P-90 Replacements?

[Richard Monroe]

I just put a deposit on a new Epiphone Casino with dogear P-90's. My experience with prior Epiphones is that the Koreans build some very good axes, but the pickups have always been substandard, and I replace them as a matter of course. Now I know Seymour Duncan makes some replacements, about $75 each, and the Gibsons are about $80. While spooking around on ebay, I found Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe Guitars in Livermore, CA. He sells self-built replacement pairs for $100 the pair. Does anybody have any experience with the guy, the business, or the pickups? The price is attractive if the pups are any good. Hint- I'm looking for very clean here, not distorted sound, and old P-90's have worked very well for me in the past to get that sound. Thanks in advance for any insight.-Richie

 

[boingoman]

I just put a deposit on a new Epiphone Casino with dogear P-90's. My experience with prior Epiphones is that the Koreans build some very good axes, but the pickups have always been substandard, and I replace them as a matter of course. Now I know Seymour Duncan makes some replacements, about $75 each, and the Gibsons are about $80. While spooking around on ebay, I found Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe Guitars in Livermore, CA. He sells self-built replacement pairs for $100 the pair. Does anybody have any experience with the guy, the business, or the pickups? The price is attractive if the pups are any good. Hint- I'm looking for very clean here, not distorted sound, and old P-90's have worked very well for me in the past to get that sound. Thanks in advance for any insight.-Richie

I love pickups. Never heard of that guy, tho. There are so many of them out there now, it's like a kid in a candy store! My .02, i got a pair of SD Antiquity dog-ear P-90s. they are great. That price you saw is more than attractive! If the guy is for real those are a steal. I think I paid 85-90 apiece for mine. The Antiquity series is a bit more, but hand wound. Mmmmm...
Good luck, and please post if you find any info.

p.s. I feel the same about the guitars and changing the pickups is a big upgrade, giving you a great axe for not a lot of money.

 

[acorec]

I just put a deposit on a new Epiphone Casino with dogear P-90's. My experience with prior Epiphones is that the Koreans build some very good axes, but the pickups have always been substandard, and I replace them as a matter of course. Now I know Seymour Duncan makes some replacements, about $75 each, and the Gibsons are about $80. While spooking around on ebay, I found Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe Guitars in Livermore, CA. He sells self-built replacement pairs for $100 the pair. Does anybody have any experience with the guy, the business, or the pickups? The price is attractive if the pups are any good. Hint- I'm looking for very clean here, not distorted sound, and old P-90's have worked very well for me in the past to get that sound. Thanks in advance for any insight.-Richie

Hello, I bought a Casino in 1997. If they haven't changed them, the stock P90s are great sounding! I was going to change them until I recorded them. Really great sounding and it is one of my favorite axes. The thing that you really want to change are the pots,caps and jack. These parts really suck bad. I recorded an entire album with the Casino and still love the sound today. Try it before you replace the P90s, you might be surprised.

I also replaced the nut with a bone one. Helps the sound alot.

Good Luck. These are great sounding and playing guitars.

BTW: The secret to keeping the thing in tune is to have a good setup by a competent repair guy. The nut is the weakspot here. If you cannot keep the thing in tune, replace the nut and adjust the action/intonation. This happened to me, and when I fixed it, it played and sounded great.

 

[freshmattyp]

Check out the Lindy Frailin P90's if you can find them in your neck of the woods. Tone for days.