The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

[dr.barlo]

Hi all,

I decided to pot the covers and the mags of the original mini HB's in my 1976 Gibson Deluxe. I liked them, but they were a bit microphonic. Hence, the operation... But to make matters worse, the height adjustment screws of the neck pickup were stripped. So first I had to deal with them screws. And having had no idea about the details of the routing... well it was sorta interesting endeavor to say the least.

I did do the potting thing. I also have taken pics of the magnets and inside of the pickup. Here they are:















And here is how it looks now:



B

[Sprinter]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

Interesting! I've never had my '78 Deluxe apart, but I've always wondered what they were like under the covers.

[dr.barlo]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

I guess yours would have similar parts. However, those from 75 and earlier have the metal mounting bar in the pickup cavity which looks as follows:



B

[Sprinter]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

I forget to mention that that is a damn fine looking Deluxe. Did it start out as cherry-burst and age to that color?

[dr.barlo]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

The pic I have posted above is from the LPF:

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119748

And the poster mentions that it is from a 69 Deluxe.

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[dr.barlo]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

I forget to mention that that is a damn fine looking Deluxe. Did it start out as cherry-burst and age to that color?

Thanks.

I dunno. I've got it quite recently through a trade:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/show...436-New-Guitar!

I guess it always has been a honeyburst (my favorite).

B

[Sprinter]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

Here's my Cherry-burst '78 Deluxe. I've owned it forever.

[Sprinter]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

Thanks.

I dunno. I've got it quite recently through a trade:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/show...436-New-Guitar!

I guess it always has been a honeyburst (my favorite).

B

You did good on that trade! I like honey-burst too. My '99 Les Paul Standard is honeyburst.

[dr.barlo]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

Here's my Cherry-burst '78 Deluxe. I've owned it forever.

Very nice looking guitar!

Cool!!!

B

[speed2dirt]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

Did you swap that roughcast Alnico magnet with the A8? If so, what did it do tonally to the minibucker? I've thought of doing the same thing to beef it up and add a little spice, but ultimately I just replaced it with a CS mini JB. Still curious about it though.

[JeffB]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

That is Tobacco Sunburst on Doc's guitar. Very prominent color during the Norlin era. Recently ressurected on the 2014 LP traditional.

Thanks for the pics and FYI Doc.

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

Wow! They look like little crunch labs!

[dr.barlo]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

Did you swap that roughcast Alnico magnet with the A8? If so, what did it do tonally to the minibucker? I've thought of doing the same thing to beef it up and add a little spice, but ultimately I just replaced it with a CS mini JB. Still curious about it though.

I was entertaining the idea of a mag swap... Yet the mag turned out to be a short one (as I was expecting actually). For a while I thought of doing it because still it is physically possible. It is just that one end of the mag would be "sticking out a little". But the side that'd stick out would have been the plain strings' side on the bridge. Not ideal...

So I did not do the swap and put it back.

It was a strong magnet by the way. I had a a Gauss meter at one point in time, but then it died. Anyways I wasn't using it that much but now I have a much more primitive mag strength test. I am using an a5 out of a 59 (in which I have an a4). And finding out the minimal distance two mags start physically pull each other sorta gives some idea about the strength. That mag out of this mini HB was quite strong. And it was quite rough cast, I was expecting something shiney. There was something peculiar though. The stock mag from the mini had an 8 written with some marker. I tried checkng the internet about it but did not get much info. Then I stopped because the guitar sounds good anyways...



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[dr.barlo]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

That is Tobacco Sunburst on Doc's guitar. Very prominent color during the Norlin era. Recently ressurected on the 2014 LP traditional.

Thanks for the pics and FYI Doc.

Hi,

I like the color... It maybe due to my age afterall, because them Norlin's were the ones I was drooling when I was a teenager.



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[Lewguitar]

Re: The anatomy of 1976 Gibson Deluxe mini HBs

Just curious: maple neck or mahogany?

My '77 Deluxe was maple.

Great playing guitar.

I'd have kept it if the neck was mahogany.