Seymour Duncan Vintage P90 in Epi '57 RI LP Jr?

DrewB · April 17th, 2008, 08:51 PM

I have an Epiphone '57 Reissue Les Paul Junior. This is the set-neck model, not the bolt-on. The pickup is a P100 stack. I'm not sure if it's a Gibson or an Epiphone version of the Gibson. It doesn't matter, anyway; I'm replacing it. I'm strongly considering the Seymour Duncan "SP90-1B," their vintage P90. I could go for the Gibson P90 for another $35 if it would be better than the Duncan. I don't see the point of going "boutique" with this guitar.

What have been your experiences with the Duncan vintage P90? The guitar is acoustically bright and clear with some twang, and that translates through the electronics, as well. I'm wanting a more-typical P90 wail with more beef in the mids. My amps are tweeds and plexi-type Marshalls. Is the Duncan vintage P90 going to hit the mark, or do I need to look at something else?

Thanks for your feedback!

GuitarJunkie84 · April 18th, 2008, 08:35 AM

I don't know about the vintage, but I put an antiquity into my p90 guitar, and I have been extremely pleased with it. Great rock and roll/dirty blues sound. It is in the bridge position, so it also has some twang to it. It's a nice distinctive sound, and I don't think you could go wrong with it.

kludge · April 18th, 2008, 09:08 AM

I had one of those Duncan P90s. It's a SUPERB pickup and I seriously doubt the Gibson is any better.

On the other hand, it'll cost you about as much as, say, a Vintage Vibe P90, but with Vintage Vibe, you could tell Pete Biltoft exactly what you want, and he'd tweak the windings for you. AND you'd be supporting a small, independent business rather than a big semi-corporate name. The same goes for any number of small pickup winding operations.

No playable guitar is unworthy of good pickups.

DrewB · April 18th, 2008, 01:40 PM

I ordered a Lollar today. I want to "buy it once" and be done with it and, from what I hear, Jason Lollar winds consistently excellent P90s. For $15 more than the Duncan and $20 less than the Gibson, it should have been a no-brainer. I'll report back in ~ a week.

SushiDanWah · April 19th, 2008, 10:31 AM

I did the same thing last year and was stunned at how nice the Epi was with a new tailpiece and a Lollar P-90! One of my favorites - and SO inexpensive!

Dano

River · May 2nd, 2008, 04:00 PM

I took my luthier's recommendation and chose the SD Antiquity P-90. It required some cavity routing. The guitar is in transit back to me here in the boonies, so I have not heard it yet, but will let you know.

River · May 11th, 2008, 12:36 PM

I couldn't be happier with the Antiquity P90. If you are interested in details, let me know.

April 17th, 2008, 08:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
DrewB Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Independence, MO Posts: 841	Seymour Duncan Vintage P90 in Epi '57 RI LP Jr? I have an Epiphone '57 Reissue Les Paul Junior. This is the set-neck model, not the bolt-on. The pickup is a P100 stack. I'm not sure if it's a Gibson or an Epiphone version of the Gibson. It doesn't matter, anyway; I'm replacing it. I'm strongly considering the Seymour Duncan "SP90-1B," their vintage P90. I could go for the Gibson P90 for another $35 if it would be better than the Duncan. I don't see the point of going "boutique" with this guitar. What have been your experiences with the Duncan vintage P90? The guitar is acoustically bright and clear with some twang, and that translates through the electronics, as well. I'm wanting a more-typical P90 wail with more beef in the mids. My amps are tweeds and plexi-type Marshalls. Is the Duncan vintage P90 going to hit the mark, or do I need to look at something else? Thanks for your feedback! __________________ There is no substitute for Sound Pressure Level

April 18th, 2008, 09:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
kludge Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minneapolis Age: 43 Posts: 1,013	I had one of those Duncan P90s. It's a SUPERB pickup and I seriously doubt the Gibson is any better. On the other hand, it'll cost you about as much as, say, a Vintage Vibe P90, but with Vintage Vibe, you could tell Pete Biltoft exactly what you want, and he'd tweak the windings for you. AND you'd be supporting a small, independent business rather than a big semi-corporate name. The same goes for any number of small pickup winding operations. No playable guitar is unworthy of good pickups. __________________ Oz: Well, other bands know more than three chords. Your professional bands can play up to six, sometimes seven completely different chords. Devon: That's just, like, fruity jazz bands. -from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

April 18th, 2008, 01:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
DrewB Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Independence, MO Posts: 841	I ordered a Lollar today. I want to "buy it once" and be done with it and, from what I hear, Jason Lollar winds consistently excellent P90s. For $15 more than the Duncan and $20 less than the Gibson, it should have been a no-brainer. I'll report back in ~ a week. __________________ There is no substitute for Sound Pressure Level

April 19th, 2008, 10:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
SushiDanWah TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Santa Rosa CA Age: 43 Posts: 27	Great choice! I did the same thing last year and was stunned at how nice the Epi was with a new tailpiece and a Lollar P-90! One of my favorites - and SO inexpensive! Dano

May 11th, 2008, 12:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
River TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Crestone, CO USA Age: 53 Posts: 61	She's back... I couldn't be happier with the Antiquity P90. If you are interested in details, let me know.

April 18th, 2008, 08:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
GuitarJunkie84 Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Age: 24 Posts: 231	I don't know about the vintage, but I put an antiquity into my p90 guitar, and I have been extremely pleased with it. Great rock and roll/dirty blues sound. It is in the bridge position, so it also has some twang to it. It's a nice distinctive sound, and I don't think you could go wrong with it.