mini humbucker into Epi '56 Gold Top

[Alex W]

I had this Gibson mini humbucker installed by the fine folks at Black Rider Guitars. The plastic ring is actually from GFS, which was a little easier to install and a better match color-wise with the plastic cover of the P90 in the neck position. The Gibson ring is more of a light brown or tan compared to the cream color you see here. The GFS ring looks perfect to me; a big thumbs up to that little piece of hardware.

Unfortunately everyone in the house is sick, including me, so I won't be cranking it up through an amp until we're all better. So the sonic qualities haven't been fully explored yet.

[Giant]

Cool. Looks nice. I have the same guitar, and did the same thing, except you have a better pickup. ha ha. I put a set of GFS Fat Overwound mini humbuckers in mine.
Bet that Gibson pickup sounds great.

[Pennyman]

Nice. I just wish Epi would stop putting those wretched amber knobs on black guitars.

[theycallmetex]

Looks sweet. I have been gassing for a 56 GT myself!

[Alex W]

Originally Posted by Pennyman

Nice. I just wish Epi would stop putting those wretched amber knobs on black guitars.

When I got it I planned to install speed knobs like you'd see on an ebony standard or traditional Gibson LP. I like that look a lot. But I've come to like the amber knobs and have decided for now to leave them as is.

I had some playing time on it last night. It sounds good. The new pickup in the bridge is not as hot as the neck P90, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I only played through a Champ last night so I can't really comment on the tone of the pickup as it might sound in louder amp. The guitar itself has a very bright sound unplugged, and playing the bridge pickup only through 5 watt amp with 8" speaker doesn't really have a lot of crunch. I'm looking forward to playing through some of the larger amps.

[Tollan]

Those Gibson mini-humbuckers are really really nice! I used to own a 56 GT with a set installed. I had to sell it though... which I really regret

[Fuelish]

Originally Posted by Pennyman

Nice. I just wish Epi would stop putting those wretched amber knobs on black guitars.

I wish Epi would stop putting those wretched amber knobs on ANY of their guitars

[Dolebludger]

I rid my 56 GT of the amber knobs and replaced them with gold speed knobs. Not for looks though. I had some mods done that involved a couple of push-pull knobs, and those amber things are impossible to pull.

[SJM]

I'm still kicking myself for not buying a 56 GT when they we're on sale for $299. I have 20/20 hindsight like everyone though. I should have bought two!

[TKOjams]

Yep, me too.

[Dolebludger]

Yep, I have one and they are great guitars. But with my amp rigs, I found the P90 Buzz needed taming. Just too much for the noise gate with any gain dialed in at all. My solution was a pup change to SD noise canceling P90s. Does the addition of the mini humbucker help with this problem when both it and the P90 are on?

[Alex W]

Originally Posted by Dolebludger

Yep, I have one and they are great guitars. But with my amp rigs, I found the P90 Buzz needed taming. Just too much for the noise gate with any gain dialed in at all. My solution was a pup change to SD noise canceling P90s. Does the addition of the mini humbucker help with this problem when both it and the P90 are on?

The hum isn't too bad on my neck P90, but yes with the pickup selector in the the middle position the guitar has about half the hum compared to the rhythm position. Once the train is in motion, the middle position sounds to me a lot like your basic full size humbucker. I played for about an hour tonight through some larger amps -- a 5E3 clone and '63 Vibroverb Reissue -- and really dug it. Still exploring all the sounds it can make with these two pickups.

[Pennyman]

Originally Posted by Dolebludger

I rid my 56 GT of the amber knobs and replaced them with gold speed knobs. Not for looks though. I had some mods done that involved a couple of push-pull knobs, and those amber things are impossible to pull.

Push/pulls on P90's? Do tell more...

[Dolebludger]

Sure. One push-pull controls series/parallel wiring of the pups. The other controls in/out of phase.

