Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: hunter on May 09, 2008, 10:23:19 PM
-
First I have to say this guitar arrived in a dreadful state. I have never seen strings wound up the wrong way on tuners or an TOM bridge the wrong way round (screw heads towards the tailpiece). Also the frets completely corroded and the potis kinda stuck. Not even to mention setup and intonation and ... smell.
Right gave it a 3 hour workout, all things cleaned, frets polished, all setup and optimised several times.
Now this is a beautifully playing, very resonant and articulate guitar. I think it's a 1-piece body but not sure. Understand now what the hype with SGs is about, they are damn fine guitars. Guess I gotta play it tomorrow on my gig. And then think about which BKPs ... you know ...
-
Good to hear that it could be solved! :D
Some eBays buy can be real nightmares
-
Good to hear that it could be solved! :D
Some eBays buy can be real nightmares
Thanks for your compassion Fernando. Indeed, it's good to know how to do a good setup, that makes ebay worries less heavy. Substance i real good. Gibson doesn't do bd stuff after all.
-
An SG is second on my list of to buy.
What color is it, hunter?
-
Would love before/after pics :D
-
It's a classic standard cherry one - these 490R Alnicos do not sound bad for rhythm gotta say.
Before after pics is too late now I suppose :O)
-
It's a classic standard cherry one - these 490R Alnicos do not sound bad for rhythm gotta say.
Before after pics is too late now I suppose :O)
Doesn't mean more pics isn't a must!
-
It's a classic standard cherry one - these 490R Alnicos do not sound bad for rhythm gotta say.
Before after pics is too late now I suppose :O)
Doesn't mean more pics isn't a must!
Let's see if the missis can make some nice ones on the gig tonight ...
-
OK OK I do it now ... the rosewood is very dark ... nice!
Also to me looks like one-piece body, doesn't it - I am never sure of those things ...
-
Lovely jubbly!
-
Very nice mate :) Personally I like them in black, I think I've seen (and own) too many red guitars now :)
-
Very nice mate :) Personally I like them in black, I think I've seen (and own) too many red guitars now :)
I like the red, although the darker version of the Angus signature would have been nice, would LOVE a vibrola as well. Most important for me is the full cover scratchplate, I do not like those black pickup frames on the ones with small scratchplate ...
-
I do like the colour by the way! Sorry i didn't mean to sound like I was dis'ing your axe :oops: It looks beautiful. SG's are beggining to grow on me, I disliked them (the shape) previously, and I found the neck too heavy for the body, but I suspect my next guitar might well be an SG (I'm NOT GAS'ing, honest!)
-
I do like the colour by the way! Sorry i didn't mean to sound like I was dis'ing your axe :oops: It looks beautiful. SG's are beggining to grow on me, I disliked them (the shape) previously, and I found the neck too heavy for the body, but I suspect my next guitar might well be an SG (I'm NOT GAS'ing, honest!)
No big deal, I wasn't offended. Agree that it looks very commonplace, but hey, it's a real classic, and as people compare me to jack black anyways, why not play the same axe too :O)
I am very surprised that it seems to be the loudest of all my guitars when played acoustically...
-
Beautiful guitar!! Now for the Riff Raffs!!
-
Beautiful guitar!! Now for the Riff Raffs!!
In order to start with the full menu, which would be a good match for an SG, I have no experience, Philly or some other SGniac help please !
Stormies?
Mules?
RiffRaffss anyways ...
VHII?
Abraxas?
HolyDivers?
RebelYells?
MiracleMen?
Painkillers?
-
Very Nice looking guitar...
I'd go for Riff Raffs out of that little lot. I've got an Epi SG - I put them in there originally but took them out to try them in a Gibson Explorer that kind of "arrived" in my collection. The Riff Raffs were nice in the SG - more versatile than I was expecting - but the Explorer (Mahogany, rosewood neck, same as the Epi SG) is a nicer guitar to play, if a bit darker sounding. I reasoned that the Riff Raffs might work well in it - and I fell in love the minute I moved them.
It meant I could try out MQs in the SG. For what I play most of the time (blues/rock, late 60s-late 70s) the MQs are gorgeous - If you you were after similarly "vintage" stuff I would recommend thinking about those as well. If anything, the MQ bridge on my SG is the raunchiest thing I've got - it does the rock thing I like better than my humbucking guitars! The only thing I was worried about was what would the MQs look like in the guitar (screws in a "funny" place) - I needn't have worried, got used to it within minutes...
-
That does look pretty darn good Hunter. I am definately warming to SGs thanks to many on the forum who love them. Those I have played have always felt great though I have experienced tuning issues with both that I have have come into contact with. Is that an SG thing? I am loving the utilitarian look of them and whilst I am not in the market for one right now, I am beginning to look wistfully at them as being a possible for the future-influenced by Derek Trucks beautiful slide tone. I love that colour and you have clearly done a great job of cleaning her up.
-
Hmmm, If it were my SG, I'd be thinking Mules or Painkillers, depending on which end of the spectrum I wanted to play (I want SM's in my tokai 335, so I'd probably not go with the same again).
