AudioFu Chart · November 2026
Best P-90 Pickups Under $300 2026
The top pick is Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat Neck Pickup ($144). Seymour Duncan Antiquity P90 Soapbar Bridge Pickup leads the high end. Ranked by the AudioFu Index from 31 models across 11 brands, prices checked every night.
Last updated: November 8, 2026
Top 10
Full detail for the 10 highest AudioFu Index scores. Every other model is listed below.
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Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat Neck Pickup
SPH90-1B Nickel Cover · Seymour Duncan
36 for sale on Reverb4 finishes at Thomann
If you want the punchy, mid-heavy voice of a P-90 but your guitar has humbucker routing, this bridge pickup is made for you. It fits into almost any guitar in the standard humbucker format, so you do not need special pickup slots. Pair it with the neck version and the two will work together without hum.
Pros
- Built as a P-90 sound in a standard humbucker-sized housing
- Alnico magnets and shielded coaxial cable included
- Neck and bridge versions are designed to work together hum-free
Cons
- Only fits guitars with standard humbucker routing, not P-90 slots
83AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$144 now$144€129 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
Seymour Duncan Antiquity P90 Soapbar Bridge Pickup
Antiquity P90 Soapbar Neck BL · Seymour Duncan
36 for sale on Reverb3 finishes at Thomann
If you want the look of a classic soapbar P-90, this neck pickup is made to follow the originals. Its coils, cable, and aged Alnico II magnets are modeled closely on vintage parts. It suits you if you play a guitar with a neck pickup slot and want that old-school soapbar design.
Pros
- Coils and cable are modeled faithfully on the originals
- Uses Dun-Aged Alnico II magnets
- Soapbar design as found on '52er Gold Tops and '59 ES-330
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Seymour Duncan JJN P90 Silencer Soapbar Jared James Nichols Signature…
JJN P90 Silencer Dog Bridge · Seymour Duncan
17 for sale on Reverb3 finishes at Thomann
This is a Dog-Ear style P-90 pickup for the bridge position, made in the USA. It is the Jared James Nichols Signature Model, and it is made to handle clean tones as well as dirtier ones without picking up much background noise. If you want a P-90 in the bridge spot and like the signature design, this one is worth a look.
Pros
- Dog-Ear P-90 style pickup made for the bridge position
- Jared James Nichols Signature Model with its own signature design
- Designed to go from cleans to dirty sounds without annoying background noise
72AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$184 now$184€165 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
Seymour Duncan STK-P1b P90 Soapbar Stack Bridge Pickup
STK-P1B Soapbar Bridge Cream · Seymour Duncan
17 for sale on Reverb2 finishes at Thomann
If you like the old-school P90 soapbar look and feel, this pickup is made for the bridge position. It has Alnico V magnets, a stacked coil, and a hum-free design, so it stays quiet when you play. Its medium-low output suits you if you want a vintage style rather than heavy distortion.
Pros
- Soapbar-style P90 single coil, designed for the bridge position
- Hum-free design, so it stays quiet in use
- Alnico V magnets and stacked coil construction
Cons
- Medium-low output may not suit players who want high-gain, heavy distortion
70AudioFu
Index↓ 2.7%since Aug 17 · lowest so far$166 · Aug 17$162 now$162€145 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
If you want a pickup with an open, dynamic single coil feel that can also bite when you want it, this one is worth a look. It is built around Alnico magnets and gives more output than the original P90, so it works well for blues, crunch and rock and roll tones. It also suits slide players, who often want that rough and dirty edge.
Pros
- Single coil design with open sound and dynamics, plus humbucker-like bite when wanted
- Alnico magnets, with much more output than the original P90
- Black finish, built in the classic soapbar style
Cons
- Single coil design, so it has no humbucker-style hum cancelling built in
65AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$128 now$128€115 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
Seymour Duncan SP90-3n Custom P90 Neck Pickup
SP90-3n Custom P90 Neck BK · Seymour Duncan
15 for sale on Reverb1 finish at Thomann
This is a soapbar-style P90 pickup for the neck position of an electric guitar. It has a ceramic magnet, medium output, tight low end and a sharp, rough top end. It suits you if you want a punchy, gritty neck sound from a black soapbar pickup.
Pros
- Ceramic magnet gives this soapbar-style P90 a solid, classic build
- Made in USA with a single-conductor cable and braided shielding
- Wax sealed for a protected pickup body
64AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$140 now$140€125 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
Seymour Duncan P90 Silencer Dog Ear Neck Pickup
P90 Silencer Dog-Ear Neck CR · Seymour Duncan
8 for sale on Reverb1 finish at Thomann
This is a neck pickup in the dog-ear style, so it fits guitars set up for a P-90 at that spot. You get the coarse-grained mids that make the P90 special, along with a noiseless design that keeps hum down. If you want that classic P-90 character with less buzz, this one is worth a look, and it is made in the USA.
