• From: Asheville, North Carolina
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 133

Topic: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

So I've got several questions here. I have an R8 that's spoiled me. I play single channel amps and depend on my volume and tone controls on my guitars for most of my sound. The R8 is in a different class when it comes to the usability of these controls. My other guitars are a 1974 Les Paul Custom w/ Gibson 57 Classics (I'll be changing these, but that's another topic altogether) and a recently acquired SG Classic (P90's). I would like to replace the pots, capacitors, etc. in both of those guitars. I've looked at the prewired kits from Mojotone, Emerson, and RS Guitar Works. They all seem to be similar in regards to parts and quality, but the prices are different. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with any of these kits? On another note, I'd like to swap out the stock P90's in my SG. I've looked at Fralin, Lollar, Wolfetone, and Mojotone. Anyone have any experience with these? Also, the SG's pickups are pickguard adjustable, which I think is an abnormal way for P90's to be mounted. Would that dictate which replacement P90's I could use? I know this is a loaded post. Any help/suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric

Guitars: 1974 LP Custom, 2013 R8
Amps: '88 JCM 800 w/ TV cab, Tone King Falcon
Effects: Fulltone Clyde, Monsterpiece Stud, EP Booster, Strymon El Capistan
  • From: Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Registered: 2010-10-19
  • Posts: 190

Re: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

This isn't really going to be much help, but I've never bought a wiring harness, just done it all my self.  All of those are well known respected companies, so you can't really go wrong with what you go for.   Prices cam vary due to the fact that people are willing to pay crazy amounts for a capacitor just for their guitar.  You can get "normal" ones for $0.005 or guitar specific ones for $50.00

I've never seen a P90 attached like that before, it's usually screwed through the "dog ear" part, or in the middle of the pickup.  I'd imagine if you get a "soap bar" P90, and use the pickup covers that are on the guitar now, it'll be the easiest way to swap them, having a differant way of being screwed in.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

RS Guitarworks is top notch stuff. And I've ordered lots of pickup parts from Mojotone. I don't think you can go wrong.
Wolfe McLeod is a friend of mine, and while I don't own his pickups I can say he's a really nice guy and has his process down to an art.

I learned from people who teach guitar pickup design at luthier schools and have had Fralin as a special guest, and the information shared was phenomenal. I own a set of RS guitarworks 1960 PAF that Fralin makes specifically for RS. Love em.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Asheville, North Carolina
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 133

Re: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

Thanks for the input. I know that Wolfe offers his P90's with the required "bracket" for installation on the SG Classic. That may make up my decision, but I really want to try the Fralins. A buddy of mine has Fralins in his Strat, and if his P90s are anything like his single coils, they'll be spectacular. I may just email Fralin and ask him if his soapbars can be installed in my SG.

Guitars: 1974 LP Custom, 2013 R8
Amps: '88 JCM 800 w/ TV cab, Tone King Falcon
Effects: Fulltone Clyde, Monsterpiece Stud, EP Booster, Strymon El Capistan
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

Check your PMs wink

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Asheville, North Carolina
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 133

Re: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

Check your PMs wink


Replied to PM!

Guitars: 1974 LP Custom, 2013 R8
Amps: '88 JCM 800 w/ TV cab, Tone King Falcon
Effects: Fulltone Clyde, Monsterpiece Stud, EP Booster, Strymon El Capistan

7 Reply by DougH (edited by DougH 2015-05-08 17:19:40)

  • DougH
  • DougH
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
  • Posts: 1,702

Re: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

Prices on controls very due to the shops over head and how much"mojo hype" they have

Good quality pots shouldn't be more than $10/each (cheap is like $1/each) so max $40.
Caps whole mono thing.
Some like the little ceramic things a like 10cents each
Paper in oil. Could be as little as $2, but for most nos pio's could be $40+/each.

Then you pay a little bit for them to solder


So cheap side might cost you $15 for 4-pots and 2- caps,
Something like RS will cost about $120-140

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)
  • Registered: 2012-09-07
  • Posts: 49

Re: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

have rs pots & caps in all 3 electrics, got them as parts-not kits.
Try them before swapping pups, especially if you ride the vol/tone pots

Electrics: 85 Les Paul Custom, 01 335, 03 Les Paul Special

Crybaby>Shanon Phaser> Supa-Trem> OCD> Homebrew distorion>Homebrew Miniboost > Boss Dimension C> Carbon Copy> TU3 Tuner : Amp- WoodCross head or combo or Hot Rod Deluxe

JDPS150's Website

9 Reply by Spider (edited by Spider 2015-05-09 19:07:36)

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

For pots and cap sets, they range in prices from affordable to absurd. I prefer to buy the parts loose as apposed to pre-wired sets. Mojotone is my preference for vintage taper pots. Caps I buy elsewhere and I have plenty of bus wire on hand. RS is good too but I've run into an occasional bad pot. As for P-90's (and other pickups) I highly recommend Wolfetone. Wolfe is very easy to work with and he'll help you get the tone your after. And if you happen to find a used Gibson set from a early historic, grab them if the price is right. I have a 2001 Custom Authentic R6 and the P90's in that are perfect. I have no need or desire to swap them with anything else, but I did change out the pots and caps in it. Have fun and good luck!

Stay Safe Y'all

  • Devan
  • Devan
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Darwin, Australia
  • Registered: 2010-04-13
  • Posts: 1,304

Re: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

I tried an Emerson kit for my Strat last year - first time I had bought a pre wired kit, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was, and how easy it was to install.  I don't enjoy soldering, so I liked the fact that it was a 'drop in' kit and only minimal soldering was required for the pickup leads and output jack.

I didn't want to change my Lollar pickups in there, which I loved - just wanted different tonal option.  The Emerson kit was a 'blender' kit, which meant I had the option of blending all 3 pickups together if I wanted.

As for your pickups OP, I have heard great things about the Lollar P-90s.  I only own one P-90 equipped guitar, a Collings 290, and I believe it has the Lollar P-90s in it straight from the factory, so if someone like Bill Collings thinks they are suitable for his level of guitars, then they *must* be pretty good, no? smile

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"
  • From: Asheville, North Carolina
  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 133

Re: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

Sounds like simply changing the pots/caps may change my mind on the stock pickups? I am going to order a prewired kit as opposed to loose parts. Like Devan said, I hate soldering, and I'm not all that great at it. Of course, I'll do the install on the SG Classic before trying my hand at the '74. Hopefully that's all I'll need and the stock pickups can stay.

Guitars: 1974 LP Custom, 2013 R8
Amps: '88 JCM 800 w/ TV cab, Tone King Falcon
Effects: Fulltone Clyde, Monsterpiece Stud, EP Booster, Strymon El Capistan
  • DougH
  • DougH
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
  • Posts: 1,702

Re: Wiring kits and P90 upgrades

I put in a set of RS Guitar Works pre-wired pot/cap (pio) set in at the same time as I put in the Seymour Duncan Bonamassa Magellan pickups.

I like the combination , but I can't tell you how much the RS pots changed things since they were done with the pickups

the RS came as 550k pots so at like 8 on the volume is equal to about 10 on most, when I cross over 8 to 10, I get a real big boost in volume.
I normally set my volume and tones to like 6.

good luck in your endeavors

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)