That said Sue's custom WezV has RiffRaff's and they work well, quite bright, but an all mahogany should tame them a bit.
-
mmmm sg got to love them
-
Looks great. Think I'd prefer it with the smaller style pickguard, those big ones never look quite right to me. Sure it plays nice now you've set it up tho :) As for pickups, I think Fourth Feline has SMs in his SG and seems to like them.
-
Looks very nice! I'm gonna recommend Riff Raffs again, as I absolutely love the bridge riff raff I have in my sg, but I suppose it all depends on what sort of music you're wanting to play on it. I've never tried any of the other pickups you mentioned apart from the holydiver, but that didn't work very well in my sg.
-
Seems the majority verdict tends towards RiffRaffs - it's the no-risk option for an SG, isn't it?
What about combining a RiffRaff bridge with a Stormy Monday neck?
-
Good choice! I have a Riff Raff bridge with another (quality, hand-made) UK builders "Vintage PAF" in the neck, and they compliment each other well, and balance perfectly.
Nice SG, looks just like mine. :wink:
-
Aha! Riff-Raff and Stormy Mondays....!!! Of course that would leave MQ neck and Warpig bridge....!!! Which sounds interesting, some folks have them too. Kind of confusing... But its fun having all these different choices. All the roads lead to Rome...
-
I have a Stormy Monday/Riff Raff set and it's awesome. You can get such a wide sweep of sounds. And the voicings of the two sound great together.
-
+1 one the riff raff/stormy monday combo
the riff raff neck is a bit cold when clean. sounds very biting when driven though.
you should get another SG with P90s
-
yeah, i really liked the riff raffs i put in sue's guitar... i will definately be using them again
-
I was advised to avoid the middle ground when I asked Tim about pups for my SG, so a SM / Mule / RR for lower gain rock, or if you want to go metal go all the way "For the grin factor" ... and get Warpigs. The MQ also seems popular.
I am thinking about getting another SG as I have Warpigs in mine and sometimes wish I hada RR / SM combo. Not enough to get rid of the Warpigs, but maybe enough to buy another SG ... :roll:
Nice looking guitar BTW, glad it scrubbed up well :) After reading your initial post I noticed the bridge on my guitar was upside down too :oops: must concentrate more when restringing ...
-
Nice looking guitar BTW, glad it scrubbed up well :) After reading your initial post I noticed the bridge on my guitar was upside down too :oops: must concentrate more when restringing ...
LOL
Probably you had your guitar also at Guitar Village in Farnham? Cos that's what the seller said he'd done with my SG, but when I saw the state it was in i was 100% sure that it was nowhere near a guitar technician for min. 5 years!
Seems that RR/SM combo does find a lot of love. I think it's worth a try. A SM neck would be useful in any of my guitars anyways ...
Would you guys go for Chrome or Nickel? I thought Nickel might be nice for a bit of a patina look? Hmmmm, or black covers?
-
Unfortunately I only have myself to blame for the upside down bridge, careless re-assembly after a bit of cleaning a few weeks back!
I'd go for Chrome ... I had an SG with black pickup covers once and I never really liked it. The extra gleam from the Chrome sits very nicely with the stained red body of an SG IMHO.
-
Don't deny it. You want a Ceramic Warpig with a Painkiller neck. The SG has horns for a reason.
-
Yes, yes ... let your hate flow ...
Feel the power of the darkside ...
PDT_040
-
Pics from last night - both guitar NOT BKP'ed (yet) :O)
(http://www.klangforschungszentrum.de/temp/busters/DSC00993.jpg)
(http://www.klangforschungszentrum.de/temp/busters/DSC01123.jpg)
-
You need a set of Blackguards for the Tele!
I have to add another option into the mix, only because I am loving it in my Zemaitis clone. The guitar is a pearl top over a mahogany body, somewere between an SG and Les Paul in thickness. I have an AV Mule in the bridge and a Stormy Monday neck. The combination sounds great. The AV Mule seems to add another level of tone to the amp, it is like you turned it up to start the power tubes cooking a bit more. I also have a Riff Raff/SM set in one of my Les Pauls and really like that too, but I think the AV Mule seems a bit fatter than the Riff Raff, but will all the clarity too.
-
very nice!
-
You need a set of Blackguards for the Tele!
I have to add another option into the mix, only because I am loving it in my Zemaitis clone. The guitar is a pearl top over a mahogany body, somewere between an SG and Les Paul in thickness. I have an AV Mule in the bridge and a Stormy Monday neck. The combination sounds great. The AV Mule seems to add another level of tone to the amp, it is like you turned it up to start the power tubes cooking a bit more. I also have a Riff Raff/SM set in one of my Les Pauls and really like that too, but I think the AV Mule seems a bit fatter than the Riff Raff, but will all the clarity too.
Now I am fully lost in land of confusion ...
I'll do some experiments with my RebelYell set. It's F spaced and I have to take the bridge out of my PRS SE, but guess it's worth the effort to just have a reference point - maybe it's spot on, maybe not. Either way I want a covered set with proper spacing, so it's gonna be temporary.
