Breezy%20Sound%20natural/freddiekinta-img600x450-12406397-2.jpg

I assumed I would have to get the body routed a bit more to give me the depth I needed, & to allow for it to be adjustable, but it seems I don't really need to. I got a Duncan Vintage P90, had a scratchplate made to fit, & I found that it screwed directly into the wood at about the right height. I guess it would be ideal to get it routed a bit more so the P90 can sit on springs or foam to make the height adjustable, & I may still get that done.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x153/stratman323/Tokai%20TE120%20Breezy%20Sound%20natural/IMG_2854.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x153/stratman323/Tokai%20TE120%20Breezy%20Sound%20natural/IMG_3899.jpg

But it works, & the P90 gives a very interesting sound. Because of the high output of the P90 (8k) I needed a bridge pickup that was quite loud too. Luckily I had a Duncan Broadcaster bridge pickup that also read 8k, so I fitted that. The P90 is still a little louder than the bridge pickup, so I suppose I ought to get that fixed professionally, but it's still kinda cool as it is.

What surprised me is how useful the middle position is - both pickups together is a really nice sound. I don't like the scratchplate I had made for it - it's too white & too thin, so it looks a bit cheap to me. Maybe I'll get that sorted one day too & get a better one made.

Mike

Yup, a GFS guard. I've had good luck with their pickguards otherwise, but the P90 one didn't work for me.

That's bad news about the GFS guard. I was counting on using theirs. You can get one from Warmoth for about $25.

@Stratman
Nice ride! That's for the info.

Well, here's the Fender JA-90:


Thanks a lot, buddy. You just caused a GAS attack. I'm calling 911 to have them come take my credit card away. 800....222... wait, wait... that's Sweetwater. Mustn't go there. 9-1-1, 9-1-www, 9-www.guitarc...argghhh!!!!