Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

[Lorenzar]

Hi everyone !

First post, although I've been lurking around here for a little while !

I'm looking to change pickups on my SG Standard and I definitely need advices for the bridge (I think I'll go with a SH1 59' for the neck).

I mainly play Classic Rock, Hard Rock and (old school) Metal (I don't go beyond Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth as far as metal goes, not really new school right?), and a little bit of blues and funk on rare occasion.

My gear is :
-Gibson Les Paul Classic : mahogany body/maple top, mahogany neck, classic 57' pickups (soon to be Slash APH2 pickups)
-Jackson King V Pro (Japan) : poplar body, maple neck, SH6 for the bridge (my thrash metal axe so to speak)
-Jackson JJ4 (Japan) : alder body, maple neck, SH2/SH4 combo
-Gibson SG Standard : Mohagony body and neck, 490N/498T
-Marshall SL-5 (for everything up to metal)
-Randall RD-5 (for metal, might be changed with a Peavey 6505 MH sometimes)

Those days, I'm a living room type of player. I can play loud above records and backing tracks at home, but I'm not playing in a band situation.

Sorry for the long introduction !

To get back to the SG, I don't want to try and make it sound like a Les Paul. Actually, it's quite the opposite. The Les Paul being my "vintage" Alnico 2 Gibson, I'm looking to get the SG as much different as possible, but still being a Gibson.

I know the LP and SG are by nature already different, but still, I'd like to mark this difference even more.

If the Gibson 57' on my LP are quite good to me (I'm changing to a Slash set out of curiosity in this case), I'm not satisfied with the 490/498 set on my SG.

I found the tone to be a bit muddy, grainy and maybe too dark.
I'm thinking Seymour Duncan pickups would probably be more defined and satisfying.

I play with uncovered pickups in all my other guitars, but I'm willing to keep the chrome covers on the SG (just for stupid superficial esthetics reasons!).
I'm considering 3 bridge pickups :

-SH4 (I think it's very versatile, quite dig it in my alder body/maple neck Jackson, but I already have it and curious to try something else)

-SH5 (always wanted to try a Custom, that's the original one, I know it's not a big ceramic magnet like a SH6 for example, but still I wonder if it's not too "modern" for an SG, maybe the use of covers would reduce a bit any possible harsh treble)

-SH14 (I'm seduced with the idea of an Alnico V Custom...but on the other hand, I don't know if SD EQ chart is accurate, but the drastically scooped mids are scaring me ! Although I listen to some guys that like to scoop the mids, even for thrash metal, I don't like to do it myself, I hate the "mosquito" sound, if it makes sense! I prefer a fuller sound).

So here it is, basically I don't like much my 490/498 set and I want to make my SG a more "modern" complimentary companion to my LP, still being a Gibson.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

Welcome to the forum.

Based on my experience with a Gibson SG-X, I suggest the Gibson 500T humbucker. If practicable, add a series/parallel switch.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

The SH-14 works very well in SGs because of the mid scoop as SGs naturally have more mids than something like an LP

 

[blueman335]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

The SH-14 works very well in SGs because of the mid scoop as SGs naturally have more mids than something like an LP

+1. Something in the Custom family, they consistently work well in mahogany (the same can't be said for JB's, which occasionally do squirrely things in that wood). SH-14's are popular in SG's. SH-5's if you're more into hard rock and metal.

 

[Lorenzar]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

Thanks guys !
I won't consider the 500t. I think this Gibson PU is along the lines of a SH6 kinda, and it would be too much.

My heart is leading toward the custom family for sure.
So I should't be scared by SH14 eq ? No "mosquito" sound on high gain ?
If you reduce drastically SG mids, don't you try to make it sound like an LP ?

SH5 could make a lot of sense, since I will most of the time use the LP for blues,classic rock and hard rock, and mostly use the SG for hard rock and metal.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

Customs are great because a magnet swap and you have a whole new sound. They sound great with literally any magnet. Start with just a regular custom and if it is not perfect for what you want, swap in an alnico 5, onoriented alnico 5, alnico 8 or alnico 2. I reckon you'll probably like the custom tho.

Stick a 59 or WLH in the neck.

 

[Lorenzar]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

I'm thinking of doing what you say.
SH5 should set my SG really appart from my LP and also I guess the SH5 will be a way different pickup from the 498t than the SH14 is.

