ElNumero Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 The sound of the factory pups on my 2013 Firebird is very distasteful to my ears. They sound brittle, muddy, and just not pleasant. I think these are the worst pickups I have ever heard. So I am looking for recommendations on swapping them out. I know Rockabilly has talked about this subject in the past, but cannot remember now which pickups he has favored in his 'Bird. Ya'll chime in please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 I don't like those either Seymour Duncan is probably best bang for the buck Lollar, Klein, Fralin are highly regarded too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davesultra Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 The construction of the current Firebird pickups being used by Gibson are nothing like the originals. There’s a company making very nice vintage repros by the name Q pickups. They’re out of Croatia and can be found on both Reverb and eBay. But Klein, Lollar, Curtis Novak and others make great original style FB pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mars_hall Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Definitely the Lollar p-90s . I have them in a two guitars already (H150 and Les Paul Dlx) and just haven't had the time to drop the set I have in the 2010 Firebird V. To be honest, I bought the set and started adjusting height the stock mini-humbuckers and found a sweet spot I was enjoying with no work. LPD set is overwound and the other normal wound. Can't remember what the set I have for the Firebird is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockabilly69 Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 Klein Doug Kauer wind Firebird pickups. Or Mojotone Johnny winter set. For the Kleins you have to ask for that set, they don’t list them on the website. The Mojotone set is new but a lot of people like them. https://www.kleinpickups.com/p-226-firebird-pickup.aspx https://www.google.com/search?q=Mojo+tone+Johnny+Winter+pick+ups&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 I currently use a Seymour Duncan Mini-Humbucker in my LPJ build instead of a P90. I play this guitar nearly every day and its a tone monster. Basically a hot-rod Firebird pickup. I found mine used for about $50. Well worth a shot if you want to save a bit of money and obviously no where near the cost of boutique pickups. Considering my LPJ is all mahogany, its tonal characteristics from the wood should be nearly the same as your Firebird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElNumero Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 1 hour ago, DetroitBlues said: I currently use a Seymour Duncan Mini-Humbucker in my LPJ build instead of a P90. I play this guitar nearly every day and its a tone monster. Basically a hot-rod Firebird pickup. I found mine used for about $50. Well worth a shot if you want to save a bit of money and obviously no where near the cost of boutique pickups. Considering my LPJ is all mahogany, its tonal characteristics from the wood should be nearly the same as your Firebird. Does the Led Zeppelin CD glued to the pickguard add any enhancement to the tone? Like Jimmy Page tone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 19 hours ago, ElNumero said: Does the Led Zeppelin CD glued to the pickguard add any enhancement to the tone? Like Jimmy Page tone? That was the original pickguard I made. I have since added a veneer to the headstock and put on a traditional LPJ pickguard on the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millennium Maestro Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 On 1/4/2020 at 12:32 PM, ElNumero said: The sound of the factory pups on my 2013 Firebird is very distasteful to my ears. They sound brittle, muddy, and just not pleasant. I think these are the worst pickups I have ever heard. I officially now know you are not deaf! I was selling and using Rio Grande Mini Texas and BBQ, Respectively 10K & 12K so they are an overwound medium/hot A5 set. Just presenting another option Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gitterman Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 believe it or not GFS makes a really nice mini hum, I would imagine theyre firebird pups are too. I spent years looking for a replacement for my 71' SG Jr. Im a big fan of mini hums in general and all of my Tele's have a mini in the neck. Lace also make some nice mini hums. The other folks have noted the boutique ones, so just a little extra to think about. Ive tried all but the Klein's. The GFS lil 59 may actually be one of my favs of the whole group. Hard to believe, I know, but it was full and fat with out mud in the neck. The bridge was meh and a bit trebley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smaj Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 I like the Klein's a bunch, have put the in a few customers guitars, sound great, and he makes three different ones too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxdx99 Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 I didn't mind mine stock playing thru a cranked Marshall or tweed amp as they hit the amp hard and (to me) sound good crunchy. Wasn't as enamored at more clean settings tho. I've been using Revel pickups the last few years and really like them so thought I'd try his Firebird set. Like 'em lots. Not as well known as other brands suggested - a musician who winds small numbers of pickups as they're ordered. https://revelcustompickups.com/store/firebird/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElNumero Posted February 3, 2020 Author Share Posted February 3, 2020 So I took the easy way out and the FB is for sale on Reverb!!!! ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockabilly69 Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 On 2/3/2020 at 2:20 PM, ElNumero said: So I took the easy way out and the FB is for sale on Reverb!!!! ? That's a shame because you never got to experience what a good Firebird sounds like! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElNumero Posted February 6, 2020 Author Share Posted February 6, 2020 1 hour ago, rockabilly69 said: That's a shame because you never got to experience what a good Firebird sounds like! Well, should I reconsider baby? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockabilly69 Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 5 hours ago, ElNumero said: Well, should I reconsider baby? Yep! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElNumero Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 On 2/6/2020 at 10:14 PM, rockabilly69 said: Yep! I caved. Sold it locally, got a little more than I paid new for it. Its ok though, I have enough guitars to get me by Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockabilly69 Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 4 hours ago, ElNumero said: I caved. Sold it locally, got a little more than I paid new for it. Its ok though, I have enough guitars to get me by Oh well, and yes, you do have a few choice guitars:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.