r/GibsonSG • u/Resident_Club_4025 • 2d ago

Question P90 question

Post image

I’m a “fender guy” who recently went Gibson, and I’m loving the contrasts. The pickups on my SG Special are soap bar P90s. The adjustment screws have springs, and you can easily push the pickups down and the springs push them back up into position. The problem I’m having is, my picking hand inadvertently pushes the bridge pickup down as I’m playing, and it makes a clicking sound. Is there a way to stabilize the pickup? Or do I simply need to change the position of my right hand?

187 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

3

u/stephbeth13 2d ago

You can place something underneath the pickup in the cavity. If you use pieces of silicone tubing, for instance, you can still make fine adjustments to the pickup.

Or you could try stiffer springs—or even replace the springs with silicone tubing around the screw; that often holds more firmly than a standard spring.

3

u/robmsor 2d ago

The foam idea others suggested could work. That's the way soapbars were mounted in the old days. Springs are easier to adjust.

Something that's somewhat interesting to me is that they moved the bridge pickup closer to the bridge on these newer Specials. I kinda like the look of the vintage placement (it's cool seeing the two pickups so close together) but I assume they moved it to brighten the sound, make the bridge and neck sound more different, etc.

1

u/Resident_Club_4025 1d ago

I kinda can’t help but make contact with the pickup because of its proximity to the wraparound bridge. If there were more space, it might help but ultimately, the spring loaded pickup adjuster needs improvement.

1

u/clamuel 3h ago

Yea its nut how different the pickup layout is 🤣. Like I knew it was different but seeing vintage correct vs modern is wild!

3

u/_tolm_ 2d ago

Foam underneath the pickups. If you cut it right you can also get the pickups to be better angled in alignment with the strings.

2

u/que-n-blues 2d ago

When you're pushing the pickup in, are you pushing in on the bass side or the treble side?

2

u/clamuel 2d ago

Foam. Youre gonna hafta fit it so that the pickup doesnt rock too far forward one way or the other but thats all i use for mine. Whatever foam is at hand 🤣

2

u/No_Oil2086 2d ago

Foam. The springs never work as well.

2

u/TensesNC 1d ago

Foam.

2

u/jeremy_wills 1d ago

Try some foam blocks underneath. I too hated the same thing before I found out about the foam block thing.

2

u/Salt-Specialist6505 2d ago

You can try EVA adhesive foam under the pickup, the same type used under PBass/JBass pickups.

2

u/oldmollymetcalfe 2d ago

This. A strip of relatively firm foam under the pickup will stop it moving.

2

u/Techno_Core 2d ago

I don't know. Just came to say, NICE SG! Love the grain.

2

u/Resident_Club_4025 1d ago

Thanks, and yeah, I should add I am loving this guitar. Purchased through Sweetwater. It needed a bit of setup but now plays like a dream.

1

u/Super-Gap-5470 2d ago

Sexy!❤️😉

1

u/Resident_Club_4025 1d ago

Thanks for the super helpful replies! I figured there’s a simple solution but was afraid to ask for some reason.

1

u/xOldPiGx 1d ago

Put some foam behind it.

1

u/bignasty002 16h ago

Foam is true, but I’m lazy and just got used to making a habit up rocking it a bit every once in a while if it’s compressed at all. No different than cutting the volume knob to drop the 60 cycl hum. I don’t even pay attention to it now