The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue vs. Antiquity II mini

[Nightburst]

Hey guys could you help me out here, I'm having a dillema.

I love the mini's in my 1974 Gibson SG for clean but I'm playing a lot of high gain stuff too and have some serious feedback issues with them.
I've tried to work my way around it but I've come to the conclusion that I should just get a set of replacement mini's that don't sqeal. Or at least a bridge model.

I've been all over the net searching for possible candidates and found not too many options but at least some:

The Antiquity's look real nice, they have the stock looks (I hate the firebird looks sorry) and should sound real nice from what I've been reading about them.
But they have Alnico 2 magnets which might not be so suitable for high gain playing? (by high gain I mean gain channel boosted with od pedal)
Is the bar magnet suitable for swapping or is it smaller in size?
I've heard people say that a mini will fall apart when you take the cover off but I've done it with my Gibson and it still works.
Also these are unpotted so I'm not shure if they would handle super high gain too well?


The SM-3 should soundwise be what I'm looking for: fatter, vintage/hot output and Alnico5 but I hate the looks on them. Getting a pair of these with the traditional looks would be ideal but I don't want to go custom shop just for aestetics.

Gibson reissue's are also another option.
Since they are puting these into current LP deluxes I would expect them to hold well under distortion.
But these are A2 as well and would probably carry the Gibson price tag.

:34: :crazy:

Maybe I forgot to look at any other manufacturer out there? I checked Dimarzio and kent Armstrong but didn't like what they had to offer which is Ceramic magnets and lower output.

Should I just get the ant's? I'm leaning towards them because they would also be fairly easy to sell as a set.
I would greatly apreciate it if some 'experts' could chime in. :thanks:

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Ok...just so you know, the SM-3 is a Firebird pickup NOT an Epi style Mini BUcker and the P-94 is a HUmbucker size P-90 replacement much like a Duncan Phat Cat...

 

[WhoFan]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

I have a bunch of minis...... Gibsons and Duncans..... i was not too fond of the Firebird looking Minis from Duncan but ordered them as at the time they were the best replacements for my 76 Deluxe.... My original LP pickups were microphones even after potting.... I wanted the higher output bridge so i bought one vintage Duncan neck and then the High output Duncan-ized Bridge model.... The highoutput one was not for me.... it had too much high end if i remember right... i took it out years ago.... I have a set of new Gibson minis but have yet to install them....

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Ok...just so you know, the SM-3 is a Firebird pickup NOT an Epi style Mini BUcker and the P-94 is a HUmbucker size P-90 replacement much like a Duncan Phat Cat...

I know that's why I don't like the looks but the SM-3 would still fit right?
The firebirds are supposed to be brighter but not this one as it's semourized I'm asuming.

With P94 I meant these: http://www.gibson.com/Products_Euro/Accessories/Gear/Pickups/Mini-Humbucker

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

also...a Mini will fall apart if you remove the cover...the pickups you have in your SG are not like an Epi mini or anything else for that matter they came in several 70's Gibsons and I have never seen anything else like them...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

The link you provided is a page that shows both the Mini Humbuckers AND the P-94's...look under the Mini's and you'll see a P94...it's a P-90 that fits in a route for a fullsize bucker

AS for a SM-3 (or anything else) fitting in your SG Im not sure if it will or not, as I stated above those plastic covered Mini buckers came in a lot of 70's Gibsons but I have never seen them anywhere else.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

I have a bunch of minis...... Gibsons and Duncans..... i was not too fond of the Firebird looking Minis from Duncan but ordered them as at the time they were the best replacements for my 76 Deluxe.... My original LP pickups were microphones even after potting.... I wanted the higher output bridge so i bought one vintage Duncan neck and then the High output Duncan-ized Bridge model.... The highoutput one was not for me.... it had too much high end if i remember right... i took it out years ago.... I have a set of new Gibson minis but have yet to install them....

Yeah those mini's really sqeal bad. I'm afraid it is inherent in their nature and that all mini's sqeal at a certain point when fed to with much gain. But maybe not the Duncan one's? Yours were nice and quiet?

I'm really curious about the Gibson reissue mini's, I would think they would have upgraded the design to go with modern standards?

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

also...a Mini will fall apart if you remove the cover...the pickups you have in your SG are not like an Epi mini or anything else for that matter they came in several 70's Gibsons and I have never seen anything else like them...

Wow, I took the cover off the neck bucker the other day but it looked really weird underneath so I quickly put the cover back on. Guess I'm lucky that it still functions. :34:

So these mini's are pretty rare eh? They shure do sound good! I just can't use them anywhere but home at low volume levels.

Does Epiphone still make their mini's?

 

[WhoFan]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Yeah those mini's really sqeal bad. I'm afraid it is inherent in their nature and that all mini's sqeal at a certain point when fed to with much gain. But maybe not the Duncan one's? Yours were nice and quiet?

I'm really curious about the Gibson reissue mini's, I would think they would have upgraded the design to go with modern standards?

Ya the Duncans were quiet and didn't have any microphonic troubles.. Someone was saying the 70's Gibson pickups were not potted... not sure if that was true. Ya i'm interested in hearing what my new Gibson Minis sound like too... I bought them with the idea of changing my LP back to looking stock, but i love the way it sounds now so i am holding off... I found a JB trem bucker just fit in the route without any mods to my LP Deluxe... it just seems to be slightly thinner and fits the mini rout then other JB's i have owned. It is an extremely tight fit but it works. The JB with a Duncan Mini in the neck sounds great.. the guitar looks funky but the sound is there!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Yeah those mini's really sqeal bad. I'm afraid it is inherent in their nature and that all mini's sqeal at a certain point when fed to with much gain. But maybe not the Duncan one's? Yours were nice and quiet?

