SG pickup angle question

FAC

FAC

New member
Hi Folks,

I was never really interested in SG's, but a local store has a left handed SG Standard (new) and I since I had never played one before, I tried it out...and REALLY liked it...especially the neck position sound.

My question is this: The humbucking pickups are mounted directly through the pickguard...there are no pickup rings like on a les paul which would compensate for the angle between the body and the strings...and the pickups are not parallel to the strings when viewed from the side.

The pickups sound fine...in fact, great, through the Vox AC15HW I tried...but I just wanted to make sure this is normal. The right handed ones had the same thing, so I assume this is just a quirk for this model. Perhaps it lends a certain character?

Thanks.
 
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Re: SG pickup angle question

Welcome to the SG brotherhood. One of the world's best guitar designs. The (big) batwing pickguard is a little different & may take getting used to. But it transfers tones to the wood as well as the (small) angelwing models. Either way they're beautiful guitars and made for soloing.

Buy that guitar & make some music.
 
Re: SG pickup angle question

I have a love/hate relationship with SGs. IMO the modern design is far from ideal.

Again, this is my opinion, but I think SGs need to be of the long tenon, small pickguard, pickup rings variety to be really good--it's just a better design. That way the pickups aren't floating in the pickguard like a strat and the angle is correct. I couldn't find one like this outside of the custom shop...so I bought a MIJ Burny for $400.

DSC00325.jpg
 
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Re: SG pickup angle question

Thanks everyone. Looks like it found a new home today... They had a custom shop SG Standard (right handed) as well as another left handed normal shop Standard (exact same model--rare to find two lefties in one place)...this one was more resonant, with overall better tone and feel than either of the others.
 
Re: SG pickup angle question

FAC said:
Thanks everyone. Looks like it found a new home today...this one was more resonant, with overall better tone and feel than either of the others.
Click to expand...

Hate when that happens. "The one that got away". Bummer.
 
Re: SG pickup angle question

PoorMan said:
Hate when that happens. "The one that got away". Bummer.
Click to expand...

I was not clear...it found a new home today, in my house! I have experienced the "one that got away" too many times to let it happen again (It's worse with left handed guitars, because good ones are few and far between). I'm lucky that my wife understands that...when she saw it and heard it, she said "that really looks like your guitar, you should buy it".
 
Re: SG pickup angle question

Here are some pics (I hope), including a side view where the string to pickup angle is visible.
 
Re: SG pickup angle question

Cool score. SGs are great.

I am with PoorMan, though, in that while I like all SGs, I prefer the small guard with pickup rings.
 
Re: SG pickup angle question

MikeS said:
Cool score. SGs are great.

I am with PoorMan, though, in that while I like all SGs, I prefer the small guard with pickup rings.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on the cosmetics, but in its defense this was one of those "special" guitars where the sound and feel are greater than the sum of the parts (and better than identical as well as more expensive models sitting nearby).

Any idea if the pickup mounting makes much of a sound difference (in pick-guard or pickup ring)? I have not "gotten under the hood" yet, so I don't even know what it looks like under there. I'm not inclined to change anything at the moment, but I am always curious.

How long has the batwing pick-guard model been around?
 
Re: SG pickup angle question

not sure how long the "batwing" models have been around - probably late 60's/early 70's.. ?

I have a mid 90's Standard with the big "batwing" pickuard.. and although the pickup angle is a little different than a Les Paul or other guitar with pickup rings, there's no noticable tonal difference as far as I can tell.. bottom line: don't sweat it.
 
Re: SG pickup angle question

blueman335 said:
Blasphemy! How can you not love SG's?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of trading in my SG for a V, due to design issues with the SG.

(1) Poor neck support means a floppy neck, leading to loss of sustain and tuning issues.
(2) Thin body doesn't help the issue
(3) Gibson SG/Les Paul headstock has sharp string pull and causes tuning issues with the middle two strings. This may not be as bad with a Les Paul, but mix the string-binding with a floppy neck with the tension always changing, and you get a guitar that can not stay in tune. I've even replaced the nut with a graphite nut, and I've done my darndest to smooth out the nut slots, to no avail.

The V will have better neck support, better headstock design, far better tuning stability, better sustain, and a thicker tone. I'll just need to replace the hot pickups with something in the PAF range.
 
Re: SG pickup angle question

FAC said:
I was not clear...it found a new home today, in my house! I have experienced the "one that got away" too many times to let it happen again (It's worse with left handed guitars, because good ones are few and far between). I'm lucky that my wife understands that...when she saw it and heard it, she said "that really looks like your guitar, you should buy it".
Click to expand...

Oh. Love when that happens! Congrats! :beerchug:
 
Re: SG pickup angle question

blueman335 said:
Blasphemy! How can you not love SG's?
Click to expand...

LOL! Sorry...didn't mean to blashpheme. I have issues with the structural integrity of some of the designs. I'm happy for FAC . Indeed there are "special guitars" out there and regardless as to whether I'd like the guitar or not, I'm glad he does.

Cool score FAC!
 
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Re: SG pickup angle question

MattPete said:
I'm thinking of trading in my SG for a V, due to design issues with the SG.

(1) Poor neck support means a floppy neck, leading to loss of sustain and tuning issues.
(2) Thin body doesn't help the issue
(3) Gibson SG/Les Paul headstock has sharp string pull and causes tuning issues with the middle two strings. This may not be as bad with a Les Paul, but mix the string-binding with a floppy neck with the tension always changing, and you get a guitar that can not stay in tune. I've even replaced the nut with a graphite nut, and I've done my darndest to smooth out the nut slots, to no avail.

The V will have better neck support, better headstock design, far better tuning stability, better sustain, and a thicker tone. I'll just need to replace the hot pickups with something in the PAF range.
Click to expand...
Interesting, I have not experienced any of those problems with any of my SG's (all modern SG's and not vintage) I've owned a few of each - 61RI, historic SG/LP Standard, Classic, Standard.

I own V's too, great guitars but they sound a lot different than an SG. SG has a certain midrange raunchy growl to it that I've only found in an SG.
 
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