Heavy but Bluesy

[george5959]

Recently started listening to a new band (The Devil and the Almighty Blues, check them out) and stumbled upon the goldmine of all the genres and emotions I'm looking for in a tone and direction for my music. Sludge metal/stoner metal (no im not a stoner thats just what its called) is a mix between a very slow doomy metal, fuzzy psychedelic rock, and gritty blues. Recenty aquired an SG that needs some new pickups (currently has a HH configuration, 2 volume, 2 tone, and a 3 way toggle). Im feeling p90s or p90 neck humbucker bridge (humbucker sized p90s would be great but are not necessary). Looking for some advice on some dark, hot, and gritty pickups. Also thinking higher value pots with high value caps to add more treble for versatility but still be able to get those dark rolled off tones any opinions?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIpyMi6R3nw

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Heavy but Bluesy

P90 neck and humbucker bridge is money. I recently put a vintage p90 and a JB in my mustang. They definitely sound gritty and bluesy like you're talking about. And they complement each other well. Also I did like the change from 250k ohm volume pots to 500k. Everything sounds crisper and clearer. But you can always roll off the tone if you need too. Your ideas sound good to me.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Heavy but Bluesy

CC + Phat Cat

 

[Mincer]

Re: Heavy but Bluesy

Welcome to the Forum!

A Custom or Custom Custom in the bridge and a P-Rail in the neck will get there. A series P-Rail is pretty dark, and you get the P90 sound if you want it.

 

[george5959]

Re: Heavy but Bluesy

digging the custom and custom custom as well as the p-rails. What do you think about "the Slug" in the bridge route out a middle for the custom/custom custom an a p-rails neck?

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Heavy but Bluesy

I love a P90 neck with a humbucker at the bridge. Was gonna comment that doing high gain sludge you might have noise problems with the p90, but P-rails would alleviate that somewhat. Good call on that one.

I don't know anything about the Slug except that it has an insanely high DCR (I assume it's wound with fine wire- I have a Dragon 1 that reads quite high yet isn't particularly hot) so I can't comment on that choice on terms of tone.

If I were adding a middle pickup to an SG I'd probably choose something with a cleaner tone for the sake of variety- a Demon maybe? Sentient or Jazz neck? but for sludge maybe the warm power of the CC would be the ticket. Of course in an SG a third pickup raises switching issues; the standard Gibson way of just adding it to the bridge in middle position never seemed ideal to me. A 6-position Freeway switch would offer some interesting possibilities especially in conjunction with a P-rails...

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Heavy but Bluesy

I know we're on a pickup forum, but stoner/sludge/doom tone is more amp & fuzz pedal driven. An SG is an obvious starting point, but what amp & pedals are you running?

 

[george5959]

Re: Heavy but Bluesy

JB_FROM_HELL I agree completely as of right now im looking to overhaul the majority of my setup. Running through a Akai Professional 3 mode fuzz (warm, muff, boosted) into a fender frontman 25r. Decent low end but not an ideal setup going to be browsing the other forums for some suggestions.