P90 question

[EFK]

This may very well be a stupid question. Brass HB baseplates = bad, right? So why do they *seem* to be ok for p90s? I say 'seem' as just about all I've seen for sale are brass or nickel plated brass.

Would a brass cover on a p90 be a bad thing?

[Possum]

....

I think most of the metal covers for P90s WERE brass. And yes they do really kill the treble. The baseplates knock it down some too, but if you want a real traditional P90 tone you have to use brass because thats what was used. Lollar leaves his baseplate off for added bite....

[Peter Naglitsch]

And on a similar topic. The use of keeper bars in P90s were discussed a while ago but I seriously couldn?t understand the consensus of that thread: Keeper bars for P90?s.

Without one you get a more direct kind of feel

You get more Crack to the Whip with the keepers too as without they can get thin

Definitely brighter and spankier without the keeper

As I am about to wind a set of P90 right now I would really appreciate some guidance. Or I simply just try with and without?

[David Schwab]

My 60's ES-330TD didn't have baseplates on its dogear P-90's. I had a set of 70's P-90's from an GS for a long time and they had nickel silver baseplates...

When did they use brass?

[Ruel]

I think most of the metal covers for P90s WERE brass. And yes they do really kill the treble. The baseplates knock it down some too, but if you want a real traditional P90 tone you have to use brass because thats what was used. Lollar leaves his baseplate off for added bite....

Would using ceramic magnets with brass baseplates compensate for the treble loss? What other effects would the stronger ceramic magnets have on the pickup's tone?

[David Schwab]

Treble loss is due to eddy currents. Stronger magnets might just make more eddy currents. I guess try it and see.

[Joe Gwinn]

Treble loss is due to eddy currents. Stronger magnets might just make more eddy currents. I guess try it and see.

More eddy current for sure, but more music signal as well, in strict proportion. So, no better no worse.

[SK66]

The Soapbar baseplates are brass, the Dogear are nickle. I don't see where there should be much difference.
I do see a big difference if the baseplate is grounded or not.

[David Schwab]

The baseplates soapbars used to be nickel silver. The set I had were the ones that mount on the pickguard.

You can avoid the whole situation by using a non metallic baseplate. There's always room for improvement on these old designs. Like with humbucker baseplates... those stupid long mounting legs. There's no reason for them at all.

I would expect if you don't ground the baseplate it would be hum city!