Anyone have/love a 1970-74 LP Deluxe w/ mini humbuckers?

[13th Floor]

Anybody have experience with one of the Deluxe LPs?
I have heard great things about the mini humbuckers but haven't had any previous experience with guitars from that era of LP before....
Any feedback / recommendations / warnings / info ?

[solger]

i remember watching an interview with mike ness (social distortion) where he said he remembers watching one of his idols immediately take out those mini hums and replace them with p90s and now he does the same.

however i've never played one myself so i cant really say

edit: turns out it was Neil Young

[SkyDog07]

I routed out my '72 the week I bought it new 38 years ago, so I can't speak to the Mini's. But the guitar itself with its pancake body and three piece neck, is IMHO still better than most non custom shop Gibsons I've tried. Like almost all eras - it's hit or miss. Gibson was still making some very good guitars in the early 70's.

[GOW]

My first LP was a brand new, cherry sunburst 1970 Deluxe. I traded in an early 60's tobacco sunburst Epiphone Riviera - like a '62, maybe - plus some cash for it. One of the real Gibson/Kalamazoo Epiphones. In retrospect, I'm not sure it was a great decision, but it wouldn't be the last questionable trade I ever made. However, I digress. Anyway, it was beautiful to my eye. And I loved it because it was my first. It had those mini's in it (similar to the Epi I'd traded for it), and later on as I became more knowledgeable about guitars and pickups, I came to realize that the tone of those p'ups was much thinner and brighter than the sound I had come to associate with a "Les Paul". I never have warmed up to the sound of mini-humbuckers in any guitar - even Firebirds. The mini to P90 is a good swap, and you don't have to do any modification to the guitar body. You can always put it back to original if you want to sell. A lot of players routed the bodies for regular humbuckers. I'd personally advise against it, because even though they are by no means what I'd consider "vintage" instruments (because of the Norlin design "improvements"/flaws - neck volute, pancake body, laminated necks, headstock design), Deluxe's are still bringing considerably more now, than they ever sold for originally (in decent shape) - just because they are 35-40 years old. Anyway, it was definitely not the all-time great example of Les Paul's design, but mine wasn't bad for the Norlin era - I guess since it was one of the early ones. But I'll never forget the smell inside of that brand new case, the first time I cracked it open with that cherry-burst Deluxe laying inside...

[your idol]

personally id kill for one

[stephenwz968]

My 75 deluxe is routed for hums, and the guitar itself plays, sounds and sustains like crazy. 3 piece neck, pancake body and volute...they are norlin traits that I really like. My 91 deluxe I played the minihums for a while...sounded a little too thin for me. Replaced them with Manlius Howlin' Goat P90's and never looked back.

[tdbear1us]

Originally Posted by 13th Floor

Anybody have experience with one of the Deluxe LPs?
I have heard great things about the mini humbuckers but haven't had any previous experience with guitars from that era of LP before....
Any feedback / recommendations / warnings / info ?

I love my '74. crisp clean sounds for blues and mellower stuff and just enough "grunt" to play hard rock also. A very nice guitar. As for replacing with P-90's or routing for humbuckers I would never do it. here's a couple pics for ya

[KSG_Standard]

I had one, a red sparkle finish...it was either a '74 or a '75. I could never get the tone I was looking for out of the minis and didn't know about replacing them with p90s at the time, so I sold it.

[13th Floor]

Love the feedback, and I like the p90s option - I could always go back to the minis if I wanted....

I gotta go play the sucker first. If the hands don't like it, of course it's a no go....

[sbeng]

There's not a lot of differences in the 70 -74 Deluxes. All are pancake bodied, voluted, trans-tennon, 3 piece mahogany necked, ABR-1, Kalamazoo made tone tools. I've been intimate with 4 of them and all were between 9 and 9.5 lbs so not exactly the legendary heavy weight Nolins you hear about - I think that started later in the 70's. I have a 73 that I love - build quality is excellent.

I like the mini humbuckers but it depends on what you want. They're not perfect for heavy crunching tone, but they can cover a wide range of things. Change to P-90's and unleash a monster. They also now make humbuckers that fit the p-90 routes, if you must.

[Jessenoah]

I have one thats beat to death, refretted, routed, but it is a great player and sustains like crazy!

even with its tone killing pancake body, and multi ply neck

[13th Floor]

Anybody have a photo or link of one that had p90s put in it?

[tdbear1us]

Originally Posted by 13th Floor

Anybody have a photo or link of one that had p90s put in it?

Here's one I found online it's a 75 but close enough

[Ledheadforlife]

I don't like the looks of em myself, to me a les paul should have humbuckers. That said, most people I know who have minis can't say enough great things about em.

[marantz1300]

I have tworouted Deluxe's. A 71 with T Tops and a maple necked 76 wity Phat Cats.Now I just need a non routed Deluxe for mini's .Take no notice of the anti Norlin nonsence.There is nothing to fear,these are great guitars.

[Thumpalumpacus]

My #1 for 15 years was a 73 DeLuxe. I really like the minis, and feel that they are more versatile than standard humbuckers. They cannot do full-on grind like standard 'buckers, but they certainly can explore funkier textures more confidently, to my ears.

[thunderroadguitars]

Here is my 72' deluxe. Just like any guitar they can be hit or miss, but this one is fantastic! Took the Ness approach and removed the minis and put P90s in it. Completely brought the guitar to life, tone wise.

[marantz1300]

Originally Posted by guitarfiends

Here is my 72' deluxe. Just like any guitar they can be hit or miss, but this one is fantastic! Took the Ness approach and removed the minis and put P90s in it. Completely brought the guitar to life, tone wise.

I love your burst.Maybe I should scrape the gold off my 71.

[floyd84]

I've got this all-original 75 Deluxe. These mini-hums are terrific. This one gives me the exact tone from "alright now" by Free

[speyfly]

I owned a 71 (bought new) for about a year before it was stolen. Great guitar and would love to have another.

[shaker]

I have a 71 deluxe , love it, the sustaine is killer ,