Pickups for New/First Warmoth Strat Project?

[JoshHPMusic]

Hi everyone,
You may have seen my thread about my first Warmoth build, it's a project that I'm super excited about, and I have pretty much everything down, but there's still debate on the pickups.
Basically, my vision goes something like this: rock/punk-rock tones from a P90 in the bridge, jazzy/clean tones from the middle, and blues/blues-rock tones from a single coil in the neck.
The middle pickup will most likely be a P90, but is there a better option?

I think I want the Bare Knuckle Supermassive P90 in the bridge.
Then the neck will be a Bare Knuckle Slow Hand single coil.
And the middle... I'm thinking the Bare Knuckle Half Note P90 is the best option, making this an all-Bare Knuckle pickups guitar. But I guess the Lollar Soapbar P90 pickup is also an option for the middle.

What do you think? Is this a good setup, or are there better options for my needs?

Thanks,
-Josh

 

[DarkPenguin]

Mojotone knockouts might give you the p90 sound in a single coil package.  Some of the dominger pickups I've been playing with (Stinger, Single shot) might work, too.

As to actual p90s I have no idea.

 

[JoshHPMusic]

They seem pretty tasty. I think I've really decided I'm going for a P90 in the middle.

Anyone had experience with the Roadhouse True Blue P90?

 

[DarkPenguin]

I should note that the current issue of Premier Guitar mag has a section on p90 or p90 form factor pickups.  Ah, wait, they're humbucker sized p90s.

(Aesthetically I think if you do 2 p90s in the bridge and middle you should make the neck a p90, too.)

 

[JoshHPMusic]

Yeah, but I really like the sound of a standard sized single coil in the neck position... it looks a bit out of the ordinary, but that makes it unique! I feel like whenever there's a guitar with 3 humbuckers, or 3 P90s for that matter, it looks strangely overdone, overkill. The one single coil pup might turn that overdone feel into more of a unique feel.

Would there be an option for a neck P90 that sounds bluesy, good with overdrive/distortion, maybe some Hendrix mixed in? It seems to me like that tone, in a neck pup, works better with a single coil. But I can't be sure of that, so please, prove me wrong!

 

[JoshHPMusic]

Ok, so I'm doing the 3 P90's thing, but I'm still not 1000% sure what pickups.

I do have an idea, and I think it's this: http://www.vintagevibeguitars.com/windows/soapP90Win.html

It's the 3 pickup set of Vintage Vibe P90s. They're not too expensive, and they have this awesome feature where you can quickly swap out the magnets to get the sound of your liking. Of course, being in a set of 3, they should work well together. They are also shielded well as is the lead wire, so people say they aren't very loud at all. Here's a quote from the website about the magnets:

"Soapbar P-90 Changeable magnet design set of 3 (bridge pickup, middle pickup, and neck pickup); middle pickup, RWRP. My current design for these pickups allows the owner to change the magnets with ease. I ship these pickups with two complete sets of magnets. Magnet types available include: AlNiCo-II, AlNiCo-III, AlNiCo-V and ceramic-8. The AlNiCo-II magnets give a warm vintage tone, the AlNiCo-III magnets boost output and give a little sharper attack. The AlNiCo-V magnets give even higher output and sharper attack; for the highest output and sharpest attack choose the ceramic-8 magnets."

Seems like just what I need!

I really need some input on these, has anyone tried them? Or know anything about them, or had experience with Pete?

 

[Patrick from Davis]

TroubledTreble (Ken) here on the board makes a strat pickup that is constructed like a P90.  So a P90 in a strat pickup form.  Ken will also wind to preference.  Check his site out, Roadhouse Pickups, and see if that makes your decisions easier.  Or harder.
Patrick

 

[JoshHPMusic]

Yes, I am well aware of Ken and his Roadhouse True Blue 90 pickups. I've actually spoken to him a bit, and he seems great, and said he would even custom wind pickups. I do believe he makes some very good pickups, but I don't think it's exactly what I'm looking for.

I feel most confident with getting the Vintage Vibe P90 set, based on the fact that they are more easily adjustable to my liking (swapping magnets), that they come in a matched set of 3, and based on what I've heard about them.

So for now, I think I've made up my mind, Vintage Vibe's it is! Sometime down the road, I'm sure I will run into Ken and his pickups again. Thanks everyone.

 

[JoshHPMusic]

Well, my mind has been changed again... I will probably go with Ken's pickups, if he can custom wind.

I also put a poll on top, please answer it!

 

[musicispeace]

I've ordered Bare Knuckles for my strat build and although I didn't go with P90s I think the overall element of their pickups being wound by hand with  a strong commitment to tone and picking dynamics that you couldn't go wrong. They seem to have stellar customer service if you feel you need one of them tweaked a bit and if I recall there is a return period as well. Have you called them to ask your question? They are very helpful.