Pickup confusion in SG

[sombersoul]

Question: Can you see on the pickup itself what type it is (i.e. SH-6, PG etc.) and if so, where exactly?

Strange question? Let me explain.
I have two guitars. One is an old EP SG-400, the other one a relatively new Gibson SG Standard. Now, some years ago I had the original pickups of the SG-400 exchanged for a Duncan Distortion in the bridge and a Pearly Gates in the neck. I've always been very content with the sound of both pickups in this guitar. Then I decided to go Gibson and was at first disappointed in the harsh sounding 490 and 498 PUs. So I decided to go the Seymour Duncan way again and after some research bought the Duncan Distortion for the bridge and the '59 for the neck.

Now, I was surprised to find out that the Duncan Distortion in my Gibson doesn't sound like the DD in my SG-400 at all. OK, so these are different guitars, but they are similar enough to assume that they would produce a similar sound, right? I don't like the sound of the DD in my Gibson at all, since it seems metallic, lifeless and not organic. When I play a chord on the SG-400, all the notes are very articulate and clear-sounding. On the Gibson especially the higher strings sound muffled and overall way too nasal and middy. Also, if my ears are not mistaken, the DD in the SG-400 drives the amp harder than the one in the Gibson, which I find strange.

I had a look at the boxes the Seymour Duncans for my SG-400 came in. I must say, I had them installed by a tech. And then I noticed that actually BOTH the Pearly Gates and the Duncan Distortion are neck PUs. So, if I have a DD neck in my SG-400's bridge, could this explain the huge difference in sound to my Gibson? And I've also been wondering if the tech even has swapped the DD and PG around, so that I'm actually playing a PG neck in the bridge of my SG-400, thinking it is a great-sounding DD. That's why I asked the question at the top of this post.

Every time I play my SG-400, I think it is sounds so much better than my Gibson. But, of course, I want to love my Gibson, too. Before I have yet another set of PUs installed, I would first like to find out the exact configuration of my SG-400.

And then I wonder if I shouldn't have gone for the Custom 5 in the Gibson after all. Well, but that's another story. I'd be grateful for some input. Thanks!

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Pickup confusion in SG

yes it will be labled on the bottom of the pickup. also if you do go with a new bridge pickup for your sg i am sure many will suggest the Custom 5, it is what most seem to think is the best pickup for that guitar, and since the magnet is A5 instead of Ceramic it will sound more organic.

If your bridge in your g400 sound organic, it might just be the '59 but i would think the neck pickup if it were the DD would have more output.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Pickup confusion in SG

You answered all of your questions in your post...DDneck and DDbridge are two totally different pickups which would produce totally different sounds.

Not to mention an Epiphone made in Korea out of nine pieces of wood in the body and three pieces in the neck, some of the wood mahogany and some of it alder, is gonna sound a lot different from a Gibson made in America out of 5 pieces of mahogany in the body and one in the neck....i mean, two guitars from the same assembly line on the same day are gonna have different tonal nuances so you really shouldn't expect any two guitars to sound identical, regardless of how similar they look.

And yeah, everybody says Custom 5 is THE Gibson SG pickup. I kinda wanna try it but not as bad as i want a Phat Cat or a P-Rails.

 

[sombersoul]

Re: Pickup confusion in SG

I guess you're right. I was fooled by the fact that both are SG models. But yeah, I understand your points. Do people use neck pickups in bridge position a lot? Well, once I've found out which PUs exactly I have in my SG-400, I might go for the same in my SG. But I'm equally tempted by the Custom 5.

Finding a good tone is a never-ending journey. Thanks for helping!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickup confusion in SG

guitars from the same assembly line on the same day are gonna have different tonal nuances so you really shouldn't expect any two guitars to sound identical, regardless of how similar they look.

And yeah, everybody says Custom 5 is THE Gibson SG pickup. I kinda wanna try it but not as bad as i want a Phat Cat or a P-Rails.

+1 on both points. And yes, the C5 shines in an SG. Put a Phat Cat in the neck, and you fulfill both fantasies.