Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

ugrkoglu

ugrkoglu

New member
I just bought a Gibson SG faded with the intention of installing a Custom in the bridge. I thought it would be just perfect but it sounded horrible. Since then I tried every extra pu in my drawer: APH-1, Phat Cat, Tone Zone, and Steve Morse signature. This guitar sounds very lifeless and cheap. I mean, c'mon, how can any guitar not sound sweet with an APH-1?!!! The same pu's sound so much better in my Hamer. Compared to the SG, Hamer sounds so 3-D, so lively.

I have experimented with pu height, action, intonation etc. nothing helped. I put the stock 490's back in and actually they fit this guitar the best but it does not mean I am happy with the sound I am getting. Before I put it on ebay, I wanted to see if you guys have any suggestions. I wanted this to be my "hot rockin'" guitar to compliment my vintage sounding Hamer. What do you think might warm up th SG and breath some life into it?
 
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Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

I had the same thing happen. I ordered a set of Seths, but the stock 490 bridge sounded much better. I did leave the Seth neck in, but I swapped the magnet for an A5, otherwise it was too muddy (not as nearly as muddy as the 490r).
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

maybe obvious, but new strings needed? If none of those pups sound good, that's a bad sign.

How does the guitar sound ans play in a quiet room, unplugged?
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

Scott_F said:
maybe obvious, but new strings needed? If none of those pups sound good, that's a bad sign.

How does the guitar sound ans play in a quiet room, unplugged?
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Scott beat me to the punch here,but if the guitar just sucks,it'll be like polishing a turd with anything you try in that axe? Hope you find something that'll work? SGs are bright and spikey in the bridge position as a rule....I own one and I can relate...
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

I did change the strings and even tried 9's as well as the 10's it came with. Unplugged it sounds pretty good- loud and articulate. Plugged in, what I am missing is depth and detail. I remember how the Custom rocked and screamed and provided complex harmonics in my Hamer. Same pick up loses a lot of its complexity in the SG. Maybe my problem is comparing the two guitars. All mahogany versus maple cap; thin solidbody vs maple capped semihollowbody; practically no finish vs layers of clear lacquer etc.

I might try Iommie Signature PU's as a last resort since they are originally made for SG's and if it is still not satisfactory, I will sell this guitar.
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

Dude I have had the Same problem with My Gothic SG. We both have Ebony Necks that just make the bridge harsh. I've tried a Distortion, '59 and finally a Demon and still have no love. I think a CustomCustom may be the trick since the stock 490's have A2 mags. The '59 neck is OK but I'm gonna go with a PG when I try the CC.

BTW, I use 12's and tune to C and it still sounds thin in the bridge.
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

Couldn't hurt to change out the pots and caps....make sure you get a good set. I would think the APH would have been great....maybe a CC in the bridge? If that doesn't work, perhaps it's time for annother SG. Good guitars, maybe you just got a dud.
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

Strange, I've had a DDJ in my SG for a longggggg time. I experimented by putting in a 500T but the DD went back in. It's one of the best pickup matches for the SG I have tried. It sucked with the JB in the bridge and HORRIBLE with an Invader (pure mud!). Wish you luck.
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

Dude! Don't do it! Do not spend the cash on a set of Iommi's to "polish a turd" as a previous poster mentioned.

I digress. I am one of the biggest Gibson IOMMI whores here, as I happen to love the tone with my Epi LP:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=57452&highlight=iommi

More importantly...Back to your issue! If you have not already tried...try wiring each pickup, one at a time DIRECTLY to the output jack! This will eliminate the electronics altogether. Also, inspect the output jack itself. The tiniest bit of loose wire or loose fragment of solder can do stupid things to tone in rare cases. My Epi LP's jack tunnel was trashed by all kinds of sawdust! The only reason I ever found out is that I replaced the stock i/4" jack with a Switchcraft USA jack (just because they are inexpensive, and the best in the world).

Good Luck, Amigo!:)
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

What you need is a great setup, new strings, and a handwound 7.5k-ish and 8k-ish pickups with ALNICO 5.
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

Despite what the tone chart may claim, I find the Custom Custom is excellent for getting a thick tone out of a sharp, thin sounding guitar with an ebony fretboard. Might be worth a try.
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

Fusion1 said:
Strange, I've had a DDJ in my SG for a longggggg time. I experimented by putting in a 500T but the DD went back in. It's one of the best pickup matches for the SG I have tried. It sucked with the JB in the bridge and HORRIBLE with an Invader (pure mud!). Wish you luck.
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Not to disparage the opinion of Fusion1, but Woody Weatherman of Corrosion of Conformity has used the SG/Invader pickup combo for a long time...and kicks thick truckloads of @ss. The twin SG guitar attack of Woody Weatherman/Pepper Keennan can be enjoyed on the 2001 DVD release of Live Volume!, but this may also be a function of the fact that "the stoner groove" I love is irritating to others. Woody is also playing through a lot of touring gear (rack mount stuff) and Mesa Boogie amps. I just love the Corrosion of Conformity sound!
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

Jeff_H said:
Couldn't hurt to change out the pots and caps....make sure you get a good set. I would think the APH would have been great....maybe a CC in the bridge? If that doesn't work, perhaps it's time for annother SG. Good guitars, maybe you just got a dud.
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What value pots and caps would you recommend? I think I will turn my Custom into a CC and give it a try.

I agree with fuzzyratfarts that a great set up can work wonders. I did set it up and intonated it etc. but I am not an expert so I will probably take it to a tech.
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

it could be possible that a SD pickup isn't right for that guitar? maybe you should be looking at Gibson's line of pickups for a Gibson guitar? don't get me wrong, I have SD's in my Les Paul...but sometimes ya gotta go to the source for the right product. I think SD's are the best, but sometimes it's a "best for the situation" that counts
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

Mu suggestion? Put the original pickups back in and sell it. If every pickup you've tried sounds mediocre it's the guitar that's mediocre...not the pickups.
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

Lewguitar said:
Mu suggestion? Put the original pickups back in and sell it. If every pickup you've tried sounds mediocre it's the guitar that's mediocre...not the pickups.
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That is pretty much my conclusion. I know how nice pickups like APH, Custom, and Phat Cat sound and this guitar made them sound very mediocre.

Thanks everyone for your input.
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

Try snipping the caps that go the tone knobs. I run my Heritage Les Paul with two one meg volume knobs and no tone knobs and no caps. It's made ALL the difference in the world. Snip the caps...if it still doesn't work,solder 'em back on. I'll bet running those p'ups wide open will give you what you want.
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

If its too bright I would try 250l pots but you have said anything about bright. I think you are to some extent expecting something the guitar can't deliver is you are comparing to a semi hollow Hamer. That is a huge factor. I would expect an SG to ever sound like a semi-hollow
 
Re: Please Help..my New SG Bites!!!!

TheArchitect said:
If its too bright I would try 250l pots but you have said anything about bright. I think you are to some extent expecting something the guitar can't deliver is you are comparing to a semi hollow Hamer. That is a huge factor. I would expect an SG to ever sound like a semi-hollow
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My problem is not that it is too bright or dark etc. It is just not rich and lively like my Hamer or the Les Paul I used to own. I think you are right about the comparison thing. But so many great classic sounds came out of SG's in the course of rock history that I can't believe that SG can be written off as a dull guitar. I think I just got unlucky and ended up with a dead piece of wood! All I know is the Custom should have screamed and sang in it but it just sounded very generic.
 
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