Incoming SD Iommi

bearded madman

New member
So I found a Duncan Tony Iommi on the evilbay for what I thought was a decent price so I jumped on it. I've been kicking around the idea of swapping the pearly gates in my explorer with something a little hotter. I really like the PG but the Custom 8 in my Epi Sg 400 has really been doing it for me and honestly if feels a little wrong that I prefer my Epi over my Gibson :laugh2: So now to decide, do I put the Iommi in the explorer or pull the custom for the explorer and put it in the SG?
 
Re: Incoming SD Iommi

lol the iommi pickup is a 20k monster with alnico II mags as rails, actually the custom shop lists it as el diablo, it is one of scott ian's favourite pickups, probably only for the fact that it was designed for tony, but that thing is a scorcher probably duncan distortiom or hotter
 
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Re: Incoming SD Iommi

Actually this is a pickup I have never tried myself, though I've heard other people use it many times. I'd be interested to know what you think of it.
 
Re: Incoming SD Iommi

Awesome axes and great pickup choices! The El Diablo is quite a bit hotter and is going to be a bit more compressed than your Custom 8. Therefore, I would recommend trying out the Diablo in your SG and the Custom 8 in the Explorer. Both pickups will sound great in either of those guitars though. Can't go wrong there!
 
Re: Incoming SD Iommi

I run a custom 8 in my explorer and it slays.. Do what cha want.. you are happy with the c8 in the SG? leave it.. try the Iommi in the explorer first.. if it doesnt trip your trigger, then flip flop em
 
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Yeah it should be pretty cool in either guitar. Been watching for a used slug to pop up but couldn't say no to the Iommi
 
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I play a lefty '92 Standard SG myself (black of course!). The Iommi was a killer model and paved the way for the Slug years later. I'd also suggest dropping it in the SG. Enjoy!
 
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Sorry to venture slightly off topic, but Id really like to try one of the Epi Tony Iommi guits..
 
Re: Incoming SD Iommi

I heard the Iommi pickup is the only patent applied for pickup created by Gibson since the original PAF. Apparently some kind of secret technology or something.
 
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Sorry to venture slightly off topic, but Id really like to try one of the Epi Tony Iommi guits..

Me too. I wonder if there are any differences between the new models and the older ones and if they really have the gibsom usa Iommi pickups in them. If they do you could get a used one for not much more than the pickups would cost new
 
Re: Incoming SD Iommi

I heard the Iommi pickup is the only patent applied for pickup created by Gibson since the original PAF. Apparently some kind of secret technology or something.

Well, it won't be secret for long if it is in the patent drawings. I wonder how different it can possibly be....anyone own one?
 
Re: Incoming SD Iommi

I have one of the newer Iommi SGs.

7ee39f3c3700e7f22f79d3b0a975f782.jpg


From what I've read, the Gibby signature pups have both a ceramic and an Alnico 2 magnet. They're sealed so there's no way to open them up and check for sure. Also, the thread is about the El Diablo, so sorry for continuing the jack.

Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk
 
Re: Incoming SD Iommi

I remember playing a Epi Iommi SG in a store when it first came out years back. Those pickups sounded GREAT.
I would have bought the guitar, but I didn't want an Epi, I thought the crosses that were all over the guitar were tacky looking, and the guitar body was very thin while the neck was like a baseball bat... making the guitar quite neck heavy.
 
Re: Incoming SD Iommi

I have one of the newer Iommi SGs.

7ee39f3c3700e7f22f79d3b0a975f782.jpg


From what I've read, the Gibby signature pups have both a ceramic and an Alnico 2 magnet. They're sealed so there's no way to open them up and check for sure. Also, the thread is about the El Diablo, so sorry for continuing the jack.

Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk

Sweet guitar, how do you like it? Looks like the newer Iommi has nicer looking inlays than the older ones. Most of the ones I see for sale look to have smaller cross inlays and less of them. Wonder if there are any other differences?


I'm totally ok with this becoming an all things Iommi thread, no complaints here.

The pickup showed up on my front porch today, wasn't packed very well but the volt meter shows 20.0K so I think it's ok. Hopefully i'll get around to installing it in the next couple of days
 
Re: Incoming SD Iommi

It's a way better guitar than I am a player. The pickups are definitely aggressive, but in low gain, low volume they're really bluesy. The differences between the 2 versions aren't subtle. Off the top of my head:

Cross inlays go the full length of the neck instead of just to #12
Ebony fretboard vs rosewood
Chrome hardware and pickups vs black
4 ply black and white pickguard vs all black
Output jack on the side vs traditional front mounting

It's a great guitar.

Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk
 
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