Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Yamhammer on April 10, 2008, 06:36:41 PM

Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Yamhammer on April 10, 2008, 06:36:41 PM
Here we go :)

Which pickups would be nice for my Yamaha SG-2000?

-Carved maple top
-Mahogany body
-Ebony fretboard

Style: Blues/Rock/hardrock.


Torning between the Stormy Mondays, Mules, Abraxas, Crawlers, Emeralds.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: everton_fc on April 10, 2008, 08:02:39 PM
Not sure if this will help you but I put a set of Mules in my old SG1500. I was really happy with the results too.

BUT - I did put the old ones back in after a while. Don't get me wrong, the Mules were really, really nice, very open and had a beautiful singing quality. It's just the stock Yam pups from the mid-70's were absolutely smoking. They sound tight, and very powerful compared to the Mules. Almost like a different sounding guitar altogether.

Just my $2 worth but if it was me, I'd stick with the stock pups. Mind you, I'm not sure how the SG1500 compares to the SG2000 pickup wise. My SG1500 was from around 1976, not split coil, so was more like a Les Paul, and I'm not sure how those pups compare to the 1980's SG2000 pups.

Or you could stick some smokin' BKPs in there!!!
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Fourth Feline on April 10, 2008, 08:03:09 PM
I am thinking 'Crawlers' .  :D

I have Mules in a Gibson Les paul , but having been around long enough to remember the original Yammy S.G series - I can imagine the darker , fatter , Crawlers to be ideal for your purposes.


I am sure there is someone else on here with that combination ( and one with nailbombs ) already, I just hope they chip in soon !

The  Yamaha S.Gs are lovely guitars .... 8)
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Yamhammer on April 10, 2008, 11:02:57 PM
everton_fc:

I really appreciate your response and it's nice to hear your own story about it. Do you still have the SG-1500?

Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Bird on April 10, 2008, 11:34:57 PM
I've got a set of VH II's in my yamaha sg500 and they're killer. Bottom line is you need more guitars so you can get more BKPs.  8)
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: everton_fc on April 11, 2008, 08:12:57 AM
Pretty sure that the old SG1500's from the 70's (before the 1980's reissues) were constructed almost identically to the SG2000 - with through neck construction etc. The main differences were the SG1500 had dot inlays and no split coil options.

I have an old cut-away advert of both the SG2000 & SG1500 as a large JPEG if you are interested. Breaks down the components, and detailed construction of the guitar.

I sold my SG1500 on ebay a while back. Great guitar but I really needed the money at the time. It used to be do cleans really well, but pushing a valve amp hard was where it really shone. I was running mine through a Hiwatt Studio/Stage head, set at the 20w setting, into a Hiwatt 4x12. The best guitar sound I ever had, was when I had the master volume of the Hiwatt head running flat out with the SG1500. The windows in my house felt like they were going to blow out, and I'm sure I pissed the neighbours off big time, and the is NO WAY you'd be able to gig like that - but it was the best guitar sound I've ever achieved... a great guitar.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Catalyst77 on April 11, 2008, 09:42:39 AM
Quote from: Bird
I've got a set of VH II's in my yamaha sg500 and they're killer. Bottom line is you need more guitars so you can get more BKPs.  8)


Amen on that I'm seriously considering a new les paul just so I buy a set of crawlers - how crazy is that. :!:
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Catalyst77 on April 11, 2008, 09:43:37 AM
Quote from: Bird
I've got a set of VH II's in my yamaha sg500 and they're killer. Bottom line is you need more guitars so you can get more BKPs.  8)


Amen on that I'm seriously considering a new les paul just so I buy a set of crawlers - how crazy is that. :!:
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Yamhammer on April 11, 2008, 10:20:56 AM
Quote from: everton_fc
Pretty sure that the old SG1500's from the 70's (before the 1980's reissues) were constructed almost identically to the SG2000 - with through neck construction etc. The main differences were the SG1500 had dot inlays and no split coil options.

I have an old cut-away advert of both the SG2000 & SG1500 as a large JPEG if you are interested. Breaks down the components, and detailed construction of the guitar.

