Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Canadian Steve on September 15, 2008, 03:46:19 AM

Title: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: Canadian Steve on September 15, 2008, 03:46:19 AM
I've heard when choosing p'ups for SGs that it's best to go for either a low output p'up or very high output.  What range of output is it best to stay away from when dealing with SGs and which BKPs?
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: AndyR on September 15, 2008, 12:29:20 PM
I've read that as well Steve...

I can't tell you what range to avoid, but I can tell you that I've had Riff Raffs and MQs in my (Epiphone) mahogany SG, and that they both work nicely.

I was considering Warpigs for a while, and would have regarded them as a safe bet, but as you can see from my sig, I'm a more of a "vintage" kinda guy on the humbucking front!
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: Twinfan on September 15, 2008, 12:32:00 PM
I believe Black Dogs/VHIIs etc are the ones to avoid...
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: Philly Q on September 15, 2008, 12:51:50 PM
The "conventional wisdom" is to go for low output (Stormy Mondays, Mules, Riff Raffs, PGs) or high output (Miracle Men, Painkillers, Warpigs).  Or P-90s/MQs.

Everything else is verboten - but I have a feeling Rebel Yells would be bright enough to cut through the mahogany.  And maybe Cold Sweats too.
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: _tom_ on September 15, 2008, 01:21:49 PM
Dunno if an all mahogany LP would be similar to an all mahogany SG but I tried a Rebel Yell in the bridge of my Pearl and didnt really like it much. Might just be the RY though, I didnt like it for chords/anything other than leads in all the guitars I tried, too congested sounding in the mids.
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: Philly Q on September 15, 2008, 01:33:37 PM
I agree Tom, I wasn't that keen on the RY myself in the end.  But for those who like it, I think it could work OK in an SG.
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: MDV on September 15, 2008, 04:39:14 PM
I believe the cutoff for this-and-above is about the nailbomb.

I dont know where the this-and-below is.
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: PhilKing on September 15, 2008, 06:56:14 PM
I have rebel yells in an all mahogany PRS Standard and they sound great.  A PRS has a lot less mass than a Les Paul so this might be why people haven't liked them. 
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on September 15, 2008, 07:00:21 PM
Definitely a factor of guitar mass, and probably amplifier settings, too. The Rebel Yell is not congested in the mids at all and sounds HUGE in the PRS.
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: Canadian Steve on September 16, 2008, 12:51:33 AM
I believe Black Dogs/VHIIs etc are the ones to avoid...

Tim recommended Black Dogs for my SG type guitar and I know Lollar and Fralin prefer to go with slightly hotter PAFs in SGs, so I think these should be OK.  I'm thinking Emeralds + Nailbombs fall past the threshold.
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: Twinfan on September 16, 2008, 11:05:30 AM
Hmm.  That's new then.  Tim used to say nothing hotter than Riff Raffs.  He must have changed his mind  ;)
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: SG Thrasher on September 16, 2008, 11:34:04 AM
I'm not much for the nailbomb in my Epi SG (Mahogany), it seems far too middy.
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: Canadian Steve on September 21, 2008, 07:32:29 PM
I've heard about Nailbombs not being as suitable for SGs, what high output p'ups would be suitable?  I think Warpigs and Painkillers are suitable, what about Holy Divers or Miracle Men?
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: ericsabbath on September 21, 2008, 11:28:01 PM
I've heard about Nailbombs not being as suitable for SGs, what high output p'ups would be suitable?  I think Warpigs and Painkillers are suitable, what about Holy Divers or Miracle Men?

I like the holy diver in my gibson faded
I just needed to correct the screws height because of the strings angle

but I believe the cold sweat would work better
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: Canadian Steve on September 24, 2008, 10:38:04 PM
Anybody have any idea or experience of a VHII in an SG or similar?
Title: Re: What strength of pickups are more suited for an SG???
Post by: Fearhk213 on September 25, 2008, 12:21:49 AM
Definitely a factor of guitar mass, and probably amplifier settings, too. The Rebel Yell is not congested in the mids at all and sounds HUGE in the PRS.

+100000

I played a Mira in guitar center the other day that was completely different from mine.  The guitar weighed significantly less and acoustically the tone was bright without much low mids.  Polar opposite to mine.  If mine was like that I doubt I'd be making the switch from the A-Pig to C-Pig.  IMO recommendations based on wood type are just that, recommendations.  You cannot overlook your guitars mass and acoustic properties.