Mini Humbuckers

[stratamania]

Anyone of you using Mini Humbuckers ?

They look a little like a P90 but are Humbuckers, originally used on Epiphone Sheritans, later LP deluxes and Firebirds, a la Johnny Winter.

I'm planning on doing a Nashville type Tele, with probably a SD Vintage stack in the bridge, and a SD STK S4 in the middle, and for the neck perhaps a Mini Humbucker.

I've been having a bit of a look at what's out there.

Lollar Mini HB
SD Mini HB with a large S on it. Don't like the aesthetic of it however.
SD Antiquity Mini HB
Gibson Mini HB

Anyone have any experience with any of these ?

 

[SoundAsAnOldEngineer]

I have the SD Vintage Mini-Humbucker (SM1-N) in the neck position of a Tele with a Fender '52 Re-issue in the bridge position.

The output level of the mini-humbucker is a good match for the (low output) single coil bridge pickup. SD say that the sound is cross between single coil and full humbucker and that seems like an accurate description. It's a versatile sound that's full but articulate clean and nice with a bit of gain too. I don't use it with a lot of overdrive, but that's just me.

One thing about the SM1-N is that the output is on a single core coax cable, so you need to think about pickup phasing carefully.

 

[stratamania]

Thanks, I found a link to the SM1-N http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/specialized/mini-humbucker/sm1_vintage_min/

 

[drewfx]

I have 2 neck position minis, but not from the ones you mentioned:

Kent Armstrong Mini HB
Zhangbucker Mini-PAF - this is a bit different in that it's constructed like a PAF, but smaller.

And Firebird PU's are not the same thing as mini HB's even though they share a similar form factor.

Another one you might investigate for vintage style ones is Curtis Novak:
http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/Hum-90.shtml

And of course GFS makes some inexpensive ones.

And be aware that the size of mini HB and FB PU's can vary somewhat.

 

[stratamania]

Thanks, drewfx for the info and suggestions. What is it about Mini Humbuckers and Firebird pickups that are different ? A number of after market pickups seem to describe them as similar or modelled after each other.I had noticed some of the dimensions seem to vary. Edit, I just read Curtis Novaks write up.

Another alternative set for the Nash Tele might be a set of Kinmans, with a Noiseless P90 type in the neck. 

From the online demos I've heard so far the Lollar stands out but demos can be deceptive.

 

[drewfx]

Lollar wrote an article that explains the differences:

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/humbuckers_and_mini_humbuckers

 

[stratamania]

Lollar wrote an article that explains the differences:

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/humbuckers_and_mini_humbuckers

Thanks, I'll take a look. Listening to a demo of the Lollar firebird at the moment and it sounds great.


For those mixing these types of pickups in Teles what sort of pots do you end up using 500 or 250 K or something else ?

 

[SoundAsAnOldEngineer]

I used 250k with the SM-1N.

 

[stratamania]

I used 250k with the SM-1N.

Thanks, that's probably the direction I would lean towards.

 

[Re-Pete]

A vintage modelled Firebird Mini Humbucker is a good, neck position humbucker companion for the bridge Tele pickup.

Similar tonality, low enough power not to completely take over the shop when in middle position. There's still a slight noticeable volume jump from bridge to neck, but not half as brutal when compared to hotter full sized humbuckers. Also the similar tonality helps with keeping the amp settings much the same if playing live.

I had a Gibson Firebird years ago, and was surprised with the sound the pickups gave me. The shape of the body bothered me though & that headstock always found it's way bashing up against a doorframe or wall as I walked with it!

If your guitar has a high rating 250K pot setup (pots with say 278, 280K instead of spot on 250), the Firebirds will work good enough without the need to replace. Personally, with Firebird mini hums, I'd go with 300K pots rather than 500K. The pickups themselves are bright enough without that extra 500K sparkle that full sized humbuckers tend to rely upon for treble boost.

I can vouch for Kent Armstrong Firebird mini Hums. I have a pair loaded into a Warmoth CT Tele but they go thru a Seymour Duncan Blackout Modular Preamp, so after that, it's all 25K pots. But passively, these Kent Armstrong remakes are very true to original form in sound & output, based upon my recollections of when I had the genuine Firebird.

Don't go anywhere near the new Gibson Firebird mini hums as they are ceramic magnets & reviews are saying they sound too abrasive, harsh & aggressive than the originals.

 

[stratamania]

Thanks Re-Pete, that's useful information.

 

[Cagey]

I had a Gibson Firebird years ago, and was surprised with the sound the pickups gave me. The shape of the body bothered me though & that headstock always found it's way bashing up against a doorframe or wall as I walked with it!

Buddy of mine had one of those many moons ago and had the same experience with it. Forever smacking it into things. Hung funny. Eventually broke it, and never even bothered to fix it.

 

[Re-Pete]

Just had some further thoughts.

If you can, measure the output from the bridge Tele pickup & compare to any mini Hum you may want to get. If you are getting a new bridge Tele pickup you may as well get a hotter than usual type if it doesn't colour the tone too much. And then buy the neck mini hum a little more vintage & less powerful to balance them out.

If you buy a stack pickup they would probably want to 'see' a 500k unless they are specifically made for use with 250k pots. You may want to experiment with pots and see which pair will work well with the two pickups you get. Also may need to muck around with cap values for the best overall sound.

 

[stratamania]

At the moment Im leaning toward the Lollar Firebird. I'll take a look at the specs and then try and match the bridge and middle pickups to that.

 

[Kostas]

Check these too http://www.mojotone.com/guitar-parts/pickups-humbucker/johnny-winter-firebird#.VPDNHIv9ncu

 

[stratamania]

Check these too http://www.mojotone.com/guitar-parts/pickups-humbucker/johnny-winter-firebird#.VPDNHIv9ncu

Thanks, those are nice...

http://youtu.be/69MWJ7ZE-aE