Gibson Mini Humbucker (Rhythm)

As the name says it??s a humbucker (passive). Specs for the neck pickup are: 6.2 kOhms resistance, 3.5 Henry inductance and resonance value "Q" of approx. 2.0 which indicates that the Mini Humbucker will have a quite flat frequenqy response curve with a nice treble end. The brige version has more resistance and inductance at the same "Q" and ist hotter with reduced treble response. Dimensions are equal to a standard "P90 Soapbar" when mounted with the traditional Gibson creme coloured mounting ring that is delivered whith the pickup. Actually it??s more a kind of cover than a pickup frame - the Mini Humbucker is directly fixed to the bottom of the pickup hole by means of two screws (also part of set). Check with a guitar tech if and how it can be fixed on your guitar to avoid confusion and disapointment ;>)

I have the Mini Humbucker Rhythm in the neck position of a HAMER XT Sunburst Series (Gold Top) SATP90 and it replaced the original HAMER P90. My intention was to achive a more ringing tone with extra brillance and no noise for jazz and blues sounds. The other pup on the HAMER is a Gibson P90 which superseeds the HAMER P90 in power and definition - the neck is my jazz/blues side and the bridge is my raw rock side - best of two worlds.
Pete Townshend (the Who), Steve Hackett (Genesis), Dan Miller (They Might Be Giants) and Glenn Schwarz (Pacific Gas and Electric) to name just a few - many more are still out there...

The output of the Mini Humbucker is significant lower compared to a standard Gibson 57 Classic but higher than a typical Fender single coil with round full tone. The bass is lean but not thin - it??s not as "boomy" as a 57 Classic with more definition an attack. Mids are slightly softer and also more defined with a superb sparkling and cristaline treble edge - that is the sound I wanted as sweet neck pickup ;>) The sound is perfectly balanced between all strings - I even didn??t touch the adjustment screws - they are still in the default factory setting - all flat at the same hight slightly above the cap.
I play my clean stuff thru a Fender Rivera Super Champ or a Fender Rivera Concert and a Roland JC-120 - the "dirty" stuff is done thru a VOX Tonelab or a Boss GT-PRO - both are modelling amps but have some very realistic simulations (and much cheaper than a Dumble btw ;>). The Mini Humbucker ist suitable for all styles of music exept metal or extreme mardrock - even distorted it sounds sweeter and more dimensional than the big humbuckers. I was searching a tone like the old original PAFs from the mid 50s and checked among the "big boys" but this tiny little beast is one of the most underestimated pickups I ever came across - I simply love it ;>)

If it was destroyed or stolen, would you buy it again or get something else?
How long have you been playing? What other gear do you own? 40 years - to much to mention

What do you love about it? What do you hate? love it all - hate nothing

Did you compare it to other products? Which ones? Why did you choose this one? looked after the Lollars - not available in Germany - Seymour Duncans - very good but at the same price level (antiquities) - GFS cheap but don??t come with the traditional mounting frame - stayed finaly with the "real thing" from Gibson

Anything you wish it had? nop

Are you satisfied with this pickup or still searching for that sound? ...I??m done and happy ;>)

Anything else you'd like to share? Please take in consideration that the HAMER is a full mahogany guitar - it looks like a GIBSON Les Paul double cut but is a bit thinner and has no maple top. From that point it??s closer to a SG than to a Les Paul. From my experience pure mahogany guitars have a very good sustain and a reduced treble response with slightly muddier bass - the Mini Humbucker is reported by some internet sources as a weaker and thinner yet more brillant type of pickup. In the HAMER it seems to be a perfect match to equal the imperfections of pure mahogany guiars therefor it might sound totally different in other wood compositions. I had a mahogany SG with big Humbuckers but was not totally satisfied - this little bastard in the HAMER is on top over nearly all my other 19 guitars!

Greetings