Are you looking for the best P90s that fin in the humbucker slot? Then, you are in the right place.
Gibson introduced the P-90 in 1946 as a single-coil pickup that offers the brightness and bites that traditional single-coil offers along with additional richness and power that a humbucker offers. Thus P-90s were popular because they delivered the high output for a rock guitar sound that guitarists love.
The P-90 was the pickup in Gibson guitars from 1946 until the 1950s, when the humbucking came into existence. Over the decades, the P90s have dropped in popularity, but again these are enthused. Every pickup manufacturer offer P-90 these days, but many others are more accurate.
Best P90s That Fit in Humbucker Slots – Comparison Table
| Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Seymour Duncan P-Rails Set (Editor's Choice) (2nd Best Choice) | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan SPH90-1N Phat Cat | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan SHPR-1n P-Rails | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan 11303-03-B2 P-Rails | Check Price |
 | Tonerider Rebel 90 | Check Price |
 | DiMarzio DP163 | Check Price |
 | TFW SLPCRBK | Check Price |
 | OriPure HLZ5-N | Check Price |
1. Seymour Duncan P-Rails Set (Editor’s Choice)
You might require three different guitars in the past if you need P90 tone, humbucker tone, and Strat tone. But now, this P-Rail set humbucker offers three different sounds, and it is a perfect drop-in replacement for any standard humbucker slot. The beautifully rich and full sound appears when both sets of coils are used. However, the sharp and better highs and tones are obtained when using any single coil taps, like having three different pickups.
It is no surprise that this advanced P90 sounds amazingly close to the original and offers a vintage smooth tone with perfect grit and excellent balance. The single notes remain well-rounded and straightforward, and the chords are crisp and bright. The product justifies the price.
Features
- Unique tonal variety with unmatched humbucker sized set and hot rails coil
- Three classic and distinct tones
- Pair of humbuckers offer unmatched versatility
Pros
- Great pickup
- Nice sound
- High quality
- Affordable
Cons
- Not enough strength for metal
2. Seymour Duncan SPH90-1N Phat Cat
A Phat Cat is a single-coil P90 soapbar. It fits under the cover of a humbucker. It has a fat and big tone and uses two Alnico magnets for soft and sustained attack.
The metal covers offer more shielding and reduced noise than any standard soapbar cover. In addition, the product features a hookup cable.
That is the excellent pickup for a brasher, brighter sound that humbuckers deliver. Depending on the setup, it can give a bluesy edge, a country twang, or classic rock squeal and all with full tone and the same balance.
It is an authentic P90 under the cover with single-coil and still gives some 60-cycle hum.
The external noise is reduced due to nickel casing, and thus the hum is less noticeable. However, depending on the EQ settings, it gets muddied at high gain levels and not as strong.
Features
- Humbucker retrofit
- Authentic P90 is recommended for jazz, country, rockabilly, blues, heavy rock, and classic rock
- Used by top artists
- Metal covers offer shielding and reduced noise than any standard soap bar covers
Pros
- Superb Sound
- Hum free
- Great Quality
Cons
- None
3. Seymour Duncan SHPR-1n P-Rails
If you want vintage Strat, humbucker, and p-90 tones, then previously, you have to haul three different guitars. That all came to an end when Seymour Duncan P-Rail pickups came into existence. It features a patent-pending, groundbreaking design that offers a full-size humbucker to split to traditional single-coil or real deal P-90. The P-Rails is perfect for various styles, including pop, country, blues, jazz, heavy rock, and classic rock. The humbucker sound is expansive and full owing to the mismatched coil configuration.
The P-90 is fat and, when used together with rail coils, sounds like the 2 and 4 positions in Strat. These pickups can be utilized in any guitar setup for Trembucker or humbucker. A single P-Rail brings an extra dimension to the sound of the guitar. Use bridge and neck set to optimize P-Rails splitting capabilities and to get the best single-coil tones. Use the two-way switch to get the P-90 and humbucker tones. Use a three-way switch to have P90 and humbucker tones and bring in the single-coil rail’s extra dimension.
Features
- Patent-pending design
- Adequate for varieties of styles
- Full-size humbucker
- Three different modes
- Perfect for large types of styles
Pros
- Strat sound
- Great Pickup
- The nice tone in all combinations
Cons
- None
4. Seymour Duncan 11303-03-B2 P-Rails
It combines P-Rails pickups and two triple shot mounting rings that give twenty-four tones without altering the guitar. The voice selection is easy as this is a flat top set. Previously you needed three different guitars if you want P90, humbucker, and strat tones.
The P-Rails humbucker offers all three sounds, and it is a drop-in replacement for any standard humbucker. Seymour Duncan creates a long-lasting pickup. These are vacuum wax potted to vanish unwanted noise. The wiring is also included, which is versatile to configuration. This pickup delivers most of the tonal options.
