The Best P90 Guitar in 2022

Note: Here I have reviewed 11 of the best P90 guitar after personally testing them myself. These reviews contain detailed information along with relevant cons that will help you conveniently compare and select the most suitable model based on your needs.

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P-90 Guitar pickups are commonly referred to as the tonal bridge between humbuckers and single-coil pickups. Many players consider this as a hybrid of the best features of both humbucker and single coil pickups. Gibson initially developed the P90 single-coil pickup in the mid-1940s. They were intended to compete with Fender’s single-coil pickups, but they became identified with a bold attitude and a pugnacious mid-emphasis.

Things to know

How to use this guide

In this guide, I’ve put down my top picks for guitars with P90 pickups in-built if you don’t want to install one in your current guitar. Along with that, I’ve also added my opinion on P90 and single-coil pickups respectively.

Tips for buying

Go for a P90 guitar if you need a warm tone with a good mid-bass response. P90 is made for playing blues, country, or rock. But if you play metal then P90 is absolutely not for you.

Now, aside from the P90 bridge and neck pickups, there’s a lot to like about these guitars. The guitar’s body is made of wood and coated with nitrocellulose lacquer for a vintage look. The tone is perfect for a variety of styles, including rock & roll, blues, country music, and rockabilly.

Here’s a picture of Godin 5th Avenue CW that I took while testing the guitar

I tested 11 guitars and decided that this Godin 5th Avenue CW is the best P90 guitar for most uses.

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Technically, a P-90 pickup is a “single-coil,” but their design variances and tonal qualities prevent them from being classified as such. P90 pickups are widely utilised and generally preferred in a wide range of musical genres.

In this article, I have evaluated scores with best P90 guitar pickups over the years, and will provide the greatest P90 guitars at each price range. This list of P90 guitars will allow you to make your tunes sound loud and clear.

Top 11 Best P90 Guitars

Premium Choice

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True Music Helper Rating - 4.8/5
4.8/5

The Godin Kingpin P90 single-coil pickups give all of that iconic vintage tone, plus presence, clarity, and a splash of attitude for good measure! The 5th Avenue CW Kingpin features a Cutaway body design and the added sounds of two Godin Kingpin P90 single-coil pickups, which delivers a classic vintage tone with presence and clarity. It is one of the best P90 guitars.

Characteristics:

  • Double-Action Truss Rod
  • Cut-away Body
  • Canadian Silver Leaf Maple Neck
  • 2 Godin Kingpin P90 single-coil pickups


How does it sound?
For the skilled musician, the Godin 5th Avenue CW guitar is excellent. The Canadian wild cherry archtop top, back, and sides produce a dynamically rich tone with ample projection. It produces a vintage tone with just the right amount of attitude when connected into an amp.

How does it feel?
It comes with P90 pickups that are bright, well-balanced, and capable of roaring rock tones or subtle jazz tones with ease. With some visible thickness, the neck profile is pretty comfortable. The fit and quality are flawless.

Pros

  • Old-style vibe
  • Versatile sounds
  • Quality build
  • Comfortable Playing

Cons

  • Setup could be tricky
  • Frets are small

Best Pick

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True Music Helper Rating - 4.7/5
4.7/5

The Yamaha Revstar RS502 Electric Guitar is designed in a minimalist Japanese style. The VP5+ Alnico P-90 pickups on this instrument provide crystal clear vintage tones. The mahogany neck of the guitar efficiently compresses the highs while absorbing string vibrations. With the right modifications, the wraparound bridge can help you achieve precise intonation.

Characteristics:

  • VP5+ P-90 pickups
  • Mahogany Body with Maple Top
  • Initial Response acceleration
  • Adjustable wraparound bridge
  • Die cast Tuners

 How does it sound?
Revstar’s music is as bold and one-of-a-kind aesthetic. Yamaha’s engineers picked materials carefully and created bespoke pickups to ensure Revstar sounds as magnificent as it looks, working to conjure a visceral, uncontrolled power and a distinctive, organic tone that can only be achieved by paying attention to every detail. 

