Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

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

I had an SG400 and put a custom 5 in it and it was beastly! The C5 has a fat low end that makes up for the thinness of the guitar. And the plus to using anything in the custom series is that you can mod with a magnet swap. Im a big fan of a custom 8 which is a custom with an alnico 8 mag in it. But for an SG, Id start with the Custom 5. As far as neck pups, a pearly gates or Jazz would be great
 
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Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

I have a Custom 5 in my Epi SG and like it. In the neck is a 57 Classic and it just sings. I love the 57 classic in the neck but I did not like it in the bridge, so I put in the Custom 5. This setup has been rocking for about a year now.
 
Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

Add my vote to the '59s.. Had mine in for a month or so, and even with the stock wiring it just has a great all around sound.. At least in my opinion...
 
Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

I've been reading through the replies, thanks everyone for the input :)

I read reviews, heard samples, watched videos etc about the pickups you mentioned. I'm almost sure I want a SD Custom (SH-5) on the bridge. Good reviews on the SG-400 and even the description on the Seymour Duncan website almost perfectly describes what I want:

Beefed up Patent Applied For tone for a hard-driving, kickin' sound with the right balance of power, sustain, and distortion. This pickup cuts through with a distinctive high end and midrange attack. The ceramic magnet and custom coil design give it compressed dynamics, an enhanced harmonic structure, and a punchy bass. Perfect for dropped tunings without "mushing" out.
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I say "almost" sure, because I'm between the Custom and the Custom 8. I know it's the same pickup with an alnico 8 mag in it, but how does the sound differ?

For the neck, I'm trying to decide between the 59' and the Mean 90, I'm doing some more research before deciding.
 
Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

IronFox said:
I'm almost sure I want a SD Custom (SH-5) on the bridge. Good reviews on the SG-400 and even the description on the Seymour Duncan website almost perfectly describes what I want:

I say "almost" sure, because I'm between the Custom and the Custom 8. I know it's the same pickup with an alnico 8 mag in it, but how does the sound differ?
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All three are different flavors of the same PU. A C5 will be the brightest and thinnest, but that's partially offset by the mahogany body. Custom's have a ceramic magnet, which are high output and somewhat 'stiffer' and more sterile-sounding than an alnico, not quite as good clean. Great for metal and hard rock. They're on the bright side, but have more mids than a C5 (but less than a C8). C8's took the forum by storm, as they're like a cross between C5's and Customs. If you like powerful bridge PU's that have full mids, aren't too bright, and are good clean, you should consider a C8. They're probably gotten more recommendation for SG's than any other bridge PU here in the last several years.
 
Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

If you like powerful bridge PU's that have full mids, aren't too bright, and are good clean, you should consider a C8.
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Exactly what I'm looking for! I have to buy a SD Custom AND an Alnico 8 magnet, and swap magnets right?
 
Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

IronFox said:
Exactly what I'm looking for! I have to buy a SD Custom AND an Alnico 8 magnet, and swap magnets right?
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Yes, any one of the Custom family will work. You have the ingredients to make a C8 in your laboratory. They're very popular around here.
 
Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

The C8 is the only one of the Customs which I would consider for the bridge of an SG. The Custom (with ceramic mag) is just too bright and brittle sounding for most clean work; the C5 is too mid scooped for an SG, it may be better for an LP but not quite for an SG; the CC (with A2 mag) sounds too wet-blanket-over-my-speaker for my taste...it's just kinda blah. But the C8 has a very present high end but it's warm (not brittle like its ceramic mag brother), full mids, a solid bass, articulate but still with that alnico warmth and character that just sends giggles up and down my spine.
 
Re: Pickups for my Epiphone SG-400? Help!

GuitarDoc said:
The C8 is the only one of the Customs which I would consider for the bridge of an SG. The Custom (with ceramic mag) is just too bright and brittle sounding for most clean work; the C5 is too mid scooped for an SG, it may be better for an LP but not quite for an SG; the CC (with A2 mag) sounds too wet-blanket-over-my-speaker for my taste...it's just kinda blah. But the C8 has a very present high end but it's warm (not brittle like its ceramic mag brother), full mids, a solid bass, articulate but still with that alnico warmth and character that just sends giggles up and down my spine.
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+1. Couldn't say it any better myself. For a high output bridge PU in an SG, there's very few PU's better than a C8.
 
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