Pros
- Innovative noiseless design cuts down the hum that single-coil pickups are known for
- Dog-ear style mounting fits the neck position of P-90 style guitars
- Ceramic magnets and a medium output give you the coarse-grained mids that make the P90 special
Cons
- Its medium output may not suit players who want a very hot, high-gain pickup
56AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$178 now$178€159 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
This Lollar P-90 is a fantastic choice if you’re chasing that classic, raw P-90 vibe without the brittle edge of some others. The aged Alnico-5 magnets really soften the highs while retaining plenty of grit—perfect for blues, rock, and anything needing a little vintage character. It’s a solid upgrade for guitars that need a warmer, more responsive bridge pickup.
Pros
- Aged Alnico-5 magnets deliver a uniquely warm, vintage-voiced character.
- Hand-wound construction ensures consistent quality and nuanced tonal complexity.
- Braided shielding minimizes noise and hum for a cleaner signal.
Cons
- Bridge position can still be somewhat brittle; ideal paired with a warmer neck pickup.
- While versatile, leans heavily toward classic rock and blues tones; less suited for modern metal.
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If you want the P90 sound without the hum, this pickup is worth a look. It goes in the bridge position and has adjustable steel pole pieces, so you can set the height for each string. It suits players who like the P90 character but want it a little louder, darker and thicker.
Pros
- Hum-cancel design aims to cut the buzz a standard P90 can pick up.
- Hand-wound with neodymium magnets for a vintage-style output.
- Adjustable steel pole pieces let you set the height for each string.
Cons
- Sits a little louder, darker and thicker than a standard P90, so it is not a straight P90 sound.
51AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$207 now$207€185 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
If you want a P-90 with a bit of attitude, this soapbar is worth a look. The two coils have different frequency ranges and output powers, and you can adjust the balance by changing the height of the pole pieces. It is recommended for the neck and bridge positions, and it gives you a rougher edge with more bite on top and more growl on the low end.
Pros
- Two coils with different frequency ranges and output powers
- Pole piece height adjustments let you calibrate tone and balance
- Recommended for both neck and bridge positions
Cons
- Slightly rougher character may not suit players who want a cleaner sound
50AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$133 now$133€119 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗
All 31 P-90 pickups
Same index, same nightly prices — compact. Colour options of one model share a row. Tap a photo to zoom.
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Mojotone 56 Q. Coil P-90 Dogear NE BKMojotone · 3 finishes49↓ 7.2%$144€129$144€129Check ↗
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Seymour Duncan SP90-1N SCHWARZSeymour Duncan · 3 finishes48Stable$144€129$144€129Check ↗
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Lollar Novel 90 NE NRMBLollar · 2 finishes46↓ 2.2%$195€175$195€175Check ↗
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Seymour Duncan SSP90-1B BLKSeymour Duncan42Stable$144€129$144€129Check ↗
- 15
Mojotone Hot Q. Coil P-90 Soapbar BR BKMojotone · 2 finishes42Stable$144€129$144€129Check ↗
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Friedman Classic 90 Neck BK&WHFriedman42↓ 15.4%$160€143$160€143Check ↗
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Seymour Duncan ANT-P90DE B BLKSeymour Duncan42Stable$211€189$211€189Check ↗
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Seymour Duncan SANT P90 B BKSeymour Duncan42Stable$211€189$211€189Check ↗
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DiMarzio DP210 Tone Zone P90 CremeDiMarzio · 2 finishes41Stable$128€115$128€115Check ↗
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DiMarzio DP209 P90 Super Distortion CRDiMarzio · 2 finishes41Stable$133€119$133€119Check ↗
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Gotoh Pickups Old-1 P-90 Soapbar CRGotoh Pickups · 2 finishes40Stable$39€35$39€35Check ↗
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Gotoh Pickups TV-1 P-90 Dogear BR BKGotoh Pickups · 2 finishes40Stable$39€35$39€35Check ↗
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Friedman Classic 90 Bridge BK&WHFriedman34Stable$189€169$189€169Check ↗
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Gotoh P90 BKGotoh32Stable$44€39$44€39Check ↗
- 25
Bare Knuckle Boot Camp True Grit P90 Pickup SetBC True Grit P90 BR BK · Bare Knuckle · 3 finishes32↓ 4.0%$106€95$106€95Check ↗
- 26
Kloppmann SB 62 P90 Dogear BR BKKloppmann32Stable$211€189$211€189Check ↗
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Bare Knuckle Boot Camp Brute Force P90 Bridge PickupBC Brute Force P90 Set BK · Bare Knuckle · 2 finishes27Stable$200€179$200€179Check ↗
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Seymour Duncan Phat Cat Great P-90 Set NickelSeymour Duncan25Stable$278€249$278€249Check ↗
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Mojotone 56 Q.Coil P-90 Set BKMojotone · 2 finishes25Stable$289€259$289€259Check ↗
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Mojotone Hot Q.Coil P-90 Set BKMojotone23Stable$289€259$289€259Check ↗
- 31
Bare Knuckle Boot Camp Old Guard P90 Bridge PickupBC Old Guard P90 Set BK · Bare Knuckle · 2 finishes22Stable$200€179$200€179Check ↗
P-90 Pickups by the numbers
Measured across all 60 models we track, not a sample.
