/ Register

  1. Win a Broadcaster or one of 3 Teles! The annual Supporting Member Giveaway is on. To enter Click Here. To see all the prizes and full details Click Here. To view the thread about the giveaway Click Here.

Swapping Ibanez stock for Entwistle P90s?

Discussion in 'Just Pickups' started by KCKC, May 6, 2020.

  1. May 6, 2020 #1
    KCKC

    KCKC Tele-Afflicted

    Posts:
    1,662
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2008
    Location:
    Hingham, MA
    Hoping for your input on a pup swap!

    I have a an Ibanez AF 86 vls with stock pickups. I like it!

    https://www.zzounds.com/item--IBAAF86


    But I always love a project too! A couple of years ago I bought a pair of Entwistle P90s. They've been wrapped in a drawer since delivery. I have some time on my hands and was thinking of doing a swap.

    http://www.entwistlepickups.com/pickup.php?puid=X 90 ceramic

    I am a guitar "bonehead" hence my question! I have never played P90s but was thinking of swapping out the original Ibanez pups for the entwistles... Any thoughts, suggestions, feedback?

    I am a blues/americana fan. That's what a like to play. Big Clapton, JJ, BB etc fan.

    Very average guitar player.

    The P90s are a "hair" bigger than the stock pups and may require removal of the pick guard and I couldn't use the trim rings.

    Yay or Nay?

    tx,
    KC
     
  2. May 6, 2020 #2
    kiwi blue

    kiwi blue Tele-Afflicted

    Posts:
    1,780
    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2005
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Your best bet for that guitar would be HB size P90s. They would drop right in without mods to the guitar. I've not looked into it in detail, but I suspect modding the guitar for normal P90s would be more trouble than it's worth.

    P90s do sound great for blues.
     
    nicknklv, drmordo and KCKC like this.
  3. May 6, 2020 #3
    Zepfan

    Zepfan Doctor of Teleocity Gold Supporter

    Posts:
    10,467
    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2013
    Location:
    Horn Lake, MS
    Why swap if your happy with it as is?
    I've done that with a guitar because I thought the results would be better, they weren't. Swapping can be a crap shoot.
    P94 types can be good to get those P90 tones and another option is to swap in SD P Rails to get P90 tones, Stratty tones and great HB tones from the same pickup. The Triple Shot Rings make it easy to switch between options.
     
    naveed211 and KCKC like this.
  4. May 6, 2020 #4
    Danb541

    Danb541 Tele-Afflicted

    Posts:
    1,818
    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2019
    Location:
    Oregon
    Those P90's are soap bar shaped, your guitar has humbuckers. Even if you elongate the humbucker routes to fit the P90's, the routes will be too wide. I would never consider doing this, it will look horrible. Not to mention what a pain in the but it is to swap pickups in a semi hollow guitar.
     
    drmordo and KCKC like this.
  5. May 6, 2020 #5
    Danb541

    Danb541 Tele-Afflicted

    Posts:
    1,818
    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2019
    Location:
    Oregon
    It is a semi hollow guitar correct? Not full hollow body? Because if it's a full hollow body, there is no way to mount the P90's. You would need dog ear P90's that mount to the top of the guitar if it's full hollow.
     
    KCKC likes this.
  6. May 6, 2020 #6
    KCKC

    KCKC Tele-Afflicted

    Posts:
    1,662
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2008
    Location:
    Hingham, MA
    All great points!

    I don't need another "some-day-done" project! Thanks for the input! Looks like it's staying stock!!

    Tx guys!

    KC
     
  7. May 6, 2020 #7
    Zepfan

    Zepfan Doctor of Teleocity Gold Supporter

    Posts:
    10,467
    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2013
    Location:
    Horn Lake, MS
    Dog Eared P90's might cover the HB hole a bit better, but still will have a small opening on the side. So P94 types would be best. SD Phat Cats are great as are some others and GFS Mean/Surf/Dream 90's are good on a budget.
     
    rocksmoot and Danb541 like this.
  8. May 8, 2020 #8
    KCKC

    KCKC Tele-Afflicted

    Posts:
    1,662
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2008
    Location:
    Hingham, MA
    Could anyone speak to the potetial sound difference? I know that's a long shot! ;)
     
  9. May 8, 2020 #9
    richey88

    richey88 Friend of Leo's

    Posts:
    3,738
    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2009
    Location:
    philly suburbs
    Yup. Get a hollow body with P90's then you can swap with your Entwhistles. Never heard of those, what do they sound like?
     
  10. May 8, 2020 #10
    schmee

    schmee Doctor of Teleocity

    Posts:
    13,419
    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2003
    Location:
    northwest
    Nay. I doubt it's worth modding the guitar.
     
  11. May 8, 2020 #11
    rocksmoot

    rocksmoot Tele-Meister

    Posts:
    230
    Joined:
    May 6, 2012
    Location:
    Rogers, Arkansas
    I can vouch for the Phat Cats, I had a pair in my Epiphone Seraton II and they sounded great. Perfect drop in replacement for PAF style humbuckers
     
  12. May 8, 2020 #12
    telepraise

    telepraise Tele-Afflicted

    Age:
    65
    Posts:
    1,261
    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2017
    Location:
    Tampa Bay
    Huge difference. p90s are going to sound earthy, organic, growly if you turn them up. Might be good for jump or blues. You have a very refined looking guitar there. I'd look for a used Epiphone Sheraton with p90s if you want to experiment with that sound.
     
  13. May 9, 2020 #13
    hopdybob

    hopdybob Tele-Afflicted

    Posts:
    1,779
    Joined:
    May 28, 2008
    Location:
    netherlands
IMPORTANT: Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult!
No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.