Another SG Thread!

C

Cryptoyourisan

New member
Hey guys,

Sorry if you've already had to put up with a million SG threads but I'm just too damn lazy to read through them all. Anyway, I've recently come across a Gibson SG Special Faded with Gibson 490R and 490T pick ups. Whilst I quite like the guitar in general, I think I'll be changing out at least the bridge pick up. I've never owned an SG before so am looking for advice as to whether the likes of a JB will be suitable for one and whether having pick up covers will make any kind of difference.

I mainly play '70s and '80s Rock and Metal, e.g. Bad Company, Def Leppard, Led Zeppelin and the like. I think I could live with the 490R but the bridge pick up doesn't really cut it. I'm not sure if this is just an inherent problem with SGs or if a certain pick up will make the guitar sound a bit meatier. I'd probably change out the neck pick up for a '59 as well.

Cheers,

Iain
 
Re: Another SG Thread!

I've tried a lot of pickups in my SG. I settled on the stock 498t bridge and the Duncan '59 neck. Awesome.
 
Re: Another SG Thread!

IMO, the 490 set is the best all-around, versatile rock set that Gibson makes for an SG. With the proper adjustments, you shouldn't need to change out a thing; you can use the amp settings to get what you need specifically. Try raising the whole pickup if it is not dark enough for you. If it is dark enough for you already, but it is too quiet, just raise the polepieces, and/or lower the neck pickup. You will be amazed how much you can change the sound of a pickup with a simple setup.
 
Re: Another SG Thread!

ItsaBass said:
IMO, the 490 set is the best all-around, versatile rock set that Gibson makes for an SG. With the proper adjustments, you shouldn't need to change out a thing; you can use the amp settings to get what you need specifically. Try raising the whole pickup if it is not dark enough for you. If it is dark enough for you already, but it is too quiet, just raise the polepieces, and/or lower the neck pickup. You will be amazed how much you can change the sound of a pickup with a simple setup.
Click to expand...

I've changed the strings but it still has its factory set-up in terms of action, pick up and bridge heights. As is, the bridge pick up is about as high as it will go and weirdly the pole pieces haven't been altered at all. I assume because it's a budget Gibson they don't spend too long setting them up.

I've used Seymour Duncans for about 10 years but am only a recent convert to Les Pauls and don't know much about Gibson pick ups. Does anyone rate the 498 as a bridge pick up?
 
Re: Another SG Thread!

My complain with the 490 set was too warm and muddy neck an too bright and thin bridge pup. A mag swap cured that. I put the bridge A5 in the neck and a A8 in the bridge. The guitar still looks stock and the overall costs were 10 bucks. Hard to beat
P.S. I clipped the neck's tone cap -but thats just me.
 
Re: Another SG Thread!

hamerfan said:
My complain with the 490 set was too warm and muddy neck an too bright and thin bridge pup. A mag swap cured that. I put the bridge A5 in the neck and a A8 in the bridge. The guitar still looks stock and the overall costs were 10 bucks. Hard to beat.
Click to expand...

+1. Listen to this man! :friday: I've done the exact same thing myself. An A5 in a 490R makes it clear like a '59N, but without the boominess. And A8 in the 490T gives it more output and mids, and dials down the treble. Much improved tones. Works for many guitars and many genres.
 
Re: Another SG Thread!

I gigged for many many years with an SG Junior with a JB in the bridge and it sounded awesome.

This is it:

 
Re: Another SG Thread!

Took my old SG to a jam night tonight. Three people asked if they could have a go and it sounded wonderful through an old (very old) Park amp with a vintage Tubescreamer for solos. Another guy turned up with a Charvel San Dimas also with a JB bridge.

Now, I thought the Charvel was the natural home for a JB but it sounded TERRIBLE. Thin, scratchy, all the bad things that say about JBs. So it just goes to show..............
 
Re: Another SG Thread!

blueman335 said:
+1. Listen to this man! :friday: I've done the exact same thing myself. An A5 in a 490R makes it clear like a '59N, but without the boominess. And A8 in the 490T gives it more output and mids, and dials down the treble. Much improved tones. Works for many guitars and many genres.
Click to expand...

How easy is it to do?
 
Re: Another SG Thread!

ItsaBass said:
Magnet swaps on uncovered pickups are easy as pie.
Click to expand...

Is it just a matter of unscrewing the baseplate and swapping one magnet for another? Is there any re-winding, soldering or glueing involved? Also, I know nothing about magnets - what should I be looking to use? I actually quite like the 490R but the 490T is just a bit weak. No real gripes with how it sounds.
 
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Re: Another SG Thread!

You don't even need to desolder the pickup leads most of the time, and you may not even have to adjust the height of your pickup.

This is what I do. (It'll probably take me longer to write out how to do it than it will do actually do it.)

1. Take your strings off.
2. Put a rag over your guitar.
3. Unscrew the pickup ring and lift the pickup out along with the ring. Lay it on its face on the rag.
4. Carefully unpeel any coil tape, taking care not to tear it if possible. Only the outer layer needs to come off, not the layer around each coil. Peel until you can clearly see the ends of the bar magnet on both sides. Save the tape.
5. Loosen, but do not remove, the tiny brass-colored screws that hold the bobbins to the baseplate. You only need to loosen each screw a few turns.
6. Elevate both bobbins from the baseplate. You only need a tiny bit of elevation off of the plate. A mini screwdriver used as a pry bar works great. Just insert it between the bobbins and baseplate, and give it a gentle twist. Take care not to damage any of the solders.
7. Using a nail punch (or a flathead screwdriver) and a hammer, gently tap the magnet out halfway. It may take a good initial whack to break the adhesion of the wax.
8. Get the new magnet, and see which side of it sticks to the old one. You should be trying to stick the long side edges together, not the short ends or the large flat surface. When the new mag sticks to the old one, they are aligned the same way. With a Sharpie, write a "T" on the side of the new mag that will be closest to the top of the pickup.
9. Pull the old mag out entirely, after marking its top surface with a T.
10. Put the new mag in its place, with the Sharpie mark toward the top of the pickup. make sure the mag is centered, and that it is in contact with the keeper bar and spacer.
11. Squeeze the "pickup sandwich" tightly between your fingers and thumb (or use a tiny clamp like I do), and tighten the tiny brass-colored bobbin screws.
12. Hit the whole pickup with a heat gun for 10 or 20 seconds. (I do this with the clamp still tightened.)
13. Reapply the old tape, or replacement tape if you are having trouble reinstalling the old tape. 3M Photo Tape works great, but gaffer tape is a bad idea, as it gets really gummy over time.
14. Let it cool.
15. Screw the pickup ring back onto the guitar.
16. Restring.
 
Re: Another SG Thread!

Cool! I'll give it a go - ordered an A5 for the 490R and an A8 for the 490T. I had to order from the states (I'm in the UK) but I'll let you know the results.
 
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