Recommendations for a frustrated SG owner...

tiefightertk069

New member
Okay, I finally have my LP dialed in... a set of 59s have given it the perfect tone combination that I've been searching for.

But my SG is a whole 'nother story, hence this thread.

It's a 1996 SG Standard. The pots are unlabeled, but appear to be stock. Standard disc caps. The original A2 490R is still in the neck posistion, and it's a decent pickup. The A5 498T in the bridge was sub-par; lifeless and flat. So I dropped in a Custom Custom and it was a slight improvement, but not as dynamic as it has been in other guitars.
Then I tried a 59/Custom hybrid, which was the best yet. It was still flat sounding though, and the real problem is that it started to sound too similar to the LP's bridge tone.

I don't need two guitars that sound the same.

So, given what I've tried and where those have gone wrong for me, who has some starting points for me to consider?
I'm thinking a pot and cap upgrade is definitely in order as how could so many pickups sound flat?
I'm also thinking a set of Pearly Gates may be what the doctor ordered... I've only heard them in Strats and an old Kramer I had for a while though.... opinions? And what could be expected if I toss a set of covers on them? I've been thinking of wiring it up to split the pups on the SG, how do the PGs come off split?

One last thing, I'm playing through a Framus Ruby Riot... along the lines of a Chieftain/ DC30. I'm all about that classic fat, crunchy, sizzling tone, not really high output.
 
Re: Recommendations for a frustrated SG owner...

I love the Pearly Gates set in my LP. It has great, defined lows, muscular mids, and a lot of chime in the highs. Some people find the bridge unit to be a bright, and it might be the case in an SG. Personally, I use a 500k volume pot and a 250k tone for the bridge and it works great. Adding covers to the pickups will warm them up a tiny bit, so that might also be a good idea.

As far as splitting the PG's, they sound very good. They're low output and very clean, but it's till a very useable sound, especially in the neck/middle combo.

Another pickup you might consider for the bridge slot of your SG is the Screamin Demon. It's like a hotter, fatter 59.


Also, the stock Gibson pots and caps aren't that great. Get yourself some CTS pots and some Orange Drop caps and you'll be happier. :burnout:
 
Re: Recommendations for a frustrated SG owner...

SG's have weak bass and twangy mids and bass. I like alnico 5 pickups in SG's better than alnico 2, but there are some players who like the lower magnetic field of alnico 2 and the warmer tone with more mids and looser bass...compared to alnico 5.

Personally, I'd be very happy with a pair of 59's in an SG.

But maybe try the 59N and JB?
 
Re: Recommendations for a frustrated SG owner...

Benjy_26 said:
Also, the stock Gibson pots and caps aren't that great. Get yourself some CTS pots and some Orange Drop caps and you'll be happier. :burnout:

Yeah, that's what I have in my LP (all 500k though) and it was a noticable difference...
I think I'll start there.

Lewguitar said:
SG's have weak bass and twangy mids and bass. I like alnico 5 pickups in SG's better than alnico 2, but there are some players who like the lower magnetic field of alnico 2 and the warmer tone with more mids and looser bass...compared to alnico 5.
Personally, I'd be very happy with a pair of 59's in an SG.
But maybe try the 59N and JB?

I was planning on that Lew (the 59s going into the SG, and picking up a set of Seths for the LP) after those great Clapton/Cream threads, but after hearing this pair of 59s in my LP I can't imagine anything sounding better than them in that guitar.

Decisions, decisions...
 
Re: Recommendations for a frustrated SG owner...

I'd just put 59's in both guitars then. They'll sound differant! SG's and Les Pauls's sound very differant to me. Thanks! Lew
 
Re: Recommendations for a frustrated SG owner...

+1 for SG and 59's
(and 500K pots can't hurt if you want more control of the tone sweeps)
 
Re: Recommendations for a frustrated SG owner...

Since you have an amp that's tubby in the mids and an all mahogany SG, I'd recommend the most versatile of all the Customs, the Custom 5. It has tight bass, nice output, and the mids and highs are like a 59B. Since it's not heavy in the midrange, your amp and guitar will supply all of that. Get it in nickelcovered.

For the neck, a Seth might sound too murky, so I'd stay with a 59N or Jazz N.
 
Re: Recommendations for a frustrated SG owner...

yeah i've got a nickelcovered 59 in my sg. it sounds...the way it should. :-D
 
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