Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

[Dipnusurf]

Hi everyone!
I'm considering changing the crappy pick ups of my Epiphone G-400, I never changed pick ups before so I was kinda lost. I'm searching for passive pick-ups
I like playing heavy distortions but sometimes I like playing cool with bright clear sound (I love telecasters' sound for that ^^), what my pick ups are currently unable to do.
I'm searching for a punchy distortion with a little more lows in it (I often play in Drop D).

My fisrt research lead me to this : maybe something like a SH-6 on the bridge and a 59 on the neck.

So what do you think about this first choice? Is it good for this kind of guitar and the sound I'm looking for?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

'59N's work well in SG's, good choice. One of the more popular bridge PU's here for SG's is the Custom 5 (SH-14). The stock magnet is an A5, which has a good deal of treble and (tight) low end. It's a very popular PU to change EQ by swapping magnets in (only takes a few minutes and a few dollars, check out online video). The C8 (Custom 5 with an A8 magnet) is excellent in SG's. More mids than a C5, heavy-sounding PU, cleans up well.

 

[Dipnusurf]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

Oh great! I did'nt know about magnet swapping. I'll check this out. Thanks a lot !

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

What amplification do you use? How do you set its controls?

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

I have a 59 neck in my SG. I also have a Custom with an UOA5 magnet in it in the bridge. I had the original Gibson 498t in there for years, but the Custom-UOA5 is smoother, and has a similar EQ. I'm one of the few that did not like the C8. It was too aggressive. You might like it though.

I think the Sh-6 Distortion might work fine, but I would think a Jazz neck would balance better with it than the 59n.

 

[Dipnusurf]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

@Funkyfingers : It's hard to be precise beacuse the place where I play with my band has several studios and we never have the same one ^^ But it's often Marshall amps. They have a MG110 CFX that sound really loud and really good with my crappy pick-ups. I rediscovered my guitar playing with this amp. At home I have a 30w Behringer that I would like to replace because it's a really crappy one, it's like the sound is kinda muted and has too much bass, it's hard to have bright tone with it. And 30 is too much for my place, 5 or 10 watts would be good enough. If you have any sugestion about that I'd like to know.

@Mr B : Thanks for your advice, you're right, an aggressive pick should fit my needs. The most difficult part is to choose the right pick up for the neck to balance it with a smoother tone. I'll check the difference between 59 and Jazz.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

I personally love the Screamin Demon in SGs they will definitely do bright and clear, but can also get heavy.
As for amps, maybe the Blackstar HT5 series amps

 

[Dipnusurf]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

Thansk allbbutromeo, I definitely think I'm going to get a Blackstaar amp, they seems very popular and not too expensive. I've check a bit about the Screaming Demon, it sounds great but I think I want something a very little heavier But I'll keep it it mind, we never know

 

[Dipnusurf]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

For now I think I'm going to stick with the SH-6 Distortion for the bridge, the C8 is has a little lower tone but I think sh-6 is a good balance, not too bright not too low. Still have to decide for the neck, the jazz seems good to me I guess.

 

[Dipnusurf]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

Is there differences between 59 and 59n? or it's just about the name?

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

59n is calibrated for neck positions (tend to be thicker and louder) where as bridge pickups have a higher output because it's naturally quieter closed to the bridge. i use a 59n and Distortion bridge in my G-400. I use it in drop C# and it has a tight sound with a good amount of bass.

 

[Dipnusurf]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

Thank you for your reply Johnny. I think I'm going with the jazz, it has a bit brighter sound than the 59n. I like boomy tones but for the neck PU, I don't want that much, I think the Jazz will be better for me.
Thank you so much for your help guys!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

I've check a bit about the Screaming Demon, it sounds great but I think I want something a very little heavier But I'll keep it it mind, we never know

Well, the Jazz is definitely NOT heavier than the Screamin Demon...just the opposite. The Demon is an excellent choice for the neck, more even EQ than either the 59 or the Jazz, very articulate, works extremely well either clean or driven, one of the most versatile neck buckers you can get.

The 59 can sometimes work well in an SG because an all mahogany SG can be very mid heavy and the 59 is very mid-scooped. I still like the more even EQ of the Demon in an SG or just about any other guitar.

As was suggested by Blueman, the C8 (any of the Customs with an A8 magnet) is just about the best possible pup for an SG...very articulate high-end, strong and punchy mids, and solid lows (works super in drop tunings). Again, it's very versatile...works well clean, overdriven, with distortion, split, parallel...tone heaven in an SG. The Distortion is also a really good choice (I personally don't like the brittle, somewhat piercing high end, but that's just me). I love the tone and feel of a Dist with an A2 mag or an A8 mag.

You will get what you're looking for with either an SH-5 or SH-6 in the bridge and a Demon in the neck.

 

[symptom]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

I have a G-400 too and have tried some combinations in it. Now I'll stay with the GFS Mean 90. But I'll tell you it's not for you. Based on your description, you'll definetly like the 59n/C5 combo. I had it in mine for a couple of years. I tried the magnet swap, with a bunch of magnets, but always came back to the Custom 5. It has the exactly same characteristics in my SG that you described: punchy distortion, percusive sounding, focus on lows and a clear and bright sound for cleans. The 59 share some of those characteristics too, but with less agression.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

I was referring to the DeMon in the bridge, but it would make an excellent pairing in the neck with a Sh6 in the bridge

 

[Demanic]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

I bet a Dimebucker with a Demon neck would sound killer.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

^ +1.

 

[Dipnusurf]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

Wow! thanks for all these replies, I'll give another try about the Demon, at first I compared it with the SH-6 for the bridge, I like the SH-6 sound more for it, I didn't consider it for the neck PU but i'll check it out. I'll compare it to the jazz, as GuitarDoc said, I may sound to heavy for what I want for the neck, but we never know
@Demanic : I considered the Dimbucker for a while but to me, I sounded to high for what I want on the bridge compared to the SH6
Thanks a lot guys, stay tuned

 

[Dipnusurf]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

Comparing the Custom to the SH6 on Seymour Duncan's website now, the SH6 sounds punchier and lower, but the samples are with a ceramic magnet. Also the custom sounds more EQ than the SH6 which lacks some highs.

 

[Dipnusurf]

Re: Changing Epiphone G-400's pick-ups, config question

Making up my mind slowly, I definitly choose the SH-6 for the bridge. Now comparing the screaming demon with the jazz. I think the screaming demon is a good choice, has a good amount of highs like the jazz but it's more agressive, I like the idea
The lows of the Sh-6 should be nicely balanced with the screaming demon' highs,

but I'm strating to wonder if I'm completly wrong : wanting a brighter PU for the neck and and a heavy PU for the bridge... isn't it supposed to be the other way? The thing is that for me, neck PU tend to have too much lows.
what do you think?