Pickup question: humbucker vs P90?

I'm looking at a guitar that comes in two configurations. One has "Two
Humbucker" pickups and the other has "Two Duncan Designed P90 Soapbar" pickups.

What's the difference between a humbucker and a P90 pickup? The P90 version costs $30 more, but what else?

Thanks!

I would suggest that you stay away from Squire's.
You may be able to find a nice Mex Telecaster in your price range on ebay.

I recently played a Gibson L-5 at a gig.
It was a beautiful guitar but the feedback was terrible.

How do you shield archtops?

Sorry, typo. I meant fitting the guitar with P90s. I know you cant buy one, or I'd have one! Hehehe =---

What I WANT is something that sounds like the Jazzmaster sound sample on the Fender web page (http://www.fender.com/products/show.php? partno=0100800) but $1300 is just WAY too much for a beginner like me. I was hoping for something in the $200-$300 range like the Squier Tele Custom II (which comes in either humbucker or p90 configurations, hence my original question).

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

However, if you are considering getting up onstage, its always good to have a spare. The squier would make an excellent spare, in fact my squier strat became my best mate when I changed its electronics. I kept the original neck and middle pickups, and changed the bridge pickup to a DiMarzio HB.
Changed the pots and pickup switch, they are nasty on the original electronics. Also the tuning machines needed replacing on mine, but you should review all of these on your own before making changes!

I liked the neck on the squier, it took quite some playing in though.

The way I did it was to buy the squier, and learn to play it. Then buy a better guitar, and keep the squier as a spare, perhaps even a project to work on.

Just my input. Understandably, if you cant afford to get the squier, then the fender, just go straight for the good stuff. Personally though, I went for the squier and worked on it. Now I have two decent ones. You could even put P90's on the squier, cheaper than buying a fender with P90s.

This was an older L-5.
I don't know if it was signle coil or humbucking.
I don't think humbuckings were invented when this guitar was made.

I Don't play as loud as you may think.
And I was using a Polytome MB2 amp.
This was a jazz gig.
I don't always play loud rock gigs.

The guiyar in question did not have a cutaway.
I believe it was from the 40's or early 50's.
I was told that it was an L-5 although I never saw an L-5 like it before.

What don't you like about Squire?

Does the Mex Telecaster have p90 pickups?

Thanks!

Since nobody has really addressed your question, let's try and shed some light on the subject for you...

All pickups sound good. It's how you play them that matters.

If you are just learning to play, worry more about how the guitar *plays*, how it feels in your hands, and your general comfort level with the instrument.

Does it feel right? Is it too big, too small, too heavy or just right? Do you feel like a star when you hold it?

Remember, if it doesn't feel good and turn you on, chances are you are not going to stick with learning how to play.

As for pickup selection, there are superstars that use all kinds of pickups, P90's, humbuckers and single coils. FYI P90's are single coils.

Single coils (like in Strats, Telecasters and P90 guitars) are known for their bright, clear, glassy tone but emit a slight "ungrounded" sound known as 60 cycle hum. This is normal and it's not entirely a bad thing.

Humbuckers are virtually silent and have a warm, meatier sound but lack the glassy highs that single coils have.

Learn to play and you'll make whatever pickups your guitar has sound good. Once your playing evolves, you'll know which pickups suit your playing style.

Cheers and best of luck learning to play!