For the neck, I'm thinking SH1 59'. Wonder if the pearly gates neck could be a good fit with the regular custom as well ?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

if you were going to to for a pearly gates in the neck, then it would better pair with a custom custom because they both have that spongy A2 response, so you can set your amps eq so it sounds good with both pickups. That is a killer combo and so sweet for southern rock and blues, but probably a bit more vintage and warm sounding than what you are after.
A 59 will complement any of the other variations of the custom much better.
fwiw tho ....59s also have a great ability to sound great with any magnet, so you can fine tune both it and the custom.
My SG has an alnico 2 59 and custom custom, but im pretty sure that is not the sound you are after.

Just get a 59 and a regular custom (or custom 5) and see how you like it. 500k pots all round.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

I've had great results with '59N's in SG's.

With you playing a lot of metal, an SH-5 would be an excellent bridge PU.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

Or, a 59n paired with a UOA5 Custom in the bridge.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[blueman335]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

Or, a 59n paired with a UOA5 Custom in the bridge.

For me, playing blues and classic rock, that would be ideal (and I have that pair/mags in an SG!). With the OP playing as much metal as he does, he might like more horsepower in the bridge.

 

[LLL]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

...

 

[Demanic]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

For me, playing blues and classic rock, that would be ideal (and I have that pair/mags in an SG!). With the OP playing as much metal as he does, he might like more horsepower in the bridge.

Maybe, but I play metal, and I like the vibe that the UOA5 gives to a pickup. It's metal, but without the out of control hairy end. I've found that pedals or amps can always have the treble turned up.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

I am thinking some sort of Custom here too. You can switch magnets around to try other combinations, but from your description, the straight up Custom sounds like it would work well for you, and certainly not sound like your LP at all. It is like an SG on steroids, really.

 

[Lorenzar]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

Thanks guys for all your advices !
I do love southern rock and blues, but will play it mostly with the LP, set with Alnico 2 pickups.

A little bit of change of scenario today as I found a trade for my Jackson King V for....a Gibson tribute 70's SG (the stripped down ones, with Dirty fingers on it...I already don't like them much !ahah! good guitar for the value though)

That new SG will have a different purpose, it won't be a versatile axe, it will be meant to play with 12-54 string gauge only in D and C# standard (well and drop B and drop C), some "warm metal" stuffs like Down, Corrosion Of Conformity, Black Sabbath, Pentagram and some Pantera if I'm able too ! ahah!

I think I'll try the SH1/SH5 combo on that new SG first, absolutely no risk at chosing a ceramic here as it will be strictly drop tuned metal.
Maybe for that particular one, I could consider the Dimebucker as well (the Invader doesn't attract me, maybe the crazy EQ on the website). But maybe Dimebucker would a really odd choice ! I might love Dimebag and consider him one of my favourite ones, not sure his tone is for me.
Maybe too scooped once again ?
Should I start a new thread for that SG or keep it all here ?


For my old SG, the Standard one, I might go with the SH-14 then.

You guys would say the JB is not a good fit with SG from what I understand. Wouldn't it be better than a 498T at least ?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

Well, all of that advice went to crap…round two!

C#???? I say Distortion.

 

[Mark Cearlock]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

As someone who has had a Sg standard and a Sg special faded (loaded with a 59n and custom 5) at the same time, the custom 5 isn't that far from a 498t..things got better for both the 498t and the custom 5 with the introduction of an a8 mag..no more scooped kids for sure. Dang, I miss my Sg..

 

[Snow007]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

I'd recommend the Brobucker the most if you're into standard or downtuning a half or whole step with a Pearly Gates Neck. Since you said downtuning more than that and the type of metal you're playing I'd recommend the Alternative 8 or SLUG with a Jazz or Black Winter neck.

 

[Lorenzar]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

I'd recommend the Brobucker the most if you're into standard or downtuning a half or whole step with a Pearly Gates Neck. Since you said downtuning more than that and the type of metal you're playing I'd recommend the Alternative 8 or SLUG with a Jazz or Black Winter neck.

What's SLUG ?

To sum it up, cause it might be confusing at this point, I now own 2 SGs :

-1 for E/Eb standard tuning, to be versatile but different from my Alnico 2 loaded LP
-1 for D/C# standard tuning, to play groovy metal/stoner/doom stuffs like that

 

[Mincer]

Re: Bridge PU to make an SG the ideal companion to an LP

Well, detuned with heavier strings, I'd still mention the Custom, but I'd also have to throw in the Pegasus, as it was designed for that. It is actually more versatile than the description leads you to believe, and sounds good & tight with downtuned metal rhythms. For downtuning that low, I don't think the JB is a good choice.