Godin P-90 Dogear Sized Humbucker?

[Beemer2]

I have a Godin 5th Avenue P90 Kingpin and only play at home. Using an AER 60 III amp I am troubled with electromagnetic interference. I think changing to a humbucker would eliminate the problem. I have not been able to find a HB that would be a drop in fit. Has anyone got advice they can give me on this?

Update: I just found this:
Custom Handwound Replacement Vintage and Modern P90 Pickups: P90 Sized Fat Humbucker - Dogear

Anyone got experience with it?

[Gabor]

I think the P90 character belongs to that instrument. I have no interference neither on my Bugera tube neither on my DV Mark.

I would try first with an other cable. Also, if hum significantly lowered depending on you touch the strings or not, then it could be a wire ground problem, the strings should electrically equipotential (contacted) with the ground of the cable, usually through the tailpice.

[Beemer2]

All ground path from strings to amp is good using high quality cable. The interference is magnetic 50Hz hum and changes with the direction I hold the guitar. The problem can be much reduced by keeping amp channel high/low at low setting and that channel gain set low and then increasing master volume. I don't have access to a humbucker guitar to see if the problem is not present with the same setup.

[John A.]

All ground path from strings to amp is good using high quality cable. The interference is magnetic 50Hz hum and changes with the direction I hold the guitar. The problem can be much reduced by keeping amp channel high/low at low setting and that channel gain set low and then increasing master volume. I don't have access to a humbucker guitar to see if the problem is not present with the same setup.

The best solution short of replacing the pickup is the Electro Harmonix Hum Debugger pedal. It's really the only thing that can filter out electro-magnetic hum (60 Hz or 50 Hz, depending where you are). Do a search for it here and you while find several discussions.

I had a Godin Kingpin for a few years, and it's a great sounding guitar, but it's very susceptible to this hum. In some rooms I couldn't use it without the Hum DeBugger. I found that it had no noticeable effect on the tone of the P90, and was a real lifesaver with the Godin.

Sometimes with my strat it has a more noticeable effect (especially with overdriven sounds). So with that guitar I tend more to live with the buzz (which is not as bad to begin with as the Godin).

[Beemer2]

Sadly only available as 120V not 240V

[John A.]

Sadly only available as 120V not 240V

Oh, I didn't realize that. Shame on EHX for not making one that works in Europe. On to a new pickup, I guess. One thing to be aware of -- the Godin's top is not actually routed out. Instead, the pickup sits on a thick spacer that holds the pickup just a hair above the top, and there's just a small hole drilled in the top for the wire. Some mini-humbuckers might protrude down too far to fit in that spot on the Godin. You should measure all the clearances carefully and check with the pickup maker to make sure it fits before buying.

[Beemer2]

That is valuable information that I was unaware of.
thanks,
Ian