Early ’50s P-90 warmth with exceptional clarity, balanced punch, and a vocal, touch-sensitive response. Rough-cast Alnico 2 magnets bring a sweeter voice that lets your hands and amplifier shape the sound, moving from articulate cleans to gritty drive with beautiful volume-knob cleanup.
-Rough Cast Alnico 2 Long Magnets
-Single Coil
-42 Gauge Plain Enamel Wire
-Authentic USA 50's Replica Bobbins
-Vintage Repro Butyrate Plastic Covers
-500k Pots & .022uf Cap Recommended
-External Braided Lead Wire
-Un-potted like the Originals (Nickel covered gets lightly potted)
-Neck 7.8k (Average)
-Bridge: 8.3k (Average)
Is this pickup hum-canceling?
No. Like an original P-90, it produces some single-coil hum. Choose our Hum-Canceling Soapbar if quieter operation is a priority.
Will your covers fit into a Gibson route?
Yes. We use the same vintage repro P-90 covers as the Gibson Custom Shop. It is designed to fit traditional soapbar P-90 routes. Check the cavity dimensions, mounting arrangement, and available depth before ordering. See our dimensional drawings for reference.
Can I replace just one pickup?
Yes. You can replace one pickup or choose a matched set. However when mixing brands, differences in output and electrical phase may be an issue. We can build them with 2-Conductor leads if you are mixing with another brand so you can have the ability to reverse the phase if needed. Just ask.
What pots and capacitor do you recommend?
We recommend 500k volume and tone pots with a .022µF tone capacitor.
Is it wax potted?
The standard version is unpotted, just like the originals. Nickel-covered versions are lightly potted.
What pickup height do you recommend, and how do I measure it?
Start with 2/32″ (1/16″) on the treble side and 3/32″ on the bass side.
Hold the high E string against the last fret nearest the guitar body, then measure from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the string. Repeat with the low E string on the bass side. Use the pickup’s height-adjustment screws to set each side.
These measurements are starting points and will give you excellent results. From here you can make small adjustments by ear to find the tone and response you prefer, and balance the volume between the neck and bridge pickups.
When Gibson introduced the P-90 pickup in the late 1940s, they created a sound that would define rock and roll, blues, and jazz for generations to come. But by 1952, the P-90 had reached its peak—the perfect balance of warmth, clarity, and punch that made it the go-to pickup for legendary guitarists. The Brickhouse 1952 Soapbar P-90 captures that exact golden-era tone with a level of consistency and reliability that even the originals couldn't match.
They capture that clearer and warmer sound compared to later P-90s, making them more versatile for the hands and amplifier to shape the tone, rather than the pickup overpowering or muddying up the sound. And when it's done right, it's pure tone magic!
Rather than just copying a random set or spec, Brickhouse dialed in the nuances of what made these early P-90s sound their very best—with the right balance, output, and vintage-correct materials—while focusing on a better quality build and consistency. Our unique P-90 winding and tensioning technique also makes these pickups much more vocal and responsive to touch, like some of the really special vintage examples out there.