How does it feel?
Yamaha has something absolutely unique in terms of the guitar’s appearance and feel. The tuners have a fantastic touch about them. The neck is also fantastic.  The body of this guitar sits close to your body and has a great amount of spacing. This allows you to play comfortably while standing up or sitting down. Although, there is one drawback – it can be considered to be on the heavier side when it comes to electric guitars’ weight. Much heavier than Godin, our first pick.

Pros

  • Excellent design
  • Fantastic pickups
  • Sounds amazing
  • Crisp playability

Cons

  • Quite weighty

Value for Money

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True Music Helper Rating - 4.5/5
4.5/5

The G2215-P90 Streamliner Junior JetTM Club is a smooth workhorse that’s ready to fight. A master tone control, master volume control, and three-way pickup switching harness and sculpt the guitar’s tight lows and throaty midrange. An anchored compensated wrap-around bridge, gold Electro-style control knobs, a cream pickguard, and nickel hardware complete the G2215-P90.

Characteristics:

  • Soap Bar neck pickups
  • Nato Neck & Body
  • Lightweight
  • Compensated wrap-around bridge

How does it sound?
The Gretsch G2215-P90 is an amazing P90 guitar and is big and thick, with a strong blues voice and a powerful slide sound, but the bridge pickup, while brighter, is thinner and quieter, with a humbucker sound that is nearly generic. Although it doesn’t scream ‘Gretsch,’ it’s a good rootsy rock voice that appreciates crunch and even heavier genres. It has a heavy punch for rhythm sections and can handle distortion and edge-of-breakup well.

How does it feel?
Gretsch necks are renowned for their great craftsmanship and playability all over the world. It boasts a smooth laurel fretboard with 22 medium jumbo nickel frets that are comfortable on the fingertips for chording and lead playing. The compensated wrap-around bridge improves sustain while also providing exceptional tuning stability.

Pros

  • Superb tones
  • Excellent playability and value
  • Cool aesthetics
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Might be different for hardcore Gretsch
    fans

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True Music Helper Rating - 4.3/5
4.3/5

The Fender Noventa is a strong entry into the Telecaster’s illustrious pedigree, with vintage excellent aesthetics, modern playability, and powerful tone. The classic tonewoods of an alder body and maple neck give the Tele a familiar feel, while the ’60s “C” design and maple fingerboard make rapid and precise playing a breeze.

Characteristics:

  • 60s “C”-shaped maple neck
  • 21 medium jumbo frets for easy bending
  • Noventa single-coil bridge pickup
  • Classic vintage tuners
  • You can easily modify your sound with just one volume and tone knob

How does it sound?
The tone of the Fender Noventa Telecaster is bright and chime-rich. When you roll the tone down a little, it can nail that mid-rich vintage P90 sound, which helps take out some of those highs and re-focuses the tone for power chord-based punk music. It’s a versatile guitar that allows customising the sound with signal chain or picking assault, making it ideal for musicians who prefer a more minimalist approach to playing. 

How does it feel?
The neck is quite comfy and smooth. There are no noticeable flaws or mistakes. The game’s playability and performance are both excellent. It’s extremely tough and robust, and Fender-style guitars are extremely simple and enjoyable to play.

Pros

  • Superb playability
  • Fantastic tone
  • Strat’s extra tones are very persuasive

Cons

  • Premium price for a premium guitar

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True Music Helper Rating - 3.7/5
3.7/5

The Epiphone Wildkat is really a one-of-a-kind! This semi-hollow guitar with a tiny body has a beautiful vintage tone and is surprisingly pleasant to play! A solid piece of warm, sustain-rich mahogany is computer-routed to produce an acoustic guitar-like body. To produce a semi-hollow body masterpiece, the body is then coated in a lovely pearl white finish with gold glitter binding and gold hardware. With Epiphone’s all-time excellent designs, it boasts a crisp new aesthetic.

Characteristics:

  • Mahogany body
  • Flame Maple top
  • P-90 Dogear Classic pickups
  • Rosewood fretboard

How does it sound?
The mahogany body and neck are the first steps in ensuring a high-quality, flexible sound making it a fantastic P90 guitar. This guitar has a beautiful tone. It has a lot of range, projection, and just the right amount of sustain. The tones aren’t as smooth as they might be, but it’s still jazzy enough.

