Gibson Revamps the Les Paul Special with Exciting Mini Humbucker Options
Gibson has made a important update to its Les Paul Special electric guitar series by introducing two new models that feature mini-humbuckers—an innovation that may be a first for this iconic line.
Actually, this marks a historic moment in the 70-year journey of the Les paul Special, as it is indeed likely the first time these guitars have been offered with mini-humbuckers.While the SG Special had mini-humbuckers in the 1970s, the Les Paul variant had not previously included this option.
New Models: A Modern Twist on Tradition
The newly launched models are aptly named “Les Paul Special with Mini humbuckers” and ”Les Paul Special with Mini Humbucker and P-90,” both of which embody the phrase “A Modern Twist on Tradition.” The latter model features a mini-humbucker at the neck and a P-90 pickup at the bridge, providing a versatile sound palette.
Both guitars are exclusively available in a stunning Tobacco Burst finish, ensuring they make a striking impression on stage.
The Unique Sound of mini Humbuckers
The mini-humbucker was originally developed by Epiphone, and Gibson acquired this design when it purchased the brand in the late 1950s. The company describes the tonal quality of the mini-humbucker as a blend between a traditional PAF-style humbucker and a P-90,capturing the best attributes of both.
According to Gibson, these pickups provide a “brighter and more open tone” compared to standard humbucker pickups, merging the clarity associated with P-90s and the warmth of humbuckers while remaining free of hum.
Notable Artists and Specifications
Prominent guitarists such as Johnny Winter, Scott Gorham from thin Lizzy, Pete Townshend of The Who, and paul Gilbert from Mr.Big have all favored mini-humbuckers for their unique tonal qualities.
In addition to the innovative pickups, these new Gibson models retain the classic specifications of the Les Paul Special, including a solid mahogany body, a mahogany neck, and a bound rosewood fretboard featuring 22 medium jumbo frets. The bridge is designed as a one-piece wraparound for enhanced sustain.
Similar to its more robust Les Paul counterparts, the Special includes individual volume and tone controls for each pickup, enhanced with Orange Drop capacitors.Additionally, a GraphTech nut is incorporated to reduce friction and improve tuning stability.
For more facts, visit Gibson’s official website.
In recent news, Gibson celebrated a legal victory in its copyright infringement case against Dean Guitars.
