blueman335

hey blueman, i need some help to choose pickups for my epiphone sg custom. can you help me please? i liked the sh-1 59(neck) and sh-15 alternative 8 (bridge) what do you think?
(i'm from brazil, sorry my english)

I'd try an UOA5 and see if that gives enough treble and cut. If not, then (in order) an A4, A3, or A5. The PGN mids are nice, gives a full sound, but I hate to give up the high end to get the mids.

it didnt have the cut i wanted if you understand what im saying, i think the rosewood fretboard plays a part in that. it ws kind of muddy or to round like you said. also i found out from my friend who i got the pickup from thats its a pearly gates plus bridge he put a2 in, not a reg pearly gates. would you try the uoa5 in it or get something else?

Was the PGN too rounded on top? That's the issue I had with mine. Too smooth. I put in an A3 and got a sharper high end. Since A2's are the warmest magnet, anything else will give more treble. Why not try an A3, A4, or UOA5 in your PGN first?

i have another question, first of i love the c8 its a great pickup. problem is i dont like the pearly gates in the neck, what other pickup do you think will get me where i want to go. i was thinking maybe a 59 with a uoa5 in it?

Thanks so much, your advice is much appreciated!!

For a heavy blues tone, I'd put an A8 or UOA5 in the Custom. They'll fatten up the sound and you'll get plenty of output and sustain.

ok i also have a pearly gates bridge im not using i could swap magnets in, in your opinion if you were putting this in your strat, between the three pickups (pg,59,custom)what magnet in what pickup would get me closer to what im looking for? thanks for all your help!!

Gary Moore had a powerful warm tone, with a lot of OD and sustain. Putting an A8 in either the Custom or the '59 will work. The '59 will be a little brighter, more vinatge, a little less compressed. A C8 is a high-powered version of it. Both are very good clean. The decision revolves around wanting to be more vintage or more modern. Both are good choices and you shouldn't be disappointed with either.

from reading the forums you seem to be very knowledgeable about magnet swaps. i have a hh strat with a floyd rose trem and a rosewood fretboard. im trying to get a gary moore still got the blues tone from the live in montreux 90 dvd. i cant find a stock pickup that gets me close to what im looking for, 59b,sh5,jb. im looking for a heavy paf les paul tone but from a strat. if i put a alnico 8 into one of those pickups which one do you think will get me closer to what im looking for? i still have the 59, and the sh5. i know youre a fan o the c8, just wondering what advice you can give me. thanks so much for your time.

Hey... I PMed you but I don't know if you got it. Just wanted to see how you're doing and everything. Cheers man.

Glad you like it; many guys do. C8's are one of Duncan's best bridge PU's. They should be a production model.

Thanks for the info blue. I'm pretty sure it was you that suggested the cc w/ an a8 mag. I took your advice on that & i love the cc8 in my lp

Enjoy pickups

Phat Cats have two A2 magnets, very dark in the neck slot, almost no treble. Sounds like it's in a closet.I swap mags and put in an A5/A5 or an A5/A4. That gives much more clarity and definition. I have a Dot with with a Phat Cat in the neck (A5/A4) it has more of an open sound than an HB would. The GFS Mean 90 (not 'Dream 90') is one of the best for the money (two A5's). Look under P-90's on eBay for more brands.

Any PAF in the bridge slot is a good choice and would pair up nicely with a neck P-90. It's a great pairning of PU's. I like a neck P-90 more than a split neck HB, which is pretty thin-sounding. You could split the bridge HB, and in the middle toggle position, it'd pair up with the P-90. And...if you put a second push-pull on the bridge for out-of-phase, it would also change which coil is on when the HB is split. That'd give about 10 PU combinations, instead of the usual 3.

One of my son's bandmates asked me to rewire his Sheraton. I've suggested either the PGs or 59's. He's wondering if a Phat Cat would sound ok in the neck w/PG in the bridge. Have you ever put a Phat Cat into a Sheraton or Dot? Or would suggest using a four lead liek the PG and splitting the coils. Thanks.

Toby

It's quite ridiculous how things work out isn't it? You took advantage of a young kid. I hope somewhere in your head you understand this.

I just hope you know it was wrong what you did.

wuts goin on

Thank you! I sent an email, hopefully it gets to you.