Looking for new p/u's for an SG

[bwinger]

Hey all. I'm new here, been browsing around and there seems to quite a few knowledgeable folks around. So..

I've recently gone through a major change in amps. To make a long story short, I have a baby on this way and decided to unload my LOUD amps (800 stack and Twin) in favor of a smaller combo. Now my SG, which I used to think sounded best, sounds terrible. Thankfully, all my other guitars now sound lots better.

I have a Gibson SG Special, mahogany w/ rosewood with 490/498s stock. I had replaced them years ago with an Angus Young & 496. The 496 was absolutely horrible since day one. I really liked the AY though my 800 - Go figure right? I picked up a Rivera Quiana - now my only amp - and the AY seems way too hot and lifeless for the amp and the 496 is just as bad as before.

I have put the stock pickups back in. Its definately better than it was, but still seems like it needs something else. They certainly don't sound good together. One or the other is okay at best. What I'd like to do is make the SG more versatile. Coil taps on both new pickups with series / parallel switching.

I did some homework on the site and it seems that SD 59s are regarded well in this guitar, maybe Alnico Pros, but it sounds like they may be too bright. I want to say I'm going for a more vintage sound these days. Warm and big, but still pretty clear. Can I get this? Think more rock, though not necessarily classic rock and definitley not metal. I like loud overdive and driven clean stuff. More overdrive than distortion.

So to sum it up, I need something that has a good vintage vibe on the buckers and still taps really well. I'm considering so far the Alnico II Pros, Jazzes, and 59s. They should sound well in the middle position too. Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Looking for new p/u's for an SG

I think 59s would be way too bright in an SG, Alnico 2 Pros would be smooth and warm, but for a vintage sound with a clarity AND warmth I'd go for the Seths. It sounds like its exactly what you're looking for. Feel free to read my review of the Seths I put in my SG Standard.

 

[bwinger]

Re: Looking for new p/u's for an SG

How do the Seths sound tapped? I know I'm not going to get my SG to sound quite like a strat, but I'm hoping for something thats still very useful.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Looking for new p/u's for an SG

I haven't tried splitting it, but I would expect it to be too weak. It's a bit of a trade-off though because it sounds like you want a vintage humbucker.

 

[bwinger]

Re: Looking for new p/u's for an SG

How hot would a humbucker need to be to still have a good tapped sound? I think the Angus p/u was somewhere around 16k - thats too hot with the new amp. I'm not absolutely sold on the PAF sound, but I'd like something more warm and less modern. Is there something nice in the middle of warm bucker and spanky single?

Too much to ask?

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Looking for new p/u's for an SG

I would think that anything lower output than the Custom series wouldn't split very well. If you have an amp with enough distortion on its own you really don't need a high output pickup (other than for splitting I guess) because the vintage pickups will be less compressed and more suitable for low gain and cleans. It might be too much to ask, but maybe I'm wrong and someone who's split one of the vintage type Duncans could chime in. My suggestion is get some vintage humbuckers in there, either Alnico 2 Pros or Seths, and then get another guitar with single coils. Cheers