eschoendorff
New member
Never played a guitar with mini humbuckers before (unless the hot rails in my strat count).
What's so special about them?
What's so special about them?
Mini humbuckers - what's the deal?
- Thread starter eschoendorff
- Start date
Re: Mini humbuckers - what's the deal?
when people say mini humbucker they should mean one of two gibson pups.
either a les paul deluxe style (which was an epiphone invention as far as i know) which is basically a smaller paf style humbucker, or a firebird style which has two bar magnets with a coil wrapped around each one.
they both sound different but in general they have less output and a cleaner, clearer tone than the full size paf style humbucker
when people say mini humbucker they should mean one of two gibson pups.
either a les paul deluxe style (which was an epiphone invention as far as i know) which is basically a smaller paf style humbucker, or a firebird style which has two bar magnets with a coil wrapped around each one.
they both sound different but in general they have less output and a cleaner, clearer tone than the full size paf style humbucker
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Mini humbuckers - what's the deal?
+1
The SD Hot Rails and Li'l HB series are single coil-sized humbuckers. Different thing altogether.
+1
The SD Hot Rails and Li'l HB series are single coil-sized humbuckers. Different thing altogether.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Mini humbuckers - what's the deal?
Single Coil sized humbuckers are not mini humbuckers and Firebird pickups while mini and humbucking are not really mini humbuckers either...neither are Filtertrons or any other single coil sized or P-90 sized pickup...
This is a mini humbucker:
They are built like a PAF but smaller...the smaller package, coils, and slightly lower DC resistance and tighter focus gives them less output and more clarity than a PAF...like a PAF w/o all the fat.
Firebird pickups look like this:
They are the same size as a mini humbucker but have more output and an even brighter tone with lots of attitude and sustain...these pickups actually sound a lot like a Strat or Telecaster but with more output and sustain.
Single Coil sized humbuckers come in lots of types from Duncan, DiMarzio, GFS, etc, etc, etc and all of them have their own tone going on...example a Lil 59 and a Hot Rails sound nothing alike really.
Single Coil sized humbuckers are not mini humbuckers and Firebird pickups while mini and humbucking are not really mini humbuckers either...neither are Filtertrons or any other single coil sized or P-90 sized pickup...
This is a mini humbucker:
They are built like a PAF but smaller...the smaller package, coils, and slightly lower DC resistance and tighter focus gives them less output and more clarity than a PAF...like a PAF w/o all the fat.
Firebird pickups look like this:
They are the same size as a mini humbucker but have more output and an even brighter tone with lots of attitude and sustain...these pickups actually sound a lot like a Strat or Telecaster but with more output and sustain.
Single Coil sized humbuckers come in lots of types from Duncan, DiMarzio, GFS, etc, etc, etc and all of them have their own tone going on...example a Lil 59 and a Hot Rails sound nothing alike really.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Mini humbuckers - what's the deal?
So what size magnet do mini's have? Can you swap them out? What about the mags in a solid-cover Firebird PU?
Do Epi Firebird XII's have the 'correct' Firebird PU, or is it a mini-HB?
So what size magnet do mini's have? Can you swap them out? What about the mags in a solid-cover Firebird PU?
Do Epi Firebird XII's have the 'correct' Firebird PU, or is it a mini-HB?
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Mini humbuckers - what's the deal?
They are humbuckers, but not as wide. Thus the area of the strings from which they sense vibration is smaller. The attack is more focused than a full-sized humbucker; they are not as "creamy." But they don't sound exactly like a single coil either. (For one thing, they don't hum and buzz as much.) They can really have quite a bite, but in a different way than a Strat pickup. More midrangey, I guess you might say.
The pickup rings fit the same holes as P-90's, though the routs are a bit different below the surface, due to the height adjustment screws for the mini HBs and other factors. They are a great way to get the mud out of a guitar while still getting the hum-canceling advantages of a humbucking pickup. They are also the most straightforward and least damaging way to swap out P-90's for humbuckers...or you can go the other way around: take out mini HBs and put in P-90's. There are also rings made so they can be mounted in a full-sized humbucker rout.
They are humbuckers, but not as wide. Thus the area of the strings from which they sense vibration is smaller. The attack is more focused than a full-sized humbucker; they are not as "creamy." But they don't sound exactly like a single coil either. (For one thing, they don't hum and buzz as much.) They can really have quite a bite, but in a different way than a Strat pickup. More midrangey, I guess you might say.
