Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

[gripweed]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

Blueman, you never met an a5 pickup that you ever liked, nor a pickup where you didn't want to swap a magnet. So just grow up already. Just because you have an opinion, it doesn't make you right. In fact you just sound like a conceited jerk.

When it comes to things like pickups, it's all so subjective anyway.

[Zak99b5]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

Hi all--new to the forum, but I have the same guitar , epi g400 ( mine's a mid 2000s 1966 reissue) and I also want to put in different oick ups. The stock ones are ok, but the neck is louder than the bridge. The neck is also very dark. The bridge is pretty good, but seems to be missing just a little something. Combined they sound pretty good. Maybe I should try too de-wax the tops per Mr. B's suggestion.

Aywhoo, I do not play hair metal. I do play AC/DC, Zeppelin, old Sabbath, the Dead, Stones, Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse, and even some newer stuff like the Flaming Lips and New Pornographers. I know that's pretty diverse, and I also have a strat I play for some stuff.

The tone wizard suggested an SH5 custom bridge and SH 14 59 neck. But I see this package of Hot Rodded pickups that seems like that may be what I am after.

Thanks in advance for any help

Oh I play through a Roland Jazz-Chorus 50 that I got new in the mid 80s.

[Zak99b5]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

Sorry--my memory was fuzzy. It was SH 14 Custom 5 bridge. ’59 neck.

[blueman335]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

Blueman, you never met an a5 pickup that you ever liked, nor a pickup where you didn't want to swap a magnet.

Wrong again, Elvis. I have a lot of A5 magets, in bridge and neck PU's, HB's and P-90's.

I thought you had a sense of humor...

[Zak99b5]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

Ok, another thread I found while searching the epi SG seemed to lean toward the '59 set. Seems reasonable.

Then I saw the Whole Lotta Humbucker set. Almost 2x the price of the '59s (with chrome covers). The video was of a Gibby LP, not an SG, but it sounded great to me. Specs seem to indicate to me (a newbie in the world of pickups) that they are 59s with just a little more.

I guess I am asking if the improvement over the stock pickups in this guitar is going to be worth it in an ROI point of view. I have no doubts that either set of SD pickups would be improvements. I am not a regularly gigging musician. The stock pickups are decent in the Epi. Close, but not completely where my old Gibson SG was. The '59 set is a reasonable investment in an oriental-made guitar, price wise, to me. The Whole Lotta have an awesome sound, but they seem to deserve to be in a better guitar. Are they almost 2x as good as the ’59s?

[Blues_SG]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

There is no 2,3,4 x better... either You like the sound or You don`t.
If You think there is no difference between Epi pups and SD ones, then leave it, it is not worth the investment in Your case.

If You look at the resell price, than every modding You do on Your guitar is money thrown away... You`ll almost never get back the money you spent on Your guitar when reselling it.
But if You mod Your guitar `cause You love her, ...it is like buyng flowers or a ring for Your wife ...the excitement (and payback in the bedroom) will last for a while, but sooner or later She`ll want a new ring to drive You to the same hights (usually a more expensive one :P )

[Zak99b5]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

I appreciate the feedback. I do not think there will be little or no difference between the SD and Epi pickups. I am assuming that either the 59 set and whole lotta set will be a be a big step up.

It's just difficult to know what to go with when I cannot audition pickups in my rig. Sooooo many variables.

From what I've read here, the 59s should get me close to the tone I am after with my epi SG. No one, that I have read, has suggested the whole lottas for an SG. Not sure why. They sound great in an LP. But I don't have an LP of course.

Guess I have to experiment more.

And since I am a car guy I know all about mods not being investments. Believe me.

[blueman335]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

If You look at the resell price, than every modding You do on Your guitar is money thrown away... You`ll almost never get back the money you spent on Your guitar when reselling it.

Which is why you keep the parts you take off, so you can return it to stock if you decide to sell it later. And you never drill or cut a guitar. Do that, and you never lose money.

[symptom]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

The awful truth:
Most part of the questions around here would be answered with the good old suggestion: "a pair of 59s and a couple of magnets to experiment will get you there"

[Blues_SG]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

The awful truth:
Most part of the questions around here would be answered with the good old suggestion: "a pair of 59s and a couple of magnets to experiment will get you there"

That is not true... it all depends how You formulate Your question and how well You explane what tone are You looking for.

Take this thread as an example: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/show...or-a-Bluesy-SG

...there are very few suggestions for the `59, since they are too bright for the type of sound I described, and no Custom 5 that is "standard" on an SG ...

I find the suggestions in this forum very good and competent.

[symptom]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

That is not true... it all depends how You formulate Your question and how well You explane what tone are You looking for.

Take this thread as an example: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/show...or-a-Bluesy-SG

...there are very few suggestions for the `59, since they are too bright for the type of sound I described, and no Custom 5 that is "standard" on an SG ...

I find the suggestions in this forum very good and competent.

An A459n and A859b would suit your need. But you're right, your thread was one of the only i saw recommending Alnico 2 pros for an SG.

BUT, in your thread you've done something that little of us do: narrowed your kind of music. A lot of people come here asking for a pickup to play clean jazz, classic rock, spank rock and metal at the same time. And here you're right again, when you ask right, you get more accurate answers.

[smauk43]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

Thanks for the suggestions guys. The answer about Dimarzio is interesting. I did have a Super D/Tone Zone combo in an Ibanez SZ 320. The Super was fine. The Tone Zone in the neck I thought sucked. But not sure if differences in the two guitars may change that. And yes even though it ain't cool to admit, I am a one trick pony hair metaler

[gripweed]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

I do have a good sense of humor, this just wasn't funny.

[CountFeedback]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

Hi all--new to the forum, but I have the same guitar , epi g400 ( mine's a mid 2000s 1966 reissue) and I also want to put in different oick ups. The stock ones are ok, but the neck is louder than the bridge. The neck is also very dark. The bridge is pretty good, but seems to be missing just a little something. Combined they sound pretty good. Maybe I should try too de-wax the tops per Mr. B's suggestion.

Aywhoo, I do not play hair metal. I do play AC/DC, Zeppelin, old Sabbath, the Dead, Stones, Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse, and even some newer stuff like the Flaming Lips and New Pornographers. I know that's pretty diverse, and I also have a strat I play for some stuff.

The tone wizard suggested an SH5 custom bridge and SH 14 59 neck. But I see this package of Hot Rodded pickups that seems like that may be what I am after.

Thanks in advance for any help

Oh I play through a Roland Jazz-Chorus 50 that I got new in the mid 80s.

59s should do fine, the SH5 Rocks but I think the 59 will give you more woody mojo for Stones & Neil Young type stuff.
Whole Lotta Humbuckers I want to try, specs and samples sound good, price is $$ a little higher.

[Zak99b5]

Re: Replace pickups in an Epi SG 400?

59s should do fine, the SH5 Rocks but I think the 59 will give you more woody mojo for Stones & Neil Young type stuff.
Whole Lotta Humbuckers I want to try, specs and samples sound good, price is $$ a little higher.

Well, I found a set of Whole Lotta Humbuckers on Amazon, no cover, for under $200 shipped so I went for it.

Now for installation. My SG has the full bat-wing pick guard, so the pups are not parallel to the strings. Should I put the middle of the pickup 1/8" to 1/16" or the high side 1/16”?

I am also thinking about reassigning one of the volume pots as a coil tap for the bridge, but that will come later. I will replace the stock pot with an unloaded one.

I did record each of the three positions clean and with fuzz playing the same song so I can compare the stock with the SDs after install.