Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

Guitam

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Hoping forum members can give me some guidance.

I am rebuilding a Gibson SG 61 reissue husk , 500K pots, PIO caps (0.015 for neck and 0.022 bridge), etc.

I am lucky enough to have some SD humbuckers in the parts drawer and am looking for advice as to best match if you like.

I have a SH-1 and Antiquity humbucker, both neck versions and would be looking to use these.

Any suggestions which would would be the better bridge pick up (or vice versa the neck pick up).

All thoughts much appreciated.
 
Re: Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

welcome to the forum!

the sh1 will have more output but also more high end and bottom end. it will be easier to balance the volume of the two pups with the antiquity in the neck and the 59 in the bridge but there will be a pretty drastic tonal difference. warm round neck with a pretty sharp bright bridge
 
Re: Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

antiquity in the neck and the 59 in the bridge but there will be a pretty drastic tonal difference. warm round neck with a pretty sharp bright bridge

I'd do the opposite: put the warmer Ant in the bridge and '59 in the neck to balance the tones, and adjust PU heights to adjust volumes.
 
Re: Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

the highs of the 59n in the neck will be nice but the bottom will make the antiquity sound really wimpy in the bridge. the sg bridge position is already a little light in the bottom end, the aged a2 wont help much in that regard.
 
Re: Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

the highs of the 59n in the neck will be nice but the bottom will make the antiquity sound really wimpy in the bridge. the sg bridge position is already a little light in the bottom end, the aged a2 wont help much in that regard.

Thanks gentlemen that's given me a useful starting point.

I am leaning towards the antiquity in the neck as I like a more rounded tone and wondering if I can "tame" the 59 with the tone cap, maybe a 0.033 or 0.047 rather than 0.022 (PIO's).

Once again thanks for the suggestions so far and I would welcome any further thoughts re caps etc
 
Re: Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

Thanks gentlemen that's given me a useful starting point.

I am leaning towards the antiquity in the neck as I like a more rounded tone and wondering if I can "tame" the 59 with the tone cap, maybe a 0.033 or 0.047 rather than 0.022 (PIO's).

Once again thanks for the suggestions so far and I would welcome any further thoughts re caps etc


Caps don't have a big impact on tone.
 
Re: Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

Caps don't have a big impact on tone.

Fascinating Rick. For those who don't understand, could you tell us all exactly what a cap does? Just in case people don't actually know.
 
Re: Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

I'd do the opposite: put the warmer Ant in the bridge and '59 in the neck to balance the tones, and adjust PU heights to adjust volumes.

Of course some people do prefer a wide ranging guitar. I wonder what the OP wants?

Plus, with a wide ranging guitar, you get an interesting in-between, both pups on tone that is both (or neither) bridge nor neck.

I have put a PG in the bridge and an A2p in the neck for that wide range, as well as a PG in the neck and an A2P in the bridge, the even things out as much as possible.

These days, I like to go ceramic in the bridge,m and an A5 or A2 in the neck. Diversity is the spice of life baby! At least for me.
 
Re: Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

Re tones,

As a ball park I prefer clearer tones, so hot pick ups don't do it for me.
 
Re: Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

I think in an SG, I would go with either Antiquity or Seth sets, or perhaps a WLH set. I really like the Ants in the SG. I don't think the '57 Classics are that bad in an SG, and I've liked the Custom Shop '62 with the Burstbucker 1 and 2 set as well.

Bill
 
Re: Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

Thanks gentlemen that's given me a useful starting point.

I am leaning towards the antiquity in the neck as I like a more rounded tone and wondering if I can "tame" the 59 with the tone cap, maybe a 0.033 or 0.047 rather than 0.022 (PIO's).

Once again thanks for the suggestions so far and I would welcome any further thoughts re caps etc

Going to a .033 or a .047 could also have a negative effect. The nice thing about caps is they are easy to swap out and you can find good deals on ceramic caps just to find the value you like with each pickup. Personally, I find a .022 to be nice for most of my bridge humbuckers and a .010 to be where it's at when combined with a no-load pot for my neck humbuckers.

In the end, try a few and see for yourself where your preferred sweet spot is!
 
Re: Pick Up suggestions for Gibson SG 61 Reissue - Antiquity and SH-1

Thanks everyone,

Now the fun part - out with the iron and start experimenting.
 
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