For guitarists craving the thick, punchy sound of P90 pickups but stuck with humbucker-routed guitars, the BG Pups Pure90 offers a compelling solution. These pickups promise to deliver authentic P90 tone in a convenient humbucker-sized package, eliminating the need for guitar modification. Let’s dive into a detailed look at the BG Pups Pure90, exploring its sound, features, and why it might be the perfect pickup to inject some serious mojo into your axe.
What are P90 Pickups and Why Choose Them?
P90 pickups occupy a unique space in the guitar pickup world. Often described as sitting tonally between Fender single-coils and Gibson humbuckers, P90s are known for their powerful, fat tone with a clear, articulate top end. Unlike traditional single coils, P90s boast a wider coil and stronger magnets, resulting in higher output and a thicker midrange. This translates to a sound that is both aggressive and dynamic, capable of handling rock, blues, jazz, and everything in between. Many players appreciate P90s for their raw, unrefined character and exceptional responsiveness to playing dynamics. They offer a distinct tonal flavor that sets them apart from both scooped-midrange single coils and thick, hum-canceling humbuckers.
BG Pups Pure90: P90 Tone, Humbucker Size
The BG Pups Pure90 is designed to bring that classic P90 growl to guitars equipped with humbucker routes. Bryan Gunsher of BG Pups aimed to create a true P90 experience within the confines of a standard humbucker footprint. The construction of the Pure90 is key to its sonic character. According to BG Pups, these pickups start as their acclaimed Vintage P90 soapbar pickups. The coil is wound, and then the bobbin and baseplate are carefully trimmed to fit inside a humbucker cover. Crucially, BG Pups uses a plastic humbucker cover, staying true to the P90 design which utilizes plastic covers to avoid tonal coloration from metal. This meticulous approach aims to capture the essence of a traditional P90, ensuring players get the genuine article without needing to modify their guitars.
Brent’s Hands-On Experience with the Pure90 Neck Pickup
One guitarist, Brent, decided to install a BG Pups Pure90 in the neck position of his custom-built guitar. Intrigued by the P90 sound but hesitant to commit to routing his guitar for a soapbar pickup, the humbucker-sized Pure90 presented an ideal solution. Brent opted for a creme-colored pickup, which arrived well-packaged from Bryan Gunsher’s one-man shop. Installation was straightforward, fitting perfectly into the standard humbucker rout.
Initially, Brent found the Pure90 neck pickup to be darker than expected. He was anticipating more of the bright, sparkling character often associated with single-coil pickups. However, after incorporating a buffer into his guitar’s signal chain, the tonal landscape shifted dramatically. With the buffer in place, Brent describes the neck pickup sound as “almost hifi,” achieving a clarity and articulation he hadn’t heard before. He also noted a welcome “spank” that surpassed the typical humbucker response. While acknowledging that the redwood construction of his guitar might have initially dampened some high-end frequencies, Brent ultimately grew to appreciate the Pure90’s sound, especially after addressing the perceived darkness with a buffer. He also highlighted the pickup’s quiet operation, noting no issues with hum, even though he had shielded the guitar cavity with copper tape as a precautionary measure.
Manufacturer Specs and Sonic Versatility
BG Pups emphasizes the versatility of the Pure90 pickup. They are described as suitable for a wide range of genres, including rock, blues, and jazz, essentially any style where a traditional P90 pickup would shine. The manufacturer points out the pickup’s responsiveness to height adjustments and pole piece screw manipulation, allowing players to fine-tune the tone to their preferences. Key specifications include alnico magnets, nickel silver baseplate and pole screws, and vintage-style braided hookup wire. Bridge position Pure90s are wound to around 10k ohms, while neck versions are around 7.8k ohms, mirroring typical P90 output levels. BG Pups positions the Pure90 as the definitive choice for guitarists seeking authentic P90 sound in a humbucker-equipped guitar.
Exploring the Sound of Pure90s in Action: Video Demos
To get a better sense of the BG Pups Pure90’s sonic capabilities, several online video demonstrations are worth exploring.
One video features Bryan Gunsher himself introducing and demoing the pickups. While the sound quality of the video may be less than perfect, it offers valuable insights into the maker’s perspective and the design philosophy behind the Pure90.
Mark Wein showcases a neck and bridge set of Pure90s in a 1979 Gibson “The Paul” guitar. Playing through a Fender Twin amplifier, Wein achieves a articulate, bluesy tone with notable “spank,” suggesting that any perceived high-end roll-off might be guitar-dependent, as Brent experienced initially.
Another demo by “427toledo” features ZZ Top-inspired blues-rock tones using a hollowbody guitar equipped with Pure90s in both positions. The video highlights both clean blues licks and driven solo tones, showcasing the pickup’s versatility across different gain levels.
For jazz enthusiasts, a video by “fenderlead1” demonstrates the warm, articulate neck pickup tones of a Pure90 in a Gibson ES-165. The addition of reverb further enhances the pickup’s suitability for jazz playing.
Finally, “Don Felipe” explores the more extreme side of the Pure90 with a fuzz pedal demo using a Fender Japan ’72 Tele Thinline. While some of the fuzz tones might be intense, this demo illustrates how the Pure90 interacts with effects pedals, particularly fuzz, which are known to be highly responsive to pickup characteristics.
For further listening, a YouTube search for “BG Pups Pure90” will reveal a wealth of additional sound examples and player reviews.
Conclusion: Is the Pure90 the Right Humbucker P90 for You?
The BG Pups Pure90 presents a compelling option for guitarists who want to capture the distinctive sound of P90 pickups without the need for guitar modification. Brent’s experience and the available video demos suggest that the Pure90 delivers on its promise of authentic P90 tone in a humbucker-sized format. While individual guitars and setups may influence the final sound, the Pure90 offers a versatile and dynamic voice suitable for a wide range of musical styles. If you’re looking to inject your humbucker-equipped guitar with the fat, punchy character of a P90, the BG Pups Pure90 is definitely worth considering.