I'm really curious about the Gibson reissue mini's, I would think they would have upgraded the design to go with modern standards?

The Gibson Mini bucker is a reissue of the late 60's/70's Mini and has not been "upgraded" in any way...they will squeel under high gain as will just about any pickup ever made by anybody...I didn't keep mine in the guitar...I routed it out for fullsize bucker and never looked back!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Wow, I took the cover off the neck bucker the other day but it looked really weird underneath so I quickly put the cover back on. Guess I'm lucky that it still functions. :34:

So these mini's are pretty rare eh? They shure do sound good! I just can't use them anywhere but home at low volume levels.

Does Epiphone still make their mini's?

Your pickups are NOT the same as an Epiphone mini...they are humbucking pickups and they are smaller than a fullsize bucker but other than thet they are different pickups...maybe you can remove the covers on yours but an Epi mini will fall apart. Epiphone has not made a Mini bucker in several decades.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

The Gibson Mini bucker is a reissue of the late 60's/70's Mini and has not been "upgraded" in any way...they will squeel under high gain as will just about any pickup ever made by anybody...I didn't keep mine in the guitar...I routed it out for fullsize bucker and never looked back!

So you're saying that all mini's sqeal? My normal buckers don't sqeal at all.

Maybe I should route it for normal Humbuckers.
I thought about it but I wanted to know any other options first before I ruin the resale value of a perfectly good instrument. I would rather have the option of getting replacement buckers so I'll be able to put the originals back in some day. (maybe in 30 years when this one is considered vintage too)

 

[WhoFan]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

So you're saying that all mini's sqeal? My normal buckers don't sqeal at all.

Maybe I should route it for normal Humbuckers.
I thought about it but I wanted to know any other options first before I ruin the resale value of a perfectly good instrument. I would rather have the option of getting replacement buckers so I'll be able to put the originals back in some day. (maybe in 30 years when this one is considered vintage too)

Before you fire up the router, the Duncans do not squeal and i have heard the new Gibson minis are not 100% copies of the originals.... there is hope.. and not all Gibson minis from the 70's were as noisy and microphonic as some...

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

At least I figuered out why this guitar was for sale :whoops:

 

[WhoFan]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

At least I figuered out why this guitar was for sale :whoops:

When i bought my LP Deluxe used back in the 80's i had a choice between a wine red one and a sunburst one.... i went the sunburst rout as it was $80 cheaper..... i have regretted it ever since... i had nothing but trouble with that guitar... i paid a fair bit in repairs and reconstruction costs of the neck and replacement pickups...

When minis are working and not microphonic i love them!!!! A really good tech skilled in pickup repairs should be able to repair the ones you have.... potting them may work... i am going to try and get my original minis repotted sometime this year.... The store that did the potting said they sould not be still sqealing, but they do.. They also said minis are hard to pot. But oneday i would like to return this guitar back to stock, or close as i can....

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue vs. Antiquity II mini

Im not saying that all Minis squeel...

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue P94 vs. Antiquity II mini

When i bought my LP Deluxe used back in the 80's i had a choice between a wine red one and a sunburst one.... i went the sunburst rout as it was $80 cheaper..... i have regretted it ever since... i had nothing but trouble with that guitar... i paid a fair bit in repairs and reconstruction costs of the neck and replacement pickups...

When minis are working and not microphonic i love them!!!! A really good tech skilled in pickup repairs should be able to repair the ones you have.... potting them may work... i am going to try and get my original minis repotted sometime this year.... The store that did the potting said they sould not be still sqealing, but they do.. They also said minis are hard to pot. But oneday i would like to return this guitar back to stock, or close as i can....

Holy crap I haven't even thought of that! That;s definately something to think about... but it would mess with the value and tone as the originals are unpotted... I should call the local guitar guru.

Well I don't regret getting this axe! I got it for a good price too, E900 ain't bad for such a fine sounding & playing guitar. It's pretty beat up and needs new frets soon but other than that it's in good condition. The neck feels pretty good too, I like a nice baseball bat.
Let me know how the potting works out! I'm really considering to do it.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue vs. Antiquity II mini

Im not saying that all Minis squeel...

But most of them do. I know the SM Duncans probably won't but maybe ant's do?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue vs. Antiquity II mini

if you're running the lead channel of a Bogner Ecstasy then adding more gain with an SD-1 or a Tubescreamer then pretty muh any non potted pickup will squeel...at least a little! FWIW, the Gibson minis are not potted and neither are the Antiquitys...

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The minibucker thread! SM-3 vs. Gibson reissue vs. Antiquity II mini

if you're running the lead channel of a Bogner Ecstasy then adding more gain with an SD-1 or a Tubescreamer then pretty muh any non potted pickup will squeel...at least a little! FWIW, the Gibson minis are not potted and neither are the Antiquitys...

You're right, but these gibsons are rediculous!

I guess I'll have to go custom shop to get exactly what I want, it's tough to be a a picky bastard! : private: :19:
Or maybe a set of Gibson mini's and having them potted.

Strange how mini buckers are not so populair because they have a very nice clear tone that's inbetween a full size bucker and a single coil. Outstanding clean sounds!