Median $166 — half of all P-90 pickups here cost less.
How to choose the best P-90 pickups
Output Level
P-90s range from low-output, almost Strat-like, to screaming hot. Consider your amp and playing style - a hotter P-90 might need a darker amp to tame it, while a lower output one needs a bit more juice to cut through a band.
EQ Voicing
This is the defining factor. Some P-90s have that classic 'fat midrange honk' - thick, warm, and vocal. Others lean towards a brighter, more biting tone. It's all about finding the balance that works with your guitars and preferences.
Construction Quality
Cheap pickups can sound cheap - brittle, inconsistent, and prone to microphonic squeals. Look for potted bobbins (to reduce noise) and decent quality wire. Even in this price range, build quality varies significantly.
Dynamic Response
A good P-90 reacts to your playing. It should clean up nicely with a light touch but growl and distort with more aggression. Limited headroom is a common trade-off in budget pickups.
Noise & Hum
Single-coil pickups, especially P-90s, are notorious for hum. While you won't get boutique-level quietness at this price, some pickups are noticeably better at minimizing noise than others. Shielding matters.
Buying guide
So, you're chasing that P-90 grit, that raw, unfiltered vibe, but you're not looking to drop a grand on a vintage Gibson? Totally get it. There's a surprising amount of killer P-90 pickups under $300 that'll give you a serious dose of character without breaking the bank. We're going to cut through the hype and find you the best bang-for-your-buck options.
At this price point, you're making compromises. Expect a slightly rougher build quality - maybe a less refined finish on the pots or slightly thinner wire. Don't expect perfect noise cancellation; it's a P-90, it's gonna hum a little.
Focus on the voicing that best suits your needs, and be prepared to tweak your amp settings to compensate for any limitations. Paying a little more within the $300 range often buys you better shielding and slightly more refined components.
How the AudioFu Index works
Five measured signals and nothing else — no stars from strangers, no “tested by experts” we didn’t do. The weights are fixed and public. We don’t play these instruments; we measure the market around them.
This chart covers 60 P-90 pickups from the Thomann catalogue. Before you buy, read hands-on reviews and, where you can, play it. Full methodology.
AudioFu earns a commission when you buy through our Thomann links. It never changes the order — the index does.
- Demand40%
How many of this exact model are for sale on Reverb right now — what musicians actually buy and resell.
- Lineup20%
How many finishes Thomann stocks — makers expand the models that sell.
- Price15%
Where the price has moved since we started tracking in August.
- Specs15%
How completely the maker documents it.
- Maker10%
How deep the brand’s range is in this category.
Questions
Are these pickups hot-rodded or vintage-voiced?
Most budget P-90s lean towards a slightly hotter, more modern voicing. True vintage-style reproductions are rare and usually cost more. This isn't necessarily bad; it often means more output and easier breakup, great for rock and blues.
Can I install these myself?
If you're comfortable soldering and have basic guitar repair skills, absolutely. It's a straightforward swap. There are tons of online tutorials. If you're not, a local tech can do it for a reasonable price.
What kind of wood guitars do these pickups sound best in?
P-90s are generally pretty forgiving, but they shine in mahogany or ash. They bring out the warmth and sustain of mahogany and the clarity and bite of ash. A maple guitar will give a snappier, brighter tone.
Do I need to change my pots or capacitors?
Not necessarily, but upgrading your pots to 500k audio taper and adding a capacitor (like a .022uF) can often improve the overall tone and clarity, especially with hotter pickups. It's a relatively cheap upgrade.
What's the difference between a 'dog-ear' and a 'soapbar' P-90?
It's purely cosmetic! 'Dog-ear' refers to the shape of the pickup's mounting bracket, common on Gibsons. 'Soapbar' is a more rectangular shape. The sound is virtually identical.





