Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

[NT02]

Hey there,

I recently acquired a fantastic Silverburst SG with Ebony fretboard, Burstbucker 1 and Burstbucker 3 non-potted pups.
I love everything about the guitar, except the pickups.
They are very vintage sounding, and I dig that, but I have an Antiquity neck and Seth Lover bridge in my Les Paul that covers that sound. Going from the LP to the SG, I lose some highs n lows, and things sound just a lil bit plain. Also, they sound good, but are weak when I coil tap them. Rolling back on the guitar volume is more muddy that usual.
I added RS Guitarworks caps n pots. Helped add a bit of clarity, nothing major.
I bought some pickup rings to slap over the pickguard, getting the pups to run parallel with the strings instead of at an angle. I think that will help.
I've been looking at replacement pups. I'd like some that don't have A2 mags, with more output and extended frequency range.
I've looked at everything from Motor City Detroiter, to Bare Knuckle Steve Stephens, to the Duncan C5, C8 or Angus bridge.
Then today I saw a "Whole Lotta Humbucker" set at GC for $225. I haven't had a chance to read up on them, yet. I'll do that now. In the meantime, any input would be greatly appreciated. Will they fit the bill? More output, wider frequency spread, while retaining clarity? Thanks!

Bobby

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

Definitely. They're fantastic pickups. They are geared to a fairly 'vintage' spec, but I find they are versatile. High enough output to give you a touch of compression and push when you dig in, but still in the medium-low output range so they sound beautiful clean. They're one of the rare pickup sets I've ever tried that just works for anything I've thrown at it, I'm mostly a jazz/blues/fusion player, and I've heard metal guys play with them, I've heard guys in rock bands play with them and it all sounds great.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

yes

 

[Securb]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

I just got a set this weekend for my Les Paul I still have wood.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

i put a set in over a year ago and i can't get the swelling to subside.

 

[NT02]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

Cool. Sounds like a great set of pups. Has anyone put them in an SG?

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

You may like a set of 59s if you want to stay in the vintage range or Custom/59 bridge and a demon in neck for more output and great splits. No, the burstbucker 1 and burstbucker 3 set is not muddy. They are also not as nice as Seymour Duncans. The problem is the cheap pots and are often 300k and not 500k and the cap values are wrong.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

I have them in my LP Custom and they're great. Bit more push than the '59 set with great clarity. Overall, still a vintagey vibe.
Here's a clip with a SG.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

Yes, they are nice pickups, BUT will they fit? SG’s are thinner than Les Pauls, so check the dimensions. (0.776”)


PS: Original post had me thinking of P-90 pup attachment method…

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

You said you would like a little more output and want to cover different territory than your LP. You've considered the C8, maybe give it some more thought. That's one that works perfectly in the bridge of an SG and is very versatile.

For the neck, consider a P-90 or a mini. They will give you more bite and, again, are pure heaven in an SG.

C8 bridge,
P-90 neck.

For the win. (Covers lots of territory and is substantially different from what you've got with your LP).

 

[NT02]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

You may like a set of 59s if you want to stay in the vintage range or Custom/59 bridge and a demon in neck for more output and great splits. No, the burstbucker 1 and burstbucker 3 set is not muddy. They are also not as nice as Seymour Duncans. The problem is the cheap pots and are often 300k and not 500k and the cap values are wrong.

Thanks for the suggestions. I did mention that I replaced the electronics with RS Guitarworks. Caps n pots, 500k on volume and 500k pull for coil tap on tone. The upgrade helped with some clarity. The pups are not muddy at all, until the guitar volume rolls back. Then they mud up pretty quick.

I have them in my LP Custom and they're great. Bit more push than the '59 set with great clarity. Overall, still a vintagey vibe.
Here's a clip with a SG.

Thanks for the clip!

You said you would like a little more output and want to cover different territory than your LP. You've considered the C8, maybe give it some more thought. That's one that works perfectly in the bridge of an SG and is very versatile.

For the neck, consider a P-90 or a mini. They will give you more bite and, again, are pure heaven in an SG.

C8 bridge,
P-90 neck.

For the win. (Covers lots of territory and is substantially different from what you've got with your LP).

