subject: What's The Difference Between A Humbucker And A P-90 Guitar Pickup? [print this page] Both the humbucker and the P-90 pickup were originally the concept of the Gibson Guitar Corporation. The early version of the P-90 was branded the PU-90 and was developed by Guy Hart and Walt Fullers in the 1940's - the Les Paul version came later, composed of the same simple plate but minus the side brackets. It was not until 1956 that the now magical humbucking pickup designed by Seth Lover of Gibson came on the scene.
So what's the difference between these two types of pickup?
Well to begin with the P-90 is a single coil pickup and the humbucker is composed of two coils. Not only do they sound somewhat different but electronically there are some quite different things going on.
An average P-90 is constructed with approximately 10,000 winds of 42 AWG enamel-coated wire wrapped around a black plastic bobbin, which are subsequently covered in a black paper tape. These winds give a reading of more or less 8,000 ohms. Positioned beneath the black bobbin are the two Alnico magnets in a magnetically opposed configuration. The initial examples used Alnico 3 magnets but the kind of Alnico varied over time. Screws attach to a centre steel bar which is positioned between the magnets and above a nickel steel baseplate. Braided wire is utilised and a cream or black plastic cover.
A standard humbucker is constructed with roughly 5,000 winds of 42 AWG enamel-coated wire wrapped around two black plastic bobbins. These winds give a joint reading of approximately 7,800 ohms. The two bobbins may be wound in exactly the same direction but the start and end of each coil are magnetically out of phase with each other if connected together. One side hot and the other side ground. This very clever system is what produces the hum canceling effect craved by lots of guitarists calling for quiet, hum free pickups. The coils are covered in black paper tape, and sit above one Alnico magnet. Once again, the type of the Alnico magnets varied over time. Screws pass through one of the bobbins into a steel bar and steel slugs pass through the other bobbin. A steel baseplate, braided wire and a nickel cover finish off the pickup.
In regards to performance it's down to individual preference. The humbucker is more popular as lots of players really like the quiet, flexible efficiency, but the P-90 has won a great deal of fans due to its raunchy growling sound. Nowadays both examples incorporate various performance specs for different music styles which includes varied magnets and windings.
It must be said that both types sound excellent to my ears and look fantastic on an aging vintage Les Paul.