How does it feel?
The neck on this guitar is both solid and comfy. Its fingerboard provides excellent grip and playability. As a result, this guitar is quite pleasant to play. It feels light, focused, and balanced with the Bigsby.

Pros

  • Really unique cosmetic appearance
  • Excellent performance
  • Produces amazing clean tones
  • Loud enough to play without an amp

Cons

  • Noticed a weird headstock rattle

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True Music Helper Rating - 4.1/5
4.1/5

In a T-styled guitar, the Schecter PT Special provides top-shelf vintage flavour with a growling tone. The PT Special is made of solid swamp ash with an open grained pearl finish and offers a warm, lively tone with a long sustain. It has a vintage-tinged blend of clarity, twang, and strength, as well as the flexibility to switch between series and parallel wiring for increased versatility. This guitar’s comfort and playability are enhanced by its hard rock maple neck, rosewood fretboard, classic “C” neck shape, and jumbo frets.

Characteristics:

  • The neck is made of hard rock maple and has a classic “C” shape
  • Solid swamp ash body
  • Rosewood fretboard with jumbo frets
  • Grover Vintage Tuners 

How does it sound?
The Schecter 6 String PT Special has a fantastic tone. The Maple neck contributes to a bright, warm tone full of sustain and strength. It has a Volume/Tone (Series-Parallel Push-Pull)/3-Way Switch that offers a wide range of tonal options.

The Diamond VT-1 single-coil bridge produces a vintage-tinged combination of clarity, twang, and strength. The Diamond V-90 neck pickup produces a P-90-style tone with snarling treble and a meaty midrange. The tone knob on the PT Special also has a push-pull switch that allows you to switch between series and parallel pickup wiring. The Swamp ash body delivers a well-balanced, melodious mix of brightness, warmth, and a harmonic-rich middle.

How does it feel?
This guitar boasts a beautiful semi-gloss finish and a comfortable C-shaped neck profile. It has a TUSQ nut and a fast-playing maple fingerboard with extra-jumbo frets. Overall, it has all the qualities of being a top notch P90 guitar.

Pros

  • Sounds Fantastic
  • Versatile
  • Good quality
  • Affordable
  • Comfortable while playing

Cons

  • No notable cons

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True Music Helper Rating - 4.0/5
4/5

The Classic Vibe ’60s Jazzmaster is a true and stunning tribute to the legendary Fender classic, with its two Fender-Designed alnico single-coil guitars with P90 pickups providing genuine Jazzmaster tone. A slender, comfortable C-shaped neck with an easy-to-play 9.5-radius fingerboard and narrow-tall frets, a vintage-style tremolo system for expressive string bending effects, and a floating bridge with barrel saddles for robust string stability are some of the amazing features.

Characteristics:

  • 100% designed by Fender
  • Vintage-tinted gloss neck finish
  • Maple neck
  • Nickel-plated hardware
  • Available in left-handed

How does it sound?
For original Fender tone, this model features Fender-designed alnico single-coil pickups and vintage-correct dual-channel Jazzmaster switching. One of the guitar’s recurring elements is clarity; no matter how many effects are used, it remains crystal clear. Overall, it’s a bright, clear guitar that appears to capture all of the original Jazzmaster goodness beautifully, and the rhythm circuit is a definite standout!

How does it feel?
The vintage-style tuning machines give rock-solid tuning stability and smooth action, and the Squier by Fender has an iconic appearance.

For a pleasant playing feel, this instrument has a slender “C”-shaped neck profile. The fret ends and polishing are outstanding, and the instrument is perfectly set up right out of the box.

Pros

  • Classic Fender tone
  • Easy playability
  • Affordable
  • Tremolo works smoothly

Cons

  • Not the best quality tuners

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True Music Helper Rating - 4.0/5
4/5

Looking for a solid body guitar that won’t weigh you down?

Aristocrat P90 is here to keep you playing for hours in comfort!

