From thrash to doom metal, the P-90 roars
In his latest video on the Gibson Gear Guide, Dinesh Lekhraj demonstrates how to set up your guitar amp to extract a metal tone from P-90 pickups. Traditionally favored for blues, rock, Americana, and more vintage-style applications, P-90s are not the first choice for metal enthusiasts—unless you are Tony Iommi—but Dinesh proves they are more than capable.
Guitarists aiming to control volume and tone on a Les Paul™ for heavy genres will find this video especially helpful. Using a MESA/Boogie® Badlander 100 amplifier, Dinesh begins with a high-gain setup, guiding viewers on tweaking high frequencies, presence, and treble to achieve a powerful sound without cluttering the mix. He addresses the common issue of hum and field noise associated with single-coil pickups, showing how adjusting the pickup position can minimize these problems.
Will the P-90 stay tight in the low end?
For those seeking a tight low-end response, Dinesh explains the benefits of reducing bass to create a balanced sound that fits seamlessly into a mix. He also provides insights on balancing EQ settings between pickups, eliminating any chance of a struggle with muddy neck pickups or overly bright bridge units.
So can P-90s do metal? The answer is a definite “yes.” However, by following Dinesh’s advice, players using P-90s, single coils, or humbuckers™ can dial in their amps to sound great across all genres, with a particular emphasis on metal.
