Who doesn’t love the crisp and clear sound (or raw raunch) from a P-90-packed guitar?
Whether you’re refurbing a vintage find or want to upgrade the modern guitar you don’t play because of lackluster pickups, the 10 samples we’ve rounded up aim to take you to P-90 glory.
LOLLAR
P-90 SoapbarThe company’s flagship pickup is scatterwound, with degaussed alnico 5 magnets, and designed to be ideal for hard, driving rock with grind.
$105 street
lollarguitars.com
WOLFETONE PICKUPS
MeanerIntended for bridge-position placement, this hotter P-90 houses alnico 2 magnets and was designed to provide big midrange raunch and nastiness.
$100 street
wolfetone.com
MOJOTONE
Hot Quiet CoilHere’s a powerful P-90 created to emphasize upper-midrange growl with no 60-cycle hum, and hit an amp’s front end with more gain and bottom-end punch.
$119 street
mojotone.com
THROBAK ELECTRONICS
Special-SBWith alnico 4 magnets charged to vintage levels, these reproductions even have their bobbins wound on the same machine used to wind P-90s in Gibson’s Kalamazoo plant in the ’50s.
$219 street
throbak.com
TV JONES
T-90Combining traditional P-90 design with TV Jones’ growl and clarity, this model was made to provide thick highs in the bridge, and clear and warm tone in the neck.
$95 street
tvjones.com
FRALIN
Hum-Cancelling P-90These handmade, alnico-5 pickups feature a hum-cancelling design for a round bottom end, thick midrange, and a less aggressive top-end in a noiseless P-90.
$145 street
GIBSON
P-90From the company that invented the P-90, these alnico-5 pickups are fully wax potted and make for a good vintage replacement to help deliver the characteristic tones of the ’50s.
$135 street
gibson.com
HOUSE OF TONE
House Special With Metal CoverNow available with a choice of four different metal covers, this P-90 model offers a warm and smooth neck pickup, and a bridge version wound for a full and clear sound.
$145 street
houseoftonepickups.com
KLEIN
1957 Epic SeriesThese reproduction P-90s were designed using vintage-spec screws and magnets to produce the same timbre and dynamics as original pickups from the late 1950s.
$125 street
kleinpickups.com
SHEPTONE
P-90 SoapbarThese scatterwound P-90s feature alnico-5 magnets for rounded tone with plenty of snarl, and are also available in an alnico-2 version for reduced output and increased midrange.
$90 street
sheptone.com
Billy Strings' signature dreads are distinguished by a 25" scale and wider nut width.
In a career defined by evolution, Joe Bonamassa is ready to turn the page once again. The blues-rock virtuoso has just announced Breakthrough, his most adventurous and genre-blending studio album to date, out July 18th via his own J&R Adventures.
At the heart of the announcement is the release of the album’s powerful title track—“Breakthrough' —a soulful, hard-hitting anthem about letting go, moving forward, and finding your fire again, available today on all streaming platforms.
Crafted across multiple continents and infused with a world’s worth of inspiration, Breakthrough marks a bold new chapter for Bonamassa—one that leans on fiery solos, emotionally rich storytelling, groove-driven arrangements, and stylistic exploration. Produced by longtime creative partner Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes, Journey), the album was shaped by sessions in Greece, Egypt, Nashville, and Los Angeles, resulting in a vibrant sonic tapestry that shifts effortlessly from funky blues and Texas swing to acoustic ballads and swaggering hard rock.
Joe Bonamassa “Breakthrough” - Official Lyric Video
Watch the official lyric video for "Breakthrough" by Joe Bonamassa
“I think this album, Breakthrough, marks a shift in the styling of Joe Bonamassa’s recording output,” says Shirley. “While there are plenty of guitar solos on this record, his emphasis has been on songs primarily. Each time Joe undertakes a new recording project, he seems to access a different part of his vast library of music genre from the jukebox-in-his-head! This album is a round-the-world musical trip—from Little Feat funkiness to Texas swing, from hard rock power to acoustic singer/songwriter-style songs.”
