Do mini-humbuckers fit in a p-90 soapbar route?

[tdu]

I am lookign at swapping out a bridge P-90 with some variation of a humbucker. Do mini-hums like on a Firebird fit in a standard soapbar P-90 route?

Are there any other options out there for a soapbar sized humbucker?

 

[Tim Armstrong]

The original Gibson mini-humbuckers were fitted to plastic trim rings that were the exact same size as P-90 covers (and were probably cut from them!), so if you get the traditional mini trim rings, you oughta be just fine!

Cheers, Tim

 

[charlie chitlin]

Done it myself.
No problemo.
Only the mounting hardware changes; the hole is the same.

 

[tdu]

Cool. I might grab a couple of the GFS ones. Thanks.

 

[Mookray]

MINI Hums

They sound good, I use all parts mini's, Lollars, too.

 

[dobrodoc]

I've never bought a GFS pickup that didn't sound good. And, yes, when Gibson came out with the LP DeLuxe, they used P-90 shells as pickup mounts.

 

[tdu]

WHen you guys say they used shells as mounts, do you mean they trimmed out the actual plastic casing?

 

[Sidney Vicious]

while we're at it . . .

Mini-hb's will fit in a P-90 hole you say -

but will a P-90 fit in a regular HB route in a LP?

 

[gtrjones]

but will a P-90 fit in a regular HB route in a LP?

Nope.

 

[gtrjones]

WHen you guys say they used shells as mounts, do you mean they trimmed out the actual plastic casing?

No, Gibson built plastic surrounds (kinda similar to the plastic surrounds on a regular humbucker) - to specifically fit the mini-buckers into the p-90 rout.

Do a search for 'Gibson Les Paul Deluxe' pictures and you'll see the minibucker pickup rings. You might be able to find a company online that will sell newer versions of those rings, if they aren't included with the pickups you purchase.

 

[tdu]

Ya I think the GFS ones come with kinda metal ring like on a Firebird. I might have to look into some rings.

 

[TNO]

Allparts sells the plastic surrounds but I don't understand how the surround is mounted?

 

[FMA]

I believe the surrounds are screwed into the top of the guitar. So if you do this and down the road want to go back to P90s, you're gonna have some extra holes to deal with in your guitar's top.

 

[TheGoodTexan]

I believe the surrounds are screwed into the top of the guitar. So if you do this and down the road want to go back to P90s, you're gonna have some extra holes to deal with in your guitar's top.

There are two options...

The mini-hum mounting rings that were made from P90 shells do not mount to the top of the guitar, but rather, in the pickup route itself. The entire mounting ring/shell slips into the route perfectly.

Then there are the regular minu-hum mounting rings that are just smaller versions of their full-size brethern....and those do indeed mount to the top of the guitar.

 

[robt57]

Mini-hb's will fit in a P-90 hole you say -

but will a P-90 fit in a regular HB route in a LP?

Not without routing out the corners.

 

[FMA]

Tex,
Thanks for the info. But how do the P90 rings mount to the guitar then? I mean, the two visible screws attach the pickup to the ring and offer height adjustment, right? Or do these screws go into the body at the bottom of the pickup rout?

 

[robt57]

Tex,
Thanks for the info. But how do the P90 rings mount to the guitar then? I mean, the two visible screws attach the pickup to the ring and offer height adjustment, right? Or do these screws go into the body at the bottom of the pickup rout?

I think a little L bracket gets installed on each side of the route. Allparts sells them IIRC. Or I have seen a one piece that screws into the bottom of the route ala LP Deluxe.

You could just use a piece of flat stock flat in the bottom of the route and drill and tap for the PUP screws.


Picture worth a 1000 words:

 

[TheGoodTexan]

Yeah...that's exactly right. Sorry I didn't explain that.

Those two mounting holes on that flat bar...should be in the same spots as the mounting screws for P90s (soarbars of course, not dog ears).

We're using 1000 words here to describe something that is easily figured out in a few minutes by even the least mechanically inclined one of us.....if you just had all of it in front of you.

 

[FMA]

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[GrecoIThink]

I believe the surrounds are screwed into the top of the guitar. So if you do this and down the road want to go back to P90s, you're gonna have some extra holes to deal with in your guitar's top.

The trim rings around the mini humbuckers on my Greco LP were tacked on with small brass nails. I was told by a luthier that this was the way the problem was first remedied by Gibson when they used the minis in the larger P-90 holes. Greco went pretty far in duping the original they copied. I've identified it as a Greco through the pot numbers and wires.

I've been trying to confirm the age of my LP for a while. I also can't compare it to other models easily because it's had a neck repair and the headstock is different than any Gibson model or other replicas.

Does anyone know how many LPs rolled out with these nailed on trim rings? And when these were actually used? That might help me narrow down the age my my guitar.

Best!
Drew