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Average Price: $111
Standard/Professional
$99
$200+
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Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Unleash the power of the legendary P-90 tone with the Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat, a perfect blend of vintage vibe and modern innovation. This unique pickup is a genuine single-coil P-90 Soapbar that conveniently fits under a humbucker cover, making it an ideal upgrade for humbucker-equipped guitars. The Phat Cat produces big, fat tones reminiscent of the vintage P-90 sound, but with a modern twist. Its tone beautifully balances strong midrange and treble response with a warm, spongy low end, cutting through the mix with ease.
The use of two Alnico 2 magnets enhances sustain and ensures a softer attack, while its nickel-silver cover not only gives your guitar a vintage-style look but also reduces noise and provides better shielding than standard soapbar covers. Whether you're a seasoned pro or an enthusiastic beginner, the Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat is a perfect way to breathe new life into your favorite humbucker-equipped guitar and explore the classic sound of a P-90.
Key Features:
- Genuine single-coil P-90 Soapbar that fits under a humbucker pickup cover
- Produces big, fat tone with strong midrange and treble response
- Uses two Alnico 2 magnets for enhanced sustain and softer attack
- Nickel-silver cover provides noise reduction and better shielding
- Perfect for upgrading humbucker-equipped guitars
- No need for permanent modification to the instrument
- Available in both neck and bridge versions for versatility
- Hand-built in Santa Barbara, California
- Comes with single-conductor hookup cable and detailed wiring diagram
- Vacuum wax potted for squeal-free performance
Product specs
| Type | Single-coil |
| Position | Neck |
| Active/Passive | Passive |
| Magnet Material | Alnico II |
| Number of Conductors | 1 wire plus braided shield |
| DC Resistance | 8K |
| Connectivity | Soldered |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Covering | Covered |
| Format | P-90, Soapbar |
| Features | Humbucker-sized |
FAQs
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What type of tone can I expect from the Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat neck pickup?
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The Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat offers a warm, rich tone with a classic P-90 growl, delivering clarity and punch that cuts through the mix, ideal for blues, rock, and jazz.
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Is the Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat suitable for humbucker-equipped guitars?
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Yes, the SPH90-1n Phat Cat is designed as a humbucker-sized P-90, making it a perfect fit for guitars originally equipped with humbuckers.
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How does the Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat handle high-gain settings?
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The SPH90-1n Phat Cat performs exceptionally well with overdriven and high-gain settings, maintaining clarity and minimizing noise, making it suitable for various musical styles.
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What is the magnet material used in the Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat?
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The Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat uses Alnico II magnets, which contribute to its warm and smooth tonal characteristics.
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How is the Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat installed in a guitar?
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The SPH90-1n Phat Cat requires soldered connectivity, with one conductor wire plus a braided shield for installation.
Videos
Seymour Duncan
Phat Cat P90 Pickups
Reviews
PROS
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Delivers pure Rock & Roll tone with excellent response to volume adjustments
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Distinct P90 sound fits well in neck position, offering both clean and gritty tones
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Balances well with humbuckers when split, adding versatility to setups
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High-quality build with included mounting hardware and wiring diagrams
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Offers a unique blend between humbucker and single coil sounds
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Great for genres like Blues, Rock, and Jazz with versatile tone
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Fits in humbucker slots, making it easy to upgrade existing guitars
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Provides thick, articulate sound while retaining single coil clarity
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Enhances cheaper guitars significantly, offering great value
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Attractive metal cover adds aesthetic appeal alongside sound quality
CONS
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Some noise interference typical of single coils, especially when overdriven
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Requires careful installation and potential modification for proper fit
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Can be slightly brighter than traditional P90s, affecting tone preferences
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Limited pickup height adjustment may affect installation in certain guitars
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat.
Mods and upgrades
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Custom pickguards with a Delonge volume position can prevent P90 overlap with the volume knob in strats.
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One setup features a Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n in the neck paired with a Fender Pure Vintage '64 in the bridge, offering a versatile tonal range.
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Using a quick connect adapter simplifies the process of integrating Seymour Duncan pickups with Gibson's circuitboard systems.
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Comparisons
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Phat Cats are described as having a "polite, Telecaster-esque" sound, unlike the fuller tone of Gibson P94s.
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Use cases and applications
User experience
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Some users find Phat Cats noisy with thin distortion, preferring a real P90 guitar for raw sound.
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Owners highlight the Phat Cat's exceptional clean tones, specifically praising its clarity and articulation in neck positions on Telecasters.
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Owners report successful Phat Cat installations into Gibsons with PCB boards, highlighting the need for guidance in the wiring process.
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Build quality
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A combination of D'Addario self-trimming locking tuners and a 920D Custom control plate complements the Phat Cat for improved tuning stability and control precision.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 9 Ratings
Great Pickups as an Upgrade to Cheaper Guitars
Overall this Phat Cat p90 set is a great pickup which can compete with some of the best P90's in the market. However, I feel the best use for this pickup is to take a cheaper guitar that already has humbuckers and throw these in instead. I can gurantee you that this will take the guitar to a new level sound wise.
I did this with my Epiphone Les Paul and the result was incredible. It is now one of the best sounding guitars I own.
These are also great value for money. I will say however, that these Phat cats are slightly brighter than traditional P90's and can get quite harsh on the bridge pickups if you have the trebble on your amp too high. For me however, this brightness in sound is not an issue and I can control any unwanted frequencies with my tone knob.
Thanks so much
Justin http://guitarpickzone.com/seymour-duncan-phat-cat-review/
41029
old p90s vary greatly as to brightness in my experience
Artist usage
Add artist
"My main guitar right now is a Gibson Les Paul Standard that I think is either from ’91 or ’93 which I picked up while on tour. I have Seymour Duncan Phat Cat (SPH90-1) P90-style pickups in it which are the size of a humbucker. They’re amazing. I’m really psyched about them." - Ray Toro.
At 1:13:14 of this video, Leda mentions that he uses the Seymour Duncan Phat Cat neck pickups in his signature ESP Cygnus.
"O’Connor’s No. 1 is a Fender Blacktop Tele tuned down a whole-step to D. The guitar has Seymour Duncan pickups: a JB bridge humbucker and a SPH90-1 Phat Cat P-90 in the neck position." - excerpt from Premier Guitar interview.
"Nathan: In my Jazz Basses, I have the SJB-1 Vintage set and in my P-Bass I have the SPB-1 Vintage. In my guitars I have a custom set of Seth Lovers in a Firebird clone, a set of Antiquity Humbuckers in a ’81 Gibson 335, a SJM-3 Quarter-Pound for Jazzmaster, and Phat Cats in another Firebird clone! Love ’em!!"
Seen in the bridge of his Edwards Les Paul, and mentioned in this article:
http://www.metalsucks.net/2012/12/07/rigged-kowloon-walled-city-guitarist-scott-evans/
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Seymour Duncan SPH90-1n Phat Cat, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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