[stringerman]

I too have swapped out the 90's. I do like the sound BUT the hum where I usually play is too noisy. I changed to the GFS mini fat in the neck and mini vintage in the bridge. (the mini fat bridge was out of stock but the mini vintage is excellent) NO NOISE. Great sound, Gold finish, Mini Hums and Gold speed knobs..All good!!! This is my #1 guitar over my PS Custom 22 and Gibson LP Standard with Burstbucker Pro's..
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY..

[harphunt]

Sorry to raise an older thread, but I used the search function.

I, too, want to try some minis in my Epi goldtop. Anyone know what brands drop in without routing? Any thoughts on the GFS pickups?

TKOjams... what brand are those? Did you need to route?

Thanks!!

[paruwi]

Originally Posted by Pennyman

Nice. I just wish Epi would stop putting those wretched amber knobs on black guitars.

[Alex W]

Originally Posted by harphunt

Sorry to raise an older thread, but I used the search function.

I, too, want to try some minis in my Epi goldtop. Anyone know what brands drop in without routing? Any thoughts on the GFS pickups?

TKOjams... what brand are those? Did you need to route?

Thanks!!

The physical routing of the guitar body will accept a minihumbucker with a typical mounting ring as seen in my pics. The issue is that a P90 screws into the body via screws that are located between strings 2-3 and 4-5 as seen in the photo above. The minhumbucker mounting ring mounts to the body via screws at the ends of the rings as seen above on the left.

The original Gibson Les Paul Deluxe that came from the factory w/ minihums employed a metal base inside the pickup rout. The base screwed into the body via wood screws aligned with the P90 locations. Then in turn this base accepted machine screws that passed through the ends of the mounting ring as seen above on the left. These metal base plates are not available for sale new, and are not cost effective to have machined for you. (I looked into it.)

What worked out for me was a kit from GFS, which was used in conjunction with a Gibson minihumbucker that I ordered from Sweetwater. This worked out just fine, although I can't say much about the finer points of the luthier work because I employed my favorite luthier's tool to get the job accomplished, my checkbook.

I don't know about the GFS minihumbuckers but they are inexpensive and worth a shot IMO. At the very worst, if you don't like them you can salvage the GFS mounting ring system, which surely is identical to the kit that I bought, and you really won't be out that much money. For your basic rock 'n' roll, I suspect that the GFS pickups are just fine.

[GERRYGTR62]

awesome, way to go!! If I ever get a '56, you can bet I'll do the same, in both neck and bridge positions

[fry]

I did the GFS minis into a '56, easy as pie. The ring dropped right into the opening, and you just attatch them with wood screws directly to the body. The included screws were a little short for the bridge, so I used the originals. Also, they include those strips of adhesive foam instead of springs. They're a little thin, so I think I used the original foam on the bridge as well.

[harphunt]

Thanks for the responses! The cavity depth I heard was shallower on the Epi than with other LPs and a lot of the replacement PUs. It was my understanding that the GFIs just dropped in which was part of their appeal. If I didn't like the mini, I could put the P90 back in.

Trying to decide between the mini vintage or the mini vintage overwound, both using Alnico and not ceramic. Any thoughts or experiences on/with these two.

peace

[Alex W]

Originally Posted by harphunt

Thanks for the responses! The cavity depth I heard was shallower on the Epi than with other LPs and a lot of the replacement PUs. It was my understanding that the GFIs just dropped in which was part of their appeal. If I didn't like the mini, I could put the P90 back in.

Trying to decide between the mini vintage or the mini vintage overwound, both using Alnico and not ceramic. Any thoughts or experiences on/with these two.

peace

In general I prefer a vintage wind because it helps you get a woodier tone in your cleans, but does not prevent you from achieving overdrive. Hotter pickups are, well, hotter, so you get overdrive more easily at the expense of some of the nuance.

That said, given my plan for a guitar with mix-n-match pickups, I might have been better off with a hotter wind in my mini humbucker because the stock P90 pickups on the Epiphone are HOT. There is a very substantial volume difference for me when switching from the bridge to the neck pickup. Each position really demands different amp settings, although I guess I could use the neck P90 as a lead boost sort of arrangement. I can imagine going ahead and getting a second minihumbucker for the neck position, although then I'd have no excuse for my schemes of buying a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe.