Replacing my SG's pickups

Hot Octopus

Hot Octopus

New member
I've got a Gibson SG that I don't play much. Its got a Duncan CC bridge and 59' neck and I'm looking to swap those PU's for something else and breath new life into the guitar (yes, I know how awesome the CC is in a SG- I just want to try something new). FWIW, its a mahogany body, maple neck, rosewood board, Gibson scale length and 24 frets. I've got a Floyd FRX on order too. I'm not sure how, if any its going to affect the tone when I install it. I play hard rock, usually through my Kemper and my fav profiles are of the Splawn Nitro. I've been on this kick lately of pairing a ceramic magnet PU in the bridge of a mahogany body guitar. I'm looking for lots of harmonics in vain of a FRED/ Baker Act/ Demon. Clarity- nice low mids and searing treble that's rolled off just a tad so it doesn't get harsh (I had the Dimebucker in another guitar and found the top end too harsh). It also needs to be able to do mid-gain very well too. the SG is usually tuned down a whole step.

How do the Black Winter and Nazgul compare? How do the Angel Dust and Awfayu compare? Is the Aldrich or KSE Fluence set worth looking at? Something else?

As for the neck pickup- I want lots of treble clarity. More treble than a typical neck pickup. Something that's single coil-ish, good for more of a Los Lonely Boys type of sound. something that good for sweep picking wouldn't hurt either.

Thanks in Advance-
 
Re: Replacing my SG's pickups

FWIW, I have a Quickrod. I couple of years ago I emailed Scott and asked about pickups. He told me that his favorite bridge pickup was the CC.
 
Re: Replacing my SG's pickups

I'd second hamerfan on the Custom 5 in the bridge, and DEFINITELY the Jazz neck or the Mark Holcomb Alpha neck. Good luck on the tone hunt!
 
Re: Replacing my SG's pickups

Try a magnet swap in the CC first before shelling out for new pickups. It doesn't sound like you're far off from the sounds you want.

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Re: Replacing my SG's pickups

I'm using mine for lower gain applications, but I've been pleased with Seth Lovers and WLH with A4 magnets. I will say that I do like the tone better in a full band mix than I do solo at home, especially with Seths. It sounds pretty mid-focused solo, but it sits great in the mix. I can still get fairly raunchy if I need to on the bridge, though I think you're probably going a little farther than I do.

For the neck I'd try a couple of magnets in the '59 before I bought something new. You may find an A4 or A3 gets what you want, though Los Lonely Boys might be challenging with a humbucker. Magnets are only about $4 each though, and it's fun to experiment.
 
Re: Replacing my SG's pickups

I second the mag swap on the CC. Turn it into a Custom. It should get you what you want.

As far as the neck, I'm going to go a little into left field by recommending either a Rio Grande Tallboy with a push/pull for parallel/series switching, or a TV Jones Magnatron.
 
Re: Replacing my SG's pickups

So, back in the day, I tried all the different variations and wound up liking the A2 the most. I thought the ceramic was a little harsh and didn't care for the A5. The A8 was cool, but it was too much/ too powerful and I wound up with the A2 custom custom.
 
Re: Replacing my SG's pickups

Pearly Gates...for SG almost always say P-Rails...but from what you say the PGs sound like the answer...
 
Re: Replacing my SG's pickups

In that guitar? I can see a Custom Custom just being too much mids in an SG.

If the ceramic Custom is too hot, how about an A9? It's supposed to be a lot like a ceramic, but lower output and slightly smoother high end.

Or maybe Unoriented A5, for a bit thicker and brighter than A2, without quite as much mid-focus.

Or roughcast A5, to shave a bit of high end off A5? What didn't you like about Custom 5 in that guitar?

If the ceramic Custom is too much, I wonder if you'll like anything ceramic in that guitar... I think Black Winter bridge is supposed to be a bit more articulate, though, maybe it's what you are after. If A9 doesn't do it. ;)

In the neck, I'd probably look at a Sentient or Black Winter to start, but I'm not sure either is really what you want. Maybe a P-Rails neck? (parallel/split modes, for the sort of sounds you were talking about). Or maybe a TV Jones, either a Classic, Classic Plus or Super'Tron or Magna'Tron, depending on tone you want.
 
Re: Replacing my SG's pickups

Hot Octopus said:
So, back in the day, I tried all the different variations and wound up liking the A2 the most. I thought the ceramic was a little harsh and didn't care for the A5. The A8 was cool, but it was too much/ too powerful and I wound up with the A2 custom custom.
Click to expand...

I second that - did you try those in this guitar? My CC sounds awesome in a neck through long scale ebony FB floyded superstrat. I would not choose that pickup for a short scale mahogany guitar. C5 is what I'd choose.
 
Re: Replacing my SG's pickups

Agree with the suggestions about a magnet swap in the Custom. SG's are mid-heavy guitars, between the mahogany and rosewood, and A5's tend to work better in them because they're mid-scooped and fill in the high and low ends. I'd go with an A5 or RCA5 in the Custom to liven it up. If you insist on a new bridge PU, look at a '59/Custom, it has more of the 'searing treble' that you want.

I insist on bite, treble, and clarity in my neck PU's, and I get that by wiring the neck tone pot for spin-a-split. No parts needed, just convert it to a 2nd volume pot, but for one coil only. There's a diagram on this site. You get full humbucker, coil split, and all the great unbalanced tones in between. When the 2nd coil is rolled down, high end and clarity is increased, and mids are reduced. You can do that with your '59N, or with a JazzN.
 
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