Guitar fetish dream 90...

rompo420 · 09-06-2010, 06:56 PM

Guitar fetish dream 90...
Just finished the install of one of these bad boys in my guitar and i just wanted to very quickly state that it is awesome, awesome, awesome....

Stratatattat · 09-06-2010, 07:04 PM

i used a pair of them...awesome awesome awesome as well!

rompo420 · 09-06-2010, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratatattat

i used a pair of them...awesome awesome awesome as well!

I am getting ready to try one of their humbuckers (can't remember which one) in the bridge position and a matching neck Dream 90 in one of my 335 copies....just cos i can!

bluesking55 · 09-07-2010, 11:49 AM

surprisingly, someone took a dream 90 apart over at the Agile Forum and found a single coil inside.......... i cant verify that

rompo420 · 09-07-2010, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluesking55

surprisingly, someone took a dream 90 apart over at the Agile Forum and found a single coil inside.......... i cant verify that

I have a crappy sarcasm detector that is usually out of order. is this sarcasm?

bluesking55 · 09-08-2010, 12:44 PM

no its not, it was on the agile forum. I cant verify but I seemed to be the only 1 taken back by it, seemed like common knowledge there. Cant confirm it is true

DagerOne · 09-08-2010, 12:52 PM

Why wouldn't the Dream 90 be a single-coil? Isn't the Dream 90 Guitarfetish's take on the humbucker-sized P90 pickup, which was a single coil?

Stratatattat · 09-08-2010, 01:17 PM

yep. it's a single in a humbucker size. it's supposed to have bite, it's supposed to have a lil buzz, and it's supposed to sound awesome.

rompo420 · 09-08-2010, 04:15 PM

I just thought that it was absolute common knowledge that P90s are single coil!!!

That was the reason I put it in my HSS setup. Because i like the look but my humbucker was toooo.....biting???

Stratatattat · 09-08-2010, 05:53 PM

maybe the humbucker sized shell confuzzled em.

rompo420 · 09-09-2010, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratatattat

maybe the humbucker sized shell confuzzled em.

perhaps you are correct,Stratatattat.

dmitri · 09-19-2010, 08:55 AM

There is a difference between the way a P90 is made (uses the same magnet as a HB) and the way a standard single coil is... that was what surprised them, I believe. This is basically a Strat pup in a HB housing - that is NOT the way something like a Tonerider Rebel 90 or GFS Mean 90 is built. That's why, cool as the dream 90 sounds, if you are looking for a P90 clone to go in an LP kind of guitar, you probably want the Mean 90s from GFS or my favorite, the Rebel 90s from Tonerider.

rompo420 · 09-23-2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmitri

There is a difference between the way a P90 is made (uses the same magnet as a HB) and the way a standard single coil is... that was what surprised them, I believe. This is basically a Strat pup in a HB housing - that is NOT the way something like a Tonerider Rebel 90 or GFS Mean 90 is built. That's why, cool as the dream 90 sounds, if you are looking for a P90 clone to go in an LP kind of guitar, you probably want the Mean 90s from GFS or my favorite, the Rebel 90s from Tonerider.

so explain what the true difference is between a mean 90 and a dream 90. I am confuzzled now...

dmitri · 09-23-2010, 12:53 AM

Well... realizing that I am no expert by any means on the subject...

Dream 90 - strat pup in a HB housing
Mean 90 - P90 pup in a HB housing

Seriously, someone with a modicum of know-how should take apart both... but dude, I ain't that guy!

What I do know, is that P90s are fatter, juicier, and fuller than a strat-style single coil, because something about it is made differently (the magnets and windings from what I understand) giving it a unique tone.

The Dream 90s, for as cool as they sound, do not resemble the P90s sonically in anything like what I have ever played... while the Rebel 90s do sound surprisingly similar, as do the Mean 90 clips I have heard.

Basically what I am trying to say (and I know I am rambling) is that P90s are an entirely different class of pups... while they may be "single coils" in a technical sense, they are best thought of as their own beast. It would sound quite different putting the neck pup from a CV 60s guitar in a 10lb mahogany guitar than it would sound with a Vintage 90.

Man, hope that helps... heck I think I confuzzled myself there towards the end!

EDIT: from the GFS website, they say...

"How do they differ from the Dreams?? We've gone to a different Magnet structure, different coil size, added an expensive German Silver baseplate, and completely revamped to output level. We slightly "age" Alnico V magnets, and wrap the coils with Formvar 42 gauge wire. The result is a pickup that is FAR more aggressive in the lower mids, yet still has a crisp and clear high end. Think of the Mean 90's as a 4-10 Tweed Bassman and the Dream 90's as a Tweed Deluxe. The Dreams are more modern sounding and overdrive an amp with a decided CRUNCH- The Means are smoother- warmer, fuller and a tad louder."

OllieBee · 10-05-2010, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmitri

Well... realizing that I am no expert by any means on the subject...

Dream 90 - strat pup in a HB housing
Mean 90 - P90 pup in a HB housing

Seriously, someone with a modicum of know-how should take apart both... but dude, I ain't that guy!

What I do know, is that P90s are fatter, juicier, and fuller than a strat-style single coil, because something about it is made differently (the magnets and windings from what I understand) giving it a unique tone.

The Dream 90s, for as cool as they sound, do not resemble the P90s sonically in anything like what I have ever played... while the Rebel 90s do sound surprisingly similar, as do the Mean 90 clips I have heard.

Basically what I am trying to say (and I know I am rambling) is that P90s are an entirely different class of pups... while they may be "single coils" in a technical sense, they are best thought of as their own beast. It would sound quite different putting the neck pup from a CV 60s guitar in a 10lb mahogany guitar than it would sound with a Vintage 90.

