Pickups for SG

docdrej

New member
Looking for guidance for pickups for an SG. I like to play alternative and hard rock. I play stuff like Bush, Muse, Billy Talent, Sum 41, Collective Soul, Fallout Boy, Franz Ferdinand, etc. In general I don't like really dark or bass heavy pickups. Any help would be great.
 
Re: Pickups for SG

Thanks for having me! I've been leaning towards one of the customs but didn't know which one would do it. Also couldn't decide between jazz and 59 neck. That makes me feel better that I am at least in the right ballpark from my initial research.

P. S. I have 500 tone and volume pots in this SG, would that change anything?
 
Re: Pickups for SG

I tried a lot of pickups in my SG and ended up with the original 498t (covered) in the bridge and a Duncan 59 (uncovered) in the neck. The 59 bridge is also great in there, but is relatively low output. The 59 neck does not sound too boomy to ME in the neck, but if you think it might be, the Jazz works well. To me the jazz was a bit too stiff/sterile compared to the 59n. The Custom would work well in the bridge. A lot of people like the Custom5, but it and the CustomCustom are pickups that went too far to one extreme for my tastes. You want the 500k pots.
 
Re: Pickups for SG

Thanks for all the great advice, I'm going to start with the sh5 in bridge and the 59 in the neck and go from there. I don't have experience with seymour duncan so this is as good of place to start as any. I can always try something else if it's not the sound signature I'm looking for.
 
Re: Pickups for SG

Welcome to the forum!

Sounds like your SG could use a 59 and a Custom for all of those great tones.
That's exactly what he needs. In one of my SGs I have a custom with a WLH neck and it's awesome, I'm sure the 59 would perfect as well. I can cover so many types of music with this combo.
 
Re: Pickups for SG

It’s probably just me, but I prefer 250K pots. Even in my humbucker equipped guitars. It’s a very subtle difference but it tames the bright high end for me.
 
Re: Pickups for SG

Most non-guitar players can't tell the difference between a 250k pot and a 1meg.
 
Re: Pickups for SG

Most non-guitar players can't tell the difference between a 250k pot and a 1meg.

Yeah,’probably not.
For me it just reels in the high end to where I like it.
I still have other guitars with 500K pots as well, but my main players have the 250K.
 
Re: Pickups for SG

Just today I put a jazz in the neck, and a custom in the bridge of my 2008 SG Special. Great pairing that I really like so far. The 300k pots will come out eventually though.
 
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