Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Ale84 on March 21, 2016, 11:45:30 AM
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Hi, got a brand new sg standard 2011 baked maple and 50's neck. I want to change tone pots to 500k, caps and pickups. Which is the standard value for caps? Which pickups would you choose? I looking at riff raff, mules or both (RR bridge and mules neck). Any advice is appreciated. Thanks
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I have a standard and have .033uF caps to help tame the inherent brightness off the SG a bit. I tried Mules and Black Dogs and the BD is my favourite out of those, but the Mule still sounded very good - definitely a more vintage tone and less compressed sounding. I think I just prefer A5 magnets for this guitar. The Mules were just a bit too polite for an SG imo. I'd like to try a riff raff but at the minute I have a pickup from a different manufacturer on the way to try out, it seems similar to a Mule but a little hotter and is A5. I've read you can get an A5 Mule made which might be nice in an SG.
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Riff Raff / Mule is a popular combo.
I am assuming that you are looking for something more vintage, rather than a metal pickup, so this should be nice
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Yes i'm looking for something classic for rock and heavy rock
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On the caps I would probably go 0.015uf neck and 0.033uf bridge if using the RR/Mule combo, or 0.022uf (or even 0.033uf) neck and 0.033uf bridge with a RR set.
The RR neck is brighter than the Mule neck.
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So i have ordered new pots and csps from Bareknuckle but, since the sg has the pcb, i was wondering how to install them. I mean, is it possible to install them on the pcb or the tech has to swap the pcb? In this case do i need other parts to buy? Sorry but i am a novice at technical issues like this
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I would have the whole thing rewired with a new jack and switch (Switchcraft, e.g., from StewMac) and put the PCB in a drawer in a box (like the stock pickups) in case you want to sell it later.
Here's a before and after of my 2011 SG Standard. As you can see the PCB was replaced with a full '50s style custom harness.
(http://i.imgur.com/Qcfhlfm.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/n97KEWn.jpg)
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I did the same as Agent Orange though mines not quite as neat haha. The 50s wiring is so much better if you like to use your guitars controls.
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So it's not possible to use thejack and the switch of the pcb? In case which kind of jack/ switch have to buy? Sorry but i really don't know nothing about technical
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You could try pulling them out of the PCB but it would pretty much destroy the PCB, especially removing the jack.
You need the mono long thread jack:
http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Electronics/Components_and_Parts/Switchcraft_Output_Jack.html
You also need the right-angle switch with the deep nut:
http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Electronics/Components_and_Parts/Switchcraft_Right-angle_Toggle_Switch.html
I would have a professional wire all this stuff up. They should have the right wire. Get the tech to install a new bridge ground wire. The factory one is very hard to solder to the new pot
Edit: looking at the photo of my PCB you could remove the switch from the PCB without destroying it, but I would get another jack. Desolder the connections on the switch rather than cutting the wires.
(http://i.imgur.com/cGMYcmf.jpg)
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I brought the guitar to my tech and he told that the PCB is really good and maybe better than the traditional wiring. So he will desolder the pots and install the new ones with the caps.. i don't know what to think..i will keep you updated. Thanks
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PCB does not need to be bad, but IŽd say a well done traditional job with proper and nicely shielded wires will always win. In terms of tone this is still rather hair-splitting though. So we will see. Could very well not be "another one of those tech stories".
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Maybe. I just don't know how he'll go fitting those big caps to the PCB
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He told me it's the same or even better because of the short cables and no loss of signal..i will report back
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It's all do-able and, yes "short cables and no loss of signal" is what most of us believe (assuming one can hear the difference - I'm not sure I can).
BUT... the big problem I found with the PCB was the connector plugs you need on the pickup wires. So when you want to put different pickups in, they either have to come with the correct plugs - or you have to have the ability to get the correct plugs on to the wires. Don't know whether your guy is geared up for that? Could be, but after checking it out I decided I didn't want to invest in the tools and raw materials for doing that (I've bought several Gibsons since, and not one has a PCB in, so I feel kinda relieved I didn't bother now)
I had two options 1) Cut the plugs off the Gibson pickups and solder the BKP leads onto the wires coming out of the plug... 2) Rip the PCB out and stick it in a box/bag somewhere.
I did exactly the same as Agent Orange (again, not as neatly, Tom!) - and I've swapped pickups and caps etc two or three times in that particular guitar since then. LOADS of time, effort and money saved because I put the PCB somewhere else.
That's how it was for me, though. The main thing is getting the guitar working like you want. The PCB is a good idea... that didn't really work out for me! :grin:
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The tech did the mod and and the guitar is more open but the real problem is stock pickups..498/490. I don't like them. They are too powerful, lack clarity, way too compressed etc.. I know that Sg and riff raff is a good match but since the description and reviews/opinions i have the feeling they are a little thin sounding, really bright and better working in a les paul since it's fatter. As i said it's only an opinion because i've never tried them so correct if i'm wrong. I want definitely more clarity and a beefy/fat low or medium output set. Any suggestion?