The pickup rings fit the same holes as P-90's, though the routs are a bit different below the surface, due to the height adjustment screws for the mini HBs and other factors. They are a great way to get the mud out of a guitar while still getting the hum-canceling advantages of a humbucking pickup. They are also the most straightforward and least damaging way to swap out P-90's for humbuckers...or you can go the other way around: take out mini HBs and put in P-90's. There are also rings made so they can be mounted in a full-sized humbucker rout.
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dr.barlo
New member
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Mini humbuckers - what's the deal?
Here is one source: http://www.amazon.com/Humbucker-Mini-Humbucker-Adapter-Pickup-Ring/dp/B0052ORYVC.
And the guy's Website: http://www.mlaval.com/index.php/humbucker-to-mini-humbucker-adapter-pickup-ring-black.html.
It is also easy to make your own conversion plate that uses a full-sized HB ring as it's base. May be necessary for arched-or-carved-top guitars like LP, 335, etc.
Here is one source: http://www.amazon.com/Humbucker-Mini-Humbucker-Adapter-Pickup-Ring/dp/B0052ORYVC.
And the guy's Website: http://www.mlaval.com/index.php/humbucker-to-mini-humbucker-adapter-pickup-ring-black.html.
It is also easy to make your own conversion plate that uses a full-sized HB ring as it's base. May be necessary for arched-or-carved-top guitars like LP, 335, etc.
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dr.barlo
New member
Re: Mini humbuckers - what's the deal?
Thanks!
Appreciate it a lot actually.
B :beerchug:
Thanks!
Appreciate it a lot actually.
B :beerchug:
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Mini humbuckers - what's the deal?
Why? Can't you leave ANYTHING alone? Have you listened to them yet? No - but already you need to swap the mags. You need help. Is NOTHING sacred? :lmao:
Why? Can't you leave ANYTHING alone? Have you listened to them yet? No - but already you need to swap the mags. You need help. Is NOTHING sacred? :lmao:
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: Mini humbuckers - what's the deal?
I can think of a couple examples. Check out Thin Lizzy's live CD released last year, Still Dangerous, recorded in 1977 (at the Tower Theater in my hometown, Philly). Listen to the contrast between the band's two Les Pauls. Brian Robertson's playing a black beauty with full-sized HBs, Scott Gorham's playing a Deluxe with mini's. Both rockin', but distinct.
Somewhere around here, I have a bootleg video that WhoFan sent me, of The Who's Houston 1975 concert. Townsend's playing a stock goldtop Deluxe through his Hiwatts. Even with the multi-generation bootlegging via VHS and DVD, you can hear that his tone is absolutely brilliant, clean and crunchy. You can really hear the detail in those big chords.
Also, check out Mike Kenneally's Guitar Therapy Live CD. His second guitarist, Rick Musalem plays a Deluxe routed for a full-sized HB at the bridge. His neck rhythm tone is gorgeous - funky, old-school stuff through a phaser or wah. Typical mini-HB fat-but-clear.
Dang. Now I want a Les Paul Deluxe.
If you told me today that I could only have one electric guitar, let my dual-HB PT go, but I'd stick a mini HB in the neck spot of my normal Tele.
I can think of a couple examples. Check out Thin Lizzy's live CD released last year, Still Dangerous, recorded in 1977 (at the Tower Theater in my hometown, Philly). Listen to the contrast between the band's two Les Pauls. Brian Robertson's playing a black beauty with full-sized HBs, Scott Gorham's playing a Deluxe with mini's. Both rockin', but distinct.
Somewhere around here, I have a bootleg video that WhoFan sent me, of The Who's Houston 1975 concert. Townsend's playing a stock goldtop Deluxe through his Hiwatts. Even with the multi-generation bootlegging via VHS and DVD, you can hear that his tone is absolutely brilliant, clean and crunchy. You can really hear the detail in those big chords.
Also, check out Mike Kenneally's Guitar Therapy Live CD. His second guitarist, Rick Musalem plays a Deluxe routed for a full-sized HB at the bridge. His neck rhythm tone is gorgeous - funky, old-school stuff through a phaser or wah. Typical mini-HB fat-but-clear.
Dang. Now I want a Les Paul Deluxe.
If you told me today that I could only have one electric guitar, let my dual-HB PT go, but I'd stick a mini HB in the neck spot of my normal Tele.
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Re: Mini humbuckers - what's the deal?
Pretty sure Scott plays the solo on Dancing in the Moonlight. Perfect example of how beautiful minis can sound. I'm sure he plays other, but thats a good place to distinguish the 2 guitars.
Pretty sure Scott plays the solo on Dancing in the Moonlight. Perfect example of how beautiful minis can sound. I'm sure he plays other, but thats a good place to distinguish the 2 guitars.
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