Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

[dercross]

Hey guys,

if you don't wanna read all of it check out the facts&wants chart below the text


I got a faded SG(worn brown whatsoever)... didn't like the stock crap so I swapped 'em for Seymour Duncans(Y'know all that jazz about how cool they are)... but well... the hype didn't work for me. I searched for something versatile(4conductor for split etc) with a defined tone with nice bottom n enough highs to keep things clear cos I like fuzzy stuff n a some nice effects here n there cos I'm into stoner rock n prog rock stuff...

well the clarity was just fine (big 'ol)BUT due to the fact that the SG is thin AND has an ebony fretboard it was like too thin... the Jazz just sounds more like a bassy bridge PU and not like a 'real' neck pup... I just thought it might be not very muddy but not in that way...
and the custom 5 is cool but doesn't compliment the SG the way I wished it would.... a bit too thin too trebbly but just a bit...

So I considered Rio Grande for the SG(4 conductor as I had the SD split and liked the possibilities)

Facts&Wants-Chart:

- Gibson SG Special Faded(ebony fretboard)
- currently: SD Jazz&Custom5
- swapping reasons:
> Jazz too trebbly not smooth enough for a neck PU(still want some clarity)
>Custom 5 a bit too trebbly not enough bass fundament(clarity important)

- looking for:
>bridge PU /w nice bass and enough clarity(less trebble than the Custom 5)
>neck PU /w with nice cleans n smoother than the Jazz(to clear to for my taste... the SG is already a trebbly guitar)
>both PU should be 4 conductor and should have nice single coil sounds when split

What I was thinking about was a Rio Grande BBQ 4 conductor for the bridge and a Genuine Texas 4conductor for the neck...
will they do the ob? any other advices?

Don't get me wrong... I like the bite of the SG but only to a certain extend... I'm sure the Seymours will sound real nice in a LP-ish guitar but the SG with her ebony fretboard is just too thin sounding for those two.

HELP?!

 

[Breogan]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

Well, I think an alnico II set with a vintage output would do really well on that type of guitar. My Guild S-100 has a DM PAF classic set and I love the tone so much. Warm and clear, very jazzy on the neck and smooth on the bridge. If you want to keep with Duncans then the alnico pro II or a Seth Lover would be amazing.

 

[dercross]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

any other advices? how about the single coil sound of the alncio II PUs(if I will coil tap em /w a P/P pot)?

if I want to do a PRS type schematic ...is that possible to do that with normal aftermarket pups or are the PRS pups special to do that???

 

[ranalli]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

Many Duncans don't go well with ebony fingerboards IMO.....too bright just like you're saying.

I would suggest Dimarzios of some sort like a Super3/Air Norton setup.

 

[dercross]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

yes. exactly.
uhm to which SD set would you compare the SD3/AN set to? and do they come 4 conductor?

where are the riogrande freaks???

 

[Mac-P]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

Been there, done that.

Yes, Duncan makes a very bright pickup as a rule. I've tried everything.

The least expensive (and totally awsome sounding) way to go is to keep the stock Gibson neck, and throw a JB in the bridge. They compliment each other nicely. The JB is mid oriented and will thicken up the SG bridge slot.

If you want more bass and less treble than the JB, go for the BBQ, but beware, it is a dark pickup.

Most of the Duncan necks I've tried (59, PG, Jazz) have less mids and are more "hollow" sounding than the stock Gibsons. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. :burnout:

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

Get a 59 in the neck and either a 59 in the bridge or if you want something hotter in the bridge get a Custom...both of those will do fine in an SG...because the bodies tend to be a tad thin you really need the extra beef from an Alnico 5 or Ceramic pickup. IMO that set up would do you just fine, plus both should sound pretty good when split!

 

[dercross]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

Been there, done that.

Yes, Duncan makes a very bright pickup as a rule. I've tried everything.

The least expensive (and totally awsome sounding) way to go is to keep the stock Gibson neck, and throw a JB in the bridge. They compliment each other nicely. The JB is mid oriented and will thicken up the SG bridge slot.

If you want more bass and less treble than the JB, go for the BBQ, but beware, it is a dark pickup.

