P-90 Guitars Buying Guide

When you require a raw sound that's just as powerful as it is complex, look no further than a P-90-equipped guitar! Developed in the 1940s, the P-90's construction features a wider but shorter bobbin than Fender-style single-coil pickups. The resulting sound maintains much of the clarity that Fender-style pickups are known for, while also producing a higher output with increased midrange focus.

The pickup gained prominence in the 1950s, coming as factory-original parts on early Gibson Les Pauls. By the '60s, P-90s found a new life on more budget-friendly instruments of the time like Les Paul Specials and Juniors, as well as many Epiphone models like the Casino and Coronet. Despite the pickups' supposed "relegation" from the highest-end models, P-90-loaded guitars eventually found their way into the hands of punks and rock stars who introduced their snarling overdriven sound to a new generation.

Choose from a few different styles of P-90s:

• Soapbar: Noted for their shape that's visually similar to a literal bar of soap. The pickup's mounting screws are located next to the pole pieces.
• Dogear: Named for the mounting screw tabs on either side of the pickup that resemble a dog's ear.
• Other Styles: Seymour Duncan's Phat Cat P-90s are humbucker-sized for easy modification; Fishman's Fluence Greg Koch Gristle-Tone P90s offer three switchable tones per pickup position.

While humbuckers and Fender-style single-coil pickups make up a majority of the pickups out there, P-90s attract adherents from a wide range of styles thanks to a sound that's all their own. Find out for yourself what makes P-90s so special -- take a look at our selection of P-90 loaded guitars below!