Jackson J-90 pickup (late 80's)

BAinFL · Post by **BAinFL** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 3:38 pm

So after doing some research and maintenance on my '89 US BC Rich Gunslinger, I came to realize that the pickup I have isnt a DSD but appears to look almost identical to a Jackson J-90 pickup. The only difference in mine seems to be that the poles on both sides are adjustable (slotted) where every other picture of the J-90 shows only one side slotted.

Has anyone encountered this pickup before? There's no markings anywhere at all on my pickup that give me any clues at all. I've owned the guitar 20+ years and thought it was a DSD this whole time until I realized that DSDs don't have slotted poles and I started digging into this a bit further. BC Rich used a fair mix of pickup arrangements on this particular guitar it seems.

BAinFL · Post by **BAinFL** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:28 pm

This is my PUP

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:19 am

Well by looking at it, it does indeed seem to be a Jackson pu. Just do a search on Jackson pu's. Seymour Duncan had a couple 'double' adjustable models, The 'allen Holdsworth' and the 'Full Shred'. The holes on either end of the Duncans are square though, not round, and yours only have these on one side.

My 'limited' edition Charvel/Jackson '88 Dinky has a cover (Thanks again Fillmore !) over the pu (not active). Mine has only one set of adjustable poles as I recall (or were neither coil adjustable ?). Also a rather low output, in the 8.5 range, if I am remembering correctly.

BAinFL · Post by **BAinFL** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:21 pm

I've checked into the J-90 a good bit. I just can't seem to find a flavor that was used on C/J guitars in the 80's that had adjustable poles on both sides. I'm trying to nail this down as I'm looking to sell/trade my Gunslinger in the very near future.

Given that the PUP has absolutely no markings whatsoever (and no cover as with many on Jackson model guitars), I'd guess that BC Rich might have spec'd these out (no cover, no markings, double adjustable poles, etc...) when they got Jackson to OEM build them.

In any case, it's an amazing pickup which I've loved to play with all these years. Great sustaining mids that sing, full tight bass and highs which are never ice-picky even with very high gain. I've heard Abigail Ybarra wound pickups in-house for Jackson during this time period. It's no surprise to me...this pickup is amazing for that era of 80's guitar tone. I'm just surprised these J-90s have been a bit under the radar for all these years. I guess since they were never mass marketed as after-market PUPs the linmited availability of these kept most players in the dark about them unless they happened to own a late 80's Jackson shredder. Even then it seems, most players didn't discover the amazing tones until they ripped the covers off these J-90s.

Marshall SL12301 · Post by **Marshall SL12301** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 1:56 pm

abigail ybarra only wound single coils i heard

Froumy · Post by **Froumy** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:49 pm

I used that pick up years ago. The j-80 as well. No covers. Actually had someone wanting to get one back a few years ago - seems as though they had a hard time reproducing it. I do remember settling on them for that tone, but I switched to singles 20+ years ago, and haven't looked back since. Maybe I should dig those up after all, so someone can enjoy them. I remember them like you described, if that's the tone you're looking for... I don't seem to remember any specific Jackson markings...(haven't seen 'em for years, though)

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Jackson J-90 pickup (late 80's)

Jackson J-90 pickup (late 80's)

Re: Jackson J-90 pickup (late 80's)

Re: Jackson J-90 pickup (late 80's)

Re: Jackson J-90 pickup (late 80's)

Re: Jackson J-90 pickup (late 80's)

Re: Jackson J-90 pickup (late 80's)