Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/A2P?

everdrone

everdrone

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Any insight is appreciated. Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom? CC/A2P? maybe Custom 5? My rig is an Orange Thunderverb 50 and 212 closed back cab. I like to downpick chugga chugga along with the bassdrum alot. I dont know what a C8 is or where to buy it. I play music like DOWN, BLACK SABBATH, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, MASTODON, and anything with chugging palm muting type of distortion in a grunge/classic rock/modern rock/doom type of setting.

I have a EMG 81/85 epiphone SG standard (factory) already and dont want active pickups again, and I am just not into ceramic magnets. I am not sure how soon I will get new pickups, my factory gibson 490R/498T are OK for now, but I am always on the hunt for better tone, I am hoping there are better PUPs that will make my guitar tone in my recordings sound better really; I use all guitar modeling/reamping/impulses and never record a real amp for my recordings. My live tone is fine since it is through the Orange Thunderverb stack ;) I am sticking with that amp for the next dozen or two dozen years into the future :beerchug:. I am looking for a Seymour Duncan set that will put my recordings over the top, the type of music I play is C# downtuned heavy rock in my signature. I always use a Decimator G string noisegate pedal because I love distortion, and sometimes I use my RAT II pedal. I am a distortion lover, probably will never be into fuzz pedals since they dont get that chugga chugga sound really. I also have a Marshall JCM 900 50 watt head, maybe will get an Orange tiny terror 10" combo in a year to replace my Epiphone Valve Junior combo.

also I was wondering, should I go with covered nickle silver cover PUPs or leave the PUPs exposed without the metal covers for better tone? I think they look better with the nickle cover but I am all about the tone.

drinking a Sam Adams Boston Lager right now, cheers :beerchug:
 
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Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

I went through a few PAF spec pickups in SG's, and kept wanting more output and tightness. I like the Custom 5. It's kinda like the 498T, but less gritty and more defined. Start with the C5 and only move up a notch if you feel you need it...then get an A8 magnet. Any more output than that and it'll get muddy.

The CC is thick...almost too thick for a mahogany SG, and the lows chug in a loose way compared to a C5, C8, or Custom.
Never discount a Custom because of the ceramic mag. It's a very good pickup with tons of chunk.
 
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Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

Gearjoneser said:
The CC is thick...almost too thick for a mahogany SG, and the lows chug in a loose way compared to a C5, C8, or Custom.
Never discount a Custom because of the ceramic mag. It's a very good pickup with tons of chunk.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

I've always been curious to hear a set of Breeds in an SG.....
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

maybe the 59n could be a little boomy in your guitar, but you use Orange that is a bright amp, it should works. Since the 59 is easily 'tunable' with mag swap, I think it's a good choice.
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

The Custom5 is a good place to start in the bridge. My personal favorite for an SG that would fit all your requirements, is the C8. It does everything that the C5 can do, but it does it 10 times better in an SG. Just get the C5 and put in an A8 magnet.

For the neck, a better match for the Custom (5 or 8) in the bridge would be a Pearly Gates. Not so boomy in the bass, not as shrill in the highs, a bit more mids, and a bigger attitude.
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

The custom 59 hybrid coming out my be perfect for this
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

Excellent suggestion. That may be a GREAT pup for this. I'd still probably want an A8 in it, though.
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

Many thanks for all the suggestions. what is a C8 - where do they sell it and where is the description on the SD website?

thanks for the Pearly Gates neck recommendation too, seems like a twangy one but I know that Godsmack SOAD and others use it for what I would want it to do,

thanks all for the suggestions :)
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

C8 is the custom with an alnico 8 magnet...
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

You can't buy the C8. It isn't listed on the SD website. You have to buy any of the Customs (Custom, C5, Custom Custom) and replace the stock magnet with an A8 mag.

Custom = ceramic mag
Custom 5 (C5) = Custom with A5 mag
Custom Custom (CC) = Custom with A2 mag
Custom 8 (C8) = any of the above with A8 mag.
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

Don't forget the Custom with a double thick ceramic mag!!!
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

Sun King said:
Interesting! So what does that sound like?
Click to expand...

The Double thick gives it a little more punch and takes off the brittle edge the smaller ceramic gives the pup....Gives the pickup an attack that's sort of similar to the distortion but not quite as much sizzle......
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

I know it's not a paf but a superdistortion is classic for doom. Mastadon is distortion and 500t most of the time. I play a lot of doom/sludge/old school death metal and I love the Duncan distortion
 
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Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

Best is Rio BBQ and worst was Duncan C5 in my SG.
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

The C5 should be perfect for that! It's thick and chunky with plenty of treble to keep it from getting muddy in lower tunings. The pickup will match nicely with a middy amp like the Orange so it shouldn't sound too scooped in the band mix.
In fact I use one for downtuned chugging in my Ibanez SZ right now. It's allright in there but it was a total monster in the Epi Les Paul I regret selling. Fat, dark tones!
Let me see if I can find an old recording of that guitar.
 
Re: Gibson SG Standard: which PAF humbuckers for downtuned Heavy Rock/grunge/doom?CC/

papersoul said:
Best is Rio BBQ and worst was Duncan C5 in my SG.
Click to expand...

:scratchch for bringing up this thread from teh dead! Thanks for yours and Nightburst's opinions though :)

Since January 2012 I put the c5 bridge in and pearly gates in neck with coil splitter pots, it is pretty sweet! thanks again :14:
 
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