Pickups for an SG Std?

[Grim]

Hey Guys,

I picked up (harr harr) an SG standard today. I knew from the start I'd probably end up swapping the Gibson pups, as I hate the T model humbuckers in general. This thing is downright nasty acoustically though, really love it. It feels alive! Going to be using it for hard rock. I am thinking a Black Dog/Mule combo, but anyone got any other recommendations?

[ericsabbath]

riff raff set, of course

[BigB]

Hi Grim - and congrats for the axe 8)

The general wisdom for SGs is to go for either low output or very hi output pups, as "vintage hot" ones tend to muddy up in an all mahagony guitar. And unless your SG is specially bright sounding, you may want to avoid Black Dogs which already have a fair amount of low ends.

In the low output category, Riff Raff (of course) - possibly with a bigger magnet and extra winding, cf Eric Hellstyle's posts for this -, Stormy Mondays and AV Mules are the most common choices as far as I can tell. Don't remember which hi output pups are known to work well with SGs, sorry (not really interested in hi output pups as far as I'm concerned...). You may also want to have a look at HB sized P90 (MQ anyone ?).

Now all this comes from "which SG pups" posts here - I've been reading quite a few of them recently since I'm also looking to replace the pups on my own SG - so no direct experience so far, but I have good reasons to trust this forum's "general wisdom" and Tim's advices :mrgreen:

[Alex]

Despite that, the Black Dog works great in my SG! Thick and raunchy, still very nice & clear treble end.

[Telerocker]

RiffRaffs are great for classic SG-tones. Still I would look too at MQ's.

[Grim]

I'm specifically looking for not a high-output monster but rather a pickup with a LOT of balls. Just wondering whether the Riff Raff would have that. Also, not a big fan of 60-cycle hum, so unsure about the MSQ.

[gueorgues]

I ended up with MQs in my SG Standard. However before that I had a Seymour Duncna '59 set in it (which is very close to the Riff Raffs), and did sound great. The Riff Raffs will do best in an SG - you can be sure of that. They can handle from perfect clean to high gain distortion with no problem at all. That's the best SG choice.

[ericsabbath]

ask tim for a riff raff with more balls and see if he'll recommend the large magnet
he doesn't like to change his specs, unless it's his own advice
never played a stock riff raff, but mine with the 4mm magnet definitely has some serious balls
maybe he might recommend the black dog or VHII instead

[Nolly]

Riff Raffs should definitely be the first port of call. I doubt you will need the custom magnet - as stock they are terrifically punchy.

[alendon]

I guess riff raffs are the default choice but I've got A4 mules in a vee and they can handle 70s hard rock no problem as well as lighter and heavier styles.very very versatile pups.


They certainly are capable of early sabbath with the right amp.
I've got A5 warpigs in an sg which work very well for the heavier sabbath stuff (sweet leaf springs to mind) and they clean up great.

[_tom_]

I love p90s in my SG Standard :D Have a Pig 90 bridge and MQ neck, both sound great!

[FELINEGUITARS]

Look to change the capacitors in there though
Get some oil and paper ones , and maybe consider swapping the pots to 500k ones if they are 300k fitted

[philippe]

hi

first, sorry about my english, but i'm french :?

I put a set of M.Q on a gibson sg standard vos...  The neck sounds really good.. clear and fat at the same time.. I play on an old Vox AC 30... and it "crunch" very good with a good attack on the bass... and bass medium...
But the bridge pickup does'nt sound as well.. Too much thin... not fat enough... for me.
I think to take the bridge off and to replace it with a "mule" or "stormy monday" which are real humbucker and not single coil like the M.Q.
What do you think ?
Phil

[dheim]

i'm going a bit against the flood, but i say cold sweats! they're not exactly high gain monsters but do everything very well in an SG... don't be fooled by the ceramic bridge, they're really good for hard rock as well as for metal.