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Vintage 1965 dogear Gibson P-90 pickup - $325 (Boulder Mountains)
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I’m a 3X Grammy-Winning musician/producer/composer based in Colorado with a career spanning 50+ years. In 1994 I wanted to find a guitar with two P90 pickups, preferably with a hollow body. These pickups were not in fashion at the time so aftermarket versions of them were not available to retrofit another guitar.
I called around Denver and found a 1962 Gibson ES-330 at a shop in Lakewood called H & G Music on W. 4th Ave. in Lakewood. I went to check it out with my 9-month-old daughter in tow, and when I felt the neck I was sold. I had them plug it in to confirm the electronics were working and left with it bare naked, as they had no case for it.
When I got it home I realized that even though the neck pickup worked, its output was extremely low compared to the bridge pickup, so there must be a coil issue. I liked the neck of the guitar so much I had no desire to return it. I called around Denver and found a fellow named Dan Lenz who had a 1965 NOS Gibson P90 at a guitar repair shop on Federal in Westminster called the Axe Haven (people with the skill and wherewithal to rewind the original '62 were few and far between in those days). I made my way down there and bought it immediately, knowing I was not likely to find another P90 locally, especially one so close to the vintage of this guitar. I couldn’t find the receipt from Axe Haven for the pickup but there’s a photo of the ’62 ES-330 it has been installed for the last 31 years (NOT for sale) and its receipt.
After the install it was obvious that the ’65 had a higher output than the original bridge pickup which wasn’t ideal, but there were few other options. I recently had Jose’ Melllado at Planet Tone pickups in Commerce City expertly rewind the original ’62 P90 with the appropriate plain enamel wire and it’s a much better balance with he bridge PU, which now makes this pickup available.
This 1965 pickup has been in my climate-controlled studio for the last 31 years, only going out to be played onstage once or twice. The DC resistance is 8.8k and the original alnico magnets are configured South Up (which I believe is the original configuration). The hot and cold leads are a little over 2.75 in. long. There are videos on YouTube which show how you can easily reverse the polarity if you so desire. It’s in remarkable original condition with no corrosion whatsoever on the metal parts. There is no solder on the ground tab in the back, because there was an identical ground tab already soldered to the braided shield in the electronics of the ES-330 when it was installed, and that one was used instead.
You can hear this pickup on a recording I produced for a Pakistani client many years ago here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osw4fya_kOU
(the guitarist in the video is not playing what you’re hearing)
I do not respond to enquiries of “is the item still available”, if the listing is active, it’s still available. Venmo or cash only. You can ring me on the phone or text at: three 0 three 8 one 7 three 7 seven 7
Thanks for looking!