Mini Humbucker Pickups

[rauchman]

Greetings,

Anyone have experience with mini hb's?  I know they basically come in 2 flavors, Firebird and LP Deluxe.  What do you like about them, not like about them?  Brands/models used?

I've heard clips of SD's, Dimarzios and Frailins.  They seem to live somewhere between single coils and regular humbuckers, which is what I'm looking for....I think.  I've been playing my Warmoth Tele build (uses Bill Lawrence Twin Blades from wildepickups) primarily over my other guitars to include an LP Custom.  When I play the LP, it has a beef that the Tele doesn't have, but isn't as expressive nor have the clarity as the Tele.

When i started my knowledge quest on the Warmoth build, I went to a local GC and tried out a Firebird and Gibson SG Deluxe, both having mini's, and both played through a Marshall DSL20 combo.  I liked the sound of the SG Deluxe better.  The FB sounded nasally to me.  Don't know why, but I have fascination with these pups.  In my head I keep thinking these might be the perfect sound for me, but don't know.  I think the safe way to go is get a universal pup route on a Strat body and use that for experimentation.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Three varieties actually: mini-humbucker (mini-PAF), Firebird and Johnny Smith. Jason Lollar ‘splains:

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Humbuckers_and_Mini_Humbuckers

 

[TBurst Std]

I would not consider a true FB pickup as a mini humbucker.  The construction is radically different.  They just happen to be close to the same size.

For FB sounds think Gatemouth Brown, Johnny Winter.  For something a little harder, think early Allen Collins (Skynyrd)

For mini hum sounds, just listen to ATlanta Rythym Section.

 

[swarfrat]

I tend to like tight pickups, and the mini-hb form factor is darn cute. I need to do some exploration in this department as well.

 

[gingataff]

Peter Lerche uses Seymour Duncan minis and they sound great (the Dumble helps ), though it seems they make 3 versions that look like this so not sure which exact ones he uses. [youtube]https://youtu.be/ap6odoC4itw[/youtube]

 

[Re-Pete]

I've had experience with Firebird pickups but not mini hums....

The Firebird pickups are blade construction housed under a chrome cover, no polepieces.

I owned a 91 Gibson Firebird from new for a few years that I sadly had to sell to pay a tax bill...It took my playing to different places other guitars didn't, in a nice way. They are not 'powerful' pickups in the true sense, but they have a great in between tone (that is, in between a full sized humbucker & single coil) that can be used across different genres....

Bitey, cranked they can be quite bitchy in tone.... Can wail a bit, send off pinched harmonics.... Neil Young uses  a very microphonic, almost uncontrollable, Firebird pickup in the bridge position of his favourite electric, Old Black. I've been privileged to hear from near front row, right in front of his amp stack. Blows your head off!

The newer Gibson Firebird pickups are a slightly altered design. They incorporate ceramic magnets instead of the Alnico...That will make the tone harsher and more powerful...

The mini humbuckers found on Gibson Les Paul Deluxe guitars are an evolution from the mini humbuckers that Epiphone pioneered before being taken over by Gibson. Generally, these mini hums are some of the most mild humbucker pickups you would find.....But used in neck position and the treble rolled off a bit at the amp, it will give a warm almost velvety tone like was heard in early 1970s....

If you want a genuine old Firebird tone, my suggestion is a Kent Armstrong...I've read they are very close to original design and tone and not ceramic magnets....