Members GAS Man Posted November 6, 2010 Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 Music provided to help you think about this, [YOUTUBE]dqiHRYjePBk[/YOUTUBE] but I'm contemplating replacements for my '66 Wilshire. Not sure yet. For minis I've only played this guitar, and my Firebird V and Nighthawks, so my mini-HB experience is somewhat limited and specifically limited to Gibson/& now Epi stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted November 6, 2010 Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 what happened to the blue tele? My freind hs a non reverse Firebird V with burstbuckers that sound awesome. Not sure what the difference is burst vs minis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted November 6, 2010 Author Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 what happened to the blue tele? My freind hs a non reverse Firebird V with burstbuckers that sound awesome. Not sure what the difference is burst vs minis. Size, but the more narrow spacing between the two coils on a mini also make them sound a bit more like a single coil pickup. mini [/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted November 6, 2010 Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 I have Seymours on my Parkwood H4 hybrid. [YOUTUBE]etqpsOlgNp0[/YOUTUBE] Also have some cheap Artecs that Bryan rewound for me that are quite nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted November 6, 2010 Author Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 That's a nice sounding guitar tl. It really got my attention around 1:50 with the jazz chords/neck and the acoustic tones were also impressive. I reminded me of my Parker Fly Classic. Not equating the two. On the Fly the acoustic tone impresses me, the electric guitar tones leave me "meh". That guitar has some sort of tweaked DiMarzios. Sometimes I think I should swap them out, but other times I figure I might just be missing it somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Special J Posted November 6, 2010 Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted November 6, 2010 Author Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 Couple nods so far to the Duncans. I'm also wondering within the Duncans about the two different Antiquities. All the below is quoted from the Duncan site: I always liked this pickup. I'll never forget a guy named Glenn Schwartz who played in the early James Gang and Pacific Gas & Electric. He had an old Epiphone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted November 6, 2010 Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 call me vanity queen but I really dont like the SD logo, its one of the reasons I chose a 52RI over a HotRod Tele Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted November 6, 2010 Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 I've used modern Epi, modern Kent Armstrongs and a Duncan SM-3. The Duncan is clearly the best, the Armstrong is pretty nice and the Epi is meh. Have yet to hear a good report on the GFS minis...only blah. The SM-3 is hotter than a traditional NY mini, but is very clear and articulate. My favorite of the bunch by far. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted November 6, 2010 Author Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 I've used modern Epi, modern Kent Armstrongs and a Duncan SM-3. The Duncan is clearly the best, the Armstrong is pretty nice and the Epi is meh. Have yet to hear a good report on the GFS minis...only blah. The SM-3 is hotter than a traditional NY mini, but is very clear and articulate. My favorite of the bunch by far. EG Thanks I like the looks of their Anitquity Firebird with no pole pieces. But since I'm thinking about upgrading the Epi Wilshire '66 (which only cost me $310) part of me thinks that these SDs might be good enough since they are $88 versus $118 for the Antiquities. But that vintage style "no pole" cover would sure look good on an aged cherry Wilshire. On the other hand, besides saving $60 on the set, if I went with the SM-1 and SM-3 (which MF carries) then I'd probably get a bit more versatility with the hotter bridge. The Firebird style I understand is closer to the single coil tone than the SM-2 or SM-3 P.S. I should add for those contemplating buying the Epi '66 Wilshire that the stock minis aren't that bad, but I do think one could do better. Here's a vid I just found (or re-found) of our own Tweedledee playing the SD Vintage in the neck on a Tele. [YOUTUBE]XzPRyRmdpW8[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted November 6, 2010 Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 I've played several guitars with the standard Duncan minis and have usually been pretty impressed, but I think if I were getting a set of minis specifically to upgrade a guitar, I'd ante up for the Antiquities version. Never played them though so I can't comment on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted November 6, 2010 Author Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 I've played several guitars with the standard Duncan minis and have usually been pretty impressed, but I think if I were getting a set of minis specifically to upgrade a guitar, I'd ante up for the Antiquities version.Never played them though so I can't comment on them. Yeah, cosmetically it sure would make sense. Putting the bright chrome covers on there with the S-logo and dot-bumps wouldn't really fit the vibe of the aged retro Wilshire, would it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dkal24 Posted November 6, 2010 Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 I just put the new GFS liverpool mini hums in my Hamer Special and I just can't put the guitar down. I love these pups. I was a bit hesitant to pull the trigger on these. I just have not heard a lot of good things about mini hums before. A matter of fact, I'm gonna get another set