P-90 on a 3 stringer

Posted by Rod Lindsey on September 25, 2016 at 6:37pm

OK, I'm working on my first 3 string, and i have a P-90 pickup to put in it. Now the P-90 is made for a 6 string, so do I center the pickup, or do I offset it to try to align the strings over the magnets? The way i see it though, all of the strings won't line up anyway with the wider string placement, but I could use some feedback, before I start cutting holes...

Thanks

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Replies

  • Rod Lindsey October 7, 2016 at 7:55pm

    Well, I got everything wired up,(1p90, 1 volume, 1 tone, both 500 ohm pots) got her strung, and apparently now I have a ground issue. She hums like my shed(it's full of wasps). Is there an easy way of figuring out where the ground fault is?

  • Jim Dickison September 25, 2016 at 10:59pm

    The magnetic fields of the 6 poles overlap, so it's not crucial to center them under the strings. I like the idea of slanting the pickup to use as much active area of the pickup as you can. I've not used a P-90 on a CBG... but it should be a good sound!

    • mtfallsmikey > Jim Dickison September 27, 2016 at 8:19am

      Picked up an old Harmony electric at a yard sale, going to pull the pickup and wiring out and put it in a yet-to-be made CBG this winter, I'll center it now, thanks all!

  • Thomas "Duck" Petry September 25, 2016 at 9:09pm

    Just center it under the strings like a normal 6 string.  I did one that way and it sounds great.

  • Richard Wilkins September 25, 2016 at 7:03pm

    Howdy Rod, I don't think it's crucial to have the strings directly over the magnets.

    Check out this youtube video by Glenn Watt (of CB Gitty) showing one way to install the p90. I think it answers the question about whether the strings have to be inline with the magnets or not

    Installing P90 on CBG

    • Rod Lindsey > Richard Wilkins September 25, 2016 at 7:10pm

      Thanks RIchard, i will watch it shortly.

  • the anonymous pick September 25, 2016 at 7:02pm

    The  mag field from the poles radiate  outwards in a spread  , so  you  don't have to  have it directly  over the poles  , it will still  pick it  up  .   slanting the pick  will  make it  "look  a bit more like it  fits  .  it will also  deepen  or brighten the tone  of the  2  end strings   as the   mag  field spot  is  offset from each other  .

    ie:  a top end  forward slant  "/ "   will  deepen the bass string    and  brighten the   high e ) 

    closer to  the neck   = warmer . closer to  the bridge  =  brighter  . 

    so  there's some  more reason   to waste some more time thinkn  about  it   , lol  ;-)

    but in actuality  . the differences are minimal  . so  do what  you  want  , it will still  work  . ;-)

    ( i figure they look  better  slanted  .)

    • Rod Lindsey > the anonymous pick September 25, 2016 at 7:14pm

      Hey Pick, thanks for chiming in on this. I had actually gotten on here to see if you were on, to message you about this... lol I'm leaning towards closer to the neck. I like the warmer tones it gets there. See, I have been paying attention to the vids.

      Thanks

    • the anonymous pick > Rod Lindsey September 25, 2016 at 7:28pm

      cheers  ;-)

  • MadGomer September 25, 2016 at 6:50pm
    I'm anxious to hear the answer to your question Rod from the wise veterans here, I'm wondering the same thing. I was thinking about angling the pickup in my case to get all of it under the strings if possible, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.
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