Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

[IronFox]

Hello everyone, I'm new here!

I wanted to change my stock Epiphone pickups on my Epi SG-400 but I'm not sure what will be better suited for what I want. (Mahogany body, rosewood fingerboard.)

I like grunge, hard rock, stoner rock, some metal, punk, classic rock, etc... But I play Grunge mainly, as well as stoner rock and hard rock (Alice in chains, Soundgarden, Queens of the stone age are some of my favorite groups). I prefer Bass/mid tones than high treble. I don't really like screechy guitar tones that much. I'm going to be playing mainly through a Boss distortion DS-1 and/or a Bigg muff Pi. I want something that will sound full, good output and versatile. I may play on standard C or D sometimes also.

I've been told that the JB/Jazz combo, or the SH-5 would be good options? Any other recommendations? Every opinion is appreciated Thanks

 

[bluesbend]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

A set of Duncan 59's.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

seems like the Jazz/JB is what everyone goes for. There's a lot of love for the Black Winters as well.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

Custom or Custom/'59 hybrid bridge with Jazz neck? Probably what I'd do.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk

 

[Inder_Cine_Mann]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

Super Distortion bridge

 

[Securb]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

I would suggest a Distortion/Jazz combo for that guitar.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

seems like the Jazz/JB is what everyone goes for.

Not in SG's. A Custom and a '59 are a better match for that wood. JB's can get squirrely in warm woods.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

Not in SG's. A Custom and a '59 are a better match for that wood. JB's can get squirrely in warm woods.

That's good to know, thanks. I'll be getting an SG400 before next week in trade so it'll be nice to know what I should look into when it's time to swap up.

Ironfox, one thing I'll also suggest is to get the ELECTRONICS redone as well. New high quality stuff, not the junk Epi puts in there. Switch out the pots for higher quality, better wire and switch, and possible look into getting push-pull pots in case you get 4 wire pickups and want to have the option of single-coil sounds. I'll play my SG until a string breaks, then I'm ordering some higher-quality stuff.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

Almost any Custom does well in an SG.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

Almost any Custom does well in an SG.

+1. The Custom family does very well in mahogany, the one execption being CC's in LP's (most players think they're too dark in them).

If you're into PAF's, a pair of '59's is nice in SG's, don't have the boominess they do in LP's.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

+1. The Custom family does very well in mahogany, the one execption being CC's in LP's (most players think they're too dark in them).

If you're into PAF's, a pair of '59's is nice in SG's, don't have the boominess they do in LP's.

Yep 59's for the win. Phat Cats are a popular choice as well. If you aren't opposed to swapping a magnet, then a Custom with an Alnico 8 magnet is a great choice as well.

 

[Inder_Cine_Mann]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

I played a friends SG. It was fine. Convinced him to let me throw in a C8 and Mean 90 neck.

His mind was blown

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

I played a friends SG. It was fine. Convinced him to let me throw in a C8 and Mean 90 neck.

His mind was blown

Excellent PU combination. They should come like that from the factory.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

Pickups are only a part of a much bigger picture when it comes to good tone.
A good set of pickups is probably worth more than that whole (sg400) guitar.
Save up for a better axe and amp combination. You did not mention specifically what amp you are using, but a good amp is the basic bedrock on which your sound is built.
If you have a nice amp rig, then get your hands on an axe that not only plays well, but resonates musically in your hands.
Once the big building blocks of your sound are sorted out, then its worth looking at the smaller details like pickups.
This might seem like I'm deliberately avoiding the question, but if your goal is to sound good, then this is the quickest, cheapest and most effective way to get where you want to be.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

Pickups are only a part of a much bigger picture when it comes to good tone.
A good set of pickups is probably worth more than that whole (sg400) guitar.

With the right PU's, you can get some very good tones from a G-400, and lower-end Gibson SG's aren't all that much better. Unless you want to spend a lot more on a guitar, you can get what you from the one you have now. I get most of my PU's used online (usually for half price), so it doesn't take a big investment to get some quality PU's.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

I played a friends SG. It was fine. Convinced him to let me throw in a C8 and Mean 90 neck.

His mind was blown

That's one of the best possible combos for an SG. I love P-90s in an SG and I love the C8 (possibly the best all around bucker for the bridge of an SG). The Mean 90 is a great sounding P-90 for a humbucker routed guitar and works in bridge and neck position.

Putting the C8 in the bridge and the Mean 90 in the neck gives you the best of both worlds. One of my SGs is set up exactly like this and it sounds amazing and is very versatile.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

Pickups are only a part of a much bigger picture when it comes to good tone.
A good set of pickups is probably worth more than that whole (sg400) guitar.
Save up for a better axe and amp combination. You did not mention specifically what amp you are using, but a good amp is the basic bedrock on which your sound is built.
If you have a nice amp rig, then get your hands on an axe that not only plays well, but resonates musically in your hands.
Once the big building blocks of your sound are sorted out, then its worth looking at the smaller details like pickups.
This might seem like I'm deliberately avoiding the question, but if your goal is to sound good, then this is the quickest, cheapest and most effective way to get where you want to be.

You are absolutely correct about the amp (and speakers). Nothing tops the affect that the amp has on your tone. But I gotta side with Rick about the guitars. The SG400s are very good guitars. I've got a few and I've got a couple Gibson SGs as well. They are all fine instruments, but I have to admit that the Epis are a little better sounding (yes, with different pups), better finish quality, and play just as wonderfully as the Gibsons. At their price, it just makes good sense to put a little more $$ into the G400 for better pups and electronics and end up with a top player at less than half the cost of the Gibson. Even after putting in NEW pups in the G400. Certainly buying used pups, as Rick suggests, would make it an even better value.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

SG400s are very good guitars.

actually yeah...i probably got it (the 400) confused with this one. One of my students has one of these and its a dog.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

actually yeah...i probably got it (the 400) confused with this one. One of my students has one of these and its a dog.

Agreed. That's a G-310, made much cheaper. I'd never want one. G-400's are definitely better in all respects.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

I had a G400 for a short time - It was actually quite a good guitar, especially for how cheap it was. It pretty much stacked up to a slightly flat sounding Gibson SG I had at the same time. I know this seems like putting the Epi down, but I actually think they can be great guitars.....especially for heavier styles - which is what the (?poplar) mystery wood they're made from really shines with.

I'd echo the calls for a Custom in the bridge. The ceramic mag one will probably do the best, although if its a bit lacking down low, then an A8 mag swap would aid this.
And the PG neck is really good in SG's