Most of the Duncan necks I've tried (59, PG, Jazz) have less mids and are more "hollow" sounding than the stock Gibsons. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. :burnout:

so I'm talking to a Gibson owner? do you have a SG?

if so.... what kind of fretboard do you have? if the JB fattened up your SG the BBQ would be the right choice for me due to my ebon fretboard with its plus in mids...


I would'bve kept the stock Gibson in the neck if it was 4conductor and I could've done some more interesting wiring(split, phase, parallel.....) with it

how dark is the BBQ compared to the JB, 59bridge or stock Gibson???


and yes..... 'hollow' is the right expression for what I'm feeling with the Jazz in my SG neck...

 

[Mac-P]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

so I'm talking to a Gibson owner? do you have a SG?

if so.... what kind of fretboard do you have? if the JB fattened up your SG the BBQ would be the right choice for me due to my ebon fretboard with its plus in mids...


I would'bve kept the stock Gibson in the neck if it was 4conductor and I could've done some more interesting wiring(split, phase, parallel.....) with it

how dark is the BBQ compared to the JB, 59bridge or stock Gibson???


and yes..... 'hollow' is the right expression for what I'm feeling with the Jazz in my SG neck...

Yea, I think I am the local SG maniac around here, but I haven't been lurking here for a while....

I have rosewood fingerboards and moderately heavy mahogany bodies for an SG (I've played some that are like balsa wood - mine are not like that).

In my #1 guitar I currently have the BBQ bridge and stock Gibby neck.

I love the JB, but when I kick into the bridge position I like a bit less high end than many players. The BBQ has much more bass and less treble than the JB, but they are very, very similar pickups otherwise.

The stock Gibby bridge is not nearly as vocal or warm as either the JB or BBQ and much more shrill in the top end.

The '59 bridge is not even in the same category as any of the other pickups. THe '59 model in general is VINTAGE voiced pickup that is really bright in the bridge, abd sort of boomy, yet hollow, in the neck. I do have a custom shop '59 neck that blends really well with the JB bridge, but sounds anemic with the BBQ

I hear ya about the 4 conductor thing, but in all honesty, I used to love split pickups, lately I don;t dig the output drop, so never really use them split. You can get a GREAT clean sound out a bucker if you eq the amp right in my opinion. I even got the 2 conductor BBQ even though the 4 was available.

Keep in mind though, the BBQ really IS a dark pickup. I think it distorts GREAT. Really big to my ears. Smooth. Sax-like. If you want grind it is not your pickup.

Hope this helps bro! Peace. :burnout:

 

[jeremy]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

great post mac

 

[Mac-P]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

Thanks man! Is that you with a beard in that picture?

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

mac...ever stick a bbq in an alder body maple neck strat? i want to fatten this sucker up and am looking at either a dimarzio breed or a bbq but i've never used rio pickups before. i'm a big fan of the jb in all my mahogany guitars but it would be way too thin in alder/maple so i need a nice fat yet articulate pickup for it.

-Mike

 

[Mac-P]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

mac...ever stick a bbq in an alder body maple neck strat? i want to fatten this sucker up and am looking at either a dimarzio breed or a bbq but i've never used rio pickups before. i'm a big fan of the jb in all my mahogany guitars but it would be way too thin in alder/maple so i need a nice fat yet articulate pickup for it.

-Mike

I don't think it would be thin at all. And I had TWO JB's in an alder bodied strat style geetar once. Not thin at all. Rosewood neck, but that alone is not going to make a JB thin.

I have a breed in the SG in my avatar. It's a good pickup. The JB has more snarl and character.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

yup, thats me and seymour. the beard is a new thing, stopped shaving in november and boy did it grow

 

[dercross]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

dang thread-highjackers!!!

hm real dark you say.... I guess that will neutralize with my SG.... but if I will trade in my screaming for a singing SG..... that would be strange... does your bbq Sg still have soemthing of the SG bite? otherwise I can get a LP anyways

concerning the 4 conductor issue... I'm about to do some phase n series/parallel stuff like in my Classic Electric so I will always or at least often have two coils together so there won't be a lot of volume loss....

