Molesting a P90 into a stock tele bridge cavity?

Dear forum members,

i'm wondering if there is a way how to squeeze a P90 coil into a standard tele bridge pickup cavity? I understand the P90 would have to be molested somehow - the base and the bobbins would have to be cut down to fit in, but i'm wondering if the coil itself would fit in?

I plan to get a CV50 Tele and i would like to convert it into a 3x P90 guitar, but i wouldn't want to mod it in a way that i can't cover the bridge pickup cavity with the standard bridge afterwards, if i decide to go back to stock spec there.

Have you done some creative approach to the implementation of a P90 in the bridge of a Tele? Any pics for inspiration would be highly appreciated.

I understand that another option might be to extend the routing for a humbucker, but without the height adjustment ears, modify the bridge plate and attach it to the bridge plate by other means. This way i could still put back a stock tele bridge and it would cover the cavity. So i could at least put in a humbucker sized P90 in the bridge.

Thanks and best regards,

VintageCharlie

Be carefull not to put pressure on the coil even indirectly. I wrecked a Tele Bridge pushing it into an undersized HB route.I think the base bending a little did it.

Don't think it could be done with the stock cavity.

Thanks guys! I thought it is probably quite tricky, but isn't the coil size about just as long as the tele pickup, or even a bit shorter than that? The coil is wider, but that shouldn't be a problem, as the cavity is much wider than the tele coil itself. I'd have to trim the base plate of the assembled P90 or better yet the individual parts of a P90 before winding. Also, one could extend the stock tele bridge route to that of a humbucker (without the mounting tabs), then you'd get more space for this and it would still be covered by the tele bridge, correct? Here's a pic of the tele and HB route http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-technical/88761-tele-bridge-routing-vs-humbucker-routing.html
I know, trimming the base plate, etc. will change the sound a bit probably, but at least it would be a proper P90 coil and it might be closer to a real P90 than a P90 in HB format? Or is it not worth the hassle and it would be best to go with a P90 in HB format?

No... it is not the same size. You can route a P-90 over a stock Tele neck pickup and cover the original route completely with the new one but the original Tele bridge pickup will not be fully covered by routing a P-90 route over it.... and no a P-90 will not fit in either of the original Tele pickup routes.

Here is a pic of P-90 routes drawn over Telecaster routes with the outline of a Wilkinson half bridge.

A bit off topic- but I am sure there was a review in UK Guitarist mag a month or two back - of a P90 pickup that looked like a std tele neck pickup, that may be an easier option if I can remember the name

http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/guitars/guitar-accessories-components/guitar-accessories/pickups/super-chrome-523563/review

here's the one!


whoops !- I should read the OP - Bridge pickup!!!!

http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/guitars/guitar-accessories-components/guitar-accessories/pickups/super-chrome-523563/review

here's the one!


whoops !- I should read the OP - Bridge pickup!!!!

The same company has been making a tele bridge-pickup sized P90 (http://www.harmonicdesign.net/allpages/teles.html) for some time (scroll down to "Super 90").

Some Squier Strat p/ups are P90 configuration, as well as MIM Fender Strats. I've used coils from HBs w 2 magnets from either Squire Strats or mini HBs (lil '59, hot rails size magnets. They are just the right size) and that gives a more P90ish tone then the Squiers. You really need that wide/short coil ratio. It probably will have some nice bite from that magnet topology and may have a shorter coil if they really are going for a P90 vibe.

Thanks for the input guys! Here is a Spalt guitar featuring 3x gibson P90's with the clear bobbin - it's easy to see here that the actual coil is quite a bit smaller than the pickup and it's route. What i am wondering is if one could squeeze in the actual coil into a std tele bridge or humbucker (without adjustment "ears") route by trimming the base plate and bobbin (before or after winding the pup) to these dimensions. If it would be slanted like a tele pup, then this would give even more space. I don't know the actual dimensions of the coil, so i can't mock it up properly in photoshop, etc. to find out. Has anyone done something like that? It would be similar to the idea of a P90 in HB form factor - real p90 coil, but with trimmed baseplate, etc.

I suggest you buy some really cheap P-90's... Because when you start trimming the pickup bobbins and trying to queeze them into a smaller shape than they are supposed to be the probability of breaking the magnet wire and ruining the pickup will increase.

Why not start with a body routed for P-90's ?

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/tele-home-depot/51295d1275805930-tres-recogida-especial-img00346b-jpg

Teleterr and Mike, thanks for the warning. Due to this i was thinking about a low end P90 like GFS for the experiment or a kit from StewMac - this would allow me to trim the parts before the winding. A seperate body for this experiment would be the best solution, but those don't come cheap in Europe. So best to me would be a solution that allows me to go back to stock appearance with the standard tele bridge in case i decide to sell it or to stick with traditional pup specs and appearance.