Information on a vintage Mighty Mite

[Reaper of Doom]

My friend and I were looking in an old guitar shop locally and we know the owner and he randomly told us he had loads of old parts in the back that we were welcome to rummage through. Anyway, amongst all the cheap bridges and tuners we found an old creme Mighty Mite humbucker. It has 12 non adjustable slugs and measures about 13.5k with single braided cable. On the bottom of the brass base plate it just says Mighty Mite MFG. It looks like it has an oversized ceramic in it. The old guy says it's an 1800 and it was mine if I looked after the shop for 10 mins while he went to grab some lunch. Never heard of an 1800 but it sounds really crunchy and pretty cool but does howl a little under high gain.
Just wondered if anyone had any info or could confirm the model. I'm pretty sure it's not the stuff MM make now but could be wrong. Cheers!

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite

The old Mighty Mites are Dimarzio Super Distortions, like Eddie Van Whatshisface -the guy who was in David Lee Roths band- used early on, before the " ' 78 ". A pic would help determine if its one and the same. They can go fopr a premium becasue the Ed'ster provenance, and yes, old SuperD's and Duncans sound better than new, and sometimes go for ridiculous prices. I bought an Old no logo Custom for a C-note, and soem of the old Duncans routinely go for that much and more.

 

[Reaper of Doom]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite

This is my vintage MM 1800? Only really heard of a 1300 because of the VH connection.

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[MetalManiac]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite

Wow , thats very cool! Very very Cool! If stock ,That could be the "missing link" - the grail of early Van Halen? Not a superD. IF its been modifeid, maybe an early Dimarz. PAF ( thats what it looks like), with a extra thick magnet. Bet it sounds badass in the bridge.

 

[Reaper of Doom]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite (updated with pics)

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite (updated with pics)

As far as I know it's stock. Not sure it's been potted because it squeals a bit when slammed with gain. Is there such thing as an 1800?

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[PunkKitty]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite

Mighty Mite made a lot of stuff back in the 70's and 80's. I don't know if this is a Super Distortion in disguise. I'm tempted to say this is just a rare MM. At one time MM manufactured their parts just outside of Chicago. This pickup looks like it came from that era.

 

[blues]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite

The old Mighty Mites are Dimarzio Super Distortions, like Eddie Van Whatshisface -the guy who was in David Lee Roths band- used early on, before the " ' 78 ". A pic would help determine if its one and the same. They can go fopr a premium becasue the Ed'ster provenance, and yes, old SuperD's and Duncans sound better than new, and sometimes go for ridiculous prices. I bought an Old no logo Custom for a C-note, and soem of the old Duncans routinely go for that much and more.

Yes the one with the double row of allen screws. Those MM where stock in the first version of Martins em 18 electric guitar model. The sound pretty good in those guitars

 

[blues]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite

Those MM pickups also had the option to split the coils just like the Dimarzio dual sound humbucker. Super distortion/paf.

 

[Reaper of Doom]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite (updated with pics)

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite (updated with pics)

Wow! Thanks for the info everyone. I've been a member of this forum for years and I don't post too often but I come here everyday. Some people read the newspaper on a morning, I read whats going down on the SDUGF. I love the wealth of knowledge round this place.

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[Reaper of Doom]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite (updated with pics)

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite (updated with pics)

I saw today on another forum that the Mighty Mite 1800 was refered to as the 'Super Stud'.

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[lilbiscuit]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite

Anyone know where one of the Mighty Mite 1300 pickups could be found? I have a Martin EM-18 that I bought brand new over 30 years ago... and like a young idiot I swapped out the bridge pickup for a Dimarzio X2N....and lost the Mighty Mite. I check ebay occasionally, but I haven't found one it good, original condition (with original wiring intact). Any help is appreciated.

