Vintage/Texas Blue Tone on an SG

[jonnymangia]

Hey all,

I just bought an SG Standard that I am playing through a Marshall AVT20.
I am striving for a vintage tone when clean, something warm and smooth akin to Peter Green or Freddy King, and then I want to have a Texas Blues BBQ'd dirt Billy Gibbons sound when going into overdrive. First of all, I know all of these guys played Pauls, so I guess my first question is can the SG pull these types of tones off? My guess is yes considering it has the buckers and has been a favorite guitar of many a Southern rocker as wel as blues players. If that's settled than the question moves to the Pu's. I was thinking of tossing a Pearly Gates in the bridge and maybe a jazz a Burstbucker or a Seth lover in the neck. Any ideas?
Jonny

 

[koolkat]

Re: Vintage/Texas Blue Tone on an SG

A Pearly Gates in the bridge would sound perfect for Texas Blues. A Seth Lover in the neck would give you a smooth, fat sound while the Jazz would be brighter and more articulate. I would probably go with the Seth since most SG's tend to be fairly bright and the Seth would help to warm things up a bit.

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: Vintage/Texas Blue Tone on an SG

Hey thanks KoolKat. Do you think the Pearly would be to shrill/bright in the bridge of the SG? I've heard people say that the pickups are too close to the bridge and that poses a problem.

 

[koolkat]

Re: Vintage/Texas Blue Tone on an SG

Hey thanks KoolKat. Do you think the Pearly would be to shrill/bright in the bridge of the SG? I've heard people say that the pickups are too close to the bridge and that poses a problem.

Some might consider it a little bright in some SG's, but I would still give it a try. You can always return it for a replacement if you don't like the sound. If you find it to be too shrill, you could always go with another Seth.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Vintage/Texas Blue Tone on an SG

Do you think the Pearly would be to shrill/bright in the bridge of the SG?

I had a Pearly Gates set in my '81 Hamer Special FM (very similar in construction to a SG) and while the PG in the neck sounded fantastic, the one in the bridge could get shrill, especially whith OD. I have since moved on to a APH/JB combo and have been very happy with it.

For the sounds you want, I would keep the PG i nthe neck, but I would think of going for something thicker in the bridge, perhaps a CC or a Custom 5.