Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

[Rich_S]

I want to try a mini humbucker in the neck position of my MIM Tele. I had an SM-1 in a Tele years ago, but don't remember much about how it sounded. (Right now the guitar has an SSL-1 Strat pickup in the neck position.)

I'm trying to decide between another Firebird-style pickup or a Les Paul deluxe-style mini humbucker. I already know the internal differences, I'm just looking for input on their sound. I don't have any first-hand experience with the LP Deluxe mini.

Also, while looking for mused SM-1Ns on eBay, I see there are a lot of SM-3Ns available. I expected the SM-3 to be slightly hotter than the SM-1, which when paired with an STL-1 might not be what I want. To my surprise, however, when I looked the SM-3 up in the tone chart, I find that although the bridge SM-3 is hotter than the -1, the SM-3N is slightly lower in DCR, with the same resonant peak. The neck pickups' specs are really close, almost to within manufacturing tolerances. Is there any difference in tone between the SM-1N and SM-3N? If not, why even have two different models?

Tell me whatcha know.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

They are quite different animals. The deluxe mini is the typical humbucker construction with a bar magnet and slugs/screws. It hus a humbuker tone, but without the fatness that can be muddy in the neck. Minis are one of my fave neck bucker tones.

The bird is wire wrapped around a bar mag. As the pole is the mag you get much more of a fender or even an alnico staple vibe to it. So it would be like a fat singlecoil tone, but with some of the humbucker fat overtones

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

My experience playing these two pickups is in the original respective guitars.

Vintage Firebird pickups have an interesting single-coil spank to them. I would expect them to work better in a Tele. Would be my first choice anyway.

Gibson Les Paul Mini-humbuckers (I believe they are two Melody Maker singles in a P-90 frame?) just sound like "small" Les Pauls to me; kind of lower power feeling, don't drive the amp as hard, but have the same EQ/tonality, just weaker. Could be interesting to try in a Tele.

I think the Firebird will leave you with some Fender vibe and the Mini-hum will give you a weak neck Les Paul sound. Unknown how the latter that would mix in the center position, however.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

i like firebird pups in the neck and i think the sm3n will balance fine with a stl1. the vintage sounds a little bigger in the low mids than the sm3n which isnt a bad thing in your case. personally i love the antiquity II firebird pup in the neck of my tele.

the lp deluxe style minis are (as mentioned) kinda like little paf's. not as fat or strong but similar tonality. i put an antiquity II mini humbucker in the neck of a friends resonator and it sounds fantasic.

i dont think you will go wrong with any of these options

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

I found an SM-3N in used-but-perfect condition over at TDPRI, so I'm going with that for now. I've reached the conclusion that mini humbuckers are a PITA. They're hard to find and expensive, unless you want to go the GFS/Chinese route. For a PAF-ish sound, I might as well just stick a '59N in there and lower its height a bit. '59N can be had for 50 bucks any day of the week, vs. $100+ for minis. Hell, I already have a pickguard for a full-size HB.

But I already have my goldtop Schecter with a '59N, so I ought to have something a bit different. Hence the SM-3. From Jeremy's description, I suspect I would like the SM-1N a bit better (assuming I can hear the difference at all) but the SM-3 has a 4-wire cable, which assures I'll have no phasing problems.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

They are quite different animals. The deluxe mini is the typical humbucker construction with a bar magnet and slugs/screws. It hus a humbuker tone, but without the fatness that can be muddy in the neck. Minis are one of my fave neck bucker tones.

The bird is wire wrapped around a bar mag. As the pole is the mag you get much more of a fender or even an alnico staple vibe to it. So it would be like a fat singlecoil tone, but with some of the humbucker fat overtones

That's my impression as well. I have a SM-1n paired with a STK-T2 Hot Stack in my Tele and it's amazing. The neck position sounds almost like a good Strat single with just the slightest bit of extra humbucker girth thrown in.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

Well I done did it. I ended up with an SM-3N, mostly because I found one for sale on the TDPRI.

Before:


After:

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

hows it sound?

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

They're hard to find and expensive, unless you want to go the GFS/Chinese route.

The GFS Deluxe mini's aren't as good as the originals. They are better potted and more powerful, but they have brass baseplates and brass covers which makes them darker and less clear.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

hows it sound?

Um.... sound?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

ya know, plug it in, play and listen

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

ya know, plug it in, play and listen

Oh, yeah... THAT.

I actually got my rig set up tonight. It's only been a month since I got back from the reunion in Philly.

Anyway, playing my "silent practice" rig (18 Watter -> MiniMASS -> Red Box -> PA mixer -> Headphones) it sounds great. Balances well with the STL-1 in the bridge without extreme height adjustments. Warmer than the old SSL-1, but not out of character for a Tele.

More review next time everybody goes out and leaves me home to make some noise.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

not out of character for a Tele.

^
This.

Pretty much sums up a nice mini HB in the neck position of a Telecaster. Pick on the strings near the bridge for twang. Pick by the end of the neck for fatness.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

Ok, big bump for a topical question.

Are the SM-1, SM-2 and SM-3 firebird style minis? Does Duncan make Les Paul Deluxe style mini humbuckers?

Rich, are you still liking the SM-3n in the Tele?

Has anyone compared the SM-1n vs SM-3n? (This would be for a Tele neck application)

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele Neck Mini HB: Firebird or LP Deluxe?

the sm1 is firebird style. the sm2 and sm3 are a hybrid style from what i understand, single bar magnet with blade poles. there are antiquity II firebird pups and lp dlx style minihubuckers. both are awesome