I sold my SG1500 on ebay a while back. Great guitar but I really needed the money at the time. It used to be do cleans really well, but pushing a valve amp hard was where it really shone. I was running mine through a Hiwatt Studio/Stage head, set at the 20w setting, into a Hiwatt 4x12. The best guitar sound I ever had, was when I had the master volume of the Hiwatt head running flat out with the SG1500. The windows in my house felt like they were going to blow out, and I'm sure I pissed the neighbours off big time, and the is NO WAY you'd be able to gig like that - but it was the best guitar sound I've ever achieved... a great guitar.

Nice.

Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Ratrod on April 11, 2008, 10:54:53 AM
I have a Yamaha SG with Crawlers and an Engl Classic. Great sounding setup especially when I use the H&K Tube Factor for the heavy overdrive.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Yamhammer on April 11, 2008, 03:42:46 PM
What kind of string gauges do you guys use for your Yamaha SG?

I'm using 10's, but seriously thinking about putting at least 11's or 12's on it.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Bird on April 11, 2008, 03:53:07 PM
Fender 150 XL's (9 to 40)
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Ratrod on April 11, 2008, 04:52:51 PM
I use D'Addario 10's.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Yamhammer on April 14, 2008, 05:08:13 PM
Thanks.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Ratrod on April 14, 2008, 06:22:07 PM
If you want something close to the original Yamaha pickups specs, the Abraxas with AV magnet is the one to have.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Philly Q on April 14, 2008, 06:29:37 PM
Quote from: Ratrod
If you want something close to the original Yamaha pickups specs, the Abraxas with AV magnet is the one to have.

Interesting  :) !  How did you figure that one out Ratrod?
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Yamhammer on April 14, 2008, 06:43:52 PM
I already mentioned.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Ratrod on April 14, 2008, 06:46:34 PM
The specs like DC output and magnets are very similar.

Santana has used Yamaha SG's for years.

Getting his tone out of a Yamaha SG is quite easy.

The Crawler neck pickup is the same as the Abraxas neck pickup and it does Santana dead on.

The only diiference between my Crawler pickup and the original Yamaha pickup is that the Crawler sounds fuller, louder and more articulate but it's still very much the same vibe.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Yamhammer on April 14, 2008, 07:09:45 PM
Quote from: Ratrod
The only diiference between my Crawler pickup and the original Yamaha pickup is that the Crawler sounds fuller, louder and more articulate but it's still very much the same vibe.

I bet the Crawlers are great in the SG for that classic (hard)rock and fluid Santana vibe, but it doesn't work for me.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Ratrod on April 14, 2008, 07:12:28 PM
Nailbomb might be an option in that case.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: il˙ti on April 14, 2008, 07:22:21 PM
Quote from: Yamhammer
I bet the Crawlers are great in the SG for that classic (hard)rock and fluid Santana vibe, but it doesn't work for me. The amp I'm using is quite trebly, tight and punchy already, so I'm searching for something VERY full sounding with deep, tight bass. Probably I have to take a look at the Warpig or Holydiver bridge pickup, because they both seems to be very full sounding for the bridge position.

Holy Diver bridge + Crawler neck?
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Yamhammer on April 14, 2008, 07:35:09 PM
What about the Warpig for the bridge? Alnico V? I'd like to hear it.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: il˙ti on April 14, 2008, 07:36:48 PM
Quote from: Yamhammer
For the neck I need something full, but with tight bass and I thought the CS has tighter bass response compared to the Crawler...

It probably does, but it's also brighter. I haven't had problems with tightness from the crawler neck.
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: Yamhammer on April 22, 2008, 12:29:30 PM
Vh2 :P lol
Title: Pickups for my Yam SG-2000
Post by: JamesHealey on April 22, 2008, 07:05:38 PM
can't beat a set of VH2's in a slab of Mahogany, the VH2's are still without a doubt my favourite set of BKP's although the Nailbomb and Mule are awesome choices, but the VH2's do it for me  8)