P90 vs Humbucker Pickup – You Know Which Bob Marley Chose?

Author: Tyler Connaghan

Tyler Connaghan is a guitarist, singer, producer, composer & engineer based in Los Angeles, California. Tyler has been playing the guitar since 2007. In between writing for guitar publications, he produces music for film and television. His favorite axe is his custom Pelham Blue Fender Stratocaster.

Expertise: music industry, producing, acoustic & electric guitars, songwriting

Bachelor of Science in Music Industry Studies, Music Industry

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Editor: Edward Bond

Edward has been playing the guitar since 2002. So Edward has over 20 years of experience as a guitarist, has authored 15 guitar books, has written for renowned music blogs, and spent a decade teaching music. He began merging his passion for writing and music in 2020 and has written for big guitar websites such as Guitar Head Publishing and KillerGuitarRigs.com.

Originally from Seattle, Edward moved to Norway in 2021 for a master’s in music. He’s studied at the Jazz Institute Berlin and Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and currently resides in Trondheim. His education includes a European Jazz Master’s, a diploma in Film and Game Scoring from Sofia, and a Bachelor’s in Jazz from University of Oregon.

Edward has played in numerous bands and currently, Edward works on his own project Starship Infinity

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Imagine this: You’re about to dive in and record guitars for your band’s album. However, before you crank up your amp and stick a mic in front of it, you have a crucial choice — should you use a guitar with P90s or humbuckers? 

Considering the fact that they offer vastly different tonal characteristics, this is a big decision.

In this P90 vs. humbucker guide, I will look at the ins and outs of each popular pickup type to help you dial in the perfect tone for your recording project or live performance! Let’s dig in. 

Summary (if you’re in a hurry!)

Key Differences Between P90 and Humbucker Pickups

• Coils: P90 pickups use one coil, while humbuckers use two.
• Sound: P90s have a gritter, edgier sound, while humbuckers are smoother and warmer.
• Output: P90 pickups have less output compared to humbuckers.
• Genre: P90s tend to be more popular in punk and indie rock, while humbuckers are more popular in rock, metal, and blues.

When Should You Choose P90 Pickups?

• Tone: If you’re looking for a bright, gritty, and punchy vintage tone with better high, mids, and overall clarity, the P90 sound is a good choice.
• Buzz: If you don’t mind a bit of hum and buzz, similar to what you’d get with a single-coil pickup, I’d recommend P90s.
• Versatility: If you’re looking for a uniquely versatile pickup that can be used in a wide range of genres, from alternative rock to punk to reggae, P90s are fantastic.

When Should You Choose Humbucker Pickups?

• Tone: If you want a warmer, fuller tone with better mids, lows, and overall sustain, the humbucker sound is where it’s at.
• Output: Humbuckers are the best option if you want a higher output for more volume and consistency.
• Genre: If you’re looking for a versatile pickup for anything from jazz to heavy metal, you can’t go wrong with a humbucker.

Design & Overview

P90s are technically single-coil pickups, as they only utilize one coil and a single row of magnets. While they also give off that characteristic 60-cycle hum single-coil players are used to, they have a higher output than traditional single-coil pickups.

The first P90s came out in the 1940s, with Gibson paving the way.

Like many pickups, P90s are made up of numerous elements that come together to create a distinct sound, including: 

• Magnets. 
• Bobbins. 
• Pole pieces. 
• Coil windings. 
• Wax potting and more. 

For example, you can get two sets of P90s with different types of Alnico alloy, and they’ll sound different.

One of the unique things about P90s is the way they are covered and mounted. From soapbar designs to dog-ear configurations, P90 pickups can come in different styles. The one thing you’ll likely notice right off the bat is the plastic cover found on them, unlike the metal coverings on many humbuckers or the open-faced designs on many single-coil pickups.

Humbuckers were the answer to the prominent hum from P90s and single-coil pickups.

Though the debate of who created the humbucker has been a long point of contention in the guitar community, many say it was Seth Lover of Gibson who applied for the patent for humbuckers in 1955. However, Ray Butts of Gibson applied for the same patent two years later and received it four weeks before Lover. 

It’s safe to say that both of them were the true inventors, as their pickups worked on the same dual-coil principle. 

The most popular pickups at the time were Lover’s PAF (Patent Applied For) humbuckers, which used two single-coils wound in the opposite direction of each other to ‘buck’ or get rid of the hum. To reduce electrostatic interference, Lover also added a metal cover.

Sound Comparison

Of course, one of the most significant differences between humbuckers and P90 pickups is the way they sound.

More often than not, we associate P90s with alternative rock, indie rock, punk, grunge, and other high-gain genres. One of the reasons that P90 pickups are so great for these musical genres is that they produce a bright, mid-range sound. 

