Antiquities in SG standard?

EFK

New member
Anyone using antiquities in SG standard? I have a 2003 SG standard, 1 pc. body, great fat neck, 11/52 strings. I hate the 498/490. Everytime I fire it up a little dirty I feel like I should be launching into passage to bangkok. Too heavy for me. Thick sludge at neck or icepick in my brain at bridge. Ouch! I would like this to sound like a 63-68 vintage piece, not much more. I'd be happy! Disraeli Gears, Mick Abraham on the first Tull album alhough I guess the wah being glued to their feet affects tone a lot, maybe some Allmans (doesn;t get much better than Blue Sky) and at the MOST really early ACDC. IF you listen to the opening of Down Payment Blues and balance out Malcolm, there's this great wonky tubular sound on Angus's lower registers. Same on Riff Raff solo. Kind of weird but highly appealing for a harsher, biting lead sound without stabbing you in the eyeball. So what were mid 60s SG standards using? I believe they would be A4 or A5 magnets by that point, correct? Unpotted also, right? Anyone verify this for certain? I've heard the new Gibson pickups, sound ok but not overwhelming and good god the price! I'm not paying boutique prices either, I'm not that good and the few I've heard. I've never heard a Seymour in an SG so don;t know exactly where to go. I have the stock pots in it now but also do have the RS kit with 500Ks and PIO capacitors. Can make use of that also in conjunction. I'm thinking the antiquities would go well, although I'm worried the weakened A2 might be to dark, 59's according to specs seem comparable in an A5 but numbers don't always tell the story.... Anyone w/ an SG within these same parameters have suggestions? What about swapping up to A4 or 5 in the antiquities? I am not afraid to use the volume and tone dials, so if an A2 is too dark you can't really brighten it if you're already on 10, but if the A5 is a bit bright you can always pull Clapton and roll down the tone. Don;t mean to drag this on - trying to be as specific as possible - I really like this SG and would like to tailor it exactly to what I want. I don;t need aboslute crystal clear as I usually dirty it up slightly anyway. Just not late 70s/80s heavy! Any help much appreciated!
 
Re: Antiquities in SG standard?

I'd suggest a Custom 5/Pearly Gates neck with nickel covers for that guitar. That's a really popular set for SG's where you want vintage articulation, but also some balls.
 
Re: Antiquities in SG standard?

You want a pair of Jazz or of APHs, IMHO.

My Antiquities were starting a fight with my full-mahogany Explorer. I think the Antiquities are more of a Les Paul pickup.

The Ants probably come out better for the SG with A5 but you ruin the resell value of expensive pickups for no good reason.
 
Re: Antiquities in SG standard?

I've got a 2004 SG Standard with a 59n/C5 combination. Even though I'm the type of person who can't leave well enough alone, I doubt I'll ever change that set. Very versatile. Having said that, I do wonder about a Jazz neck in that guitar....
 
Re: Antiquities in SG standard?

I agree with Gearjoneser that a5 is your answer. I would recommend the '59's if you want tostay in the vintage realm or the Brobucker ('59 or Jazz in the neck) if you want something hotter. I haven't treid the c5, but I'm sure if GJ recommends it, it is good.
 
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Re: Antiquities in SG standard?

I have a open pair of Ants and i swapped in nearly all my magnets. The Ants are woody and clear but warm sounding. The A5 in the Ants were by far the baddest set up, it totally messed it up. I loved the A3/full charged A2, the degaussed A2/full A2 and the A4's in it.
 
Re: Antiquities in SG standard?

I agree with Gearjoneser that a5 is your answer. I would recommend the '59's if you want to stay in the vintage realm or the Brobucker ('59 or Jazz in the neck) if you want something hotter. I haven't treid the C5, but I'm sure if GJ recommends it, it is good.

Right. A '59 pair or a C5/'59N is awful nice. Any A2 PU in the neck may give you what you don't like in your original 490R.

I love SG's, and there's a lot of ways you can get great tones with them. Here's food for thought: I just did an SG with:

Bridge - Put an A2 magnet in a 498T, which mellowed it out.

Neck - Phat CatN. These are a little dark for me in the neck (they have two A2 magnets), so I switched out one magnet with an A5, which really opened up the sound & gives me the full benefits of a single coil PU.
 
Re: Antiquities in SG standard?

Hey thanks to everyone who has replied. I'm new here, been searching through the archives and can see this issue apparently comes up a lot. Sorry about the redundancy! After reading through everything, and the replies here, I think what will probably suit me best is a 'plain old' 59 pair. Also the cheapest as far as I can tell so if I want to play around with magnet swapping they'd be the ones to do it with. I'm very intrigued by the c5, but am a bit worried it might be too hot. Is it possible to put a leash on it? I mean, if you roll down on the volume does it get freaky or muddy?

Assuming a 59 pair or c5/59, anyone have experience comparing on the same guitar the stock pots (300K I believe) vs. the RS vintage kit w/ 500K? Any noticeable difference? Will the 500k's make it shriek (not a good thing, to me...)? Thanks again guys, very helpful forum!
 
Re: Antiquities in SG standard?

Assuming a 59 pair or c5/59, anyone have experience comparing on the same guitar the stock pots (300K I believe) vs. the RS vintage kit w/ 500K? Any noticeable difference? Will the 500k's make it shriek (not a good thing, to me...)?

I use 250K pots on my C5's (volume & tone). Tames the highs & brings out the mids. Works great for Chicago blues & classic rock. You can also warm a C5 with an A4, A3, or A2 magnet (using 500K's). Then again, you might like the C5 with the stock A5 magnets & 500K pots. The more distortion you use, the brighter you'll need the tone to keep from getting muddy.
 
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