Features
- Neck and bridge set
- Standard humbucker size
- Flat set, switchable humbucker
- Single coil pickups and P-90
Pros
- Amazing tone
- Fun and versatile
- Great pickups
Cons
- None
5. Tonerider Rebel 90
The product takes a traditional and authentic P90 and fits into a humbucker size. So you can use it in any guitar with a standard size humbucker.
It includes one bridge and neck model.
The external noise is reduced due to nickel casing, and thus the hum is less noticeable. However, depending on the EQ settings, it gets muddied at high gain levels and not as strong.
Features
- Nickel-plated screws
- Offer noiseless operation
- Coil wax potted avoids feedback
- Easy installation
Pros
- Great sound
- Crisp tone
- Excellent quality
Cons
- None
6. DiMarzio DP163
The DiMarzio DP 163 humbucker pickup looks similar to humbucker however sounds similar to P90 without the noise. It looks like a standard humbucker and gives a sound like a P90. It cancels 60 cycle hum as effective as the humbucker.
They get the slightly hollow open sound when used in pairs. Splitting the pickup gives a similar sound to a Strat pickup with a slight drop in output.
Features
- It comes with instructions for wiring
- Adds P90 tone without changes to the guitar
- Excellent replacement for standard size humbuckers
- Changed directions give different tones
- Slightly hollow tone when used in pair
Pros
- Descent sound
- Great price
- Perfect quality
Cons
- None
7. TFW SLPCRBK
TFW SLPCRBK are the best P90s that fit in humbucker slot.
TFW pickups fit easily wherever the humbucker fits. Without modification and cutting your guitar, you can swap easily. These are some of the best values humbucker-sized P-90 pickups that do not compromise on sound. This might be the best choice if you look for excellent overall sound and a vintage P90 tone.
TFW pickups sound fantastic and easy to put in. These perfectly fit in a strat pickguard. These pickups are the perfect replacement if you do not like the muddy sound of a humbucker. The sound of this pickup is mellower with less bite and less harshness and more clarity. The equalization is focused and balanced on the mid-range. These are not very hot, and the low end is beefy and warm. These P90 pickups will remind the sound of a Jazzmaster and fit for the humbucker cavity. These can be easily soldered and fit easily on holes and rings.
Features
- Best replacement for any standard size humbucker
- Ceramic magnet
- P90 tone from a humbucker size
- Two pickups set with hardware
Pros
- Affordable
- Classic
- Compatible
Cons
- No adjustment screws are available
8. OriPure HLZ5-N
OriPure HLZ5-N is one of the affordable options on this list. However, this product is among the best when sound quality is the matter. It offers a balanced tone with bass response, bright high-end, and articulate mid-range through the mix.
This wax-potted minimizes feedback with a bar magnet that gives a powerful tone and output that retains increased volume and gain. This triple wax-dipped pickup humbucker eliminates unwanted noise and feedback. It comes with springs and screws, which makes the installation easy.
Features
- The solid, plumb, and husky sound
- Single row adjustable screws
- Easy to install with springs and screws
Pros
- Awesome pickup
- No buzz
- No noise
- High-quality clear tones
Cons
- Not suitable for metal music
Frequently Asked Questions about P90 as Humbuckers
Do P90s Fit in a Humbucker Slot?
An authenticP90 cannot fit into a humbucker slot without widening the hole, and then you need to fabricate housings or rings to cover the mess. Likewise, you cannot install a soap bar without custom housing as the height is too short for humbucker routing. However, Gibson invented P90, and they sell P94 that sounds almost similar to P90 and fits perfectly in a humbucker routing.
P90-Sized Humbucker: Possible Solutions
Many makers create hum-sized P90 such as Gibsons, Wolfetone, Lollar, Kinman, etc. The tone of P90 is between a humbucker and a single-coil with unique tonal characteristics making it an audiophile’s actual pickup. These have a relatively lower output with beefier sound and more articulation than a humbucker.
By definition, P90 pickup is a single-coil, and some manufacturers give the option of a dual-coil pickup splitting, giving two pickups in a single package.
The main drawback of splittable pickups is the high cost. You need to pay extra for a humbucker-sized P90 in comparison to the single-coil design. They are noisy, too, with the split coil. However, the split-coil has benefits as they are versatile, and you can use P90 and a humbucker without changing the guitars that are perfect for gigging guitarists as it allows them to play in variety.
A coil switch is not the only method to get more sounds. Some models offer the adjustable poles option. Pole adjustment can provide control over your pickups, and it is essential for the perfect tone. Ultimately, the coil design is not the only factor when it comes to sound. The P90 winding style and magnet material have a vast impact on the tone.
So, What’s the Best P90 that Fits in the Humbucker Slot?
There is confusion with sound, pickups, and genre, but the most important is a personal tone preference. This article will help with all the details of P90 and other choices for pickups. P-90s are versatile and impressive pickups that fit all music styles. It is time to consider trying them.
We recommend TFW SLPCRBK as it offers excellent overall sound without putting an extra burden on your pocket.