Seymour Duncan Antiquity II Firebird-Style Mini Humbuckers

Alnico magnets...braided metal over cloth wire...2 conductor...aged covers...

Replaced the stock p/u's in my 10/4/90 Firebird V in both bridge and neck. The stock pickups were just ok - and the bridge pickup had a REALLY harsh high end that was only concealed with gain or fuzz.

Output *feels* louder to me - likely due to the whole sonic spectrum of the guitar now being produced. These pickups transformed the guitar from a firechicken to a FIREBIRD!
Best upgrade you can do for your re-issue Firebird. These will give you the sound that it was ment to have.
The guitar speaks now...loud and clear - no harsh tones! The rear pickup is incredible - and i liked the stock neck pickup - but the anquity II just blows the doors off it!

100% improvement- again, best upgrade I've done for an instrument!

Pickup features: Humbucking with a "relic'd" finish that looks thirty to forty years old.
Impedence or other specs: Neck: 6.86 K Bridge: 7.60 K

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Firebird V Reissue
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Gibson Mini-humbuckers
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Unknown
You musical style(s): Blues/Classic Rock
Reason for pickup change: The Gibson pickups weren't bad, but were a little too hot and too microphonic. I wanted something smoother sounding that was easier to control.

Perceived output level: Lower than stock pickups (desirable in my opinion)
Tone: Well balanced. Less mid-range than stock pickups.
Sonic evaluation: I use my Firebird with a Mesa Boogie Rectoverb and a Fender Prosonic. The pickups sound great whether on clean settings or on dirtier settings. They're much more touch sensitive than the original pickups and therefore easier to control. In addition, they're not the least bit microphonic (the original Gibson bridge pickup was particularly microphonic)so I can use them over a wider range of gain settings on the amps. Like most mini-humbuckers, they're brighter than full size humbuckers, which I like.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play predominantly blues and older style rock - both are good matches. They probably wouldn't be good for heavy metal, but that doesn't bother me.

Comments: I'm very satisfied with the Antiquities. I liked my Firebird a lot with its old pickups, but love it with the new ones. It's amazing how different pickups can really transform a guitar. The worn looks weren't a big deal for me, although I was happy that they didn't have the embossed Seymour Duncan logo found on their regular line of mini-humbuckers. I have to admit, though, they look pretty cool in the guitar.