Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

B

blues_jimmy

New member
Hey guys
This is my first post on here, although I have been browsing for a while trying to figure out the best pups for me but I thought it would be better if I give you guys more specifics for what I'm going for.
Ok so my guitar is an Epi G-400 and the amp I'm playing through is a 20w tube amp. I play in a blues band so what I'm looking for is a bridge pup which gives a raunchy overdriven tone for rhythms and a neck pup to give me hot, searing leads (think Gary Moore) as well as nice cleans.
There is just too many damn choices though! I've been tossing up between a 59b/PGn, PGb/Jazzn or even a Phat Cat in the bridge/PGn, as I've heard that p-90s are heaven in SG's..
Any advice/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
Also I'm not too keen on just getting a set of the same pups as I do require a fair bit of versatility for this particular band so keep please that in mind.
Cheers guys
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

The SG is a great guitar because so many pups work beautifully in it. I love the sound of a P-90 in the bridge of an SG, that would be my first suggestion. I love the tone of the GFS Mean 90. Another really good option is the P-Rails (the regular version, not the "hot" version, with an A8 next to the Rail), mounted with the Rail next to the bridge. The P-Rail mounted in a TripleShot ring gives you many options for great tone. But the C8 (Custom with an A8 magnet) is also a great choice for a hummer pup in an SG.

The best recommendation for the neck would be....you guessed it....Pearly Gates. But other good choices would be '59 (with a UOA5), or a '59b in the neck, or the Screamin Demon.

So.....

P-Rails(b)/Pearly Gates(n), or Mean 90(b)/Pearly(n)
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

I have a few Epi SG's myself (and play blues!). The most recommended PU's here for SG's are a C8/'59N. Pure magic for any genre. Warm bridge with lost of muscle, and very good clean. If you need an A8, PM me.
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

I've tried both a 59 set and a Custom 8/GFS Mean 90 combo in my SGs and honestly, the latter of the two has become my favorite pickup combo.

I couldn't tell you how close the Mean 90 (or the Phat Cat) is to an actual P90, but if you're looking for neck tone that's both snappy (like a single coil) and thick (like a humbucker), the Mean 90 is the way to go. Superb for playing the blues and a crystal clear clean tone.

As for the Custom 8, at first the idea of a magnet swap was very daunting, but thanks to members like blueman335, it really is easier than it sounds. Just practice on one of your stock pickups, err on the careful side, and you'll be glad you went through the trouble.
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

jambs said:
I couldn't tell you how close the Mean 90 (or the Phat Cat) is to an actual P90, but if you're looking for neck tone that's both snappy (like a single coil) and thick (like a humbucker), the Mean 90 is the way to go. Superb for playing the blues and a crystal clear clean tone.

As for the Custom 8, at first the idea of a magnet swap was very daunting, but thanks to members like blueman335, it really is easier than it sounds. Just practice on one of your stock pickups, err on the careful side, and you'll be glad you went through the trouble.
Click to expand...

The difference between HB-size P-90's and regular P-90's is pretty small, not enough to worry about, at least if they have A5's in them. Phat Cats have A2's and have a much darker neck and weaker bridge. I have a HB/P-90 combo in a couple SG's and yes, it is very nice. Also use that in a couple Dots. You get a clarity and sparkle in a P-90 that you can't get from a neck HB. Mean 90's are very popular here, definitely a lot of PU for the money.

Swapping mags is so quick and easy, and cheap, if people could just see someone do it, they'd realize how simple it is. No skill or experience required. So many guys have said 'Why didn't I do it sooner.'
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

I havent tried a C8 but I love the Custom 5 in an SG bridge. The 59 neck will be perfect too.
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

I've been LOVING my Duncan Designed Jazz neck in my "SG". Mine is a basswood copy so the wood is different, but the HB-102N sounds killer in both my basswood SG and in my Epiphone Pro/Fx Les Paul, where it is split and REALLY sounds killer. You can get them a bit cheaper than the real deal and both of mine are great. Just adding fuel to the fire here, because I agree with every pickup mentioned so far.
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

WELCOME TO THE DUNCAN FORUMS MATE !!!


I LOVE the 'older' (non Slash sig) A2P set in my SG.
Those things was just made for me.

For your Epi SG, i would look into the Slash A2P / '59[n].
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

Cheers for all the replies guys. I'd never heard of GFS pick ups before (they don't sell them here in Australia) but after looking into them they sound perfect. And effing cheap too and they also ship internationally which is a plus (Seymour duncan/Dimarzio pups are sold in the local music store here for around AU$180..!)
The C8 also sounds very appealing and mag swapping is something I'm going to have to learn in the near future, but unfortunately I'm a little short on cash atm so I think I'm going to just buy a set of mean90's for now and try them out in both the bridge and neck and later on look at replacing one of them with a HB.

