What could I expect?

[Rock City]

Hi
I am about to pull a trigger on LP Deluxe from 1977.
All original, a little wear on the back, natural top, Chain saw case, 4.470 kg...
Asking price is 2,050 euros, I thought to offer a few hundreds less...
Guitar is about 600 km away and I would go to try it and pick it up.
Have no other Deluxes near for that kinda money (the next is GT from 1971. for 3,800 euros).
My idea anyway is to pull out mini hums and get descent P90s in that Norlin.
What do you say?
I have Custom from 1981. which works pretty well for me. 4.300 kg, Tim Shaws...
On the pic below is a very look-a-like, not exact I wanna buy

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

expect a rock-n-roll machine.

I can not help you with European pricing.

 

[BKS]

I love mini humbucker, if you go for it give them a try first.

 

[MSB]

you can't go wrong with p-90s, but like what has already been stated, give the minis a chance, I like them.

 

[mdubya]

It sounds like a good price.

I, too, would give the mini humbuckers a chance. Thin Lizzy always sounded fine with them.

While they don't sound exactly like P-90's, they have similar qualities. They might not look as cool, but they actually sound fantastic, imho. Definitely as good as, say, a PAF clone. Maybe better.

 

[DarrellV]

I love mini humbucker, if you go for it give them a try first.

+1

The sound was on a lot of hits during the 70's and 80's ...

I'd give them a try and tweak with the setup and poles if needed first...

They are part of the Norlin era package after all.. Don't throw them out if you do swap..

 

[T Willis]

Great looking LP. They rock!

I have a '78 Deluxe that was converted, so I can't comment on the mini's. They are very solid guitars..... mine is balanced quite well.

 

[Stinky Kitty]

Also recommend giving the minis a go. If you are really dead set on P90s, please consider passing on that one and find one loaded with P90s Both set ups are going to rock the house!

 

[Roxy13]

Doesn't everyone need one with Mini Hums and one with P90s?

 

[mdubya]

Doesn't everyone need one with Mini Hums and one with P90s?

Absolutely!

 

[edro]

I love minis! Love P90s too but my Goldie with minis sounds perfect.... I look at minis as quieter P90s...

My Goldie can get 'Spanky' similar to P90 Spank....

I would leave as is and get a P90 guitar down the road....

 

[efstop]

I replaced the P-90s in my Tribute with minis, but I have three other guitars with P-90s.

Keep the minis, or sell them to me

 

[riffsmachine]

It's a nice price for Europe. (or just right) I paid a lot more for my 72' Deluxe years ago...Mini humbs are like firecrackers
A 79' KM it cost me 3200...Mint condition

 

[ARandall]

I bought a 1980 Deluxe a ways back.
It came with aftermarket p90's in there instead of the original minis. While these were nice, and the guitar sounded great, you buy an original deluxe specifically for the minis. If you want p90's, there are many modern guitars available in all sorts of spec/price configurations.

So I got some minis.....custom wound ones with a hotter bridge wind. But I still wanted to get the full experience so scoured the selling sites looking for the odd 1 or 2 that weren't stupidly expensive.
Once they were in, I'm happy to say they will not be going anywhere. This Deluxe is now 'the way it was meant to be'.

 

[Rock City]

Thanks!
A bunch of replies in a no time!
I don't want not to give a chance to minis nor I wanna drop them or sell.
I always liked P90 more.
I had Ibanez copy from 1972. with minis and neck sounded awesome. Bridge was a bit thin comparing to the neck, but that was a copy. Really hope Norlin is better balanced than Ibanez.
I am not pulling a trigger yet. First I have to introduce my plane to my wife. If she approves it, then I go

 

[bblooz]

sound like a good plan. Let us know if you get it, then PIX!

 

[mdubya]

Phil X demonstrates what minis can do.

 

[ARandall]

^ Those minis are a bit different to the late 60's ones in a deluxe.......but yes, minis can be used for heavy just as much as blues or classic rock.

 

[grumphh_the_banned_one]

Warning, heretic content!!!

In my world most pickups get very close to each other when run into a heavily overdriven/distorted signal chain - and in that case minis can add a sort of "raunchy edge" to the guitars tone, which may be good or not, depending on tastes and style.

What i don't like about mini humbuckers is that when run into a clean(ish) amp, they do tend to have a very sharp (read annoying) top end bite, and my best guess is that minihums are solely responsible for the tales about "Norlins sounding thin" - because well, with those pickups any guitar is going to sound thin until you ladle on the overdrive.

They may be authentic for the period - but they certainly are an acquired taste, and the number of converted Deluxes shows this clearly.
Most important, they do not make your LP sound like you'd expect an LP to sound, i.e. "big and fat"...

 

[Rock City]

Well, I already purchased black Custom from 1981. last year and I have a Norlin which "sounds fat".
I don't expect Deluxe to be on the fat and wide side. If I may say Thin Lizzy sound, but they used early 70s all-mahogany Deluxe, is my goal. I am straight-into-Marshall guy and I have 2203 JMP from 1980. so organic and woody sound is what I want from any of my guitar and I realized Norlins are better for me than new ones of the same price.
Yeah, I still have some R7 GT from 2001. for 2,300 euros with all the papers and original case. R7 got some sweat relic over the top and hardware which is yummy to me. And weighs 1/2 kilos less than this Deluxe. Even got nice fat neck. But the feel and the sound is far than I would like.
I hope today I talk to my wife about getting new baby. I was nice and sweet last couple of days and she already suspects something...