Warren Haynes has explained his decision to incorporate P-90 pickups in his new signature guitars, emphasizing how it enhances his tonal palette.
Originally introduced by Gibson after World War II, P-90 pickups gained significant attention for their warm and powerful single-coil sound. While Gibson’s P-90 was once the dominant choice for many, it was eventually overshadowed by the introduction of humbuckers in 1957. Despite the popularity of humbuckers, there has been a growing resurgence of interest in P-90s in recent years.
One of the musicians embracing this shift is Warren Haynes, the mastermind behind Gov’t Mule and a celebrated electric guitar legend. In a move that marks a departure from his earlier signature models featuring humbuckers, his new Les Paul and Firebird guitars are equipped with P-90 pickups. In a recent interview with Guitar World, Haynes shared his thoughts on the change:
“When I switch back and forth from my first signature model guitar, which has humbuckers, and then plug in the new guitar with P-90s, I instantly get the tonal change I’m after without having to adjust any knobs.”
He continued: “As much as we all get comfortable with the sound we’ve crafted over the years, most guitarists are also seeking fresh sounds that can offer a new burst of inspiration.”
For Haynes, this pursuit of fresh sounds led him to P-90s. He explained how experimenting with the pickups opened up new possibilities for his tone: “It started with me wanting to explore sounds outside of my usual go-to options. When I started playing with P-90s, I realized, ‘Oh, this really expands my tonal range!’”
He went on to describe how P-90s offer distinct options that humbuckers can’t provide. “A lot of the sounds I love come straight from the guitar itself. I don’t rely on pedals for most of my tones. I prefer to adjust the volume knob to unlock different sounds, and P-90s are fantastic for that.”
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