Gibson Mini-Humbucker vs. Gibson Firebird Pickup

by: Billy Penn

There are alot of players that think the Gibson Firebird and Gibson Mini-Humbucker are the same pickup with different covers. This is not the case. They are entirely different designs. This brief article will explain the differences.

The Firebird mini-humbucker appears outwardly like the mini-humbucker used on other Gibson guitars such as the Les Paul Deluxe, except for its solid cover. Underneath, however, critical differences are revealed. Whereas the standard, Epiphone-derived mini-humbucker is designed like a PAF-type humbucker but narrower, with a bar magnet placed beneath the two coils and in contact with the individual steel pole pieces running through them, the Firebird pickup is constructed with two alnico bar magnets, positioned one each within the two coils, in a dual-blade-styled design. Using magnetic material within the coil helps to increase a pickup’s definition and treble response; the Firebird pickup is, therefore, a little weaker than the standard PAF-style humbucker or mini-humbucker, and also a lot brighter than either. Credit: Gibson guitars and Allparts.