Man, hope that helps... heck I think I confuzzled myself there towards the end!

EDIT: from the GFS website, they say...

"How do they differ from the Dreams?? We've gone to a different Magnet structure, different coil size, added an expensive German Silver baseplate, and completely revamped to output level. We slightly "age" Alnico V magnets, and wrap the coils with Formvar 42 gauge wire. The result is a pickup that is FAR more aggressive in the lower mids, yet still has a crisp and clear high end. Think of the Mean 90's as a 4-10 Tweed Bassman and the Dream 90's as a Tweed Deluxe. The Dreams are more modern sounding and overdrive an amp with a decided CRUNCH- The Means are smoother- warmer, fuller and a tad louder."

Ok... so now that we've established that P90s are single coils... would it be fair to assume that they're wired just like single coils?

And I want to put these exact P90s in my Strat. Double Fat Strat time

dmitri · 10-05-2010, 08:06 AM

Um... don't really know how a Single Coil on a strat is wired since I haven't ever changed pups in one...

The "HB sized P90" wiring is just one braid usually, peel it back to solder to ground and put the wire to the pot.

OllieBee · 10-05-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmitri

Um... don't really know how a Single Coil on a strat is wired since I haven't ever changed pups in one...

The "HB sized P90" wiring is just one braid usually, peel it back to solder to ground and put the wire to the pot.

That pretty much answered my question... thanks.

savofenno · 10-06-2010, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rompo420

I just thought that it was absolute common knowledge that P90s are single coil!!!

That was the reason I put it in my HSS setup. Because i like the look but my humbucker was toooo.....biting???

I sometimes feel that only 10% of guitarists know the existence of P90 since 1946 and it`s various forms, like cream colored or black soapbar, black & chrome with or without dog-ears, humbucker-wide black or chrome and so on.

They seem to forget it very quickly, or think single coils are all narrow like those in strats and telecasters. Charlie Christian p/u type is even bigger than P90, and still single coil one.
Myself i like P90s very much, bright, snappy and still fatter in tone than most other single-coils.

Edit: i am with dmitri when he says P90 should be considered as a different class of p/u`s, with CC p/u`s and some Rickenbacker, Guild and Gretsch ones, despite all those are single coils. Think them as 3rd class of p/u`s, besides normal single coils and humbuckers.

dmitri · 10-06-2010, 06:38 PM

That's how I feel - when people ask about my guitar collection, I always break them up into 3 categories:

Single Coils (my strats fall in this category)
Humbuckers (my AL3000 LP copy)
P90s (my PS100 PRS copy and my AL2000 LP copy)

Strat-toter · 11-18-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmitri

There is a difference between the way a P90 is made (uses the same magnet as a HB) and the way a standard single coil is... that was what surprised them, I believe. This is basically a Strat pup in a HB housing - that is NOT the way something like a Tonerider Rebel 90 or GFS Mean 90 is built. That's why, cool as the dream 90 sounds, if you are looking for a P90 clone to go in an LP kind of guitar, you probably want the Mean 90s from GFS or my favorite, the Rebel 90s from Tonerider.

I was just going to post about this. I am going to be picking up a nice and cheap Epi SG in Pelham blue and wanted the P90 pups in a humbucker size. I was and am considering the Mean 90's but I was wondering if they are in plastic or metal housing? The housing WILL affect the tone of a P90 pickup. Thanks for the info..anyone else wish to opine on other types of P90 flavored humbucker sized pups?

Strat-toter · 11-18-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savofenno

I sometimes feel that only 10% of guitarists know the existence of P90 since 1946 and it`s various forms, like cream colored or black soapbar, black & chrome with or without dog-ears, humbucker-wide black or chrome and so on.

They seem to forget it very quickly, or think single coils are all narrow like those in strats and telecasters. Charlie Christian p/u type is even bigger than P90, and still single coil one.
Myself i like P90s very much, bright, snappy and still fatter in tone than most other single-coils.

Edit: i am with dmitri when he says P90 should be considered as a different class of p/u`s, with CC p/u`s and some Rickenbacker, Guild and Gretsch ones, despite all those are single coils. Think them as 3rd class of p/u`s, besides normal single coils and humbuckers.

+1! I love P90 pickups.

Strat-toter · 11-18-2010, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmitri

There is a difference between the way a P90 is made (uses the same magnet as a HB) and the way a standard single coil is... that was what surprised them, I believe. This is basically a Strat pup in a HB housing - that is NOT the way something like a Tonerider Rebel 90 or GFS Mean 90 is built. That's why, cool as the dream 90 sounds, if you are looking for a P90 clone to go in an LP kind of guitar, you probably want the Mean 90s from GFS or my favorite, the Rebel 90s from Tonerider.

Hey Dmitri, is this the guy and pickups? I cannot find him on the flea bay.

http://rhfactorguitars.highwire.com/...-nickel-covers

rompo420 · 02-14-2011, 06:09 PM

has anyone ever taken them apart to see what it looks like under the chromed cover??

i am somewhat interested in losing the cover, if possible...

mechanic1908 · 02-17-2011, 07:39 PM

I just had mean 90's installed in my Douglas LP.
The description Jay on guitar fetish gives is pretty close to reality.
The mean 90's have alot of drive when the volume is cranked on the guitar but they clean up nicely when you back off the guitar volume.
They are also very "transparent" sounding.
They won't clean up as clean as a strat single coil and they won't do overdrive quite as well as a humbucker, but they cover all the ground in between very nicely.
They also aren't very noisy, as I can sit right in front of either of my amps with them cranked and the mean 90's don't squeal at all or hum very much.(even with just one p-up selected)
If you like a little "grit" in your tone I can't recommend these enough.
HTH
Eric