Ruminations on the P90s in my new build

[Boreas]

I don’t think anyone has mentioned this. You described the issue as not enough volume in the bridge and that it quacks instead of sings. I had a similar issue with a GFS dream 90. I know it’s not a traditional P90. In my case, I had wires the bridge out of phase which made it quack like the strat in between sound. Try reversing the bridge pickup leads. That did the trick for me. A bridge p90 shouldn’t quack and should give you tons of volume and grit.

Thanks! That is definitely true. I tried swapping leads and it REALLY got weird. So it is actually wired right. I think it is just the nature of the beast. All is good now that I am used to it. Luckily I put in a linear tone pot, so I have allotta room to adjust tone. After getting a better balance with heights, it isn't quite as obnoxious, but if you are not used to it, the bridge tone takes a little getting used to. If I do another with P90s, I will try to move the bridge pickup closer to the neck.

 

[Monoprice99]

I would think to get a Telecaster dual P90 & LP dual P90 to space exactly to scale and have the pickups capture the relative string vibrations for length, you'd have to have a LP with P90's & take the measurements relative to the LP's scale length of 24.75 & locations that would be from the middle of the last fret to the centered pole pieces & intonated saddles, also center on center pole distances between neck & bridge P90. Then convert those to the Telecaster's build & scale length of 25.5.

I have an Epiphone LP Special I P90. These are the measurements it has. The assumption being every LP, arch top or slab has the same dimensions. What that translates to for a 25.5 Telecaster is a matter of math to scale the guitars for pickup location relative to their scale lengths. Theoretically that's what a fretboard & fret spacing is based upon for differences between 24.75 & 25.5 scale length for notes. In practice is that accurate for where the pickup locations are ?

A1 => A2, centerline of 22nd fret to the intonated Saddles for the 3rd & 4th string = 7 2/32 (7 1/16) inches
A1 => B, centerline of 22nd fret to the center pole pieces of the neck P90 = 1 3/32 inches
B => C, centerline of the neck P90 to the bridge P90 = 3 28/32 (3 7/8) inches

Whatever these calculate to for a Telecaster is a matter of mathematical scaling. Also dependent upon Bridge type, whether it's a 2 piece LP-like TOM, LP-like Lightning Bar or the Telecaster Ash Tray style or whatever fixed bridge is used. Not even sure a P90 even works for an Ash Tray style bridge plate & 3X barrel saddles without some metal work for modifications. Just a gut feeling without knowing for certain or doing the mathematical computations, but where the Telecaster pickups locate for a traditional Tele single coils are probably already located by design ?

The bodies for a LP & Telecaster are different dimensions for length & upper/lower bout widths. The Epiphone & Telecaster for a bolt on neck have the same neck pocket dimensions, even shape. Eye balling the fret where the front edge of the tongue of the neck pocket & neck is at the 16th fret.

 

[Boreas]

I would think to get a Telecaster dual P90 & LP dual P90 to space exactly to scale and have the pickups capture the relative string vibrations for length, you'd have to have a LP with P90's & take the measurements relative to the LP's scale length of 24.75 & locations that would be from the middle of the last fret to the centered pole pieces & intonated saddles, also center on center pole distances between neck & bridge P90. Then convert those to the Telecaster's build & scale length of 25.5.

I have an Epiphone LP Special I P90. These are the measurements it has. The assumption being every LP, arch top or slab has the same dimensions. What that translates to for a 25.5 Telecaster is a matter of math to scale the guitars for pickup location relative to their scale lengths. Theoretically that's what a fretboard & fret spacing is based upon for differences between 24.75 & 25.5 scale length for notes. In practice is that accurate for where the pickup locations are ?

A1 => A2, centerline of 22nd fret to the intonated Saddles for the 3rd & 4th string = 7 2/32 (7 1/16) inches
A1 => B, centerline of 22nd fret to the center pole pieces of the neck P90 = 1 3/32 inches
B => C, centerline of the neck P90 to the bridge P90 = 3 28/32 (3 7/8) inches

Whatever these calculate to for a Telecaster is a matter of mathematical scaling. Also dependent upon Bridge type, whether it's a 2 piece LP-like TOM, LP-like Lightning Bar or the Telecaster Ash Tray style or whatever fixed bridge is used. Not even sure a P90 even works for an Ash Tray style bridge plate & 3X barrel saddles without some metal work for modifications. Just a gut feeling without knowing for certain or doing the mathematical computations, but where the Telecaster pickups locate for a traditional Tele single coils are probably already located by design ?

The bodies for a LP & Telecaster are different dimensions for length & upper/lower bout widths. The Epiphone & Telecaster for a bolt on neck have the same neck pocket dimensions, even shape. Eye balling the fret where the front edge of the tongue of the neck pocket & neck is at the 16th fret.

Thanks!

 

[Monoprice99]

The other thing I noticed about the Tele build of this thread that the measurements that I provided, The Epiphone LP Special P90 is a 22 fret neck, the Tele build has 21 frets. Not sure how that difference plays into the measurements for scaling an exact scale model for pickup location, it's fractions of an inch difference beyond just a 24.75 vs 25.5 scale neck & fretboard. But for something like pickup height adjustments or string height adjustments for any given guitar, those micro-adjustments for fractions of an inch seem to matter in terms of micro-tonal differences. I guess it's like the +/- tolerances any guitar has for bridge location centerline of a routed recess for a pickup. A part ends up being where it is and we live with it or not. +/- 0.000000 degrees longitudinally & 0.000000 degrees lattitudinally for the imaginary grid concept of a flat or arched top surface for centerlines & the thickness of any markings for reference.

 

[Monoprice99]

Using the Stew Mac calculator for fret spacing the 21st fret of a 22 fret as a 24.75 scale neck adds another .413 inches between the centerlines of the 21st & 22nd frets. That would have to be scaled dimension for a 21 fret neck as a 25.5 scale neck. I mean on both either a 24.75 vs 25.5, the 22nd fret overhangs where the 21st fret would almost be where the butt end of the heel of the neck & neck pocket rout ends for whatever shape & extra distance that is.

Fret position calculator - StewMac

www.stewmac.com

 

[Happy Enchilada]

Lollar makes their dogear P90s in 3 different heights for just this reason.
There are also foam spacers you can get.
Here's how I solved the problem:

This one is on Reverb right now for under $500.
And if it's like mine, the pickups sound great.
It's my #1 now.
P90s rock!!!

 

[trev333]

my first foray into P90's started with a set of dog ears that needed a guitar.... X marks the spot... Deryck was on the bottom of the pecking order and the only non US tele in the house... Hell guitar now, the first open E strum had THAT sound I had in my head of how guitars should sound........ these Deryck necks are good, too....

this was before I had the idea to make my own bodies... and there were soapbars,,,