56 Mini SB90 Mini Humbucker

Our much-loved 56 SB90 set but shrunken down into a Mini Humbucker/Firebird size. This considerable change in dimensions necessitates a number of tweaks within the design of the pickup internally. Both the wire gauge and magnet dimensions are impacted, and the poles-screws also take a drop in scale. With these unavoidable facts in mind, it simply wouldn’t do to just ignore the impact of these changes and hope the pickup still sounded amazing!

As such, we use a host of tweaks and a change to Alnico II from our larger version to attain a tonality that gets remarkably close! These have maybe a touch less grind and a little more strat-like quality but overall these are remarkably close. Versatile and always musical!

Here at SUNBEAR we adore the humble P90; it’s a fantastic and fascinating pickup design and arguably the birth of all that guitar players love about those classic set neck, solid body guitar tones. While we offer considerable options for customisation, our 56 inspired SB90 set is our distillation of all of the favourite features on offer.

Tonally these are pure, clear and forthright with all the midrange girth and harmonic complexity we can squeeze out of this shrunken, beloved design.

Output and Character

BRIDGE AII +/- 8.0K: A great P90 should be full of detail and track the players attack, vibrato etc as well as any pickup design around, and that was our goal here. The choice of Alnico IV as standard helps to keep the high end airiness and swift response, but keeps the low-mid fullness that’s just so enjoyable to play! A Tele’s clarity but with an extra heap of rich-midrange growl is the shorthand for this characterful pickup. In the Mini form, you can add a certain strat-like authority to the mix as well.

NECK AII +/- 7.0K: A drop in output helps to keep this pickup perfectly balanced with its bridge counterpart. A plummy, open character with creamy, vocal midrange warmth and a clear, open high end clarity was the heady mix we wanted to craft; something utterly addictive under the fingers.

Options

Please note we supply these pickups un-potted as standard for maximum tonal transparency, just as they were originally made. However, we completely understand that you may prefer some more defence against microphonics and feedback. Should this be the case, please make a note during check out stating that you would like them lightly potted in our mix of beeswax and paraffin.

This set is offered as standard with two-conductor vintage braid wiring and Clean Nickel Covers. If you would like foil topped, gold, hand ageing or virtually any other tweak please do get in touch; various contact options are available here. We love to make custom pieces ideal for your guitar!