What could I expect?

[mdubya]

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"...

Even in the middle and neck positions?

I think the mini neck is as sweet as any neck pickup tone I have ever played or heard. And who plays clean on the bridge pickup?

 

[mdubya]

^ 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.

Just trying to demonstrate that they have many of the same qualities (maybe even better) that many are looking for in, say, a PAF replica?

 

[grumphh_the_banned_one]

Even in the middle and neck positions?

I think the mini neck is as sweet as any neck pickup tone I have ever played or heard. And who plays clean on the bridge pickup?

Been in his discussion before - and in no way can i even recognize the claim that minis are anything like proper sized humbuckers, vintage or not. They have a particular sound, that is different from either SC's (P-90 or Fender) and full sized humbuckers.

Historically (i.e. in the dark ages of the 70's) LP's (with full size hums) were "known" to be the antithesis to the "thin" and bright Fender sound, i.e. fat, bassy and not least driving amps hard without high spikes that grated on the ears.
- and that is where the minis failed, they simply didn't give the guitar players the sound they expected, namely the fat, round sound of their heroes who all played full size hum LP's.

Therefore the massive amount of Deluxes with routed pickup cavities.

But sure, in times of internet fora that worship age in instruments, minihumbuckers definitely have PAF like qualities

 

[mdubya]

Been in his discussion before - and in no way can i even recognize the claim that minis are anything like proper sized humbuckers, vintage or not. They have a particular sound, that is different from either SC's (P-90 or Fender) and full sized humbuckers.

Historically (i.e. in the dark ages of the 70's) LP's (with full size hums) were "known" to be the antithesis to the "thin" and bright Fender sound, i.e. fat, bassy and not least driving amps hard without high spikes that grated on the ears.
- and that is where the minis failed, they simply didn't give the guitar players the sound they expected, namely the fat, round sound of their heroes who all played full size hum LP's.

Therefore the massive amount of Deluxes with routed pickup cavities.

But sure, in times of internet fora that worship age in instruments, minihumbuckers definitely have PAF like qualities

People routed Deluxes for the same reasons they removed PAF's in favor of Super Distortions. People weren't going for PAF-like tones when they routed those guitars.

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

I also think that a mini in the neck position is a rhythm tone for the ages.....

a lot of people routed deluxes because they could buy them cheaper........true story.

 

[Rock City]

I set the price on 1,900 euros. And two bottles of my personal plum schnapps/moonshine.
Only trouble is I have to drive to get it. The Norlin, not the moonshine. The seller would maybe do an effort and bring it few kilometers to meet me on the way, but it's optional.
Anyways, I'm on a good path to make it mine. Soon I will get on a road so let you know + pictures.
The only thing that often comes to my mind is that I am sure neck pickups sounds sweet and expensive. And I hope the bridge does, too. If not, what P90 would you put instead? How's Antiquity in combo with mini hum?
My friend said I was crazy buying natural top mini humbucking 4.470 kg Norlin if I could buy PRS or Suhr. Well, he does not like Les Paul anyways and does not make any difference between modern and Norlin era except he likes flame burst tops and I don't

 

[mdubya]

I think you are on the right path with leaving the neck mini and adding a P-90 to the bridge if needed.

There are lot of good mini winders out there if you wanted to match a bridge mini to the neck (ReWind, Lollar, even Duncan). I would consider a Wolfetone Meaner 90 for the bridge if you go with a P-90. James @ ReWind is fantastic to work with and I am confident he could make anything you might want (mini, P-90, Firebird, PAF that fits in a P-90 route - anything).

The trick, IMHO, to balancing the minis (like any type of pickup) is to dial the bridge in to sound best, then lower the neck pickup until it balances with the bridge.

Or you could just order a set of @cooljuk's 50's wind P-90's and be done.

 

[ReWind James]

Give it a whirl as it is and report back with how it sounds acoustically, electrically, and how the two pickups balance each other in bass and output, after you do what you can do dial them in with adjustments.

Then, go from there.

 

[moreles]

I'll take mini-hums over P90s anytime.

 

[Rock City]

Thanks!
No, it's just a light chit-chat. As soon as I plug it in WITH THE BAND, I'll know what to do.
I hope I won't have to change anything just for looking more cool with the P90 (my personal opinion).

 

[Rock City]

Probably nothing on this Deluxe.
I settled up everything: found some good guys near the seller who would come soon to my hometown so they could pick up Deluxe and bring it to me. So I could not have to drive over there and back.
And the seller just stop writing back. He even didn't read any of my later messages where I wrote a guy would visit him with the settled amount and pick up the guitar.
And some other people tried to get him over the phone but he just dos not pick up nor calls back.
I am a bit disappointed since I got pretty warm on this one and I never looked at natural tops before. And I read a lot and listened to the bunch of YT videos with Norlin Deluxe LPs to get as right picture as possible what could I expect when I plug it in.
On the other side, I didn't spend the money so search goes on...

 

[BKS]

Don't give up yet, he might have something going on so he can't answer. I had it happen, the guy was in hospital than.

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

SOLD!

 

[mdubya]

...I wrote a guy would visit him with the settled amount and pick up the guitar.
And some other people tried to get him over the phone but he just does not pick up nor calls back.
...

In the US, this type of message or request is a RED FLAG for a scam.

Maybe it is that way where you are located, too?

 

[Rock City]

In the US, this type of message or request is a RED FLAG for a scam.

Maybe it is that way where you are located, too?

I am from Serbia and the seller is in Slovenia. His ad is still on:

Gibson Les Paul Deluxe

Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Letnik 1977 izdelana v Nashvilleu ali Memphisu.

m.bolha.com

 

[mdubya]

I am from Serbia and the seller is in Slovenia. His ad is still on:

Gibson Les Paul Deluxe

Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Letnik 1977 izdelana v Nashvilleu ali Memphisu.

m.bolha.com

I can imagine the logistical difficulties you must face.

I am just saying, in the US, saying you are going to send someone with payment to pick something up is with almost 100% certainty, a scam. That may not be true in other places, but in the US, it true.

 

[Rock City]

Well, the guy sent me a bunch of "online" photos, like "how bout frets?" and he sent me few fret photos. Even a short video of Deluxe's condition. I really thought it was a deal, can not imagine what could happen he even did not read nor answered to my message "if you changed your mind it's OK, just let me know so I could call off my friend to pick it up"... I just hope everything is alright with the guy