The Aristocrat P90 has a chambered solid body that delivers the same solidity and tone as a standard solid body but without the heft. This guitar’s pickup produces a deep, gritty growl that is excellent for rock, R&B, and any other genre.

 Characteristics:

  • Resonant mahogany topped with eye-catching carved spruce
  • A pair of P-90 pickups produce a classic tone
  • Lightweight
  • Guild Tune-o-matic bridge
  • Attractive ABS fingerboard

 How does it sound?
The Guild Aristocrat P90 is competent in producing a wide range of classic tones. This has a gnarly but absolutely clear sound. Put this into a clean amp and get a powerful combination of snap, punch, and bite. If you put them in front of a high-gain amp, you’ll get paint-peeling grind. And, thanks to unique volume and tone settings for each pickup, the Aristocrat P90 is acoustically versatile.

How does it feel?
The Aristocrat P90 has a comfortable mahogany neck and an easy-to-play fingerboard. It boasts an appealing ABS fingerboard binding that adds to the ultra-smooth playing feel. The chambered body keeps the weight down and enhances resonance. A Guild Tune-o-matic bridge and harp-style tailpiece look great and provide rock-solid intonation.

Pros

  • Comfortable mahogany neck
  • Lightweight
  • Good build
  • Vintage style
  • Excellent old-school tone

Cons

  • No left-handed option
  • No gigbag

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True Music Helper Rating - 3.7/5
3.7/5

Here’s another great P90 guitar, the Les Paul Special I P-90 Limited-Edition electric guitar features a mahogany Les Paul body with Epiphone P-90R and P-90T Soap Bar pickups that provide huge, FAT single-coil tones, as well as a tremolo bridge.

Characteristics:

  • Single cutaway Body type
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Solid Mahogany body
  • Right handed 

How does it sound?
The sound tends toward blues and classic rock, but if you know how to use an overdrive pedal or a metal amp, it can push forward with some heavier tones.

If you have a good guitar amp, you might be able to discover some clarity, sustain, and warmth here. It’s more than enough to cover the majority of rock genres without sounding cheap. The sound is  heavy, warming, powerful, and well-balanced. The pickups’ quality is excellent for the price.

 How does it feel?
This guitar has a quick and comfortable feel to it. It also feels lighter than Gibson guitars, making it an excellent choice for beginners and kids.

It’s a flat-body guitar, thus it has more access to the higher frets than a rounder and wider carved-top body. Overall, this is a relatively simple guitar to learn and a really comfortable choice for expert players.

Pros

  • Easy to play
  • Sound built quality
  • Excellent value for money
  • Sounds fantastic

Cons

  • Only one tone and one volume control

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True Music Helper Rating - 3.6/5
3.6/5

The G2215-P90 Streamliner Junior Jet Club is a tough-looking workhorse. A master tone control, master volume control, and three-way pickup switching manage and shape the sound of this Streamliner, which provides tight lows with a throaty middle. It is driven by Broad’Tron BT-2S bridge and P90 SoapBar neck pickups. The G2215-P90 also has a compensated wraparound bridge that is anchored, gold Electro-style control knobs, a cream pickguard, and nickel hardware.

 Characteristics:

  • Resonant nato body
  • Lightweight
  • Nato neck with laurel fretboard
  • Compensated wrap-around bridge

How does it sound?
If you’re not afraid to experiment with volume and tone, you’ll discover a lot more here. The volume taper appears to be a little abrupt, but it dramatically thins out the sound — in a good manner – and gives it a more traditional Gretsch-y flavour. The tone has a subtle effect as well.

How does it feel?
The Gretsch G2215-P90 Streamliner features a nato neck with a laurel fretboard for smooth playing and responsiveness. Both strapped on and sitting, it has a lightweight and well-balanced feel; comfortable is an accurate description.

Pros

  • Simple, tidy build
  • Excellent weight, feel and playability
  • Sounds fantastic
  • Effective control layout
  • Super playability & value

Cons

  • For Gretsch purists, this may be a little out of the ordinary

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True Music Helper Rating - 3.4/5
3.4/5

The new Les Paul Standard brings back the iconic design that made it renowned. It pays tribute to Gibson’s Golden Era of innovation and breathes new vitality into authenticity. It has a solid mahogany body with a maple top and a rounded mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard and 1950s trapezoid inlays. It boasts an ABR-1, a classic Tune-O-Matic bridge, an aluminium stop bar tailpiece, vintage deluxe tuners with keystone buttons, and aged gold top hat knobs.