Regarding the Baja Tele, not sure if I want new pickups, I am quite happy with the original ones, plus the wiring is a bit complex with the S1 switch and the 4-way, well probably I am just lazy. The current bridge on the Baja is very hot, almost like a Humbucker, would that be the case with Blackguards, too?
-
As long as you are just replacing the pickups, and no pots or anything, the Baja wiring ins't that bad. I'm thinking of putting Country Boys in mine and had the scratch plate off this weekend to see what kind of spaghetti wiring is underneath it, and it doesn't look too hairy, infact not really any worse than a normal pickup replacement. Heaven save us if we ever need to change anything else though ... :)
I like the neck pup on the Baja, but I don't really get on with the bridge ... its a bit scratchy sounding to my ears. Pos 2 is lovely though ... and you gotta like that S1 switch. 4 way++ !
-
Teh SG in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TsS4a9jCsI
-
Lovely!
So very nearly Angus :twisted:
Damn it I need another SG and a Riff Raff!
-
I totally missed this thread! Always good to see another SG. :D
I reckon the RR/SM would be the "can't-go-wrong option", but Phil's description of the AV Mule sounds very interesting. A slightly fatter pickup with the Riff Raff's clarity sounds damn near perfect. I know gwEm has at least one AV Mule as well. I wonder if it would be hot enough to pair with an MQ neck?
Chrome covers! Nickel would look weird next to the chrome bridge and tailpiece. But even better, replace the bridge and tailpiece with nickel Tonepros ones and get nickel-covered pickups.
-
the AV Mule is my favourite BKP, nice to hear phil is enjoying his.
i think the riff raff is lean, mean and very 70s sounding. i'd decribe the AV mule as having the transparent yet fat mid range of the mule with the bite of the riff raff. its totally perfect with an AIV mule neck also. as phil says, its a very clear pickup. its got everything - i love the tone of it.
the AV version is noticeably hotter than the AIV one, but i don't have the experience to say if it would balance an MQ... maybe though.
hunter - the SG suits you!
-
Regarding the Baja Tele, not sure if I want new pickups, I am quite happy with the original ones, plus the wiring is a bit complex with the S1 switch and the 4-way, well probably I am just lazy. The current bridge on the Baja is very hot, almost like a Humbucker, would that be the case with Blackguards, too?
The blackguards are like the early 50's telecasters and the bridge is hot but not overly so. There are currently 2 variations, one with flat poles and one with stagger poles. I have the flat poles, which is also a little fatter sounding than the stagger poles (though both have that tele twang going). The neck is a little fatter than the normal tele neck and is almost strat like.
-
Warpigs :twisted:
-
Sounds really nice hunter. I probably wouldnt bother with bkps, sounds great to me with the stock pickups :D
I'm interested in the AV mule - I reckon it'd sound good in my Pearl. The Rebel Yell isnt bad in it but I still prefer my Mule'd epiphone. Wouldnt want to get standard AIV mules because its an all mahogany, it might sound a bit too smooth and not have enough definition? But then would the Pearl sound too similar to the Epiphone with AV mules in it?
-
Just measured the stock PUs, it's 13.7 bridge and 9.7 on the neck, so rather hot and I like it hot :O)
Guess the Rebel Yells would be in that ballpark, but AV Mules sounds interesting indeed, the other AV pickups I own are great. I think the originals (490 R and 498 T are also AII and AV).
Should I get a Mule AV and a Stormy Monday AII? Or should I go for AIV for the SM?
-
I'm surprised the 490R is 9.7K, I always thought it was supposed to be basically a PAF type.
You live and learn...
-
I'm surprised the 490R is 9.7K, I always thought it was supposed to be basically a PAF type.
You live and learn...
Hmmm, or was it 7.9 ? *scratch ... scratch*
-
Since you're measuring, may I ask how you did it? (Noob I am)
Don't you use a multimeter and connect each end of the pickup? What if it's a humbucker?
-
Since you're measuring, may I ask how you did it? (Noob I am)
Don't you use a multimeter and connect each end of the pickup? What if it's a humbucker?
Just measure resistance between hot and ground on the pickup (inside the guitar, at the pot). Humbucker works the same, as long as it's in standard (series) wiring.
-
Tim always recommends AIV with AV, so my SM is an AIV (same with the Mule/Emerald that I have).
-
Somehow I missed this thread, welcome to the club! Yours looks just like mine:
(http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8808/sgqf4.th.jpg) (http://img155.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sgqf4.jpg)
I'm looking forward to seeing which set of BKPs you choose for it. I bid on a set of AIV Mules and won unexpectedly so I put them in the SG(not in the pic). I love the Mule neck, but I'm looking for a little more fullness and maybe output from the bridge. The AV Mule intrigues me, but other than that option I'm at a loss.
Nice score!
-
Just measure resistance between hot and ground on the pickup (inside the guitar, at the pot). Humbucker works the same, as long as it's in standard (series) wiring.
I'm sure I read on this forum that you had to remove the pickup from the circuit otherwise the reading would be way off :?