Thanks for the input. I really would like a bit more oomph outta the bridge. I wouldn't mind getting heavier, as long as I retain clarity and articulation, and can roll back the guitar volume for clean-up. Something stouter, fuller, maybe even more modern, just not shrill, cold or sterile.
I hadn't considered a P90 in the neck. I have the coil tap pot, so figured a good tappable humbucker would be good. I've never had a guitar wtih a P90, don't really know what they're good for.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

Yes, they are nice pickups, BUT will they fit? SG’s are thinner than Les Pauls, so check the dimensions.

What are you smokin willis? how are the WLH's not standard size humbuckers? Maybe long leg vs short leg but SG's have no problem with long legs so not sure what your getting at...

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

Thanks for the input. I really would like a bit more oomph outta the bridge. I wouldn't mind getting heavier, as long as I retain clarity and articulation, and can roll back the guitar volume for clean-up. Something stouter, fuller, maybe even more modern, just not shrill, cold or sterile.
I hadn't considered a P90 in the neck. I have the coil tap pot, so figured a good tappable humbucker would be good. I've never had a guitar wtih a P90, don't really know what they're good for.

The WLH's while killer pickups are still firmly in the vintage category if you want something a bit heavier i would look at one of the versions of the custom.
Should be clarified that normal P-90's will NOT fit without routing a bit and a new pickguard... however there are some pickups like the Phat cat that are humbucker sized p-90's

 

[majewsky]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

Put there a set of Phat Cats with roughcast A5's. You can thank me later

Sent from my Lumia 710 using Tapatalk

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

I think the WLH are a great choice and so are the Phat Cats. Before I switched to a Seth, I had a Phat Cat in the neck of my SG. You will get a the vintage sound with a bite. JB/ Jazz set will also work. My SG is really bright, so Seths or Antiquities are the way to go for me. The WLH set is an option for my Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty 3 which is really muddy sounding.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

Thanks for the suggestions. I did mention that I replaced the electronics with RS Guitarworks. Caps n pots, 500k on volume and 500k pull for coil tap on tone. The upgrade helped with some clarity. The pups are not muddy at all, until the guitar volume rolls back. Then they mud up pretty quick.

Try connecting the wire from the tone pot to the middle lug of the volume pot. (Each of them)

 

[Stratman]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

What are you smokin willis? how are the WLH's not standard size humbuckers? Maybe long leg vs short leg but SG's have no problem with long legs so not sure what your getting at...

Have you actually measure the thickness of an SG? (Around 1-⅜” thick)

Then try measuring the ‘LONG’ legs of the pups.

BTW - Whole lot of love pups measure 0.776” therefore short legs while normal pups measure 1.076” therefore long legs

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

Have you actually measure the thickness of an SG? (Around 1-⅜” thick)

Then try measuring the ‘LONG’ legs of the pups.

BTW - Whole lot of love pups measure 0.776” therefore short legs while normal pups measure 1.076” therefore long legs

Hey scoobie... See this SG? Those are long leg BKP riff raffs... No problem in an SG. Now tell me how are WLH's different? THe reality is SG's like the OP's many times benefit from long legs otherwise you cant get the pickups high enough to stop them from tilting.

So now tell me again why and remember you just admitted that the WLH have shorter legs than normal why does he need to measure the body depth?

 

[Stratman]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

Hey scoobie... See this SG? Those are long leg BKP riff raffs... No problem in an SG. Now tell me how are WLH's different? THe reality is SG's like the OP's many times benefit from long legs otherwise you cant get the pickups high enough to stop them from tilting.

So now tell me again why and remember you just admitted that the WLH have shorter legs than normal why does he need to measure the body depth?
View attachment 57383

Wow what an ugly guitar! Knobs and all!

So, what - you installed long leg pups…

What you missed is the question on Whole Lot Of Love pups have short legs!

Keep up your immature name calling! Internet forums has quite a lot of people just like you!

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Gibson SG - Replace Burstbuckers, Whole Lotta Humbucker?

Wow what an ugly guitar! Knobs and all!

So, what - you installed long leg pups…

What you missed is the question on Whole Lot Of Love pups have short legs!

Keep up your immature name calling! Internet forums has quite a lot of people just like you!

IF the WLH's have short legs why did you tell him to check the body thickness? Why create a false dilemma? If long legs fit in an SG so will a short leg... so iam asking you for the 3rd time to please explain why he needs to check the body thickness?