In a fresh Guitar World interview, former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee has declared his love for P-90 pickups, calling them superior to both humbuckers and traditional single coils because they perfectly blend the aggressive snap and clarity of single coils with the smooth, beefy warmth of humbuckers.
“Humbuckers are great,” Lee explained, “but to me, the P-90s were always the best of both worlds. They have that articulation, attack and aggressiveness that single coils have, but they’re also kind of smooth and beefy-sounding, like humbuckers.”
The rock veteran admitted he couldn’t reliably use P-90s during his high-volume Ozzy days because early versions lacked hum-cancelling options, making the noise unbearable at stage levels. Now, he’s happily experimenting with modern humbucking P-90s and rediscovering why he’s always loved them.
Don’t Just Hope for the Best — Play Before You Pay
Lee didn’t stop at pickups. He also dropped straightforward advice for guitar buyers, especially those chasing expensive vintage instruments: stop gambling and start playing.
“Play it, don’t just hope for the best,” he stressed. “With older guitars, there are some that are really special and some that are just okay — you have to play those first.”
He noted that while new guitars tend to have consistent quality (he recently bought an Eastwood Messenger online inspired by Grand Funk Railroad’s Mark Farner), older ones vary wildly. “Sometimes you get a connection where you just feel it, like it’s the right one. And sometimes you’ll pick up a guitar that you’re sure will be the right one and it’s not there.”
Lee’s no-nonsense take echoes warnings from players like Joe Bonamassa and Eric Johnson, who have cautioned that age and cool factor alone don’t guarantee a great guitar.
The interview also touches on Lee’s complicated Ozzy legacy, including past tensions with Zakk Wylde’s era and his battles over songwriting credits on albums like Bark at the Moon.
Whether you’re hunting for that perfect vintage axe or debating pickup swaps, Jake E. Lee’s message is clear: trust your hands and ears more than hype or price tags. P-90 fans everywhere just got some serious validation.
What do you think — are P-90s really the sweet spot, or do you swear by humbuckers or single coils? Drop your take below.
