Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

[Francois]

Hi to everyone !
This is my first thread (!) But I am been ready this forum for two or three years so I am quite familiar with many avatars and could even list names
By the way this is may favorite guitar forum as not focused to a specific brand of guitar and very informative.

So recently I've got my old SG refretted. The luthier managed to do it without damaging the binding nibs. He also made a new bone nut to replace the original Gibson plastic nut which was partly broken and infiltrated glue in the headstock to treat a small crack.

Now I would like to try something with the bridge pickup.

The neck pickup is a Vintage Duncan Distortion installed by a former owner and I replaced myself the original Gibson HB by a SD P-Rail but only the P-90 is connected as I am reluctant to drill holes into a 1968 pickguard for a triple shot (that type of SG came without pup rings).

I really like the P-90 in the neck for the SG and won't change it, but when using both pickups together, the humbucker dominates too much the P-90.

The SH-6 is just perfect for punk / hardcore / metal. I get a perfect tone with that SG into my JCM900 (or into a friend's Orange Rockverb) without using any pedal (I would need a TS808 to get the same result with my Strat). But I play various type of music...

I was wondering if you had some recommendations for a bridge HB that would suit a neck P-90 in a thin mahogany guitar ?

My first consideration is the Seth Lover, then the Pearly Gates...

(This is a 68 Standard SG and I do not wish to turn it completely into a SG Special)

Here is a picture (the finish is still cherry under the pickguard):

 

[Francois]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

BTW I also have three minor questions about that one:

- If I replace the P-Rail with a Phat-Cat to restaure the original humbucker look, will I loose power (from A5 to A2) ? Only slightly ?
(not a crucial change for the moment)

- The luthier sold me stainleess steel frets as I do not wish to refret again with those small nibs. Was that wise or a mistake ? What do you think of steel frets ?

- Anyone else thinks that the vibrola it not the best thing to adjust individual string height ?

 

[majewsky]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

IMO you have two (and a half) paths to ho by:

#1 Custom and try different mags to suit it to your style

#2 Custom Shop and the will make anything you want

#2,5 Brobucker

 

[Francois]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

Dziękuję Majewsky, I really expected to hear about the custom
But what is the Brobucker ?

(From Europe I think we cannot order directly from the CS which is a pity > I would like to order some day their Thunderbird pickup replicas)

 

[Adieu]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

Glue or otherwise attach your tripleshot to a new pickguard, or wire pushpull pots to act as the switches in the ring...

No vandalism or drilling of vintage parts needed.

 

[Ridgeback]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

I am in the middle of a Tele partscaster build that is similar in pup layout. I will have a S.D. CS Pearly Gates in the bridge (8.1k) and a Lollar 50’s wind (underwound) P90 in the neck (7.1k). It’s waiting on a couple parts to come in but I’ll let you know how they balance out as soon as I get it up and running!!

 

[majewsky]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

Dziękuję Majewsky, I really expected to hear about the custom
But what is the Brobucker ?

(From Europe I think we cannot order directly from the CS which is a pity > I would like to order some day their Thunderbird pickup replicas)

It's a 10k wound PAF with aged AlniCo 5. Some say it's a ultimate PAF.

I'm sporting my with an A3, but I'm going to change back to stock A5, when I finally order my neck version Brobucker


http://customshop.seymourduncan.com/brobucker/
AFAIK you can order one through JMI or other Custom Shop distributor.

 

[Francois]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

I am in the middle of a Tele partscaster build that is similar in pup layout. I will have a S.D. CS Pearly Gates in the bridge (8.1k) and a Lollar 50’s wind (underwound) P90 in the neck (7.1k). It’s waiting on a couple parts to come in but I’ll let you know how they balance out as soon as I get it up and running!!

Thanks. Yes I would like to know if a neck P-90 and a bridge PAF (Seth or PG) goes well together.
And I am not in a hurry. Just think ahead. I have a mod project to finish before that. So yes let me know.

 

[Francois]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

Glue or otherwise attach your tripleshot to a new pickguard, or wire pushpull pots to act as the switches in the ring...

