Just ordered p/us for the Bluesbird

[mad dog]

It was a tough choice too. Many listening sessions here. Not that the stock SDs are bad, more a case of I'm playing some others that are so good, I really have to hear one of those others in the Bluesbird.

I considered a few options:

- HB sized P-90
- Ian Anderson humbuckers
- Tom Short Undercover Mini (minihums in full-size HB cases)

The P-90 option is compelling, except I've never heard any HB sized as good as the classic soapbar or dogear P-90s. The IA humbuckers were tempting, as these are the best PAF type, vintage sounding humbuckers I've hears. Finally, it was Tom Short's p/us that won. I have one of these undercover minis in the neck spot of a tele, and over time it's become probably my favorite p/u of all. Can do it all, no mud, a very pretty overdrive sound. Like the old Guild HB-1, it's a different sort of HB sound. Has that clarity, a bit warmer than the old HB-1s. I can't wait to hear how two of these p/us sound together in that Bluesbird.
MD

 

[Zelja]

I have been intrigued by Tom Short undercovers for a while. I have a custom guitar, constructed like a bit like a bluesbird (chambered hog with maple cap), but double cut, 25.5" scale & strat hardtail style bridge. Never really bonded with the PAF style PUs. Thinking about some TV Jones but that would entail routing the cavities to make them deeper.

Being a touch fuller than HB-1s would probably be a good thing in this guitar. Does the lack of adjustment screws pose any issues at all?
Would love to hear a full tone report once they are in.

 

[mad dog]

Zelja:

I rarely touch the screws on regular humbuckers (just raise or lower via the p/u ring screws), so it was no big thing for me. My undercover mini is different than many neck humbuckers I've tried, at least in the guitar I'm using. With most HBs, I lower the neck p/u decently far on the bass side, to keep things as clear as possible. The UM didn't sound at its best with that type of adjustment ... needed to be higher on the bass side. Since that p/u is hard-mounted on my partcaster tele body, not pickguard suspended, that represented a challenge.

Now it's just about right. If you like the clarity of the old Guild p/us, you'll love the UMs. They're spare sounding in a different way, not as mid-scooped as I find the HB-1s. The Guild p/us are louder, hotter too when you're really pushing the volume. The UM shines at higher volume too in it's own way. Fatter, a rich kind of drive you can push around with right hand position and pick technique.

I took a chance with Tom Short's stuff. Had never heard any of them, just had this feeling they'd work for me. And they surely do.
MD

 

[Zelja]

Thanks MD. They sound like a good option for sure. Look forward to your review & some clips when they're installed.
Cheers,
Z