p90 or HB?

When you have a choice, always choose P-90.

Always.

The end...

 

• For Jazz in particular, I'd go with the 'bucker. Just about any other style it's no question I'd choose a P-90.

 

P90's are IMO one of the tastiest pickups there are, and certainly far ahead of any HB. Not saying the *are*, just that I and many other feel that way. But the thing is, you can get that transparent natural chime out of them or play with the tones to get more jazzy tones. It has a wider range of tones than HB's and are more dynamic. I just don't see a reason for HB's myself. Maybe for pure traditional jazz HB's might be better. I don't know. But P90s are awesome pickups. My fav are plain ol gibsons. Lots of people favor those even over boutique offerings.

 

I'll watch this discussion. Been thinking about this topic myself. Interested in responses. Wondering, is this the right place to mention a Charlie Christian in the neck as yet a third option? I'll sit down now.

 

Although my avatar has a LP Special with P90s I still can't jell with them, especially the neck. For ME, Id go HB. But what do i know? I don't know anything about jazz.

 

P90 but you really have to match the bridge pup and play with pots and caps until you get it right

 

Do you have experience with either? I love P90s, but humbuckers push my amp too well for me to pass on them. I eventually decided that a split humbucker with the tone rolled almost all of the way off came close enough to sounding like a P90.

 

You either prefer P90s or you're wrong.

Honestly, I've heard great jazz played on every kind of pickup...humbuckers, P90s, Charlie Christians, gold foils, tele neck pickups of every possible hotness...even on Esquire bridge pickups and strat pickups. It just depends what kind of "flava" you're after. And if you can handle noise or not (there are hum-cancelling P90s out there from Fralin, Kinman and some other brands).

But yeah...between the two...P90s.

 

The matching part is always the hardest for me when mixing types of pickups.

 

A RWRP P90 in parallel with a hot Tele bridge is exquisite.

As part of a 4 way setup, in series it really digs in.

And it looks cool.

 

You could go with a humbucker route and then toss in a humbucker size p90. Fralin, Lollar, Duncan, and many others make some great choices in that style.

 

Just search Youtube for "Tele jazz". Lots of examples & demos from great players.

 

Get P-Rails and have both.

 

Lollar low wind Imperial. Great pickup!

 

Between the two, I greatly prefer the PAF type humbucker.
A Duncan Jazz is a great choice.
My first choice is actually a TV Jones Supertron.
It’s a low output, clear sounding humbucker.
If you lean more towards a P90, you might also consider a Seymour Duncan Alnico V Staple pickup.
They’re available through the Duncan Custom Shop.
I love them, too.
Obviously I’m not a P90 fan.

 

If you’re typical playing area is suitable for single coils the P90 is my favorite. If you frequently play in areas with lots of interference the HB is friendlier. One of these days I’m going to build a 24 fret esquire-Jr. with a single p90 in the bridge.

 

Phat Cat

 

If you can really play jazz on a tele and all that, I would think you would know what you're about...
get what you like.