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The tech did the mod and and the guitar is more open but the real problem is stock pickups..498/490. I don't like them. They are too powerful, lack clarity, way too compressed etc.. I know that Sg and riff raff is a good match but since the description and reviews/opinions i have the feeling they are a little thin sounding, really bright and better working in a les paul since it's fatter. As i said it's only an opinion because i've never tried them so correct if i'm wrong. I want definitely more clarity and a beefy/fat low or medium output set. Any suggestion?
Have you seen these comments on the Stormy Monday in an SG? Perhaps that helps figure things out. Lot of good descriptions and takeaways in that thread imho.
https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=33590.0 (https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=33590.0)
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yes and it's interesting but i would prefer an alnico V. SM might be weak for some application, for instance 90's rock, grunge etc
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Mules are probably your best bet.
I'm not sure if Abraxas wouid work. Anyone tried these in SGs?
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In this guitar a Black Dog would be a good choice for 90's rock and grunge. If you're into P90's a humbucker sized Nantucket or even a Supermassive could fit your wishes.
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p90 are great but i already have a les paul special loaded with nantucket..Blackdog? interesting. Is it mid heavy? good match with an sg? What about an alnico V mule?
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My gut feeling is Riff Raff will actually be OK for you. I don't find them "thin", but they have a quite "hard" vibe to them that I don't always need.
Now I have the Stormies in a 61 reissue, that has definitely warmed that guitar up (in comparison to 57 Classics, which I believe are already warmer than the 498/490). But I've also been revisiting my Faded SG with the Riff Raffs....
Basically, I'm finding I'm LOVING the Faded with RRs now that I have another SG that I find more versatile. The new 61 has the really skinny fast 60s neck, it's got the Stormies that can do both mean and mellow. It's more the sort of guitar I'd strap on for any style.
My Faded has a big fat neck on it, and with the Riff Raffs, it just punches holes in things! If I want a guitar for "rock" - for me, this is the one to reach for now.
Don't rule out Riff Raffs - and Black Dogs is something I'd like to hear too (from Tom's experiences).
Finally, didn't BKP used to do an AV Mule as an option? But I remember reading somewhere on here that it's pretty much a Riff Raff then? Very SLIGHTLY different wind, but basically a Riff Raff.
EDIT - I'm starting to regard this "hard" vibe I keep talking about as probably the AV magnets talking (I get the same out of AV in strat pickups, etc). Maybe, if AV is what you want, then Riff Raff is where you ought to be going?
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i actually heard a comparison between BD and Mule on an Sg from a user here on the forum and i really liked the Mule. Just wondering it's behaviour on harder stuff like AIC or soundgarden. Tim suggestion on SG, read always on the forum, are to not go medium or high output on sg.
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I suspect the Mule and BD comparison might be Tom's clips that I've heard?
Sorry, what I meant was I'd like to hear Black Dogs in one of my own guitars - as in actually try them myself!! :-)
But, like you, I've always read on here that medium output (Vintage Hot) might be a bit hit or miss in an SG.
I quite liked the BD sounds Tom was getting, though.
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I suspect the Mule and BD comparison might be Tom's clips that I've heard?
Sorry, what I meant was I'd like to hear Black Dogs in one of my own guitars - as in actually try them myself!! :-)
But, like you, I've always read on here that medium output (Vintage Hot) might be a bit hit or miss in an SG.
I quite liked the BD sounds Tom was getting, though.
Yes, Tom comparison. I really liked the Mule in that clip. I found another post from Tim who said he would go for alnico V mule in an sg..
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Ok..i think i'll go for riff raff bridge and mule neck..hope it works..
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I've actually ended up going back to the stock pickups in my SG as I found the Black Dog just sounds better in my all mahogany LPC. I prefer the output of the 498t in my SG and I also found the Mule a bit too "soft" sounding for an SG, needs more balls imo. I'd like to try an A5 Mule though but I suspect it wouldn't have enough output for me.
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I went from a 498T to a Cold Sweat in my SG Standard. There's something of the 498T vibe to the Cold Sweat, not much but still it sits with the acoustic instrument in the same way, if that makes any sense. It's got plenty of balls too. The other one I've thought about and nearly got was the Miracle Man bridge, to match with the Cold Sweat neck. The CS neck is totally different from the 490R.
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I haven't placed the order yet but i'll go for RR and mule cause i really hate stock pickups (too compressed and no clarity). The only thing i am worried about RR is the brightness coming from the baked maple that might be too much with RR bridge. Anyway i hope it works because i really like the neck and the finish of the guitar so i don't want to give up