Mini humbucker sized suggestions

[noirpunk]

Hello all,

 

I'm want to modify a Harley Benton Beatbass to be able to make a half way house between Macca's two most famous basses, his Höfner and Rickenbacker.

I'm looking for some pickup suggestions - I'd like some Rickenbacker voiced pickups that are drop in, or would require minimal modification (for example, making my own pickup rings).

Any advice gratefully received 😁

[AlexDelores]

Interested in this too. At some point I’d like to upgrade my Gretsch, from what i can see, I’ve only seen that TV Jones offer a few mini humbucker options…

 

https://tvjones.com/bass-pickups/

 

And, i think Seymour Duncan also offer a Mini Bass Humbucker.

 

Can’t comment on any of them as it’s just from my own research rather than experience.

[pn_day]

Might be worth looking at retrovibe to see if he has any that are the correct size.

https://retrovibe.co.uk/product-category/parts/pickups/

 

 

[TrevorR]

Also have a chat to Steve at Catswhisker… they make great pickups and are very amenable to tweaks.

https://www.catswhiskerpickups.co.uk

 

[ped]

Gemini pickups might do something to fit

[PaulThePlug]

Warman Firebucker?

Or,

These Roswell's would look smart on a beetle bass and keep it in tge HB family

https://www.musicstore.com/en_GB/GBP/Roswell-Pickups-LGM101-N-CR-Gold-Foil-Mini-Humbucker-Neck/art-GIT0053231-000

Edited September 20 by PaulThePlug

[noirpunk]

Those Roswells look a bit lovely! I might put those on another one of my violin basses

[AlexDelores]

On 20/09/2025 at 21:16, PaulThePlug said:

Warman Firebucker?

Or,

These Roswell's would look smart on a beetle bass and keep it in tge HB family

https://www.musicstore.com/en_GB/GBP/Roswell-Pickups-LGM101-N-CR-Gold-Foil-Mini-Humbucker-Neck/art-GIT0053231-000

I clocked these as they’re very pretty but are they not guitar pickups rather than bass? 
 

 

 

[PaulThePlug]

I spoke with Warman some time back when i was looking for something to replace the toaster-a-likes in a ric-ish

They use blade magnets.

[NHM]

On 19/09/2025 at 08:36, AlexDelores said:

Interested in this too. At some point I’d like to upgrade my Gretsch, from what i can see, I’ve only seen that TV Jones offer a few mini humbucker options…

 

https://tvjones.com/bass-pickups/

 

And, i think Seymour Duncan also offer a Mini Bass Humbucker.

 

Can’t comment on any of them as it’s just from my own research rather than experience.

I've put a Thunderblade in my Junior Jet, and it's been a really good upgrade.

[AlexDelores]

13 hours ago, NHM said:

I've put a Thunderblade in my Junior Jet, and it's been a really good upgrade.

Good to know, thank you! 

[Woodinblack]

I have been looking at the magnetic field of the pickups in my rickenbacker 4003, and they are the weakest magnetic field of any pickup in any instrument in the house, which probably also says why they are quite low output, compared to the 'hi gain' pickups in my 4004, which  are about normal for most pickups.

Not sure how that affects the tone, but it must do somehow!

[kodiakblair]

On 10/10/2025 at 19:31, AlexDelores said:

but are they not guitar pickups rather than bass? 

 

The Roswell gold foil has an alnico bar instead of slugs. The bar spans 56mm, slightly longer than the centres between poles on a jazz bass bridge position, you could fit them at bridge or neck positions without any issues.