Characteristics:

  • Mahogany body
  • Maple top
  • Traditional 50s style fatter neck carve
  • No weight relief

How does it sound?
The Gibson Les Paul Standard ’50s P90 has a particular tone pallet that differs from humbuckers and traditional single-coils while complimenting them. This guitar is a joy to play and sounds fantastic. It’s ideal for both blues and rock music. With a touch of overdrive, it produces a warm and mellow sound with a wonderful growl.

How does it feel?
When designing the Les Paul Standard ’50s P-90, Gibson’s primary concerns were comfort and playability. You’ll love how the retro ’50s neck shape of this guitar comfortably fits your hand in precisely the right manner. The rosewood fingerboard has been polished to a silky smooth finish and is bonded with rolled edges, ensuring that no fret ends obstruct your dexterity. The action is fantastic.

Pros

  • Incredibly versatile
  • Big neck
  • Good detailed build
  • Most classic voicing of the bunch

Cons

  • Vintage-style wiring appears to be more suitable for the look

How we Pick & Test our Guitars

I am a big fan of the punk genre and so I know a thing or two about how to get the configuration just right for my guitars. Personally, I even own a Yamaha RevStar myself for 3 years and I’ve placed it second on the list. The only upgrade I got on it was changing the tuners to locking tuners. My criteria with while creating this list were:

  • Guitars that have the traditional P90 spanky, warm sound
  • Good looking, edgy look – perfect for rock
    Affordable guitars by popular brands
  • Available on renowned marketplaces with a good return policy

I played songs from Green Day to Robert Johnson to test the capabilities of this guitar. And in my personal opinion, these guitars came the closest to the feel and essence of a traditional P90 tone.

I would still recommend you guys to try and replace your current pickup with a P90 and save some cash. But if you’re in the market for a new guitar, you can’t go wrong with the picks on this list.

Are P90 pickups good?

Because of their diverse tone, P90 pickups are suitable for a wide range of musical styles. They’re great for blues, country, and rock. Metal is the one style that they aren’t generally as well suited to. Because they only have one coil, they can produce some buzzing when the gain is increased. (If you’re looking for guitars to play metal on you can check out out top picks of Schecter guitars and guitars for death metal).

What is the difference between P90 pickups and Single Coil?

Single coil pickups employ one single magnet. They generally produce the brightest sound and are used on Strats and Telecasters.  They are mainly known for their crisp and bright tone. The main drawback is that you will hear a buzzing noise with a lot of distortion. Whereas P90 pickups, like single coils, use a single magnet but have a wider bobbin. 

It implies that they have a higher output than single coils so more depth of sound, and less humming.

I’ve tried my best to explain it in words but only a video can do this question justice. So here’s a great video that’ll help you hear the difference between the pickups:

In conclusion

The Godin 5th Avenue CW is an excellent premium choice P90 guitar for players of all skill levels. It’s the best guitar with P90 pickup in this list of 11 Best P90 Guitars because it combines all of the features you’re looking for.

The Yamaha RevStar RS502 is a fantastic guitar with a great tone and high-end features. Yamaha is committed to producing high-quality guitars with a unique look and feel.

The Gretsch G2215-P90 is the best P90 guitar that is ideal for all players. Its outstanding playability and attractive appearance make it a perfect pick for novices. It is also rather reasonable in terms of pricing.

We’re fairly certain that this list will assist you in selecting the best guitar for your needs. I considered all factors while selecting the perfect guitar, including price, size, comfort, and, most importantly, sound. I’ve put this together because I want all of the readers to have the best options possible.

Keep strumming…

Cedric Philips

Cedric Philips

Hey there, I am Cedric and I've been playing guitar professionally for 9+ years. I also work in a music shop so I can get my hands on a lot of different guitars. And so, I like to share my take on these fantastic instruments here. Cheers!

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