Fatten up an unusually bright SG

[ibanezrocks]

Hi, this is my first post in this forum. I have taken some time to read through old posts, but couldn't seem to find this question. I have a gibson SG standard, that is unusually bright for a mahogany guitar. I'm looking for a set of pickups that will really fatten the sound up.
For the bridge I need something that can do a wide range of sounds (slightly overdriven to metal) without getting harsh in the treble range like the stock pickup but at the same time sounding articulate for chords. I have a high gain amp, that I have no problem overdriving the preamp so I don't need high output pickups.
For the neck I want it to have a thick vocal-like quality to it, for a blues sound, with sustain as a concern, and I don't really mind a muddy sounding neck pickup.
After reading through some other threads I'm thinking about a custom custom in the bridge, and a alnico II pro in the neck, but I wanted to ask because my SG is much brighter than any other one I've tried and I really hate harsh treble from the bridge.

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

Good luck..For 6 months I have been trying to fatten up an SG Standard. I have been through CC's, PG's, Phat Cats and now I have '59's in both spots. I am probably going to sell the SG and get a Paul. If you want a snarling bad-ass rock guitar, the SG's the real deal. But if you want a fat, warm tone, or anything with a lot of bottom, I don't think it's going to deliver.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

Sounds like you both just have a "so-so" piece of wood, I've been able to get big fat tone out of SG's (and other non paula Gibsons) without much issue before...but I always make sure I play a couple when possible and pick a guitar that has the best low end.

That said, I would try a CC in the bridge of a bright SG, or possibly a C5. Maybe even a Seth. I'd stay away from 59s,PG, Distortions, Custom and JBs, cos they all are bright/trebley pickups.

For the neck, I'd go Seth.

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

That said, I would try a CC in the bridge of a bright SG, or possibly a C5. Maybe even a Seth. I'd stay away from 59s,PG, Distortions, Custom and JBs, cos they all are bright/trebley pickups.

For the neck, I'd go Seth.

Jeff, don't you think that that the CC is going to give a more modern flavor and lose the vintage vibe that a '59b would deliver? And I've heard that the Seths aren't a good match for SG's b/c they are too trebly. What about Antiquties?

My goal - if I could attain anything near that fat dirty sound Clapton had in the Cream days, I'd keep this baby.

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

I've been able to get big fat tone out of SG's (and other non paula Gibsons) without much issue before...

Almost forgot - what settings do you use on your amp when your getting those fat SG tones?

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

I still want versatility from the bridge, but if I had to choose one tone to really shoot for from that pickup I guess it would be the ACDC sound, but I also play a lot of music like Pearl Jam, and the occasional metal sound.

I don't know much about pickups, but isnt the Seth not potted? wouldn't that make it squeal a lot with higher gain solos?

 

[fusion101]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

Jonny your a little off on the whole, Seths being to trebly. 59b's are alot brighter the Seth bridges. By the way Ibanex rocker I'm going to be puting a CC and Alnico 2 Pro in the neck as well to fatten up my carvin hopefully I get some great fatness out of it.

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

Hi, this is my first post in this forum. I have taken some time to read through old posts, but couldn't seem to find this question. I have a gibson SG standard, that is unusually bright for a mahogany guitar. I'm looking for a set of pickups that will really fatten the sound up.
For the bridge I need something that can do a wide range of sounds (slightly overdriven to metal) without getting harsh in the treble range like the stock pickup but at the same time sounding articulate for chords. I have a high gain amp, that I have no problem overdriving the preamp so I don't need high output pickups.
For the neck I want it to have a thick vocal-like quality to it, for a blues sound, with sustain as a concern, and I don't really mind a muddy sounding neck pickup.
After reading through some other threads I'm thinking about a custom custom in the bridge, and a alnico II pro in the neck, but I wanted to ask because my SG is much brighter than any other one I've tried and I really hate harsh treble from the bridge.

I think Jeff nailed this one pretty good. The CC would do the trick.

May also look at the Dimarzio Super Distortion or a Super 3. A Super 3 is much like a Dimarzio version of the CC but a bit darker.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

I chose CC because the highs are rolled back, and it has a lot of mids..which should help thicken the guitar up a bit...59 is def brighter than a Seth. Seth has good mids as well, and bite, but it' still not as bright as a 59B or PG for example...it IS more open sounding..clearer...due to no potting.

I haven't played a Seth enough to give a definitive answer on "squeal". I suspect if you stood 2 feet in front of a 800 stack and faced it all night while ya cranked everything to 10, it just may do it, otherwise they probably are not too bad. I played some in a LP classic through a couple of high gain amps at "medium" volumes (louder than bedroom, not cranked stack level), and didnt notice an issue.

