Want my Epi SG to brighten up!
- Thread starter rbm
- Start date
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: Want my Epi SG to brighten up!
First of all, you need to change out the pots and caps.
500k CTS pots and .022mfd caps should brighten it up some. As far as which pickups to use in it, that depends on how the guitar sounds unplugged.
For a bright sounding guitar, I would suggest a pair of Pearly Gates in the neck and middle and a Custom or a Custom Custom in the bridge.
For a thicker sounding axe, or if you need less mids, a pair of 59's or Jazz's in the neck and middle with a Custom 5 would work well.
For a more vintage, early 60's/late 50's type tones, a set of Seth Lover pickups would work great.
First of all, you need to change out the pots and caps.
500k CTS pots and .022mfd caps should brighten it up some. As far as which pickups to use in it, that depends on how the guitar sounds unplugged.
For a bright sounding guitar, I would suggest a pair of Pearly Gates in the neck and middle and a Custom or a Custom Custom in the bridge.
For a thicker sounding axe, or if you need less mids, a pair of 59's or Jazz's in the neck and middle with a Custom 5 would work well.
For a more vintage, early 60's/late 50's type tones, a set of Seth Lover pickups would work great.
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: Want my Epi SG to brighten up!
New pots are a start but I believe the Epis already have 500k pots all around so unless the pots are dramatically out of spec you won't get a big push from new pots. New caps won't make a bit of difference as far as brightness is concerned.
The PGn is one of the warmer sounding neck pickups that SD makes. The Custom does have some top end to it but it's big bottom end and full mids makes it sound fairly full and not exactly bright. The CC is warm and buttery and not what i would call bright at all. The CC is the pickups I usually recommend to warm up an overly bright guitar.
A 59 in the bridge and 59 neck models in the middle and neck is what i would recommend. While a pot and caps upgrade (CTS pots and Sprauge caps) isn't a bad idea from a quality standpoint, it won't nessessarily guarantee a brighter guitar.
New pots are a start but I believe the Epis already have 500k pots all around so unless the pots are dramatically out of spec you won't get a big push from new pots. New caps won't make a bit of difference as far as brightness is concerned.
The PGn is one of the warmer sounding neck pickups that SD makes. The Custom does have some top end to it but it's big bottom end and full mids makes it sound fairly full and not exactly bright. The CC is warm and buttery and not what i would call bright at all. The CC is the pickups I usually recommend to warm up an overly bright guitar.
A 59 in the bridge and 59 neck models in the middle and neck is what i would recommend. While a pot and caps upgrade (CTS pots and Sprauge caps) isn't a bad idea from a quality standpoint, it won't nessessarily guarantee a brighter guitar.
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: Want my Epi SG to brighten up!
You're dead on in your descriptions of the PG, Custom, and Custom Custom pickups.
I mentioned them only if the guitar was bright sounding unplugged, and, to be honest, even a PG/CC set up has more zing and detail than the stock Epi humbuckers I've encountered.
Robert S. said:
You're dead on in your descriptions of the PG, Custom, and Custom Custom pickups.
I mentioned them only if the guitar was bright sounding unplugged, and, to be honest, even a PG/CC set up has more zing and detail than the stock Epi humbuckers I've encountered.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Want my Epi SG to brighten up!
I like the 59 set in an SG too. They'll give you the tone of those great old SG's like the one used Eric Clapton used in Cream.
You might try the 50's mod: just open up the control cavity and unsolder the tone capacitors from the volume pots and move the connection to the middle terminal of each volume pot.
That'll brighten up your guitar a little and help keep it from getting muddy when you reduce the volume on the guitar.
Lew
I like the 59 set in an SG too. They'll give you the tone of those great old SG's like the one used Eric Clapton used in Cream.
You might try the 50's mod: just open up the control cavity and unsolder the tone capacitors from the volume pots and move the connection to the middle terminal of each volume pot.
That'll brighten up your guitar a little and help keep it from getting muddy when you reduce the volume on the guitar.
Lew
John Wymore
New member
Re: Want my Epi SG to brighten up!
Regardless if your EPI has 500K pots or not, make the upgrade to some good quality (CTS) pots and capacitors while you have the guitar apart. It will make a difference ... if not in tone then at least in the feel and improved usefullness of the controls. It's an inexpensive improvement you will be glad you did. Also shield the cavity while you are in there to reduce noise.
Regardless if your EPI has 500K pots or not, make the upgrade to some good quality (CTS) pots and capacitors while you have the guitar apart. It will make a difference ... if not in tone then at least in the feel and improved usefullness of the controls. It's an inexpensive improvement you will be glad you did. Also shield the cavity while you are in there to reduce noise.
