New Pickups for a '74 SG

S

sl1960a

New member
Hello to everybody!! New member looking for advice. I recently started playing again (took a couple of years off - got burned out, but have been playing for over thirty years- yep, Middle-aged Man here. HEY I'm working on it!). For the past 20 years my main axe was/is a '60 LH Strat using a Dimarzio Fast Track 2 Bridge w/gold lace sensors for the middle and neck. I switched to the Fast Track 2 from SD Hot Rails becuase I just went through them too fast (too much sweat and water - I killed three of them, but the FastTrack 2 has lasted for 9 years and still going).

Anyway, the other day I pulled out my '74 LH SG I bought a few years ago and really liked playing it. (My first pro guitar was a new '75 LH SG back in...you guess it 1975 - its been long gone, but when I saw the '74 it was pretty much identical and I had to have it!!) Now this guitar has the mid '70s Gibson Super Humbuckers. These were designed by Bill Lawrence when he was with Gibson at the time..at least that's what I've read. I like the tone of the stock pickups even though they're not nearly as hot as the Fast Tract 2 in my Strat. The problem was/is when I ran my amp (Rivera BM60) with the Hot modded Marshall tone the pickups started squealing.

Way back when I had the '75 SG, I had put in an original Dimarzio Super Distortion pickup (this was before they were waxed dipped). Next was an orignial Bill Lawrence 90XL (pre L500XL pickup), then a Duncan Distortion and then back to the Lawrence 90XL - this pickup was the BOMB!!!.

SO...What would be good replacements for this '74 SG guitar?

I guess I'm looking for something similar to the original pickups that are in it, but without the squeal and maybe a bit hotter - I'm am trying to avoid the super high output pickups this time - (I'm sounding like I'm trying to grow up and be more mature - LOL). I've been checking out pickup sites and have interest with the following pickups for the bridge - Duncan Pearly Gates, Custom Custom, Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF, Norton, Air Norton, or a lawerence L500L or 500XL. I also had a Guitar Center punk recommend the Gibson 57 Classic or Classic Plus. I'll worry about the neck pickup after I've decided on a bridge pickup.

So are any of these pickups a good choice? I am open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks and sorry about the novel!!! - Mark :smack:
 
Last edited:
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

I recently installed a Duncan JB in my Gibson SG.
The JB is a high output pickup. I would recommend a slightly lower output pickup for your guitar.
Try a '59.
:reporter:
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

Thanks for the response, SD2000. I've used a JB before during the Kramer Kraz in the '80s, but didn't like the tone. What's the big difference between a '59 and a Pearly Gates or a Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF? Are they similar or does one standout?
- Mark
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

Can't speak on the Dimarzio line, but I like Pearly Gates in mahagony guitars. That would be a good place to start.
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

I put a 59 in the bridge position of my Epiphone Les Paul.
It gave me just enough "boost," for leads.
It wasn't overpowering either.
I've heard good things about the Pearly Gates pick-up as well.
Although, I have no direct experience with it.
I agree with you about the JB.
Owning an SG, and being particluar about my sound, I know how the right pick-up can make all the difference.

Good Luck!:fingersx:
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

I love the PGn in my Standard. The Custom and C5 are supposed to be great for the bridge position. A set of '59s might be nice too.
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

Does anybody have any opinions on the choices I am considering - Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF, Norton, Air Norton, or a lawerence L500L or 500XL, Gibson 57 Classic and the Classic Plus OR is their Duncan pickups that compare to these choices?

I'm intrigued with the 59 and the PG, but I'm wonder about a bit more output; not a lot, but I've never used a guitar with stock pickups - also had something hotter. I'm also curious about the Dimarzios since it's been so long since I read anything on them. Are they dark and dull or good?

How are the Lawrences? I'm hip to the fact of buying Lawrence pickups - don't take a chance - only buy new ones from Bill and Becky. Are these as versitile as everybody says?
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

Hello brother, welcome to the forum...I will tell you this, If you liked the Lawrence L-90's there is nothing I have heard that comes close...I have a set of middle 70's L-90's currently waiting on a guitar to call home:blackeye: , the L-500's are not even close and to be honest there is nothing I have ever heard that even sounds a little like them. That said, what kinds of tones are you looking for...Im sure we can set up up with a killer set of Duncans!
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

I'd try the CC in the bridge. Its med-high output with smooth highs and awesome overall cut. The word around here is the PG neck is the best match for the CC. I'll be finding this out in about another month.

