What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

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wonko the sane

New member
I love my Faded SG with 59's. But I'm thinking of moving the 59's to an Ibanez Artcore Semi hollow body I have and taking my Jazz neck and putting it into the SG. Need a Bridge Pickup idea to go with it. What am I looking for? Fun. It's all for fun.
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

try a JB - i like it in mine especially with the drive turned up on the amp


cheers
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

Do the DD. Tight bass, screaming highs, and aggressive, toothy mids will really make a SG romp.
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

None better than a DD in an SG. THe Jazz should work well as a neck humbucker as well.
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

wonko the sane said:
I love my Faded SG with 59's. But I'm thinking of moving the 59's to an Ibanez Artcore Semi hollow body I have and taking my Jazz neck and putting it into the SG. Need a Bridge Pickup idea to go with it. What am I looking for? Fun. It's all for fun.
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I've got a few SG's, and to me, that thin body doesn't go with ceramic magnets (Custom, DD, etc), unless you're a metal freak. For a hot bridge a C5 is my choice, sometimes with an A4 magnet to add a little warmth if needed. Paired with a JazzN, a C5 is a match made in heaven & a powerful PU for solos.

By the way, '59's in a semi-hollow are a great match.
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

What you described to begin with sounds like a great plan. Leaving the 59 neck in the SG, and putting the Jazz in the neck position of the Artcore would be reasonable also.
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

I guess I am a freak then, as my favorite pickup in my SG has always been the DD. I tried the Gibson 500T for a while but the DD came back. Tried the JB, Invader in the bridge, blech... I did like a Dimarzio Super Distortion and X2N. I never bothered to change the neck pickup but once I heard a 496R that was the perfect match for the DD.

HEck I must really be a freak I've had a DD in a 335 Dot for a while as well.
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

I probably would only recommend the Jazz if it is a darker sounding guitar- it is a bright pickup.
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

Fusion1 said:
I guess I am a freak then, as my favorite pickup in my SG has always been the DD. I tried the Gibson 500T for a while but the DD came back. Tried the JB, Invader in the bridge, blech... I did like a Dimarzio Super Distortion and X2N. I never bothered to change the neck pickup but once I heard a 496R that was the perfect match for the DD. HEck I must really be a freak I've had a DD in a 335 Dot for a while as well.
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Well maybe. I've tried Customs, DD's, & a 500T, and I yanked them all, but then I don't use much distortion or effects. Have the same problem with the JB. Like the ceramics, I tried it in several different guitar designs, and it was too bright & harsh in all of them (someone recently likened the JB's sound to a dentist drill). I can't see ceramics & the JB being the best choice for anything but metal. But if they work for you, go for it.

I try to advise the guys that prefer the warmer alnico tones of blues & classic rock (yeah, I'm an old fart). Things like the late 1960's British blues/rock; Page, Clapton, Green, Kirwan, Taylor, Grosvenor, & early Trower (pre-solo career). If they like that stuff, I can help. If they like metal, I'm lost and I guess my age shows.
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

for the heavy/metal/grungy guys - what cap values are you using with the Distortion (or even a JB) bridge in an SG (or LP)... .022? .047? how about the pots - 250, 500, ???


thnx
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

mi_canuck said:
for the heavy/metal/grungy guys - what cap values are you using with the Distortion (or even a JB) bridge in an SG (or LP)... .022? .047? how about the pots - 250, 500, ??? thnx
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I like warm, rich tones, so I use 250K pots & a .100 MF cap on my bridge PU's to take off the shrillest of the high end, and emphasize the mids.

On neck PU's I do the standard brightening with 500K pots & .022 caps. With the neck position being dark, bassy, & powerful, it makes sense to brighten it all you can to make it useable & balanced with the bridge PU.

Since the bridge position is naturally weak, sharp, & bright, I think its counter-productive to add bright pots & caps, and even more-so with very bright ceramic magnets. Bright + bright + bright. To me, this is only useable for country or metal with massive distortion.

Keep in mind that manufacturers use one pot value & one cap value for cost savings in production & inventory, and tone quality is not a consideration. With bridge & neck positions being polar opposites in EQ, don't be afraid to think outside the box & give them different pots & caps, even different magnets. If you bring the two PU's closer in tone, its SO much easier to get one amp EQ setting that works great for both, so you don't end up using just one PU all the time.
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

blueman335 said:
Keep in mind that manufacturers use one pot value & one cap value for cost savings in production & inventory, and tone quality is not a consideration. With bridge & neck positions being polar opposites in EQ, don't be afraid to think outside the box & give them different pots & caps, even different magnets. If you bring the two PU's closer in tone, its SO much easier to get one amp EQ setting that works great for both, so you don't end up using just one PU all the time.
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Amen to that brother. That's why experimenting pays off, to get the sound you are after!
 
Re: What do you folks think of Distortion/Jazz in an SG?

Fusion1 said:
Amen to that brother. That's why experimenting pays off, to get the sound you are after!
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Guitars are a one-size-fits-all thing. Odds are they won't sound the way you want them to; certainly most don't live up to their potential, mainly due to sub-standard or poorly matched PU's (like ceramics in a hollow body).

Thank God we have this forum to exchange ideas & get new concepts out across the globe.
 
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