No vandalism or drilling of vintage parts needed.

I thought about the new pickguard and the push-pull pot, but the bridge HB is an old Duncan Distortion with only 1C.

Maybe I need one "traditional pickguard" (n P-90 / b PAF) and a big sounding one

And what about the balance of a SPLITTED BLACK WINTER with a neck P-Pail / P-90 (new idea) ?
Could be so versatile with the possibility of the full BW !

Currently I use that guitar for a violin concerto project (and for this would like to eschew the typical shred guitar sound) but I may use it as well for Crust / Grind / BM

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

Probably the best sounding bridge pup for an SG is the Custom 8 (any Custom with an alnico 8 magnet). this pup is super versatile and can play just about anything, especially with a DPDT on/on/on mini switch wired to give you series/split/parallel. It will also go very well with you P-Rails neck pup (which by the way could greatly benefit from another DPDT to give you series/p-90/parallel). You could also just use an on/on switch (or a push/pull) and wire it to give you P-90/Rail.

 

[Francois]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

Thanks GuitarDoc (good alias) for the advice and versatile options !

Now I was thinking either :
P-Rail neck + Custom SH-5 bridge
or Phat Cat neck + Seth Lover (or PG) bridge

There is Custom - Custom 5 and Costum Custom but the Custom 8 ?
Do you mean I get a SH-5 and swap myself the magnet to A8 ?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

Yeah, the Custom 8 is one of the Customs with an A8 magnet. I wouldn't go for something that hot, though. I like the Saturday Night Special, which sounds amazing in an SG. Add a Phat Cat, and you have a wonderful balance, too.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

The P-Rail sounds more like a p90 than a PhatCat. The A2 mags and the metal cover dampens the highs.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

There have been some good recommendations here. I have both the Brobucker, the Custom and one that hasn't been mentioned yet, the Saturday Night Special. It's the hottest "PAFish" humbucker that is not a Custom Shop model. It's a 9.75k humbucker with an A4 magnet. It's a really neat pickups with a really unique tone. Totally rock and roll though. I haven't spent enough time with it to give a great review, but it's nice and crunchy, think late 70's early 80's guitar through a Marshall kind of crunch. It handles gain really well and is nicely balanced because of the A4 magnet properties .

I can also completely endorse the Custom. What a great pickup for rock and metal, and it's hot enough to split and still have some huevos. As has been said, it's perfect for magnet swaps that you can do yourself. A2, A5, A8, even A3 or A4 could be interesting. Lots of options.


I definitely wouldn't drill into that 68' pickguard, but if you want to experiment just buy a modern pickguard and preserve the original. Good luck finding what's right for you.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

Probably the best sounding bridge pup for an SG is the Custom 8 (any Custom with an alnico 8 magnet). this pup is super versatile and can play just about anything, especially with a DPDT on/on/on mini switch wired to give you series/split/parallel.

Custom 8's were my favorite Custom variant, until I tried an UOA5. My favorite now.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

Phat Cat neck + Seth Lover (or PG) bridge

For me, in an SG & LP, Phat Cat necks were dark, hardly any treble. Zhang (respected pickup winder on this forum) said they're wound too hot for an A2 magnet. On the other hand, the Phat Cat was overpowered by the neck. Again, Zhang said it sounded ;'weak and puny' in comparison.

 

[Francois]

Re: Bridge HB to suit a neck P-90 (in a SG)

I would like to thank everybody for the suggestions. I did not thought of the Saturday Night Special, but it sounds like a very good option for the bridge of my SG, apparantly well voiced for a guitar that does not have too much low end. I like the idea of a missing link between the original PAF and the louder modern output as described in SD site, it would provide the versatility I need.
And also with an output of 9,75k I would not far from the Wire Range Humbuckers of my Tele which can be used as spare.

I would love trying the Duncan Custom as well but that will be in another guitar with heavy LP structure (PE R-60) with a 59 on the neck.

I never swap magnets before but you made me want to try