Sorry no experience with Dimarzio pup's.:no:
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

To the guy who invented fire - To be honest I bought a couple of L90s when I bought the SG a few years ago, but I tried one and then the other and they sounded like crap - wondering if theses were the imitation L90s...My original ones had the brownish epoxy on the bottom. The two I got from ebay where shrink wrapped on the Lawrence "blue cardboard" and have the black, fuzzy stuff on them, but I can see a little bit of the dark epoxy under it. They also came the correct Lawrence instructions. The wire lead is white with the red and black coated wires and the plain ground. Is that correct?

Are these actual Lawrence pickups or are they the bogus ones? If somebody can help identify these I'd really appreciate it.

Maybe I need to try them again. I totally agree - my old ones (had the L90XLs) were by far the best pickups I ever heard or owned.

- Mark

PS - From your quote it looks like you're been talking to Webb Wilder. :reporter:
 
Last edited:
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

Mark, There were no "bogus" L-90's, the L-90 was a pickup that was made by Lawrence before the split that resulted into different Lawrence Companies...the difference between the brown epoxy back and the felt back as well as the difference in leads just means that the pickups you grabbed were different ages. I forget which ones are older but that all the difference is. If you want that sound thats the only way to get it.

On to Webb! Im glad to see another Webb fan here...or anywhere for that matter!
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

Thanks for the info. I guess I better quit being a mousepotato, get out the voltmeter to test, and fire up the solderiing iron. I'll update my results.

- Mark

I'm a Human Cannonball, ya'll.
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

Okay, both L90XL are DOA (D@&^ !T). That epoxy is frustrating, too!!

So back to the original issue - Custom custom - is it hot a '59 with the PG presence or is it maybe too hot? Whats the big difference in tone between the full shred? How is the Blues Saraceno Parallel Axis Model compared to all of these? Or the BL L500L and L500XL?

There are just too many choices, but here is what I'm planning on doing with the SG - classic rock- 60s to 90s, blues rock - 60s to 70s, and maye some dropped D stuff. Just looking for that fat Gibson tone as apposed to faking it with a Fender w/high output pickups.
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

59s..57 Classics...PGs or Seths will do whatcha wish.

of those...I'd go 57 classics or 59b/PGn or a pair of Seths.

CC is a bit more modern, gainy and less "Gibson-like" (DiMarzio SuperD would be a much better choice than that if ya wanna go w/ a higher gain pup). While they sound good in a Gibson, for me they are far from "classic-gibson" sounding.
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

I think SG's sound best with a5 -- YMMV. I'd say go with a set of '59's or a'59/C5.
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

That sucks that your L-90's ar eno good...back to what you want/need...It sounds like a 59 in the neck and a Custom in the bridge would do everything you want...I'd give that a try first!
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

Anybody have any experience with a Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF? I'm really curious about this one.

Thanks - Mark
 
Re: New Pickups for a '74 SG

sl1960a said:
Anybody have any experience with a Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF? I'm really curious about this one.

Thanks - Mark
Click to expand...

A lot of guys here *really* like those. I think Stratdeluxer has one. A forum search would bring up a lot of those threads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

pryde
New Bridge Pickup for SG
Replies
14
Views
525
Mincer
Mincer
M
Low and medium output pickups for metal
2
Replies
23
Views
876
Wolfshead
Wolfshead
Y
APH1B in my SG
Replies
5
Views
189
Mincer
Mincer
l0rdhumungus
Bridge Pickups in the Neck
2 3
Replies
41
Views
2K
RanchManSandy
R
belensky
The Humbucker Archive: DiMarzio, EMG, BKP, Suhr & Duncan Tested – My Notes & Comparison Samples (Long Read)
2
Replies
35
Views
3K
Artie
Artie
Back
Top