Seymour Duncan has announced the release of its noiseless P-90 humbucker set, the Phat Cat Silencer.
The pickup set marries the firm’s P-90 Silencer design with its Phat Cat humbuckers to deliver authentic P-90 tones without any extra hum.
While the concept of noiseless P-90s isn't groundbreaking, their delivery in a standard humbucker-sized housing is, meaning any humbucker-equipped guitar can be easily modded to fit them.
The pickup wizards say its latest invention is “perfect for those looking to explore the feel and response of a P-90 without routing out a guitar”.
P-90 pickups, which serve as a halfway house between the bite of single-coils and the gluttonous girth of humbuckers, have proven hugely popular across punk, rock, and metal.
Everyone from Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong to Loathe’s Erik Bickerstaffe have fallen in love with the hybrid-style pickups.
However, their versatility and tonal charm have often been marred by their tendency to become noisy when used in high-gain contexts. Seymour Duncan also notes that their more compact size “often limits them to purpose-built guitars”.
The Phat Cat Silencer, then, looks to rectify both those issues. They boast a noiseless nature “without the need of major guitar surgery,” which means guitarists can “enjoy thick and edgy P-90 tones” at their leisure.
Their standardized housing also opens the floodgates of possible guitars that can load them up.
Players can choose from Vintage and Hot Bridge pickup variations, which are designed to partner up with the Phat Cat Silencer Neck pickup, of which there is only one option.
All iterations are available in nickel and gold finishes. Prices start from $139.
Head to Seymour Duncan to learn more.
