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

[chipbutty24]

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.

[jjkrause84]

Connected to the wood would seem to be the first option

[chipbutty24]

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.

[BigDaddyLH]

Well, here's the Fender JA-90:



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

[chipbutty24]

Excellent. Thanks!

[mike shaw]

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.

[BigDaddyLH]

Here's a diagram from Warmoth:

[mgwhit]

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).

[chipbutty24]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLH

Here's a diagram from Warmoth:

Awesome, thanks!

[chipbutty24]

Originally Posted by mgwhit

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.

[Brandon Cur]

Lemme know what you find, chipbutty!

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

[voodoo_idol]

Originally Posted by chipbutty24

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/product...ges/sh-1.shtml

http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...s/sp90-2.shtml

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

http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...h901_phat_cat/

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

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

[Dirty Steve]

Originally Posted by mgwhit

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:

[mgwhit]

Originally Posted by Dirty Steve

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?

[Dirty Steve]

Originally Posted by mgwhit

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.

[chipbutty24]

@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?

[chipbutty24]

Originally Posted by voodoo_idol

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

you have it reversed my friend

[voodoo_idol]

Originally Posted by Dirty Steve

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.).

[voodoo_idol]

Originally Posted by chipbutty24

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]

Originally Posted by chipbutty24

@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.