Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

krall

krall

New member
Just picked up a near mint condition '88 SG-62 reissue with original pickups. I'd like to replace the bridge pickup with something, but not sure what. It would be for aggressive music (punk/hard rock/metal). Standard tuning. I want something with good note separation and not too bright..I also plan to leave the humbucker cover on, if that makes a difference (these guitars don't look good with the covers off imo)

I already tried a SD SH-6 Distortion in another Gibson and thought it was too bright, so i'd like to try something else..
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

What are the stock PU's?

If you want a pair of Duncans, one of the best you can get for an SG is a C8 (Custom 5, CC, or Custom with an A8), and a '59N. Bridge is powerful, full, warm, with some bite, and the neck is well-defined with some alnico color to it.
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

Sounds like a magnet swap to me, perhaps you could identify what you didn't like about the stock pickups tonally.
It seems like you are looking into a darker and more powerfull sound.....?
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

lotus eater said:
Sounds like a magnet swap to me, perhaps you could identify what you didn't like about the stock pickups tonally.
It seems like you are looking into a darker and more powerfull sound.....?
Click to expand...

Suprized blueman didnt suggest this.
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

blueman335 said:
What are the stock PU's?

If you want a pair of Duncans, one of the best you can get for an SG is a C8 (Custom 5, CC, or Custom with an A8), and a '59N. Bridge is powerful, full, warm, with some bite, and the neck is well-defined with some alnico color to it.
Click to expand...

I never use the neck pickup, so i'm not really looking at replacing the stock one in there..And if I did, I do have a spare SD Jazz I could put in there, but I don't think i'll bother.

As for what's in there..Your guess is as good as mine. They have a patent number stamped on the bottom, and according to the 1988 Gibson ad, it states that it has "1959 Les Paul Reissue" pickups...My search shows no such pickup exists??

Pic of original ad I found online for proof :

1988%20SG-62%20Reissue%20ad.jpg
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

lotus eater said:
It seems like you are looking into a darker and more powerfull sound.....?
Click to expand...

Yes..Darker, fuller, rounder and powerful, and good note separation at higher gain settings.

The stock ones are fairly low-mid output, twangy and prone to feedback once put through an OD/distortion pedal or high gain amp at any appreciable volume. They'd be fine for jazz, classic rock/blues, but not for what i'm using it for..
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

Another question..Which regular SD pickup sounds closest to a Crazy 8? I have a Crazy 8 in another guitar and it's my favorite PU so far..
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

i'm pretty sure nothing sounds like a crazy 8 except for a crazy 8.... have you considered a magnet swap though? an a8 in your DD may be what your looking for.
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

I have an '86 SG and I have been through a ton of stuff in it. If yours is like mine, you have Shaw pickups in it with a serial number stamped on the bottom. If they are, they'll both measure in the 7.5K range. The neck pickup is really good (not that you care that much right now) but the bridge is thin weak and clangy. If you want smooth and Gibson sounding, I would recommend a Gibson 498T with an A4 in it. It's about as good as it gets for that classic SG bucker sound. Warm round but with a bit of bite. Based on your post, that's what I'd go with.
If you want to go beyond buckers, A P-90 will work too. I tried a regular Gibson P-90 which required some cutting to get in, and now I have a Phat Cat in there with some mag swaps. I used the mag from the stock A5 Shaw pickup (mine was one of the raw magets and it sounds much different than a regular A5) on the neck side and an A4 on the bridge side. Very nice. Smoother than a Gibson P-90 but still has that open honk. But again, sounds like you don't want that.

BTW, the Shaw pickups are worth more than others, so you can make some scratch on them, or keep them. If you just pull the bridge, try it in the neck of something else.
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

super rad ska said:
have you considered a magnet swap though? an a8 in your DD may be what your looking for.
Click to expand...

