Epiphone Mini Probuckers

[Imerkat]

Was not a fan of the NY mini humbuckers in my Wilshire and after many swaps, and trying to build one myself, I made a set which I enjoyed but they were very single coil sounding without the jangle. thought I would leave it at that but than I ran into these:

They have this matted nickle covers that haven't seen before which change the look of the guitar but I diggin'. and they sound so good! I have boutique minis and bought cheap no name Alibaba mini's too and I do believe you get what you pay for but these have me in a loop.

I'm not affiliated in anyway just wanted to let it be known when Epiphone hits one out of the park!

 

[bobalu]

I have an Epiphone John Lee Hooker edition which has these mini-buckers - it's the reason I actually bought the guitar. I was astounded with the sound of them. Epiphone definitely hit one out of the park with these......

 

[Matthew Medofer]

I was wondering if these sound a little more trebly , more like a cross between a p90/humbucker, I'm thinking of buying a set of these mini probuckers because I liked the probucker 2/3 so much
I noticed these over some of the others I'm looking at and wanna try these
They are goin into a firebird replica

 

[BGood]

Thing is ... if you bought those on eBay from a Chinese vendor for ± $50, they are not from Epiphone, they are fake. Epiphone sells their regular Probuckers for something like $135 a set, so $50 for minis ... hmmm.

 

[Imerkat]

Thing is ... if you bought those on eBay from a Chinese vendor for ± $50, they are not from Epiphone, they are fake

They are most likely electronics from sub-par guitars the factory throws away. Here is one for sale that can't be fake; the machine stamped "Epiphone" on the toggle switch paired with Korean made pots, and laser etched "Epiphone USA" and brass base plate screws

There is a reason I know the mini's weren't fake; you are not going to find a mini humbucker knock-off with a Gibson style braided wire, laser etched Epiphone base plate, AND maple wood spacer! but alas they are gone :(

 

[Juke Box]

Thing is ... if you bought those on eBay from a Chinese vendor for ± $50, they are not from Epiphone, they are fake. Epiphone sells their regular Probuckers for something like $135 a set, so $50 for minis ... hmmm.

I am guessing they are Gotoh.
Some of the tonal issues with Gotoh is thinner wire gauge adding extra winding thus higher ohms thus muddiness

 

[BGood]

They are most likely electronics from sub-par guitars the factory throws away. Here is one for sale that can't be fake; the machine stamped "Epiphone" on the toggle switch paired with Korean made pots, and laser etched "Epiphone USA" and brass base plate screws

There is a reason I know the mini's weren't fake; you are not going to find a mini humbucker knock-off with a Gibson style braided wire, laser etched Epiphone base plate, AND maple wood spacer! but alas they are gone :(

I recently bought a Chinese Dog Ear P90 for $21.99 and it had braided wire. AND ... it sounds very very close to a Lollar I have. So ...

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China has come a long way since the first Epiphone fakes. I think they got real good real fast at copying almost anything. Not that hard to "laser etch" / mold / punch a baseplate.
Maple wood spacer ... really ? What tells you it's not bamboo or something else ? Does it taste like maple syrup ?

But if they sound good and you like them, I'll leave it at that.

 

[Imerkat]

I recently bought a Chinese Dog Ear P90 for $21.99 and it had braided wire.

Maple wood spacer ... really ?

I think you missed my point, it was built to specs. Fakes are not. it even has a nickle finish most pickup builders don't offer

China has come a long way since the first Epiphone fakes

but that's where they're made
It's no different than Gibson Gear Galore on ebay selling Gibson parts.

Not that hard to "laser etch" / mold / punch a baseplate. Maple wood spacer ... really ?

I think most pickup builders would disagree but yeah these pickups come and go with production. there was a batch from the Bonamassa firebirds and I'm user will see some of those minis with the new Uptown kat!