Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

T

tab

New member
Hey guys -
I'm looking at trading some stuff out for a walnut SG -
The current owner will yank out the existing pickups so I'm starting to look at choices for this guitar.

My initial thought since the walnut will be brighter than a mahogany bodied SG is to stick with A2 pickups. I searched the forum and ran into multiple threads suggesting a ton of pickups - Pearly Gates and 59 sets were both suggested.

I'm a fan of metal, but play blues and rock mostly. Am I safe in thinking the bright wood will counter the mud an A2 is capable of?

What do you guys think? Stick with an A2 set and move forward? :)
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

Depends on the pickups in question, but A2 is probably a good place to start. If you want more bass & power out of the bridge, could try A8.

Custom Custom could be a lot of fun, too. Or the '78 if you are interested in Custom Shop pickup expenses. Neck I'd either go Alnico II Pro if I want smoothness, or Pearly Gates neck for a bit more bite.

Every time I think about SGs I want to make an Angus & Malcolm guitar: Brobucker in bridge, FilterTron in neck (probably something a bit hot like a PowerTron neck, so it matches up better with the bridge, plus Malcolm is known for using overwound FilterTrons, and his tech has apparently started using TVTron Classic Plus for his backups). I've no idea if that sort of thing would work in that wood, though...
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

I had a Gibson Dirty Fingers in my Walnut bodied Les Paul. It sounded great.

I'd suggest something with some girth to it. Maybe a DiMarzio Super Distortion?
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

I just got a walnut SG myself & put in a pair of Gibson HB's, both with A5 magnets (the neck is a 490R I swapped the magent in; the bridge is a 50ST from an Epi Elitist), and it doesn't sound overly bright. Of course, that's only one guitar. I think with SG's, the wood is thin enough where you don't get a lot of warmth even when it's made from mahogany. But that's part of their charm.
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

Well, if I'll be looking at A5 pickups I've had experience with the 36th Anniversary PAF Dimarzios and those weren't too shabby...
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

OK....why has nobody given the correct answer of A2P's yet?
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

A2 Pro... That was one I overlooked too. Too obvious possibly.

Now would be a great time to have a friend with 3-4 extra pups in a box I could try out... Hmmm...
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

I used to have a walnut grove. Gorgeous wood.

Try playing the guitar acoustically and compare it to other electic guitars unplugged and see if it is brighter (make sure the strings are new/old the same).

As stated, the thinner body should add some warmth...
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

Walnut is not a bright wood. I had a walnut Carvin DC127C with a Floyd. It has a definite low mid push in the tone. I used bother a JB and a Screamin Demon with great success in that guitar.
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

SFW said:
Walnut is not a bright wood. I had a walnut Carvin DC127C with a Floyd. It has a definite low mid push in the tone. I used bother a JB and a Screamin Demon with great success in that guitar.
Click to expand...

There can be great variation in tone, even within the same species of wood.
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

I am using a PATB-3 in the bridge and an a4 59n in the neck of my hardtail walnut strat. And I could not be happier.

But it has a maple/rosewood Fender scale neck. So dunno how much helpful this information is.

B
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

SFW said:
Walnut is not a bright wood. I had a walnut Carvin DC127C with a Floyd. It has a definite low mid push in the tone. I used bother a JB and a Screamin Demon with great success in that guitar.
Click to expand...

Could be that Carvin is not a good guitar.

I think A2P's would be KILLER in a Walnut The LP or SG.
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

Aceman said:
Could be that Carvin is not a good guitar.

I think A2P's would be KILLER in a Walnut The LP or SG.
Click to expand...

I have a full walnut LP, and yeah, a JB or a distortion or a fullshred/distortin or a screamin demon does sound great. an alnico2pro is just too warm.
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

I dunno about walnut, but I have a fairly bright Voodoo LesPaul with a bit of a midscoop (swampash, ebony fretboard) and the DiMarzio AirZone works very well with it.
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

I've recently serviced a Walnut SG... the owner tried several p'ups to change his dreaded 490R/498T set.

The winner combo was a stock '59n in the neck and a Custom 8 in the bridge. The amp was a newer Marshall with a 4x12" slanted cab with green Celestions in it.

He played mostly classic rock/blues but wanted to dig a bit into the Metal realm... that was his choice, and it looks very similar to the OPs request.

HTH,
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

Despair said:
Depends on the pickups in question, but A2 is probably a good place to start. If you want more bass & power out of the bridge, could try A8.

Custom Custom could be a lot of fun, too. Or the '78 if you are interested in Custom Shop pickup expenses. Neck I'd either go Alnico II Pro if I want smoothness, or Pearly Gates neck for a bit more bite.

Every time I think about SGs I want to make an Angus & Malcolm guitar: Brobucker in bridge, FilterTron in neck (probably something a bit hot like a PowerTron neck, so it matches up better with the bridge, plus Malcolm is known for using overwound FilterTrons, and his tech has apparently started using TVTron Classic Plus for his backups). I've no idea if that sort of thing would work in that wood, though...
Click to expand...


^ This is a exellent idea......
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

The Custom 8 would be a Custom Custom with a mag swap to an A8 correct?

I haven't decided which way to go, but think this sounds like it's worth trying...
I don't have a 4x12, but I do have a 2x12 setup with a Marshall Tube head...

Thanks!
 
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

tab said:
The Custom 8 would be a Custom Custom with a mag swap to an A8 correct?

I haven't decided which way to go, but think this sounds like it's worth trying...
I don't have a 4x12, but I do have a 2x12 setup with a Marshall Tube head...

Thanks!
Click to expand...


C8 : custom (sh-5), custom custom (sh-11) or custom 5 (sh-14) with a-8 mag swap.

Or you can get one as a floor shop custom from this guy:
http://www.wymoreguitars.com/Custom-8-Black-_p_723.html
Don't forget to add the code SDFORUM for 7% off, and he has free priority shipping (to u.s.) for orders over 50 bucks
 
Last edited:
Re: Pickups for a Walnut Guitar -

Thanks, Mark.

I found an older 10 page thread on the C8 with some other good info.
I'll post those links below just in case others want more info as well.

Large Thread on the SD Custom 8
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=158189

C8 : custom (sh-5), custom custom (sh-11) or custom 5 (sh-14) with a a-8 mag swap.

how to swap mags:
http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm

Magnet Swaps - Their different sounds covered here:
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=162393&highlight=magnet+EQ

where to get magnets:
http://www.wymoreguitars.com/Humbucker-Magnets_c_60.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top