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Can I wire up my P-90's for a bridge neck on combo so they sound like position 2 or 4 on a strat? I'm almost embarrassed to ask that because I'm pretty sure it's yes. More importantly, though, how will it sound? Stratty (a la SRV - but REALLY fat) or something else?

I think you'd need a middle pickup for that.

No, unless you have 3 P90s wired with a 5 way strat switch.
I doubt you can get the 2 and 4 sounds with just a neck and bridge P90.

As far as i know, the 2 and 4 sounds are the result of the positioning of the pickups on the body and the interaction between the neck amp; middle pickup (the '2' sound) and the middle amp; bridge pickup ('4' sound). I don't think you can achieve that without a middle pickup.

Just my 2 cents..


Originally Posted by AcemanMore importantly, though, how will it sound? Stratty (a la SRV - but REALLY fat) or something else?

I used to own a PRS Custom 22 soapbar with 3 P90's and a 5 way switch.

The 2 and 4 tones were much fatter and rounder than an average strat's, and didn't have much of the 'quack' compared to a vintage strat. Much thicker.

The sound of two P-90s together is quot;hollowquot; like all parallel pickup combinations, but I wouldn't compare it to a Strat, even though they are of course single coils, too. This sound is or was used rather often by Southern Rock guitarists like Les Dudek, don't know if you ever heard from him (played a Les Paul Goldtop in the 70's, also sat in with the Allman Brothers). And Freddy King started playing a Goldtop, too, so his early studio recordings from the 60's are full of rather clean P-90 sounds (Hideaway etc.) using the bridge pickup most of the time.

You can try an out of phase switch that might get you somewhere in the ballpark.