The newly released single “Breakthrough,” co-written with longtime collaborator Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd), captures the emotional core of the record—an uplifting anthem about transformation, persistence, and letting go of the weight that holds us back. With gritty vocals, melodic guitar lines, and lush instrumentation, the track embodies Bonamassa’s signature blend of power and finesse while ushering in a bold new direction.
“Breakthrough” follows the success of Bonamassa’s recent singles “Still Walking With Me” and “Shake This Ground,” both of which hinted at the adventurous spirit behind the full album. “Shake This Ground” delivered a moody, introspective edge, while “Still Walking With Me” leaned into warmth, gratitude, and classic soul. Each track reflects a different facet of Bonamassa’s evolving songwriting approach, rooted in emotional honesty and anchored by his unmistakable guitar work.
The album announcement caps a stretch of extraordinary momentum for Bonamassa. Next up, Bonamassa recently began his extensive *European Spring Tour, followed by a June run with his powerhouse supergroup Black Country Communion* (featuring Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian). After another round of summer dates across Europe—including sold-out shows in Ireland—he’ll return stateside for his just-announced* 2025 U.S. Summer Tour*, a limited amphitheater run featuring stops at The Greek Theatre, Red Rocks, and more iconic venues.
With over 50 albums, 28 #1 Billboard Blues albums, and a lifelong commitment to evolving the genre, Bonamassa shows no signs of slowing down. Whether headlining iconic venues, mentoring rising artists through Journeyman Records, or supporting music education via his Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, Bonamassa continues to shape the future of blues-rock with every note.
For more information on Breakthrough, tour dates, and VIP packages, visit jbonamassa.com.
Why is Tommy’s take on “Day Tripper” so hard? And what song would Adam Miller never play with him? Plus, we get Adam’s list of favorite Tommy Emmanuel records.
We call guitarist Adam Miller in the middle of the night in Newcastle, Australia, to find out what it’s like to play with Certified Guitar Player, Tommy Emmanuel. Miller tells us just how famous Tommy is in Australia, and what it was like hearing him play from a formative age. Eventually, Adam got to open for Emmanuel, and they’ve since shared the stage, so we get the firsthand scoop: Why is Tommy’s take on “Day Tripper” so hard? And what song would Miller never play with him? Plus, we get Adam’s list of favorite Tommy Emmanuel records.
Adam’s newly released trio album, Timing, is out now.
Plus, we’re talking about new recordings from Billy Strings and Bryan Sutton, as well as Brooklyn Mediterranean surf party band Habbina Habbina.
Peavey Electronics announces the Decade preamp pedal. The internet and social media have been abounding with chatter about the current recording secret of the modern-day guitar gods – the Peavey Decade practice amp.
The discontinued amp has reached unimaginable demands on the secondary markets. So much so that small pedal builders have made attempts to capitalize and duplicate the proprietary designs themselves. Tone chasers can now rejoice as the Decade preamp pedal now brings those highly sought after tones back to market in a small, compact footprint.
Guitar players will find a single input, single output preamp pedal straight forward and easy to navigate. Faithful to the original Decade circuitry (circa 1980), the control layout will be identical to the original amplifier. The GAIN section features PRE and POST controls. PREGAIN sets the gain of the input circuitry. POST GAIN sets the gain before the out. Built off the legendary Peavey Saturation patent, the new, switchable SATURATION allows tube-like sustain and overload at all volume levels, suitable for bedrooms, rehearsals, stadiums and apparently, those very expensive recording studios. The traditional BASS, MID, and HIGH equalization controls provide the tone shaping enhancements any guitar should require. Upgraded pedal features include an internal 24v supply from the standard 9v supply/battery and worldwide EMC/FCC compliance approval.
To learn more, visit online at www.Peavey.com
Street $199.99 USD