Is this a service that Seymour Duncan offers? If so, how much would it cost to put a new magnet in the stock pickup?
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

The Usual said:
I have an '86 SG and I have been through a ton of stuff in it. If yours is like mine, you have Shaw pickups in it with a serial number stamped on the bottom. If they are, they'll both measure in the 7.5K range. The neck pickup is really good (not that you care that much right now) but the bridge is thin weak and clangy. If you want smooth and Gibson sounding, I would recommend a Gibson 498T with an A4 in it. It's about as good as it gets for that classic SG bucker sound. Warm round but with a bit of bite. Based on your post, that's what I'd go with.
If you want to go beyond buckers, A P-90 will work too. I tried a regular Gibson P-90 which required some cutting to get in, and now I have a Phat Cat in there with some mag swaps. I used the mag from the stock A5 Shaw pickup (mine was one of the raw magets and it sounds much different than a regular A5) on the neck side and an A4 on the bridge side. Very nice. Smoother than a Gibson P-90 but still has that open honk. But again, sounds like you don't want that.

BTW, the Shaw pickups are worth more than others, so you can make some scratch on them, or keep them. If you just pull the bridge, try it in the neck of something else.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response..Yeah, it seems that the PU's are Shaws..I've never heard of them before..
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

I play mostly classic hard rock and NWOBHM type stuff, and I've been through the same saga with my '73 SG. It came with these epoxied "Super Humbuckers" which are the most "un-rock" pickups I think I've ever heard. Low output and incredibly sterile sounding. I tried some GFS hot alnico humbuckers which were too middy, then tried some GFS Dream 90 P90 types, which had a good output, but were a little sharper than I wanted.
Finally, I picked up a JB for the bridge and a Jazz for the neck, and I like that combo, though I think if I did it again, I'd probalby go with a 59 for the neck, and the Jazz is a little "hollower" sounding than I like. Now my SG rocks like it should.
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

krall said:
Thanks for your response..Yeah, it seems that the PU's are Shaws..I've never heard of them before..
Click to expand...

Speaking of '80's Gibson pickups, the original Dirty Fingers are worth trying if you can find them. I have a set in my '84 Explorer that definitely brings the rock. I've been told the reissue Dirty Fingers are not the same, but haven't heard them myself to judge.
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

bloodspoint said:
I picked up a JB for the bridge and a Jazz for the neck, and I like that combo, though I think if I did it again, I'd probalby go with a 59 for the neck, and the Jazz is a little "hollower" sounding than I like. Now my SG rocks like it should.
Click to expand...

So you still have/like the JB in the bridge?
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

I have a set od Duncan A2P's inmy Gibbo, and i alove the tone - best pu's i could have ever given it - for my style of music !


James
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

SlowGroove said:
JB bridge in an SG sounded wayyy too thinn & shrill to me !


James
Click to expand...

i've had the exact opposite experience with a stock JB in my SG, it was too thick and warm, i couldn't get any bite out of it. and i was using 500k allaround!:eyecrazy:

btw i'm sure duncan could install a new magnet for you, but the cost of shipping your pickup to and from there along with payment for the service and magnet would not outweigh getting a magnet and installing it on your own. you can get aftermarket magnets at http://shop.wymoreguitars.com. shipped it should only cost $14 for a new alnico 8, as opposed to what could be upwards of $30 for shipping it and having it done.
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

If you don't want to mess with things, get a C5 from Duncan or just get a 498T. Simple and will likely get you what you have described.
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

The Usual said:
If you don't want to mess with things, get a C5 from Duncan or just get a 498T. Simple and will likely get you what you have described.
Click to expand...

Just read up the reviews on the C5..This could be the one I go for. I already have a spare Jazz neck PU..Does it pair well with the C5? If so, I may also plop the Jazz PU in there too.

One (possibly stupid) question: Can the nickel covers on the stock PU's be removed and put on the Duncans?..Or should I order a PU with the nickel cover already on?
 
Re: Pickup Suggestion For My Gibson SG?

krall said:
Yes..Darker, fuller, rounder and powerful, and good note separation at higher gain settings.

The stock ones are fairly low-mid output, twangy and prone to feedback once put through an OD/distortion pedal or high gain amp at any appreciable volume. They'd be fine for jazz, classic rock/blues, but not for what i'm using it for..
Click to expand...

I'm fiddling with my SG's bridge pickup, too. It sounds great in the neck but in the bridge it doesn't have enough weight to e.g. drive the Duncan Custom I put in. PAFs sound nice in there but my Pauls are better for that.

My next tries will be:
- JB with A2
- SD 78
 
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