 

[Mac-P]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

yup, thats me and seymour. the beard is a new thing, stopped shaving in november and boy did it grow

Hey bro - Wow, since november? Damn son! You look a lot different than the "62 Hofner" picture. Kinda like Chris Robinson.

dang thread-highjackers!!!

hm real dark you say.... I guess that will neutralize with my SG.... but if I will trade in my screaming for a singing SG..... that would be strange... does your bbq Sg still have soemthing of the SG bite? otherwise I can get a LP anyways

concerning the 4 conductor issue... I'm about to do some phase n series/parallel stuff like in my Classic Electric so I will always or at least often have two coils together so there won't be a lot of volume loss....

Sorry about the hijack. Jeremy's been offering advice here longer than me or anyone I know. HAD to comment.


I would honestly say that the BBQ does not have a lot of "bite". But that is not what I go for. It has balls galore, bit not a lot of "snap" (or shrillness) in the high end. It is rich, smooth and fat. I like that when distorting a bridge bucker. Not everyone's cup of tea.

Of course there are two other positions that have plenty-o-bite. Neck slot sounds great, and the in between is funk city (think Meters if you are familiar with them). The BBQ allows me to actually USE the treble controls on my amp. I can even use the "bright switch". What a concept!

Seriously though, I go for a warmer tone than most people on here, so take my opinion as just that. My tone is sorta Warren, Jerry, BB, Trey, Krasno. Thick powerful and clear (Tube Fender amp and Fulldrive 2). I'm not after "crunch". If you are, there are better choices than a BBQ. The JB would be perfect for a ful bodied, snarly, vocal, yet still bright bridge.

Peace.

 

[dercross]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

nah... trebble ain't what I want(in big doses).... I love the Abraxas sound... somethign that really sings.... and at the moment I'm running the SG through the 'Low' input of my Laney head... if I want more trebble maybe will just move the presence knob further than 4(where it is at the moment everything else ain't my thing) or I'll put lows on 6 instead of 9 at the moment n highs to 7 as they're now at like 4 or somethin

anyways I guess if I don't like the SG Muff combo anymore I think my FuzzFactory is really capable of some more trebbly sounds...

n as SD has more or less trebbly pups I guess your decision for the BBQ will be just the right one for me... if it doesn't sound like a neck pup in the bridge that's all right for me..... n I think the Texas will have more smoothness than the BBQ.... right? as you've described the BBQ it seems to me to be more like a bassy smoothness monster that can be taken for a neck pup..... so tell me.... does the BBQ make the SG sound LPish or still different with mroe bite than a regular LP????


P.S.:

sorry Mr.Gibbons for the fronting :wink:

 

[ranalli]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

I would honestly say that the BBQ does not have a lot of "bite". But that is not what I go for. It has balls galore, bit not a lot of "snap" (or shrillness) in the high end. It is rich, smooth and fat. I like that when distorting a bridge bucker. Not everyone's cup of tea.

.

The more I hear about the BBQ the more the descriptions sound exactly like the Dimarzio Super3.

 

[dercross]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

is that right mac?

 

[Mac-P]

Re: Pickup Change SG faded(swap SH-2&14)

Sorry, fell off the edge of the universe for a few weeks....


I believe the Dimarzio Super 3 is WAY WAY hotter and distorted than the BBQ. The BBQ is a powerful pickup, but more in the frequencies it pushes rather than with output. It is still in the category of "hot-rodded vintage".

The Super 3 is like a Super Distortion with more mids. I personally have never tried a Super 3 (aren't they discontinued), but am familiar with the intention of the pickup.

I had a Texas, but felt it was not bright enough. I put the original Gibson neck back in and it is a real nice blend.

But like I said, althogh I love it, many people think the BBQ is too dark. If that is the case I say JB. You'll like one or the other if you are looking to fatten up an SG's bridge slot. The JB was still a bit too bright for me in my SG's. In other guitars it is great.

The only way to find out is to try. You can sell a BBQ or JB on eBay (or on here) in a day or two. Just price it $5 less than the new price and someone will buy it. And it only cost you $5 to try out the pickup. You can't lose.

Good luck bro.



I