Mighty Mite Motherbucker 23K

The Motherbucker 23k is probably one of the most interesting high-power humbuckers to come out of Mighty Mite.

Some might be thinking of this behemoth from the olden days: Three coils! Bet you don’t miss any string coverage with that bad boy! LOL! In fairness, reports are that older version is more of a moderate wind. Today’s Motherbucker is a different story. This is one that clocks in at at 23k (and has just 2 coils!).

Regular readers know that a fair amount of coverage is given on this site to humbuckers that clock in at over 20k. How about we have a look at what sets this bad boy apart!

Installation

The Motherbucker 23k is going in to an alder body with a maple neck and 25-1/2″ maple board. It has a Floyd Rose double locking tremolo system with an official Floyd Rose brass block. The harness is a Bourns 500k volume pot going straight to a Pure Tone 1/4″ jack. Strings are 10-46 gauge with a standard E tuning.

DCR, Output, and AWG

You might still be wondering what makes the Motherbucker 23k different. Clear, open-sounding versatility. Sure, plenty of places promote clarity. Getting clarity at 23k is another thing altogether. Let’s be clear about clarity. LOL! A 16k humbucker is not 2x as much output as a 8k. How so? You’re average 16k is going to be using 44 AWG, where your typical 8k is generally 42 AWG. So it’s not just 2x of the same wire. Also, let’s not forget that DCR is not output.

This new Motherbucker 23k is 45 AWG. So it’s not like it’s 50% more of the same wire as your garden variety 16k hot-rod. However, it’s still a healthy dose of resistance. What does resistance do? It resists! HaHa! And THAT is what can lead to a lot of compression or congestion in the character. And THAT is what this Motherbucker 23k skirts around.

Evaluation

Leave it to the pickup guru in the Mighty Mite pickup R&D to come up with this. This is the same cool cat that virtually reinvented the 16k hot-rod with the new Motherbucker 16k.

It’s big and strong and even sensitive. What? Imagine a big brutish personality that knows when to crush and can still be subtle. This pickup is very responsive to playing style and finger technique. And isn’t that one of the best qualities of a good pickup? To be able to get out of the way enough to let the player’s personality shine?

What do you do with a rip-roaring face-melter like this humbucker? Literally whatever you want. It has a surprisingly even voice across the frequencies. Big and bold lows, but no overbearing thump. Plenty of high end without being shrill or ice-picky. The midrange hits a sweet spot the accentuates the best of everything else going on around it. This also makes it extra super duper sensitive to all of your harmonic content.

Secret Weapon

There’s more? You bet! The one feature of the Motherbucker 23k that keeps me in total befuddlement. Response to a clean amp setting. Why is that? Hit a clean channel and it’s glassy and chimey and snappy, as-in in full series mode. The type of a response to a clean voice that you expect from a PAF, but not from a hot rod. You generally expect to have to go to a split wiring configuration for this sort of transpicuous response.

Demo

There are currently no demo videos or sanctioned examples of the smoking-hot brand-new Motherbucker 23k. When there is something available, this space will get an update.

Specs

Conclusion

The Mighty Mite Motherbucker 23k is going to be good for blues rock, garage, grunge, punk, hardcore, hard rock, progressive metal, thrash, shred, tech metal, 80s metal, classic rock, pop, fusion, alternative rock, progressive rock, heavy rock, and more. It is available with black or with zebra bobbins, short mounting legs, and 4-con lead wire.

For reference, this Mighty Mite Motherbucker 23k humbucker pickup evaluation was conducted with the following: Fractal Axe-Fx II XL+ featuring Celestion Impluse Responses and Fractal MFC-101 MIDI Foot Controller. ADA MP-1 Tube Pre-Amp loaded with Tube Amp Doctor ECC83 Premium Selected tubes, using the ADA MC-1 MIDI Controller. Fryette LX II Stereo Tube Power Amplifier. Physical cabs use are Marshall 1960B, Mojotone British, and Peavey 6505 cabs loaded with Celestion Classic Series Vintage 30s and Classic Series G12M Greenbacks.

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