Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

[Gerr]

I am overhauling my SGJ and installing gold hardware, so need a set of pickups that come in Gold and would like to stick to Duncan pups. My music playing is 70's Classic Rock to 80's Hard Rock, but want something as universal as possible. Will be playing through a Blackstar HT-5 with a Greenback in it.

I had(sold) a LP with a 59n(A4) & C8 and liked that combo, but an SG is a different animal than a LP, so wondering if that is still the best combo or if I should look at other pickups. Not a fan of A2 magnets, but don't mind swapping magnets.

Other pickups I am considering...

Neck:
59(A4) = liked it in my LP.
Stock 59 = read that SG's are very middy, so would the A5 work better here?
Jazz = better cleans but less breakup than 59?
Pearly Gates = While an A2 based pup, has a unique sound that I like, but how universal is it?

Bridge:
Custom8 = liked it in my LP.
Custom5 = read that SG's are very middy, so would the A5 work better here?
Distortion = too hot?
JB = heard it doesn't sound good in Mahogany?
Pearly Gates = While an A2 based pup, has a unique sound that I like, but how universal is it?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

A PG set is incredibly versatile. Never mind the A2 part. The magnet doesn't tell the whole story, and many of the beliefs about them are wrong anyhow. You might also consider the WLH set, which sound amazing in an SG.

 

[LogicallyInsane]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

I've got a set of '59s in my SG styled guitar... Love 'em! I play lots of classic rock, as well as some modern stuff.. They clean up nice, and can get nitty gritty if needbe... Put 'em in a couple months ago, and been recommending 'em ever since!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

I've got a set of '59s in my SG styled guitar... Love 'em! I play lots of classic rock, as well as some modern stuff.. They clean up nice, and can get nitty gritty if needbe... Put 'em in a couple months ago, and been recommending 'em ever since!

+1. '59's in SG's are great.

 

[Gerr]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

While I am sure they can handle AC/DC and other 70's Classic Rock, can they handle the heavier side of 80's, ie Motley Crew, GnR. What about some light metal like the Black album Metallica or 80's Iron Maiden? Figured I would have to go at least into the Custom range for that?

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

I had a 59n and a JB in an SG special and I liked it. The 59n was particularly great.

 

[Snottyboy]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

While I am sure they can handle AC/DC and other 70's Classic Rock, can they handle the heavier side of 80's, ie Motley Crew, GnR. What about some light metal like the Black album Metallica or 80's Iron Maiden? Figured I would have to go at least into the Custom range for that?

I've got a '59n/Custom5b in my SG. I think it's a great combination for anything clean to heavy. I don't know that you necessarily have to go to a Custom in the bridge, but I like having a little extra juice there...the cleaner tones are still great.

 

[Gerr]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

Was going through my guitar equipment last night and found a couple pickups that I had forgotten about that might work.

I have a brand new all black Duncan Custom-8 and a set of Gibson 57 Classics(57n & Super-57b) in Zebra that were pulled from a Traditional Pro-2. It shouldn't be too hard gold them up, ie replace the pole screws with gold ones and put a gold cover on them. Plus I have a good stock of various magnets, so can do most any magnet swap and can also redo the wax potting on any pickup.

Using the Gibson pups would be the least expensive route as I would only need to buy gold covers and pole screws, but there are a lot of mixed reviews of these pickups. I could easily change the magnets to one of the following sets:
A3/UOA5
A4/A4
A4/UOA5
A4/A8
A5/A5

But even with a magnet swap, am I still better off using Duncan's?

If I did go with Duncan's, I would use the C8 for the bridge, but then what neck should I pair it up with? I could do a 59n with an A4 magnet making this Kojak's favorite set, but what about a Jazz or PG in the neck? Could easily swap magnets in those as well.

Thoughts?

 

[epi]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

I had a Jazz/Invader in my Epi SG for a while, I sold the guitar, but the guy who bought it still has the same combo, it will remain my favorite combo ever

 

[Demanic]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

How about Jazz neck with Distortion bridge?

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

For overall versatility, a C5/59n combo is very hard to beat on an SG. I'm not a huge fan of the C5 overall, but it just works in this application; the mids fill out nicely for a great balanced sound with some cut. My .02.

I'd imagine the WLH set would also be awesome, being a growlier 59, but I'll refrain from saying more, since I haven't tried it directly (yet).

 

[Gerr]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

For overall versatility, a C5/59n combo is very hard to beat on an SG. I'm not a huge fan of the C5 overall, but it just works in this application; the mids fill out nicely for a great balanced sound with some cut.

That's what I was thinking, that the scooped mids from the A5 in a 59/C5 combo would be balanced out by the extra mids SG's generally produce. Or would a 59n(A4) & C8 combo still be better in an SG?

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

That's what I was thinking, that the scooped mids from the A5 in a 59/C5 combo would be balanced out by the extra mids SG's generally produce. Or would a 59n(A4) & C8 combo still be better in an SG?

Based on my recent experiences, I'd suggest living a while with the A5 versions of both, mess with pickup heights, then tweak if you still need more or less of something. You may find that they balance out very well as-is. I've been all over the map with the Custom in my Epiphone (if you try a ceramic in the Custom, try a double-thick, btw!), and keep coming back to the A5 as the best all-rounder. Best cleans, clearest voice, just an overall good sound with punch that I can shape at the amp.

I recently bought an SGJ, too, and love the new "61 Zebra" 'buckers that Gibson is putting in there. Great guitar for the price.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

Loved Clapton's sound with an SG. Those would have been stock Gibson a5 humbuckers similar to Duncan 59's except that they wouldn't have been calibrated: both would have been like a 59b.

Duane Allman got a great tone with his SG too - same pickups.

That'd be suggestion: Duncan 59's since you said you didn't want alnico 2.

Although Derek Trucks (for my money, today's greatest SG player) usually uses Duncan Antiquitys in his SG...alnico 2.

We agree on '59's! Oh happy day!

I'm thinking Derek has Gibson '57's in his SG, thought I saw that somewhere, or maybe that's what he has in his signature SG?

 

[Gerr]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I decided to use my existing Custom8 and just put on a gold cover and replace the pole screws with gold ones. As for the neck, I have had a 59 in several guitars, so decided to try something slightly different and ordered a Jazz neck. Not really looking for PAF tones, but something a tad stronger, so the combo of a Jazz/C8 should do nicely...I hope!

 

[Snottyboy]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

You might consider waiting to put the cover on the C8 to see how you like it first. If it doesn't quite fit, you would be able to swap magnets easier. Just a thought. Interested to hear how the Jazz works out for you, too. Follow up later.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

I decided to use my existing Custom8 and just put on a gold cover and replace the pole screws with gold ones. As for the neck, I have had a 59 in several guitars, so decided to try something slightly different and ordered a Jazz neck. Not really looking for PAF tones, but something a tad stronger, so the combo of a Jazz/C8 should do nicely...I hope!

C8's are very good in SG's.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

If the looks is not a huge issue, I suggest a PATB-3. Hell of a pickup. Think of a thicker 59. The closest one I can think of is a Brobucker.

B

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

How many threads about pups for an SG do we have to endure?

Just do a search and you'll find oodles of threads on the subject.

That being said, you can't do much better than a C8 in the bridge of an SG. Yes there are MANY pups that will sound terrific, but C8 can do anything there.

 

[Snottyboy]

Re: Pickup recomendation for Gibson SG...

That being said, you can't do much better than a C8 in the bridge of an SG. Yes there are MANY pups that will sound terrific, but C8 can do anything there.

Now see how you just added value to this *redundant* thread?? :fing2: