What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
- Thread starter Oinkus
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Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
For years, I sort of ignored them because I didn't care for them in Les Paul Deluxes.
It wasn't until I was inspired by the 52 Hot Rod Tele, which features an SM-1n, that I bought one for my tele. I like it way more than a regular tele neck.
I like it enough that I may use them in the neck positions more often. In the right guitar, I may go for an SM-2b or SM-3b......most likely a Firebird.
For years, I sort of ignored them because I didn't care for them in Les Paul Deluxes.
It wasn't until I was inspired by the 52 Hot Rod Tele, which features an SM-1n, that I bought one for my tele. I like it way more than a regular tele neck.
I like it enough that I may use them in the neck positions more often. In the right guitar, I may go for an SM-2b or SM-3b......most likely a Firebird.
MatelotFripon
New member
Re: What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
Amen to that ! I recently installed a SD Hot P90 in the neck position of my electromatic Gretsch Pro Jet and it resurrected that guitar ! Man the stock pups were terrible !
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
I have a Firebird with them. I've had recent Gibson overwounds in there, older Gibson pickups and Duncan Antiquities in there now. Newer Gibson minis sound like weak 498 pickups. Even the older Gibsons I had were somewhat similar but brighter.
The Antiquities in my Firebird have a slight touch of twang to them that is very useful in conjunction with the tone control. Depending on volume and tone settings, sometimes they give the impression of a single coil sound, then increasing the level and rolling off the tone slightly can also have strong midrange sound like larger humbuckers. Minis are unique. Hard to compare. Sound-wise they seem to fall somewhere in between single coils and humbuckers in my experience.
I have a Firebird with them. I've had recent Gibson overwounds in there, older Gibson pickups and Duncan Antiquities in there now. Newer Gibson minis sound like weak 498 pickups. Even the older Gibsons I had were somewhat similar but brighter.
The Antiquities in my Firebird have a slight touch of twang to them that is very useful in conjunction with the tone control. Depending on volume and tone settings, sometimes they give the impression of a single coil sound, then increasing the level and rolling off the tone slightly can also have strong midrange sound like larger humbuckers. Minis are unique. Hard to compare. Sound-wise they seem to fall somewhere in between single coils and humbuckers in my experience.
dystrust
New member
Re: What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
+1
I have a SM-1 in the neck of my Tele and I love it.
+1
I have a SM-1 in the neck of my Tele and I love it.
synzzzer
New member
Re: What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
I'm going to step out on a limb here, (and not to sound like a fanboy), but Seymour Duncan is about the only pickup maker that seems to have gotten them right. I've never cared for the Gibson mini-hums. Like one of the posters said, they can sound weak. To me they sounded like the worst parts of a single coil and a humbucker. However, when I was apprenticing my luthier trade, a customer brought in a Firebird with three Seymour Duncan mini-hums in it. I'd never heard anything like it. It was completely angelic.
When I had a Gibson Nighthawk, I replaced the mini-hum with the S.D. SM-2 bridge model (I put it in the neck to match the super powerful slant bridge pickup.) It worked great. I hated to get rid of that guitar.
So that's my two cents. Mini-hums can be great if done right.
I'm going to step out on a limb here, (and not to sound like a fanboy), but Seymour Duncan is about the only pickup maker that seems to have gotten them right. I've never cared for the Gibson mini-hums. Like one of the posters said, they can sound weak. To me they sounded like the worst parts of a single coil and a humbucker. However, when I was apprenticing my luthier trade, a customer brought in a Firebird with three Seymour Duncan mini-hums in it. I'd never heard anything like it. It was completely angelic.
When I had a Gibson Nighthawk, I replaced the mini-hum with the S.D. SM-2 bridge model (I put it in the neck to match the super powerful slant bridge pickup.) It worked great. I hated to get rid of that guitar.
So that's my two cents. Mini-hums can be great if done right.
Oinkus
New member
Re: What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
Think I am going to go with a set of Fralin minis in the Futura , get the neck pup wound to 8.5 or 9k to match the 10k stock bridge. Strikes me as odd that the stock winds on the neck pup are 7.5k , Really like to be within 1.5k on my pickups. Might overwind them 5% just because I like darker pups for the most part.
Think I am going to go with a set of Fralin minis in the Futura , get the neck pup wound to 8.5 or 9k to match the 10k stock bridge. Strikes me as odd that the stock winds on the neck pup are 7.5k , Really like to be within 1.5k on my pickups. Might overwind them 5% just because I like darker pups for the most part.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
Mini humbuckers, like those found on Les Paul Deluxes and Firebird pickups are 2 VERY different pickups.
Deluxe style mini buckers sound like small, brighter/tighter PAF style buckers.
Firebird pickups are even brighter and tighter ... More like a single coil almost.
