How to BBQ an SG?

[jonnymangia]

Texas Blues fan here...I've got an SG Standard with stock pups and I'm looking to BBQ it, trying to get a Stevie Ray clean tone and an early Billy Gibbons sound for overdrive. Do you guys think it's possible? I figured the bridge pup is to shrill so it would need to be fattened, and the neck may be ok, though some have touted a Pearly Gates in that position. BTW, I was warned AGAINST the Pearly in the SG bridge b/c of the shrillness. Now I leave it to the experts to opine...

Jonny

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: How to BBQ an SG?

You can get the Billy G tone because he uses humbuckers. You'll not get that SG to sound like SRV's Strat though...humbuckers just don't get that kind of tone.

As far as pickups go, I like alnico 5 Duncan 59's in the SG. Those are similar to what Duane Allman and Eric Clapton had in thier early 60's SG's...but better. Clearer tone from the 59N than those early 60's Gibson humbuckers.

Lew

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: How to BBQ an SG?

You could look at getting a push/pull pot to replace your volume or tone pot and use it to split your humbucker. As to which one to split for a SRV sound, I have no clue.

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: How to BBQ an SG?

You can get the Billy G tone because he uses humbuckers. You'll not get that SG to sound like SRV's Strat though...humbuckers just don't get that kind of tone.

As far as pickups go, I like alnico 5 Duncan 59's in the SG. Those are similar to what Duane Allman and Eric Clapton had in thier early 60's SG's...but better. Clearer tone from the 59N than those early 60's Gibson humbuckers.

Lew

Hey Lew, thanks for writing, I'm psyched that one of the most knowledgeable people in the forum jumped on my post! You're obviously a fan of '59's. Do you have an opinion on the Pearly's, Seth or the Jazz in the SG?