Yes the one with the double row of allen screws. Those MM where stock in the first version of Martins em 18 electric guitar model. The sound pretty good in those guitars

View attachment 43818

 

[SAVAGE DISTORTION]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite

Anyone know where one of the Mighty Mite 1300 pickups could be found? I have a Martin EM-18 that I bought brand new over 30 years ago... and like a young idiot I swapped out the bridge pickup for a Dimarzio X2N....and lost the Mighty Mite. I check ebay occasionally, but I haven't found one it good, original condition (with original wiring intact). Any help is appreciated.

Ebay for around $100 usd
not too long ago ebay had a brand new old stock 1300 for $125 but that was probably a once in a lifetime thing.
The used ones that show up are rare and not in the best shape.
here is a 1400 that is ridiculously priced!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-EVH-SE...420?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2a3ce56a94

 

[lilbiscuit]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite

Ebay for around $100 usd
not too long ago ebay had a brand new old stock 1300 for $125 but that was probably a once in a lifetime thing.
The used ones that show up are rare and not in the best shape.
here is a 1400 that is ridiculously priced!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-EVH-SE...420?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2a3ce56a94

I just missed one last night on ebay :irate: Went for $50, had slight wiring mod (chopped into 2-wire) but I could have restored the wiring .. I'll keep looking.

 

[Randrewrussell]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite

Hey
I am looking for early 80's Mighty Mite Single Coils. Any reasonable price
will be paid. Thanks. If anyone knows the specs on these pickups please post.

 

[LLL]

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite (updated with pics)

Re: Information on a vintage Mighty Mite (updated with pics)

My friend and I were looking in an old guitar shop locally and we know the owner and he randomly told us he had loads of old parts in the back that we were welcome to rummage through. Anyway, amongst all the cheap bridges and tuners we found an old creme Mighty Mite humbucker. It has 12 non adjustable slugs and measures about 13.5k with single braided cable. On the bottom of the brass base plate it just says Mighty Mite MFG. It looks like it has an oversized ceramic in it. The old guy says it's an 1800 and it was mine if I looked after the shop for 10 mins while he went to grab some lunch. Never heard of an 1800 but it sounds really crunchy and pretty cool but does howl a little under high gain.
Just wondered if anyone had any info or could confirm the model. I'm pretty sure it's not the stuff MM make now but could be wrong. Cheers!

Little late on the reply but...

Yes; more than likely a Mighty Mite "Super Stud".

Model #1800 looks to be correct.

pics:

 

[Dee Vee Dee]

Hi there, I always thought my 76' Howard Roberts archtop had a super 70 but low and behold I found this lurking below! can anyone tell me which model it is and what caps and pots would be best?

 

[ICTGoober]

The old Mighty Mites are Dimarzio Super Distortions

^^^ This is a lie. ^^^

Mighty Mite was a separate company.

Those MM where stock in the first version of Martins em 18 electric guitar model

Another lie. The Martin electrics used Shadows from Germany.

 

[Mincer]

Hi there, I always thought my 76' Howard Roberts archtop had a super 70 but low and behold I found this lurking below! can anyone tell me which model it is and what caps and pots would be best?

Welcome to the forum...and cool find!
I have a Howard Roberts Fusion from 1980- he designed some cool instruments! You would generally use 500k pots for your guitar. I'd got for good quality ones like Bourns or CTS, as changing them out on an archtop isn't fun. As far as a cap, the standard for a humbucker pickup-equipped guitar is .022 µF. The values of the pots and caps are just suggestions, but those are the most common. 250k pots will sound darker, and a .047 µF cap will roll off more highs.

 

[Dee Vee Dee]

Thank you for the welcome and that info. I am lucky the Howard Roberts I have has an oval sound hole so if I can't get my hand in there I will enlist some expert help from my wife! I do like a darker tone and have flatwounds on this instrument. It has two tones and one volume. I was thinking 3 x 500k pots and a .022 µF cap for the treble bleed and perhaps a .047 µF for the bass bleed. You have me thinking though maybe 250k pots are better still. Which model pickup do we think this might be?

 

[Mincer]

I am not a Mighty Mite expert here, so I will leave that to see if there are any here.