They offer more body than your average single coil pickup, all with a higher level of clarity than your average humbucking pickup. Run a P90 through a fuzz or distortion pedal, and you’ll get a nice, gritty, growly tone that can pierce through even the densest of mixes.

Humbucker pickups offer a thicker and warmer tone than P90s, and if you play both of these pickup types back to back through the same rig, you’ll likely get a little less high-end sparkle from your humbuckers. Their warmth makes them very well-suited to jazz and other similar genres.

However, one of my favorite characteristics of humbuckers is the higher output, which gives you more saturation going into the front of the amp and a lot more sustain than you would get from a set of standard P90s. This is one of the reasons you’ll see so many Rock and metal guitar players using humbuckers.

Noise & Feedback

Humbuckers are certainly better than P90s in the noise and feedback realm.

Because P90s are essentially single-coil pickups, they’re much more susceptible to 60-cycle hum and other environmental interference.

When you’re running a guitar with a set of P90s through heavy distortion pedals or pushing your amp to its absolute limits, you can expect a lot of feedback with that naturally high level of sensitivity. Pair that single-coil build with the fact that these microphonic pickups are made with exposed pole pieces, and it’s easy to see why they pick up vibrations so quickly.

It’s worth noting, however, that P90 pickups have come a long way since their inception, and many manufacturers use wax potting to stabilize all of the internal components, effectively minimizing vibrations that run through the body to mitigate feedback.

If you have a set of humbuckers on your guitar, noise doesn’t need to be a concern. You get a lot of electromagnetic interference from P90s due to the single-coil design, but with two coils in the mix, the result is low noise and feedback resistance.

Suitable Genres & Versatility

When PAF humbuckers hit the scene in the mid-20th century, P90 pickup popularity declined. However, in the 1970s, many punk rock guitarists began picking up Les Paul Jr. models at local pawn shops with P90 pickups.

They eventually became a trendy choice for this new and aggressive style of music, and bands like The Sex Pistols and The Clash were avid users. As the years went on, these pickups would find themselves in several different genres of music, thanks to their versatility.

A few famous guitarists throughout history who have used P90 pickups include:

• Bob Marley: Marley was well-known for his Gibson LP Special with P90s, which became a staple for many reggae guitarists.
• Wes Montgomery: Famed jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery used many P90 guitars, one of the most famous of which was a Sunburst L5-CES. 
• Pete Townshend: During The Who’s Tommy era, Townshend used a Gibson SG with P90 pickups. 

Check this rare material of Bob Marley playing guitar:

Humbuckers are also very versatile in terms of what styles and genres they are best used for.

In the 1950s, they were very popular amongst jazz guitarists, thanks to their warm, smooth tone. Play a Gibson ES-335 hollowbody guitar with humbucker pickups in the neck position, and you’ll see exactly what I mean.

As the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s rolled around and guitarists started experimenting with high-gain amps and pedals, humbuckers found themselves at the forefront of classic rock, hard rock, and metal. Guitarists were finally able to control ultra-overdriven tones without noise or interference. 

With that said, humbuckers are equally popular in blues and indie rock.

A few famous guitarists throughout history who have used humbuckers include:

• Slash: Arguably one of the most famous guitarists to have ever picked up a Gibson Les Paul, Slash was known for taking advantage of the dual humbucker sound in the Guns’ n’ Roses heyday.
• Kirk Hammett: Many of Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett’s guitars feature humbuckers, including his recent Gibson signature model, nicknamed “Greeny”, after its former owner, Peter Green. 
• Peter Green: Speaking of the devil, many people have tried and failed to nail the Peter Green tone from early Fleetwood Mac albums, which came from his famous ’59 Les Paul. 

Killer performance from Peter Green:

Types Of P90 and Humbucker Pickups

Even many seasoned guitarists are unaware that humbuckers and P90s are umbrella terms for more specific pick-up variations.

In terms of P90s, you have a few options to choose from:

• Soapbar: The soapbar P90 electric guitar pickups might be the most famous of them all, with their minimal, rectangular shape, which looks a lot like (you guessed it) a bar of soap. The pole pieces lie between the fourth and fifth strings and the second and third strings, which gives it that distinct irregular pattern.

• Dog-Ear: Dog ear P90s, which get their name based on their appearance, are often found on Les Paul Juniors or ES-330 hollow-bodies. Some people say they sound better than soapbar pickups because they have greater body connectivity, though I’m not sure I actually hear the difference.

• Humbucker Casing: Whenever a manufacturer wants to use P90s on a guitar designed to use humbucker pickups, such as a Gibson SG or Les Paul, they need P90s with humbucker casing. Many guitarists call these “pseudo-P90s.”

There are also a few different types of humbuckers to choose from, and some of the most popular include:

• PAF: PAF, or Patent Applied For Humbuckers, came into existence in the 1950s. They most often come with Alnico 2 or Alnico 5 magnets. Those looking for a vintage tone reminiscent of blues in the 1950s and 60s should get their hands on PAFs.