As for settings..pends on the amp...but AFAIC, if the guitar doesn't have the tone to begin with, the amp won't help much. Gotta pick a guitar thats got some low end in the first place.

the 2 SG's I had were run through Marshall, Laney, and Jackson heads and 4 or 2-12 cabs w/ Celestion 75s... In general on Marshalls, regardless of guitar, Bass is usually around 1 o clock, mids about the same, pre & treble at 2-3 o clock. Sometimes I dime everything depending on my mood..

what is your rig? what amp? what speakers? what gauge strings? how is your TOM setup? action height?

 

[Hellion]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

I have an SG that had the same problem. I used an Invader in the bridge and a Dirty Fingers in the neck (a '59 or Jazz would work too). I get a huge variety of tones ranging from all out shred tone to a really nice Wes Montgomery vibe.

 

[Amateur]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

I am not familiar with the new SGs, but my old SG has two P90s on it and they sound fat and heavy.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

my amp is a Mesa Boogie Subway Rocket combo. As far as strings I'm using 10's but will definitely change to 11's soon as that should help remove some of the twang I'm getting. Right now its set up pretty well, intonations not as good as it could be, but I don't see how set up could affect the amount of bass. I should clarify its not painfully bright, but I do like my guitars to be pretty dark sounding.

 

[madguitar26]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

it seems pretyy logical to me that pickups like dimarzio tonezone,airzone,breed and duncan invader,cc,and tom anderson h3+ are all dark pickups thus ending the sg bright guitar sound.
no need for confusion here.

 

[GOLDWING68NV]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

Believe it or not the screamin' demon is what my guitar tech uses in his gibson sg in the bridge spot.he swears by it.the demon has a good bass thump to it,lower mids growl "thing",rounded-off highs and has good clarity.it was designed with to be used with high-gain amps.mostly for hard rock/80's metal.it's slightly aggresive,yet has an open top end & has a good crunch to its tone,also,if that's what you like...good luck!!!

 

[Robbiedbee]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

Could things such as changing the nut make any difference? It could help make it that bit more bearable.

 

[GOLDWING68NV]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

oh yeah,the "breed" neck-model is dimarzio's hidden gem.it's exactly what the dimarzio website description labels it as-a paf pro with a slightly fatter tone with a little more output.i've got one in a les paul "copy",which is some bright crap-wood,and after trying many duncans & dimarzios-this was THE ONE!!! check out dimarzios website on the breed-e.q. & specs.the "breed" bridge-model has more mids and bass and it's increased output over the "breed" neck-model puts it in the low-end of the high-gain pickup catagory.clarity & harmonics on either one is awesome.truly dimarzio's hidden gem.perfect for balanced or bright guitars...i really love this pickup.very versatile for blues,rock,metal,thrash.you name it!!!

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

Could things such as changing the nut make any difference? It could help make it that bit more bearable.

Well the nut wouldn't affect the sound of the fretted notes, only the open strings, but you did get me thinking, maybe different types of saddles for the bridge could be a suitable remedy for the brightness, but it could also just make it sound dead. That seems to be the challenge, getting it to sound dark, without being toneless.

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

It sounds like IbanezRocks and myself are afflicted with the same problem. I have .10's on my SG Standard, '59's in both positions, and a Peavey Classic 30 amp. I remember reading a post from LewGuitar who said that the '59's would probably be the best best to fatten the SG and get a vintage vibe (think Clapton/Cream, early Sabbath). The Seths, especially the bridge, were thought to be too trebly.
Maybe I should look into a CC bridge (again) with a diff neck pup. Originally I had it teamed with a Phat Cat. Maybe now I'll go with a Seth.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

Well..the stop tail piece can't really add bass..but its height DEF affects tone and sustain...as well as string tension

Honestly..getting big fat Angus sounds out of a 1xX open back combo ain't gonna happen.....I would suggest a trying the guitar and amp through a 2x12 closed back or 4x12 closed back cab...you'd be amazed at the difference. Boogie combos IME anyway are fairly thin and boxy sounding..compared to some others.

Before ya go nuts on pup swaps and new guitars..take your amp to GC and hook it up to cab, and see what ya think. Either that or get a modeller for "stack sounds" since they sim closed back cabs.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fatten up an unusually bright SG

SG's are by and large bright guitars. I would stay away from anything Alnico II...A2 tends to have less bass than Alnico 5 and could cause the guitar to sound even brighter...what pickups are in the guitar right now?