I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

So... if I were interested in changing out the bridge PU in my Deluxe, you would recommend a Custom (via the Custom Shop) or should I just go full out and route out for a full size HB?

Will each of these ideas still work with keeping the mini in the neck?

Other recommendations?
 
Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

SteelPastor said:
So... if I were interested in changing out the bridge PU in my Deluxe, you would recommend a Custom (via the Custom Shop) or should I just go full out and route out for a full size HB?

Will each of these ideas still work with keeping the mini in the neck?

Other recommendations?
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I had a LP Deluxe for a while, and did just what you're thinking of doing and routed the bridge position for a full size humbucker. I asked Seymour to rewind one of my old 50's paf's that was broken and that's what I used in the bridge position. Sounded great. The neck mini humbucker actually got a clearer tone than most full size neck humbuckers, so being a Strat and Tele kinda guy, for rythym playing I prefered the mini over a full size neck bucker. Anyways, the combo was very good.

Only drawback is you'll devalue your guitar...that's a pretty big drawback. So you might want to think twice (or even three times) about altering your guitar.

Lew
 
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Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

Don't you dare route a Deluxe for humbuckers. That's blasphemy in my book, and I'm a Fender guy, but I love a good Les Paul now and then. :)

Aside from what Simon pointed out to listen to, check out the Bulletboys' first album and listen to "Smooth Up In Ya". That was done with a Deluxe, I believe. He had a very raw and nasty (in a good way) tone that cut through beautifully.
 
Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

I picked up a 2007 GOTW Deluxe Goldtop at a killer price. I honestly didn't even realize they were mini-humbuckers until after I agreed on the price (used, but mint).

In any case, I own an SG, a ES-137 with P-90's and a few others. This is my first LP (not counting the beater Studio models owned) and I love everything about it... not beastly heavy, GREAT 60's neck, binding around body, neck, and headstock. This is a keeper.

I would love to use this as my main guitar. However, in its current setup it is more a nitch guitar. I am a HB guy and like the traditional LP sounds (with the possible exceptions of the muddy neck PU I hear so often). The "crunch" sounds are a little different (but do-able), the neck has some very nice sounds. Then we get to the bridge... something will need to done.

I guess I am still wondering how close a custom shop mini will come to a full size HB of the same model. If it is not... I will have to either be satisfied with the "nitch" or start routing. I found an excellent tech (a few hours away) in Van Nuys (Eric's Guitars). I am completely confident that he would be up to any task... should I ask (pickups, wiring, routing, etc.).

Thoughts and recommendations?

(BTW... In case any became concerned, I did not hijack the thread. Ransom is me. I accidentally posted my original post under an older account.)
 
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Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

DO NOT ROUTE!!!! If you don't like the mini-buckers, sell it to someone who does. There's plenty of other Les Pauls with full-size humbuckers to fill what you're looking for. You could turn a profit on that thing.
 
Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

ErikH said:
DO NOT ROUTE!!!! If you don't like the mini-buckers, sell it to someone who does. There's plenty of other Les Pauls with full-size humbuckers to fill what you're looking for. You could turn a profit on that thing.
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+1000

DO NOT ROUTE!!!!

In the 70s when there was a lack of Standards there was some excuse, but now you'd just be robbing a nicely different guitar of its nicely-different-ness.

I did like Kelly Johnson's goldtop Deluxe with the DiMarzio Super Distortion brige pup though. :nervous:
 
Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

+2000 What Simon and ErikH said...
 
Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

Gr8Scott said:
+2000 What Simon and ErikH said...
Click to expand...

Understood... I get it. I am not keen on the idea either.

I guess I am still wondering how close a custom shop mini will come to a full size HB of the same model. If it is not... I will have to either be satisfied with the "nitch" or some other solution. I found an excellent tech (a few hours away) in Van Nuys (Eric's Guitars). I am completely confident that he would be up to any task... should I ask (pickups, wiring, routing, etc.).

Recommendations?
 
Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

I think it's been stated already that a CS mini won't come close to a full-size HB. So, the other solution if you're not satisfied with the nitch is to sell it and get a Standard. Give it a shot though. You may like those mini's.
 
Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

The mini humbucker will never have the big ballsy tone of a full size humbucker.

Can't be done.

You can get one overwound so it has more output, but being smaller and the two bobbins being closer together, the mini senses a narrower area of the string so it'll always get a brighter and less ballsy and less "wide" tone compared to a full size humbucker.

Just like splitting a full size humbucker into a single coil doesn't really get the tone of a Strat or Tele single coil, overwinding a mini humbucker to boost the output so it's closer to that of a full size humbucker still won't give you all of the tone of a full size humbucker. The mini will sound "smaller" and "narrower"...because it is smaller and narrower.

Even so, call MJ in the custom shop and see what she recommends. She can get you as close as you can get...
 
Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

Hey all... thank you for the input. I assume that the SD Custom Shop pickups are double or triple the regular price?

Another question then... assuming that I was going to go after another LP... some suggestions on model, year, etc.?

Goldtop, 60's neck, Full-size HB pickups, I don't have a big issue with fingerboard (either rosewood or ebony are fine). I do not have any issues with used instruments but new would be great. The only Goldtops that seem to be available (at least new, that is) are 50's Re-issues with the thicker neck profile or a Classic which has the right neck but strange colored inlays.

Thanks for the help.
 
Re: I just picked up a LP Goldtop Deluxe with Mini-Humbuckers... Question?

Don't hackup the Deluxe LP just on the word of a few people. It remains a potent and playable guitar, just different. Pete Townsend played one for many years from 1971 to 1980's. If you don't like it, sell it. Also full-sized LP of the 1970's were often muddy. I wouldn't mod a vintage reissue guitar and destroy its value and tone. If you want a metal guitar, sell this one and get plain jane LP faded and rip it apart amd paint it gold. If you want to keep the guitar invest in some pedals and play around with the tone controls. This guitar is a real beauty. I wish I could afford one.
 
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