of these for my Epi Casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wyatt Posted November 6, 2010 Members Share Posted November 6, 2010 All there are made differently. The Epiphone/Les Paul Deluxe mini with the adjustable pole pieces have steel pole pieces (6 adjustable steel poles on one coil, one large rectangular steel slug in the other) that are in contact with an alnico magnet underneath.These are the most balanced tonally out of the bunch, somewhere halfway between a strat SC and a vintage-output PAF. The Firebird PU was designed to be a cost saver for Gibson, it uses magnetic pole pieces, one large rectangular alnico magnet slug for each coil. This creates a much different tone, less balanced, less rounded compared to the Les Paul Deluxe style, lots of upper-mids, they have a raspy upper-mid sizzle and less low end, giving them a lot of cut, but very hard to dial in smooth, clean and balanced. The stock SD's look like Firebird PU's, but are actually built with steel poles and a magnet underneath, so it's a hybrid. This gives them a smoother, rounder sound compared to the traditional Firebird PU's. I like them better than normal Firebird PU's for this reason, but, personally, I don't like their hotter models, but then I'm not a fan of any overwound PU, I prefer to add gain in line when needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted November 7, 2010 Author Members Share Posted November 7, 2010 The stock SD's look like Firebird PU's, but are actually built with steel poles and a magnet underneath, so it's a hybrid. This gives them a smoother, rounder sound compared to the traditional Firebird PU's. I like them better than normal Firebird PU's for this reason, but, personally, I don't like their hotter models, but then I'm not a fan of any overwound PU, I prefer to add gain in line when needed. Thanks for all the info Wyatt Specifically which one were you referring to as the "stock SD's", the SM-1? I'm also considering a SM-1N and SM-3B combo. Do you think the SM-3 would fall in that "hotter models" category? It doesn't sound like it would be too bad at 11.6K. Or I could get the Antiquities I posted at the top of that listing post. I think they have more of a rounded tone than the Antiquity Firebird model from what I was reading. That might be the best compliment. I could see where the Firebird pickup might be a bit on the bright side for the small bodied Wilshire, but OTOH, I was thinking it might cop a bit of the tone of say a mahogany strat. (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted November 7, 2010 Members Share Posted November 7, 2010 I just put the new GFS liverpool mini hums in my Hamer Special and I just can't put the guitar down. I love these pups. I was a bit hesitant to pull the trigger on these. I just have not heard a lot of good things about mini hums before. A matter of fact, I'm gonna get another set of these for my Epi Casino. is that a new model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ugameus Posted November 7, 2010 Members Share Posted November 7, 2010 Definitely check out Lollar. I use a Lollar Firebird and it is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted November 7, 2010 Author Members Share Posted November 7, 2010 Definitely check out Lollar. I use a Lollar Firebird and it is great. What guitar did you load them into? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sylvesterlowery Posted November 7, 2010 Members Share Posted November 7, 2010 Here's another alternative: http://www.riograndepickups.com/scart/ProductPage.asp?ImageLink=BYHB/C&ProductName=For+Humbuckings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xStonr Posted November 7, 2010 Members Share Posted November 7, 2010 is that a new model? They are calling them minitrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted November 7, 2010 Author Members Share Posted November 7, 2010 Here's another alternative: http://www.riograndepickups.com/scart/ProductPage.asp?ImageLink=BYHB/C&ProductName=For+Humbuckings That's an awesome looking pickup, but I think I want to stay in that "between HB and single-coil" range. That sucker looks like its got some big balls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vintage clubber Posted November 7, 2010 Members Share Posted November 7, 2010 That's an awesome looking pickup, but I think I want to stay in that "between HB and single-coil" range. That sucker looks like its got some big balls. specs have it at 20K dc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dkal24 Posted November 7, 2010 Members Share Posted November 7, 2010 is that a new model? A couple weeks old. There the mini version of their liverpool humbucker and they ROCK. I can't believe the tone these put out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted November 7, 2010 Author Members Share Posted November 7, 2010 They are calling them minitrons Those do look nice and they would visually compliment a Wilshire. I'm just not sure if I'm sold on GFS p'ups yet. I certainly believe they are in the "bang for you buck" category, just not sure if they are the one move I'd want to make. I'm not a "soldering friendly" guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xStonr Posted November 7, 2010 Members Share Posted November 7, 2010 Those do look nice and they would visually compliment a Wilshire. I'm just not sure if I'm sold on GFS p'ups yet. I certainly believe they are in the "bang for you buck" category, just not sure if they are the one move I'd want to make. I'm not a "soldering friendly" guy. Is that the guitar you're thinking of using them for? I'm probably one of the few people who will say they don't like their pickups. Every set I ever bought I have taken. If you lean towards them, consider Artec. Same pickups for less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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