• Rail: Instead of six individual pole pieces, rail humbuckers use a single rail piece along the length of the pickup, giving players a cleaner and more balanced signal with more volume consistency, thanks to the wider magnetic field.

• Coil-Splitting: A humbucker that has been “coil-split” is essentially a single-coil pickup, providing a brighter and crispier tone.

Beyond what you see above, there are also many hybrid pickups and pickup technology styles, such as Fender’s noise-canceling single-coil pickups for added noise reduction. 

You can check out our Electric Guitar Pickup Types guide for more info on the design and tonal differences between the most popular.

P90 vs Humbucker – Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons of P90 Pickups

Pros	Cons
P90s have better clarity than humbuckers, offering a brighter, more mid-range focused tone.	You’ll get a lot of the same hum and noise interference as you get with a single-coil pickup.
They are some of the most versatile pickups, perfect for dirty and clean tones.	The overall pickup output is lower than a humbucker.
I love how a set of soapbar P90s look, especially on a vintage guitar.

Pros and Cons of Humbucker Pickups

Pros	Cons
Tonally, humbucker pickups are warmer, fuller, and smoother, with much more sustain.	They tend to lack top-end clarity and bite to pop through dense mixes.
You don’t have to worry about hum or noise interference thanks to the dual-coil design	You won’t get the same level of expressiveness as P90s.
Humbuckers have high-volume output for heavier genres.

How Do I Choose The Right Pickup For Me?

Factors to Consider

One of the most important things you want to consider when looking for pickups is the style of music you play.

Certain pickups are better suited to specific genres than others. P90 pickups work great for punk and country, while humbuckers often work better for rock and metal. With that said, there are certain genres that both of these pickups work beautifully for, including jazz and blues.

Secondly, consider what kind of equipment you currently play through. For example, if you have a high-gain amp and plenty of distortion and overdrive pedals, humbuckers will provide you with a cleaner sound with less noise and interference.

On the other hand, if you’re playing through something like a Fender Twin Reverb and want that clean and jangly Mac Demarco-style sound, you’d be better off going with a set of P90s.

If you’re considering buying a guitar and swapping out the pickups later, note that pickups can be expensive. In many cases, you might be better off finding the right guitar with the pickups you want immediately.

Can I Swap Out Humbuckers For P90s and Vice Versa?

No matter how you swap your pickups, P90s and humbuckers have different route sizes. 

So, if you decide to swap a humbucker out for a P90, you’ll have to route it wider, though if you choose to swap your P90 for a humbucker, you’ll have to route it taller, as the pickup height on a humbucker is taller. 

Note that many manufacturers make P90s that are the size of humbuckers and vice versa, so if you really want to mod your guitar, there’s a much easier way.

Regarding P90 vs. humbucker size, standard P90 casings are generally longer and thinner than traditional humbuckers.

Our Favorite P90 Guitars

Gibson Les Paul Standard ’50s P90 – Best Premium Option

• It’s a classic iteration of the iconic ’50s P90 sound.
• Effortless playability.
• Beautiful gold-top design.

Guild Aristocrat P90 – Best Value for Money

• Classic hollowbody sound without the weight.
• Comfortable C-shaped neck.
• Beautiful gold hardware.

Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s Jazzmaster – Best Budget Option

• Iconic surf rock tonality.
• Separate lead and rhythm circuits for versatility.
• Budget-friendly price.

Check GND founder Teemu’s favorite P90 guitars here.

Our Favorite Humbucker Guitars

Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s – Best Premium Option

• Handwired electronics for a premium sound.
• Iconic classic rock tone and style.
• Made with the highest-quality materials around.

Fender Player Telecaster HH – Best Value for Money

• Throaty and beefy tones in a sleek Tele body.
• Lightweight build.
• Sweet vintage vibe.

Jackson JS22 Dinky – Best Budget Option

• Built for heavy metal shredder types.
• Comfortable, fast-playing neck.
• Mean design.

Conclusion

There you have it, my humbucker vs. P90 pickup guide.

I hope this little guitar pickup comparison gives you a better idea of which guitar pickup types are more in your realm.

It’s important to remember that out of everything that makes up your electric guitar, your pickups contribute to tone more significantly, so carefully considering which ones best suit your style is a good idea.

Both P90 guitars and humbucker guitars are versatile in their own way, so the answer to which one is best for you comes down to your preferences. The best thing you can do is head down to your local guitar shop and try out guitars with each of these pickups for yourself to see what tugs at your heartstrings. 

You may even consider trying out a guitar with a hybrid pickup configuration or a guitar with a P90 and a humbucker to get the best of both worlds!

FAQs: Humbucker vs P90 Pickups