P90 vs HB route

[JohnH]

Just looking at electronics for my LP jr build, and am toying with the idea of routing the PU cavity to accommodate a humbucker sized P90.

The reason is purely aesthetic - there are a lot of humbucker sized P90's that look more interesting to me than the dogear P90's, and the HB sized versions give me options which I think will look better with the finish I have in mind, though I don't know that aesthetic concerns should over-ride other concerns such as how it will sound.

So, I guess my questions are:

Are HB sized P90's comparable to actual P90's? (I've just read about eight thousand reviews, which seem split 50/50)

Is it too annoying for some future owner who wants to put in a P90?

Is it silly for the way the thing looks to dictate electronics/sound options?

[blinddrew]

Is it silly for the way the thing looks to dictate electronics/sound options?

Don't know about the other stuff, but playing a guitar is a complex collection of emotions based around what feels good. And part of that is seeing that guitar sitting there and thinking, 'damn that looks sweet, I'll just grab it and give it a play'. So I say no, it's not silly, it's part of the whole process of inspiration and the joy of creativity.

[Dedman]

You can fit a Humbucker in a P90 route I'm pretty sure. Particullay on the bridge end as the rear mount sits very high and most of the pick up is in the ring rather than the body. I have a Humbucker in my DM1 which came routed for a P90 and I have a mini humbucker in my LP Jnr.

BTW the Tone rider bucker sized P90's sound very nice.

[Fretworn]

Are HB sized P90's comparable to actual P90's? (I've just read about eight thousand reviews, which seem split 50/50)

Is it too annoying for some future owner who wants to put in a P90?

Is it silly for the way the thing looks to dictate electronics/sound options?

1) It will depend on the internal construction. Some “P90”s are really other pickups in a P90 disguise. So some HB sized P90s will be closer than others depending on what they have done to make the internals fit the externals.

2) Is selling/giving away what you are making it for? If not, do whatever you want. If it does end up belonging to someone else and its got a HB sized pickup then that may actually give them greater options for changing the pickup.

3) Aesthetics are completely relevant in pickup choices. No one would use gold foils if it wasn’t for the look of them.....

[Simon Barden]

I've just tried to fit a Gibson humbucker in a PBG P90 rout and it won't fit. It's about 2mm too wide for the hole. I've tried a standard humbucker pickup ring, and it just covers the ends of the hole, but the mounting screw holes are right on the corners of the P90 rout, and it would be very easy to split the wood in the corners without adding in some blocks in the corner .

Of course, Gibson's mini-humbuckers were designed to fit into P-90 routs by using a soapbar P-90 cover as the pickup surround!

[JohnH]

Thanks guys, this has been helpful.

Humbuckers definitely don't fit in this P90 route, as Simon says. I'd tried already, but no dice.

I have a plan for the guitar that would see it changing hands (provided I am satisfied with the finish), so I guess I was just worried I'd be limiting that persons options. The more I think about it the more sure I am that a humbucker will give me the look I want, so will have a crack at re-routing once I'm back from Mildura.