When I first got my AL with MM-90's I was disappointed with 2 things - the P-90's weren't as "growly" (high output) as the ones on my LP Special, and the pickups covers were black. I thought they'd be white.
So, I ordered a set of Rio Grande BluesBars with white pearloid covers. In the 2 months that it took for them to arrive, I had actually grown to appreciate the MM-90's, and was reluctant to take them out, but they arrived, cost $255, and were going in the guitar, dammit!
So here's what the guitar looked like before:
http://www.bigdayphoto.com/guitar/before.htm
I just thought the black pickups looked kind of stupid. If I'd known that no one makes white p90 covers, I probably would have gone with a different color scheme.
Anyway, I open it up to find that the pickups are screwed directly onto the wood, unlike with the LP, where they sort of float on springs. I also find the the Rio Grandes aren't normal P-90 size. They're slightly deeper, and the leads come out of the center of the pickup rather than the side:
http://www.bigdayphoto.com/guitar/130938-7890-0520201158.htm
The AL routing, didn't like either discrepancy.
Well, crap, what to do? Nothing to do but salvage the covers!
Now this wasn't all that easy, they were sort of sealed onto the pickups with epoxy, and I had a heck of a time getting them off, but I managed to figure it out. So, gentleman, we have here some expensive P-90 covers -
http://www.bigdayphoto.com/guitar/after.htm
Here's the inside of the guitar, just for fun -
http://www.bigdayphoto.com/guitar/inside.htm
On a related note, a standard Gibson P-90 will almost fit. The depth is correct, and the lead comes out of the corner like on the MM-90, but Gibson solders it down to the center. If you could un-solder it, it would fit.
I may buy a 2nd AL and have Jason Lollar build me a custom set just for fun.
tv
So, I ordered a set of Rio Grande BluesBars with white pearloid covers. In the 2 months that it took for them to arrive, I had actually grown to appreciate the MM-90's, and was reluctant to take them out, but they arrived, cost $255, and were going in the guitar, dammit!
So here's what the guitar looked like before:
http://www.bigdayphoto.com/guitar/before.htm
I just thought the black pickups looked kind of stupid. If I'd known that no one makes white p90 covers, I probably would have gone with a different color scheme.
Anyway, I open it up to find that the pickups are screwed directly onto the wood, unlike with the LP, where they sort of float on springs. I also find the the Rio Grandes aren't normal P-90 size. They're slightly deeper, and the leads come out of the center of the pickup rather than the side:
http://www.bigdayphoto.com/guitar/130938-7890-0520201158.htm
The AL routing, didn't like either discrepancy.
Well, crap, what to do? Nothing to do but salvage the covers!
Now this wasn't all that easy, they were sort of sealed onto the pickups with epoxy, and I had a heck of a time getting them off, but I managed to figure it out. So, gentleman, we have here some expensive P-90 covers -
http://www.bigdayphoto.com/guitar/after.htm
Here's the inside of the guitar, just for fun -
http://www.bigdayphoto.com/guitar/inside.htm
On a related note, a standard Gibson P-90 will almost fit. The depth is correct, and the lead comes out of the corner like on the MM-90, but Gibson solders it down to the center. If you could un-solder it, it would fit.
I may buy a 2nd AL and have Jason Lollar build me a custom set just for fun.
tv