SirJack, I'm playing through a Jet City JCA211RC, sounds very decent for the price.

Here's a rough demo of the kinda stuff my band plays (female fronted blues) www.reverbnation.com/tuesdaysgood
Please don't judge the tone haha as it's just a rough demo we recorded using virtual amps, but we're coming up to playing our first live show hence the investment in some lovely new pups!
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

blues_jimmy said:
Cheers for all the replies guys.

SirJack, I'm playing through a Jet City JCA211RC, sounds very decent for the price.

Here's a rough demo of the kinda stuff my band plays (female fronted blues) www.reverbnation.com/tuesdaysgood
Please don't judge the tone haha as it's just a rough demo we recorded using virtual amps, but we're coming up to playing our first live show hence the investment in some lovely new pups!
Click to expand...

Very Nice !

:cool2:
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

im in australia too! welcome to the forum.
Before you buy gfs....
i have had a bunch of their pups in different axes and while they are good....SD's are better.
A set made up of a 59in the neck and a custom in the bridge will give you a lot of scope...
1: cos they both are kick arse pickups
2. cos both pickups work great if you decide to do some magnet swapping later to tailor your tone a bit.

dont spend money that could go towards a really sexy set of pups on a cheaper set that wont hold resale value. Do your gig with what you have and get some great pups when you can.
 
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Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

Also....there are plenty of places on the 'bay to get cheap SD's too. (.com, not .com.au). I've only ever got one set from an Aussie store and they're 2x the price at least.

Mag swapping will be tougher nowadays as the usual source doesn't ship o/s any more.
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

For the price, I think you’ll be quite pleased with a set of Mean 90s until you get your hands on a decently-priced Custom 5 and an A8 magnet. Good luck!
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

Blues Jimmy is probably even more confused now than he was before asking his question. :eyecrazy:

Voiding Duncan's warranty by performing magnet swaps in brand new pickups is probably not what he had in mind.

My favorite SG tones come from SG's with alnico 5 pickups similar to the Duncan 59 (like Clapton's or Duane's) or Derek Trucks SG which, I think, has humbuckers with alnico 2 magnets.

I'm also an alnico 2 fan and prefer the tone of humbuckers with nickel covers, rather than uncovered.

I'd probably go with Seth Lovers or a set of nickel covered Pearly Gates if it was my SG.
 
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Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

I don't know about other GFS pups (I've heard that you just get what you Pay for), but the Mean 90 is really an excellent sounding P-90. You get way more than you pay for.
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

I have an Epiphone SG with a 59n and a Custom 5 in the bridge. I've tried the C8, CUOA5 and now I'm back to the C5. It just works better for me and is closer to the 59 in my opinion.

I also have a Squier tele with a GFS Mean 90 in the neck. Great pickup. But lately, I've been thinking about selling the C5, put the 59n in the tele, put the mean 90 neck in the sg and buy a mean 90 bridge also for the sg.

But I'll only do that if I buy a Les Paul... =P
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

why not try a set of standard P rails in your SG it'll give you a great P90 tone and great more modern humbucker tones. It'd be the best of both worlds. Unless you are after a vintagey humbucker tone I'd strongly suggest you go the P rail route.

I love the P rails in my PRS Santana SE the only thing I'd like to change is magnets in the bridge p'up from the A8 to A5.

Did I mention you also get a third voice with the rail tone that is very tele-ish. The middle position on rail mode is one of my favorite pickup voicings out of all my guitars.

And if you don't have the ability to install triple shots you can get all the wiring combos using push pull pots.
 
Re: Advise on Epiphone SG pleeeasseee

PRSfan nym 1985 said:
why not try a set of standard P rails in your SG it'll give you a great P90 tone and great more modern humbucker tones. It'd be the best of both worlds. Unless you are after a vintagey humbucker tone I'd strongly suggest you go the P rail route.

I love the P rails in my PRS Santana SE the only thing I'd like to change is magnets in the bridge p'up from the A8 to A5.

Did I mention you also get a third voice with the rail tone that is very tele-ish. The middle position on rail mode is one of my favorite pickup voicings out of all my guitars.

And if you don't have the ability to install triple shots you can get all the wiring combos using push pull pots.
Click to expand...

Actually, I'm "after a vintagey humbucker tone" =). This modern stuff is really not my thing. But thanks for the advice.
 
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