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Just received an archtop w/ a single P-90, and got it back from the first set-up. Not sure what the factory ship polepiece settings are, but this is set up for some serious chicken-picking. : )
So, what is the idiot-proof / easiest method for the best ' non- tele / non-strat ' sound.....?
I've already turned in string /screw # 3 a full turn and screw # 4 a half, and that has helped. These two polepieces were about a screw head above the other four. Is the next step to experiment with the other four screws ?
I haven't had humbuckers since the '60's, so these are new to me.
Thx !
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04-03-2023 12:26 PM
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P-90s are not humbuckers, they're single-coil pickups. That said, for either type I set the polepiece heights by ear, looking for equal volume from all strings. It can take awhile, sometimes over several days, because my ear can get tired or confused after awhile. In general the treble e needs to be somewhat high, depending on the gauge, the b needs to be very low, usually below the surface of the pickup, the g needs to be the highest, and the rest can taper down, with the bass E usually the lowest, and sometimes below the surface. But it depends on the strings in use. Brass/bronze strings need the wound ones much higher than steel wound, with monel/nickel somewhere in between. All this is because of the diameter of the string core, which is steel regardless of the winding material. Generally, the G has the thinnest core of all the strings, and the b is the largest. All this is only a generality, and it depends on the strings and the distance from the pickup. The lower the pickup, the less effect changing the polepieces has. Don't be afraid to turn the polepieces, they're just screws.
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Pickup height van make a difference, too. I have a P90 equipped guitar and reducing or increasing the distance between the strings and the pickup makes a huge difference.
Try that first - again, all you need is a screwdriver. When you have found the distance that works for you, adjust the pole pieces to compensate for individual string loudness.
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Yep, pickup height vs polepiece height does make a difference - raising the whole pickup closer to the strings, and lowering the poles will give a fuller, fatter tone, lowering the whole pikcup and raising the poles will provide more clarity and snap (P90s don't really twang ever).
Of course, with P90s (especially dogear ones), raising or lowering the whole pickup is rather difficult, since it has to be done using shims...
As for adjusting individual pole height - this absolutely has to be done by ear! Your type and gauge of string will really determine how they have to be set, no universal advice for that...
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On most p90 equipped archtops, you can easily adjust the pole-piece height, but you can't adjust the pickup height with a screwdriver. In the classic, Gibson-style mount, the only way to adjust the height is with shims.
Originally Posted by docsteve
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Dogears need shims (most archtops indeed), soapbars can be height adjusted with screwdriver but are hardly ever found on archtops. Originally Posted by customxke
My ES125's P90 is pretty sensitive to polepiece-height, especially on the bass-side: too high and it starts feedbacking. And we're talking about half a turn! I once put them up a little only to find out at the gig it was feedbacking like crazy.... luckily you can adjust them with the stem of those flat teaspoons you usually find in bars and coffeehouses ;-)
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OK, I have soapbars in a 335-style guitar and didn't think about dogears. Sorry for any confusion. Originally Posted by customxke
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My experience is too that P90s are very sensitive for the height adjustment and they need to be quite near to the strings. Once I almost bought new pickups to my Les Paul ’56 Reissue but then lifted the pu’s a 1 mm or 2 and voila! there it was!
Rising the screws gives You more upper mids and treble too so it helps sometimes for muddines.
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