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Mini-mystery?

Slim Taper

Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2001
Messages
815
Has anyone here ever removed the pickup covers on the 70's mini-humbuckers? Whats under them puppies? Mini zebras?
 

sparkletop

New member
Joined
Jul 17, 2001
Messages
233
When I bought my Deluxe the bridge cover was off. That was in '87 and I put the cover back on a few days later, so I can't be sure, but definitely were not zebra. Seems to have been 2 white? bobbins. Don't recall them being double black either.
 

BrianGWN

Great 'Double White' North ~ Electronics Specialis
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
1,401
remove cover ON MINI HUM ????

Dude(s), what are you talking about??, removing the cover of a MINI HUM to see the bobbin color??? The mini humbucking pickup on LesPaul Deluxes starting around 1969 is a significantly different design compared to the full size hums, it's not just a smaller version. I've got in front of me right now what I believe to be a fairly early Gibson mini hum, with a patent sticker so probably from 1974 or prior.
You can remove the cover but you really cannot use the pickup that way, the cover is critical in holding it all together. The bobbins are not secured to the frame.

In case you are wondering the bobbins are an almost clear plastic, you can see the coil windings through the bobbin.

Note there were quasi LP Standard/Deluxes from about 1972 to 1976 that were LP Deluxes with full size hums installed as a factory option. If you want to start pulling the covers off of those, okay fine, but not the mini hums...
 

heinz

Sonic Engineer
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
1,363
Brian is precisely correct.

I just asked Big Al about this, as I recently scored a pair of late 60s/early70s gibson pat sticker mini-hums, to quote him:

"Do not remove the covers!!! They align the polepiece screws and there is only tape around the open bobbin slots to hold in the solid slug."
 
S

Snags

Guest
That would be what is technically known as 'the exploded view'. :)spin
 

sparkletop

New member
Joined
Jul 17, 2001
Messages
233
sounds good, looks ugly

When I bought my 76 Deluxe it had no cover on the bridge/mini. The previous owner was using it that way. The exposed pickup was so "butt-ass ugly" I installed a cover within a few days. You know those tags that come on sofa/chair cushions that say "Do Not Remove" under penalty of law, well, Gibson should put those tags on these pickup covers.
 
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