Bridge pickup for SG Junior

[richard]

My SG Junior was my main gigging guitar for many, many years. It's had a JB in the bridge for about 15 years now.  I've generally been happy with this pup and have had lots of nice comments about the tone of this guitar. My first experience of BK humbuckers is the RY set which I have in a Gibson Firebird Studio and this has now taken over as gigging guitar number one.

I often go to a local jam night and would rather take my SG because the pub is in walking distance and the SG is about one third the weight of the Firebird but I want to try a different bridge pickup. I'm looking for something to make life easy so that I can neck a few beers and then not have to try too hard.

So, I want something with a good output but falling short of metal territory so I'm not looking at the Miracle Man or the Warpig. General consensus seems to be that the Holy Diver and Crawler are not great choices for an SG. I'm beginning to think that maybe the only choice is the Nailbomb. Ben recommended them but I've read Tim saying that he doesn't think they suit SGs. I'm wondering if, as I like the JB, the HD may work for me. My SG is a 63 (heavily modified and abused) and really warm sounding, not thin like some SGs.

What do you all think ?

Won't be buying this side of Christmas so I'm thinking of a present to myself for my birthday next year.

[BigB]

I'd personnaly put some good P90 back into this beast - but if you insist on trying a hot 'bucker, I'm personnally quite happy with the A-Bomb bridge on my (rather warm/dark) '80 SG Standard, and it happens to replace a JB too (and do a much better job IMHO). Now beware that it seems to be a rather unsafe bet - hit or miss, depending on your guitar and tastes.

[Thrull]

warpig or pig90!

[Philly Q]

Never tried the Holydiver, but everything I've read suggests it's probably not right for an SG.  It has lots of low mids which - I think- will tend to sound mushy in a mahogany guitar.

Cold Sweat?  I think it sounds great in SGs, but without a neck pickup you might find it's not versatile enough.

And don't rule out the Riff Raff just because of its relatively low output.

Or.... have you tried your Rebel Yell in the SG?  I didn't particularly like the RY when I had one, but I think it could work.

[Telerocker]

I would look at RiffRaffs or Mississippi Queens. I have no experience with SG's myself, so I'm the first to believe Nailbombs can work too. But all this mahogany needs something to bring the balance from top till bottom, ergo RR's or MQ's.

[darkbluemurder]

If the JB worked in this particular guitar I don't see a reason why the Holydiver or A-Bomb wouldn't. In addition, not all SGs are created equal - the one I had probably would not have sounded decent with any pickup.

Cheers Stephan

[gwEm]

indeed, don't rule out the riff raff