I like both styles.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Mini humbuckers, like those found on Les Paul Deluxes and Firebird pickups are 2 VERY different pickups.
Deluxe style mini buckers sound like small, brighter/tighter PAF style buckers.
Firebird pickups are even brighter and tighter ... More like a single coil almost.
I like both styles.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong: I read the LP Deluxe minis were made using two Melody Maker single coils in a P-90 cover, oriented for humbucking, while the Firebird minis were designed from the ground up as mini humbuckers.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong: I read the LP Deluxe minis were made using two Melody Maker single coils in a P-90 cover, oriented for humbucking, while the Firebird minis were designed from the ground up as mini humbuckers.
Re: What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
Mini-buckers (with polepieces) were an Epiphone design, they are constructed pretty much like a regular humbucker, Firebird pickups are entirely different construction, I think they are two sideways bobbins with the magnet sandwiched in between the bobbins. No plate to hold it all together, if you take them out of the covers they can come apart easily. Minis and Firebird pickups are two completely different types of pickups. There have been pics of the insides of each posted on LP forums in the past, if you want to search for them.
Al
Mini-buckers (with polepieces) were an Epiphone design, they are constructed pretty much like a regular humbucker, Firebird pickups are entirely different construction, I think they are two sideways bobbins with the magnet sandwiched in between the bobbins. No plate to hold it all together, if you take them out of the covers they can come apart easily. Minis and Firebird pickups are two completely different types of pickups. There have been pics of the insides of each posted on LP forums in the past, if you want to search for them.
Al
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
(Real) Mini-HB's are nice in the neck slot, more clarity and definition than a regular HB.
Haven't various Firebirds been made with HB's, Mini-HB's, Firebird HB's, and P-90's?
(Real) Mini-HB's are nice in the neck slot, more clarity and definition than a regular HB.
Haven't various Firebirds been made with HB's, Mini-HB's, Firebird HB's, and P-90's?
ItsaBass
New member
Re: What do we think about mini humbuckers ?
That is true about the New York humbucker parts being bought along with the Epiphone company, and eventually used on Gibsons. But the original Firebird pickups are different than you described. They aren't sideways humbuckers (those are the big Gibson bass pickups).
Firebird pickups used N.Y. humbucker baseplates and bobbins. Each bobbin has a hollow core, and the bobbins are the same parts on both the screw side and the slug side. However, instead of screws and slugs directing the field from a bar magnet toward the strings (as in the N.Y. humbucker), the hollow core of each Firebird bobbin is loaded with its own bar magnet. The magnets' poles are therefore aimed upward and downward (toward/away from the strings), instead of toward the sides of the pickup like in a normal humbucker. This "blade" construction has more in common with the way Fender used their magnets (through the bobbin, pointed directly at the strings) than it does with the way Gibson or Epiphone did (underneath the bobbins, with the field bent up toward the strings by slugs and screws).
There was also a metal shim covering the tops of both bobbins (between the magnets and the metal cover). The original bobbins were clear, IIRC, and the pickups were wax potted and very lightly wound relative to later vintage Firebird pickups (some '70's ones read in the teens in resistance, though the basic construction is the same as the '60's ones). Like S.D.'s Phat Cat, the cover being soldered to the baseplate is what holds the whole deal together. So you can't use a Firebird pickup uncovered unless you also attach the bobbins to the baseplate with glue or something. The wax might hold them on for awhile, but the bobbins would eventually fall off the baseplates.
That is true about the New York humbucker parts being bought along with the Epiphone company, and eventually used on Gibsons. But the original Firebird pickups are different than you described. They aren't sideways humbuckers (those are the big Gibson bass pickups).
Firebird pickups used N.Y. humbucker baseplates and bobbins. Each bobbin has a hollow core, and the bobbins are the same parts on both the screw side and the slug side. However, instead of screws and slugs directing the field from a bar magnet toward the strings (as in the N.Y. humbucker), the hollow core of each Firebird bobbin is loaded with its own bar magnet. The magnets' poles are therefore aimed upward and downward (toward/away from the strings), instead of toward the sides of the pickup like in a normal humbucker. This "blade" construction has more in common with the way Fender used their magnets (through the bobbin, pointed directly at the strings) than it does with the way Gibson or Epiphone did (underneath the bobbins, with the field bent up toward the strings by slugs and screws).
There was also a metal shim covering the tops of both bobbins (between the magnets and the metal cover). The original bobbins were clear, IIRC, and the pickups were wax potted and very lightly wound relative to later vintage Firebird pickups (some '70's ones read in the teens in resistance, though the basic construction is the same as the '60's ones). Like S.D.'s Phat Cat, the cover being soldered to the baseplate is what holds the whole deal together. So you can't use a Firebird pickup uncovered unless you also attach the bobbins to the baseplate with glue or something. The wax might hold them on for awhile, but the bobbins would eventually fall off the baseplates.
