Aftermarket pickups for JR-1M

This is what I thought would be a simple question, but either I'm using the wrong search terms or there's something I haven't understood. I've never had a guitar with p90s and I don't know anything about them.

I'm thinking about building a JR-1M. Love the shape, love the simplicity, mahogany looks nice, and so on.

This time I don't want to go with stock pickups. The stock pickups look to be "dog ear" p90s. If I'm wrong about that, let me know.

The questions:

Are there any aftermarket p90s in the PBG shop that fit on the JR-1M? None seem to have the dog ear covers, which seems like it might be a problem.

Are the p90 covers removable, or integral to the pickups? If they're removable, could I just take the cover off a stock one, put it on the aftermarket one, and problem solved?

And finally (this one seems to get the asker abused in some forums), can I replace the p90 with a humbucker? How hard is that? What steps would be involved?

I'm sure the answers will just raise more questions, but as usual I look forward to hearing everyone's advice, and I'm sure I'm about to learn a lot more than I would have thought I needed to know :)

I used a mini humbucker on mine, mounted in a mini to full size ring it just covered the P90 routing. Not as hot as a P90 though. Maybe check the ToneRider site and if they make one, ask Adam if he can order it in for you. ToneRider do make humbucker sized P90's if you weren't locked into wanting a dog ear

I'm definitely not locked into anything yet, I'm mostly trying to understand how the different kinds of p90s attach and also trying to find out what other options there might be. Ideally I'd want a single p90 on this thing. I like the way they sound like that.

What I was trying (and failing!) to ask is that if I buy the JR-1M kit, will I be able to fit (for example) this pickup http://www.pitbullguitars.com/shop/p...-bridge-cream/ (a soapbar, right?) without altering the guitar. Or if I would need to alter it, what would I need to change?

edit: I finally found a vid of how to install a p90 (rather than how to replace it with something else), and it looks like the soapbars just screw in on springs, not unlike other pickups I've installed previously. I guess a tonerider soapbar would just slot right in there and screw in same as it would on anything else, but I'd like someone to confirm that before I decide.

I used Kent Armstrong humbucker sized P90s in a build and found them very, very good indeed, especially at the price point they occupy! Like you, I knew nothing about P90s and was just interested in a different set of noises - I like them a lot!!

best to ask Adam to measure the pick up and the route for you I think, to be doubly sure

Yeah good point, I'll email Adam a little closer to when I can actually buy everything. Unless I come up with a different idea before then. Doubt it'll change though, I'm pretty set on this idea.

Soapbars and Dogears typically have different backing plates and slightly different rout sizes. Soapbars need a little larger rout and I *think* from memory a soapbar won't fit in the JR rout without enlarging it a touch (been a while since I checked).

year Corsair, I have a LP with ToneRider humbucker sized p90's I like it a lot. I plan to order a custom double cut Jnr next year, still haven't decided on a pick up for it yet

Soapbars and dogears do have different mounting plates, but they are easily swapped (if you can find a replacement plate). Covered in this link.

http://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/bl...-style-pickup/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Simon Barden

Soapbars and dogears do have different mounting plates, but they are easily swapped (if you can find a replacement plate). Covered in this link.

http://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/bl...-style-pickup/

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That's the info I was looking for! Thank you!

So rather than enlarging the pickup route for a tonerider soapbar, I could take the pickup apart and use the baseplate and cover from the p90 supplied with the kit. Or if the pole holes don't match up, blank covers are cheap on ebay.

Won't be ordering this one until after christmas I guess, but looks like I'm good to go :)

I've ordered the JR-1M, and hopefully will have it delivered later this week. I will most likely be getting a Brierley dog ear vintage 60s p90 for it: http://www.brierleyguitarpickups.com.au/p90.htm
There is also a Benson dog ear sold in the PBG shop:
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/shop/p...-bridge-cream/

Pole hole spacing in the covers should be the same, and all based on the Gibson spacing (but you never know). The thing to watch out for is if the kit P-90, being a low-cost Chinese version, uses a different construction method in order to cut costs. You might not be able to change the base-plate over easily as it could be more of an all-in-one construction. You won't know until you get it.

As it's easy to change a single dog-ear P-90 over, I'd recommend trying the kit P-90 first, just to get an idea of what it sounds like.

You can get very low-cost P-90 dog ears from Warman (which may not be that different from the kit pickup), lowish cost Kent Armstrong P90 dog ears and nickel covered Wilkinson P90 dog ears. After that you move into the standard makes like Seymour Duncan, Gibson etc, and then the more boutique makes.

If you like the way the guitar plays and feels after it's put together, then as it's only one pickup, then it may be worth spending a bit more to make that a good pickup. A good brand pup should also be able to be sold-on at a good price on eBay if you ever get rid of the guitar - after re-fitting the original (which you will of course keep) - as you will never get as much for it installed as selling it separately.