Brobucker or '78 in an SG?

[EdMan57]

Probably going to pick up an inexpensive Gibson SGJ in the next month or so.Was wondering if one of the Custom Shop offerings,like the Brobucker or '78 would work well with such a guitar.Remember,the SGJ has a maple neck,though still a mahogany body.I play mostly classic rock,modern blues to old school metal,with Alice in Chains being about as heavy as I go.Also,suggestions on a neck pickup?I was thing '59 for the Brobucker or Alinco II Pro for the '78.Any other pickup ideas is also cool.



Ed

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Brobucker or '78 in an SG?

I'd say go for the Brobucker in the bridge, they're very similar pickups at the end of the day, but the brobucker has a little more edge too it. Plus the aged magnet allows the string to breathe more, which increases sustain and harmonics. As for the neck, pretty much any vintage style humbucker will compliment it nicely. Also give the 59/custom hybrid a listen to. It's a stock production model now and much less expensive than the custom shop, and compared to the brobucker there is a little more glass in the highs, a little more output, and fantastic harmonics with less compression.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Brobucker or '78 in an SG?

Probably going to pick up an inexpensive Gibson SGJ in the next month or so.Was wondering if one of the Custom Shop offerings,like the Brobucker or '78 would work well with such a guitar.Remember,the SGJ has a maple neck,though still a mahogany body.I play mostly classic rock,modern blues to old school metal,with Alice in Chains being about as heavy as I go.Also,suggestions on a neck pickup?I was thing '59 for the Brobucker or Alinco II Pro for the '78.Any other pickup ideas is also cool.



Ed

At the end of the day it comes down to personal preference. Do you prefer the softer low end and rounded high end of A2 or the firmer lows and punchy highs of A5? Personally I'm more of an A2 guy. I've used the 78 in alder/poplar,alder, and maple/mahogany guitars. I have never used it in solid mahogany. I think it would sound very good with the cut and aggression it has.

I'd say go for the Brobucker in the bridge, they're very similar pickups at the end of the day, but the brobucker has a little more edge too it. Plus the aged magnet allows the string to breathe more, which increases sustain and harmonics. As for the neck, pretty much any vintage style humbucker will compliment it nicely. Also give the 59/custom hybrid a listen to. It's a stock production model now and much less expensive than the custom shop, and compared to the brobucker there is a little more glass in the highs, a little more output, and fantastic harmonics with less compression.

I'm going to respectfully disagree. The 78 has much more innate aggression than the brobucker. The Brobucker is like a love child of the JB and 59 or C5 I call it a JB life from time. The coils are full of wire and it has more compression than a 78. The use of the aged A5 tones down the extreme highs and lows and thus you get more mids. In some guitars it could sound congested though....IMO.

Luke

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Brobucker or '78 in an SG?

At the end of the day it comes down to personal preference. Do you prefer the softer low end and rounded high end of A2 or the firmer lows and punchy highs of A5? Personally I'm more of an A2 guy. I've used the 78 in alder/poplar,alder, and maple/mahogany guitars. I have never used it in solid mahogany. I think it would sound very good with the cut and aggression it.

I'm going to respectfully disagree. The 78 has much more innate aggression than the brobucker. The Brobucker is like a love child of the JB and 59 or C5 I call it a JB life from time. The coils are full of wire and it has more compression than a 78. The use of the aged A5 tones down the extreme highs and lows and thus you get more mids. In some guitars it could sound congested though....IMO.

Luke

Ive heard people say the brobucker is brighter and I've heard people say the 78 is brighter too. Heres my reasoning. Yes the lows and highs are tamed by the aged magnet but this doesn't ADD midds it just makes the scoop less drastic, in addition the wind of the brobucker is only slightly higher than the 78, filling in the midrange a bit more. 78 with its high amount of vintage windings and middy alnico 2 focuses almost all of it's tone into its midrange, hence the harmonics and balanced voicing and natural eq compression. In that sense because of higher wind and the magnet used, even when aged, the output is stronger. And the scoop from the a5 magnet enables the pickup to be wound hotter without so much midrange congestion. So the brobucker turns out to be a slightly louder 78 with more bass and highs. It really comes down to how much the magnet is degaussed.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Brobucker or '78 in an SG?

the 78 is more aggressive and brighter sounding than the brobucker. specs are one thing but actually hearing the pups is the only way to know what they sound like. dont believe everything you read.

if i was gonna get another sg, id put a pearly gates in the neck and brobucker in the bridge. a great combo that really suits the guitar

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Brobucker or '78 in an SG?

I have a Bro/ A2Pn combo in my all hog Gordon Smith SG and quite simply it's the best sounding guitar I own or have ever played. I've never played a maple necked SG so not totally sure how it will sound, but I have a Bro in 4 of my 6 electrics and it sounds subtly different but superb in each.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Brobucker or '78 in an SG?

Ive heard people say the brobucker is brighter and I've heard people say the 78 is brighter too. Heres my reasoning. Yes the lows and highs are tamed by the aged magnet but this doesn't ADD midds it just makes the scoop less drastic, in addition the wind of the brobucker is only slightly higher than the 78, filling in the midrange a bit more. 78 with its high amount of vintage windings and middy alnico 2 focuses almost all of it's tone into its midrange, hence the harmonics and balanced voicing and natural eq compression. In that sense because of higher wind and the magnet used, even when aged, the output is stronger. And the scoop from the a5 magnet enables the pickup to be wound hotter without so much midrange congestion. So the brobucker turns out to be a slightly louder 78 with more bass and highs. It really comes down to how much the magnet is degaussed.

Man I'm not busting your chops, but I've owned both. It was a forum project in 05/06 and, like Jeremy, I was involved and owned one of the original run. However, it just wasn't my thing. It sounded "good" in my Heritage H150 and R8, but in the end it was pulled and I put in a 78 made with Seth parts to compliment the Seth neck. To MY ears the 78 sounded "great".

Like Jeremy said postulating, hypothesizing, and analyzing forum posts and specs will only get you so far. At some point you've gotta try it out yourself in person, through a good amp, and then decide what is going on.

Luke

 

[EdMan57]

Re: Brobucker or '78 in an SG?

Thanks for the input! I also should have stated that I go more for of a smoother top end in my higher gain tones.Kind of "brown" with some nice highend harmonic content.


Ed

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Brobucker or '78 in an SG?

Ive heard people say...

I think I found your problem right here.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Brobucker or '78 in an SG?

Meh I'm here to learn. I've played both, just not in succession and not in the same or similar guitars. Still either way the guy will be happy.