Soap Bar Pickups

I have never played them, only seen them? I know that the traditional Les Pauls have them. Could anyone tell me what they sound like, and if they are closer of Hmbkrs or Single coils. Whats their distinctive sound?

I have tried researching but nothing appeared.

My guitar is fitted with two P-90's (soapbars). Im not too sure technically what they are, i understand they are a big single coil the size of a humbucker, basically they sound half way between a single coil and a humbucker, they have the clarity of a single coil but sound a lot fatter and less twangy with a bit more of the growl associated with humbuckers, they are not too suited for thrash metal but they are excellent for blues and classic rock styles to heavier rock styles. If you like the sound of single coils but want to fatten up your sound without the full on growl of a humbucker then P-90's are the way forward.

interesting...

thanks :)

so from what I have heard, its just a gap between single coils and humbuckers?

P-90's give some of the hardest crunch I've ever heard. They have so much more dynamic and clarity than EMG's with full out distortion.

do you know if you can just subsitute an humbucker so a p-90? Or are the shapes a bit different,

A P-90 is a bit smaller than a regular sized humbucker. But you can buy a Gibson P-94 which is a P-90 sound in a humbucker "chassis" or "frame".

You guys make it sound like P-90 are really good pups.

How come soap bar pickups are not that famous in general?

I put a P90 in a Chinese strat knockoff (bridge pos) now it sounds better than my $$$trat made in California. Like pony said, I don' know why they aren't more popular.