Yamaha SG - What Pickups

Lu_B

New member
I've just bagged a 80's Yamaha SG200 and would like that Santana Abraxas tone - like Samba Pa Ti and Black Magic Woman.

What pickups should I think about putting in it?

cheers

Lu_B
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

Was Santana still using the P-90 SG on Black Magic Woman? If so, the Phat Cat set is one way to go.
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

Which model is the SG? Double fat strat copy? H/S/H?

I can't remember what he was using in that era either. If not the Phat Cats, something smooth and buttery in the neck slot....that smacks of an Alnico II Pro Humbucker. A Seth Lover in the neck would probably be nice as well, and a Pearly Gates wouldn't blow either.

Not sure what to recommend for the bridge, as I'm not a huge follower of Santana. I would probably go with a bridge version of whatever neck bucker you select.
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

Its a 200, so no fancy binding and is just H/H configuration. :)
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

Antiquities all the way. It's a win/win situation. You'll get all over Santanas tone and I'll be your new hero.

I love suggesting the Antys. Seymour does all the work and I get to look like I know something!
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

I have one of those guitars. It kicks the snot out of a lot of Gibsons I've played.

Try a set of Phat Cats OR '59's in that guitar. If they don't work out, you can always use Duncan's 21 day exchange policy.
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

I'd go with a matched set of '59's which should get you close to the Santana sound. Yep those things are a lot better than most Gibsons.
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

just out of the blue --- why does everyone make pickups like classic 57s, 59s, fat 50s, cs 54s, vintage tallboys etc.
I want to see some classic 79s! or 89s! Like recreations of those wild sounding ibanez humbuckers of the late 70s early 80s. I like seymours 59s - great pickups, amazing - but why do guitarists see everything post 1970 as being somehow inferior to "the good old days".
I went to a show recently where there were some amazing old jazz guys on various instruments playing an all star type of show (similar to the jazz at the philharmonics - if anyone knows what im talking about). One of these great old cats said "Its not like it used to be" and another great old cat quipped "it never was!" - 'nuff said.
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

Wow a post from the past - 2004!

Haven't owned that guitar for at least 3 years, never did change the pickups. Played with the height of the stock dimarzios and they were cool.
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

just out of the blue --- why does everyone make pickups like classic 57s, 59s, fat 50s, cs 54s, vintage tallboys etc.
I want to see some classic 79s! or 89s! Like recreations of those wild sounding ibanez humbuckers of the late 70s early 80s. I like seymours 59s - great pickups, amazing - but why do guitarists see everything post 1970 as being somehow inferior to "the good old days".
I went to a show recently where there were some amazing old jazz guys on various instruments playing an all star type of show (similar to the jazz at the philharmonics - if anyone knows what im talking about). One of these great old cats said "Its not like it used to be" and another great old cat quipped "it never was!" - 'nuff said.

I've been asking that for years. Take a look at Warwick's website a lot of cool innovative stuff going on very modren and pushing things forward. Then look at Framus same company but everything made to be like the 50's! It's been like this since about '95. I know Paul Reed Smith had a go about it when he launched the 513 but since then he's started jumping on the bandwagon with 50's style guitars. :banghead: The most up to date guitar Fender make is a reissue of a late 80's series.
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

Smits makes a Super 70 type pickup called the Ultra 7T. http://smitspickups.com/
It's in the "Limited Edition" section.

just out of the blue --- why does everyone make pickups like classic 57s, 59s, fat 50s, cs 54s, vintage tallboys etc.
I want to see some classic 79s! or 89s! Like recreations of those wild sounding ibanez humbuckers of the late 70s early 80s. I like seymours 59s - great pickups, amazing - but why do guitarists see everything post 1970 as being somehow inferior to "the good old days".
I went to a show recently where there were some amazing old jazz guys on various instruments playing an all star type of show (similar to the jazz at the philharmonics - if anyone knows what im talking about). One of these great old cats said "Its not like it used to be" and another great old cat quipped "it never was!" - 'nuff said.
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

Smits makes a Super 70 type pickup called the Ultra 7T. http://smitspickups.com/
It's in the "Limited Edition" section.

just out of the blue --- why does everyone make pickups like classic 57s, 59s, fat 50s, cs 54s, vintage tallboys etc.
I want to see some classic 79s! or 89s! Like recreations of those wild sounding ibanez humbuckers of the late 70s early 80s. I like seymours 59s - great pickups, amazing - but why do guitarists see everything post 1970 as being somehow inferior to "the good old days".
I went to a show recently where there were some amazing old jazz guys on various instruments playing an all star type of show (similar to the jazz at the philharmonics - if anyone knows what im talking about). One of these great old cats said "Its not like it used to be" and another great old cat quipped "it never was!" - 'nuff said.
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

I have one of those guitars. It kicks the snot out of a lot of Gibsons I've played.

Try a set of Phat Cats OR '59's in that guitar. If they don't work out, you can always use Duncan's 21 day exchange policy.
After six years, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say he's most likely found some pickups for the guitar.

I love it when people respond to threads this old....lol
 
Re: Yamaha SG - What Pickups

No I never bothered replacing the pickups! Just sold the guitar and bought something better.
 
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