The Fender style single coil is wound in a taller bobbin, but the wires are closer to the individual poles.

This makes the P-90 produce a somewhat warmer tone with less edge and brightness,[citation needed] As with other single-coil pickups, the P-90 is subject to AC hum unless some form of cancellation is used.

Equipped with double coils, the new pickup boasted greater output and less hum, although with less high end response.

This new pickup, occasionally named PAF (or Patent Applied For), very quickly took over as the preferred choice for all Gibson models, relegating the P-90 to budget models such as the ES-330, the Les Paul Junior and Special, and the SG Junior and Special, such as those used by Pete Townshend and Carlos Santana for their brighter, rawer, sound.

In both The Dolls and The Heartbreakers, Thunders influenced younger punk rock guitarists who adopted his look and choice of guitar.

[citation needed] The tone therefore shares some of the single coil traits, but having large amounts of midrange and often described as “thick".

The placement of the guitar pickups by Gibson before World War II emphasised the treble response to compensate for the low frequencies of the electronics in the bass.

The increased output and high end afforded by the P-90 design allowed the company to position the pickup closer to the neck.