pickup suggestion for Historic SG

kingsxman

kingsxman

New member
I've got a historic SG that I just picked up. Its got Gibson burstbucker 1 & 2's in it. Its not bad...but I would like to fatten it up a bit while retaining the clarity. For fun I threw in a 59 and a custom custom that I had laying around in the SG and it sounded awful. Too dark. No definition on the clean. So this IS a darker sounding guitar.

I'm wondering if a set of antiquites might be what I want? I'm debating between that and a set of Sheptones or something like that...
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

I always like the way a PG set sounds, but you'll probably be better off going with a jazz bridge in the neck and a custom 5 in the bridge. For the custom 5, just take the A2 out of your custom custom and throw in an alnico 5 magnet. If you need one, just check the trading post, one of the forum dealers is clearing out some leftover inventory and is offering some fantastic prices on parts.
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

jimijames said:
you'll probably be better off going with a jazz bridge in the neck and a custom 5 in the bridge. For the custom 5, just take the A2 out of your custom custom and throw in an alnico 5 magnet.
Click to expand...

A C5 in an SG is a winning combination for many of us, and you basically have one, just swap the magnet. For neck clarity, the lower the output the better, as you'll get more definition, which means use a neck version of the PU ('59N, JazzN, etc) rather than the bridge model, which is always a little hotter and darker, which you evidently don't need any more of.

If you don't have 500K's on the neck PU now, do that first, and you may find that the '59 has what you want. Your BB's have A2 magnets, which I'm not fond of (I swap the magnets in mine) as they just don't have the character & sparkle of a a brighter magnet (to my ears).

You've got a great guitar; just a few tweaks to match the PU's to the individual wood, and you'll be all set.
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

kingsxman said:
I've got a historic SG that I just picked up. Its got Gibson burstbucker 1 & 2's in it. Its not bad...but I would like to fatten it up a bit while retaining the clarity. For fun I threw in a 59 and a custom custom that I had laying around in the SG and it sounded awful. Too dark. No definition on the clean. So this IS a darker sounding guitar.

I'm wondering if a set of antiquites might be what I want? I'm debating between that and a set of Sheptones or something like that...
Click to expand...

No, the problem with the Antiquities is that the bridge pickup has a very high wind. It's too dark for my taste even in a normal bright Les Paul.

Of course the Custom Custom is hopeless here, but you are saying the '59 is not bright enough?

I have good experience with the Jazz neck in my old very aggressive sounding Explorer, it made it come out with shining highs, good for picking. The '59 was too boomy.

A good PAF for the bridge is the Seth. The Seth is similar to the Ant but has a more agreeable wind around 8.1 Kohm.
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

blueman335 said:
A C5 in an SG is a winning combination for many of us, and you basically have one, just swap the magnet. For neck clarity, the lower the output the better, as you'll get more definition, which means use a neck version of the PU ('59N, JazzN, etc) rather than the bridge model, which is always a little hotter and darker, which you evidently don't need any more of.

If you don't have 500K's on the neck PU now, do that first, and you may find that the '59 has what you want. Your BB's have A2 magnets, which I'm not fond of (I swap the magnets in mine) as they just don't have the character & sparkle of a a brighter magnet (to my ears).

You've got a great guitar; just a few tweaks to match the PU's to the individual wood, and you'll be all set.
Click to expand...


I do have 500k's in the neck. CTS from RS Guitar works.
How hard is it to swap magnets?
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

GURU1979 said:
A 59 darker than BB 1?
are you sure?
Click to expand...

Yep. remember...its a 59 Bridge. Long story: I originally bought a duncan 59 and 59 bridge for another guitar. I didnt like that (wanted hotter) so I called Duncan and they recommended moving the 59 B to the neck...and replacing the 59 with a Custom Custom. I did that and it was ok. (But I always missed the clarity).

Now since they're laying around I thought I'd throw them in. Definitely darker than the BB1.
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

I am wondering how the 59's will do for me. I just ordered a set, and I am putting them in an Epiphone SG, which I am sure is nothing like the Gibby Historic. But I was going for a lower wind, while not being to sharp on the treble side...
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

uOpt said:
No, the problem with the Antiquities is that the bridge pickup has a very high wind. It's too dark for my taste even in a normal bright Les Paul.

Of course the Custom Custom is hopeless here, but you are saying the '59 is not bright enough?

I have good experience with the Jazz neck in my old very aggressive sounding Explorer, it made it come out with shining highs, good for picking. The '59 was too boomy.

A good PAF for the bridge is the Seth. The Seth is similar to the Ant but has a more agreeable wind around 8.1 Kohm.
Click to expand...

What makes a wind "agreeable"? Seriously, I dont get the winding thing. Supposedly more winds makes it hotter?
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

I find that PAFs with 8.5 Kohm aren't have enough life in them. They might drive low-gain amps a little better, but I prefer bridge PAF pickups around 8.1-8.2 Kohm.
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

trevorus said:
I am wondering how the 59's will do for me. I just ordered a set, and I am putting them in an Epiphone SG, which I am sure is nothing like the Gibby Historic. But I was going for a lower wind, while not being to sharp on the treble side...
Click to expand...

The neck '59 will be fine, no issue there. For the bridge '59, I use 250K pots on mine to take off a little treble, but most guys go with the regular 500K's. If the '59B turns out to be a little "sharp", either dial down the tone pot a bit, or put in one or two 250K's so you can leave the tone on 10. Nothing to worry about. '59's are great PU's and work well for thousands of players.
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

Get yourself a Brobucker for the bridge, and keep the BB#1 in the neck (they are quite good pickups).

This is what I says!

:)

BTW, I hate 250K pots with HB, kill off lotsa clarity. So I wouldn't go down that route.

BTW magnet swaps aren't that difficult.

If you get a grip of how to do that, a hot antiquity bridge HB with an a4 magnet KILLS! Better than many boutique pickups (including Holmes 455s, Voodoo 59s...).

B
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

Update:
I had a bit of time today and lowered the pickup heights on both the bridge and the neck. HUGE improvment in tone. Lots more highs now out of both pickups. The custom custom is still a bit dark and not quite as clear as I'd like...but the 59B in the neck doesnt sound too bad....

I may have to look into that magnet swap for the custom. Does anyone know where I can get some magnets?
 
Re: pickup suggestion for Historic SG

kingsxman said:
I may have to look into that magnet swap for the custom. Does anyone know where I can get some magnets?
Click to expand...

Wymore Guitars.com. I'd recomemnd getting a few extra magnet for future projects, and an assortment at that. Wymore gives free shipping if you $50 of magnets, so some of us do that and get a couple of each. That way you're ready to tackle a new guitar or new PU and don't have to wait or pay shipping again.
 
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