Trying to decide on pickup set for firebird

[PeeCheeClean]

Hey all, I'm trying to decide on a set of BKPs for my 2017 Gibson Firebird. It has mini-hums in it right now but I'm disliking the sound the more I play it.

I know I'm gonna have to get it routed out for full sized pickups.

Guitar is solid mahogany. Rosewood fretboard.  And weighs about 8.5 lbs.

I have an explorer w 496/500t in there that's pretty good. I especially like the 500t, even though it can be unmanageable at times...so I'd assume a Cbomb in the bridge.

As far as neck pickups I dislike the 496, want something less cr@p for cleans. Hahahahah.

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Telerocker]

If you're soloing a lot, the C-Bomb is not the best of the bunch. And beautiful cleans, I think they are soso compared to the vintage(hot) range. Choice comes to what styles you play. If you want something tight but still musical, I would also inspect the Ragnarok.

[Dave Sloven]

an alternative would be p90 soapbars, no routing.  you might like the stockholm.  has the usual p90 noise issues though

EDIT: sorry on a Firebird there would be routing and you would have screw holes exposed from the original mounting rings. Regular humbuckers would probably be a better choice.  The new mounting rings will cover any issues.  You could also use humbucker-size P-90s, of course.


http://www.mylespaul.com/threads/p90s-in-a-2010-firebird.200915/

The other issue with the neck pickup is that due to the larger size it will be further back toward the bridge and this will change to sound characteristics.  Maybe try just swapping the bridge pickup and sticking with a mini-hum in the neck?

[PeeCheeClean]

I don't think that the routing for the added space for humbuckers would really make that much difference as far as changing the sound of the pickups. If you look at a diagram comparing mini hums to hums the actual rout isn't that much bigger.

Oh, by the way, usually use my Bridge for rhythm and neck for solos. Not much of a shredder, more of a riff guy.

[gwEm]

in my opinion, mini humbuckers are beautiful things and I would never rout out a firebird to put fullsized humbuckers.

having said that, the current production Gibson mini humbuckers are not well thought of, and so would be worth changing.

i've tried a few brands:

Kent Armstrong ones are not good (though I like one or two of their (other) designs)
Lollar ones are top quality, probably the best I've tried
Gemini Pickups know their mini-humbuckers very well and I have a couple which I like

DiMarzio have just released some Paul Gilbert signature mini humbuckers which would be worth looking at, though I haven't tried them.

A couple of points to note, which you may already know. Mini-humbuckers and firebird pickups have the same form factor, but different construction internally. Both are bright, but the firebird ones are brighter since they use blade pole pieces I believe. I'm not the biggest mini-HB expert but I am a fan.

A configuration worth looking into, actually one of my favourites, is to have a mini-HB in the neck and a full sized HB in the bridge. Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) for example uses this. The advantage is that you have the grunt of the fullsized HB in the bridge, but in the neck you have all the cut and clarity of the mini-HB.

A few people on here have fitted Rebel Yell pickups in their Firebirds and like the results.

[Dave Sloven]

Fralin do a mini as well.

The quality mini in the neck with a RY in the bridge does sound like it could be nice.  You'd want the neck pickup to be a little hotter than vintage to balance with the RY bridge

Frahlin's 43 gauge 7000 wind version of the Big One neck mini humbucker might work well with an RY.

[PeeCheeClean]

Even though I'm new to posting I visit the forums, I've been lurking for years. And I can't believe I'm getting talked out a pickup swap. Hahah.

Ok then may be going the route of a hum and a mini in the neck. Anyone know of a neck mini hum hat would be able to match the loudness of a hot burgess oixkup?  Man I wish I could just get a  BKP mini hum. Haha.

[Telerocker]

Does BKP still rewire pickups?

[PeeCheeClean]

They only rewire broken pickups.

I'm looking for a total contrast in the neck.

For example, I have a few teles that have vintage noiseless in the neck; 1 has a sd hot rails in the bridge. The other has a BKP piledriver.

I just love the insane difference, also makes the middle positions sounds vastly different than you'd expect.