Author Topic: Help me decide on bridge pup for Gordon Smith GS-1... (Read 5217 times)

Twinfan · « **on:** September 15, 2006, 03:53:43 PM »

Guys and gals,

The backup gigging guitar for my SG with Riff Raffs is one of these:

It's got a Brazilian cedar body with a mahogany neck and a rosewood 'board. The original GS humbucker in there is a bit harsh and brash compared to the Riff Raffs. I'm thinking of getting an open-coiled Zebra BKP but which one? My band is an AC/DC tribute band and I'd like something a bit different to the Riff Raffs. I'm not a fan of ceramic magnet pups, so it needs to be Alnico IV or V. I discounted the Mule as it's too similar to the Riff Raff, and I'll be getting a MQ for another guitar, so they're out. I'm thinking classic 70s to 80s rock tones - AC/DC of course, Free, Aerosmith, Thin Lizzy etc. I came up with:

VHII
Rebel Yell
Holydiver

Which will work best in open-coiled Zebra format in my GS????

gingataff · « **Reply #1 on:** September 15, 2006, 04:01:31 PM »

Good choices, a Nailbomb might be too much output for you but how about adding an Emerald to the list (a Crawler too but quite midrangey like the Holydiver maybe?), just to make it even harder for you to decide :D :D :D
Nice guitar btw, I was seriously considering a GS a while back. I played one in Denmark street but the shop staff pissed me off (what a surprise).

downfader · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2006, 04:03:35 PM »

The GS pickups are usually great. I've never heard anyone complain about them before. I always thought you were supposed to roll off the tone on those models as it was wired "bright", if you get me. :?

gingataff · « **Reply #3 on:** September 15, 2006, 04:15:36 PM »

1meg pots or something?

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #4 on:** September 15, 2006, 04:27:17 PM »

Actually, I would totally do a Mississippi Queen in there! Perfect for 70s - 80s arena rock/hard rock!!

Philly Q · « **Reply #5 on:** September 15, 2006, 04:56:40 PM »

As usual I'm going by what I've read rather than personal experience, but since the guitar is basically an SG with a slightly different body shape, I'd have thought the Holydiver would be way too thick sounding. Same goes for the Crawler.

Does the cedar sound very different from mahogany? If not, I'd have thought it's a choice between VHII, Emerald, Rebel Yell and maybe Nailbomb. The exact same ones I'm dithering over for my SG-X, along with the Riff Raff. :roll:

I agree with Downfader about the GS pickups, they're surprisingly good. I had a singlecut GS2 many years ago and put DiMarzios in it; it sounded horrible so eventually I decided to sell it. When I put the GS pickups back in, I suddenly realised it sounded 100 times better (which isn't meant as a dig at DiMarzio, because I chose totally the wrong pickups!).

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #6 on:** September 15, 2006, 05:55:32 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Does the cedar sound very different from mahogany? If not, I'd have thought it's a choice between VHII, Emerald, Rebel Yell and maybe Nailbomb. The exact same ones I'm dithering over for my SG-X, along with the Riff Raff. :roll:

Wow, those are all v. different!
I LOVE the Riff Raff for that big rock sound, tho. I can't wait to get mine!

Ced777 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 15, 2006, 06:01:00 PM »

I would go for VHII. Great rock bridge pickup.

Twinfan · « **Reply #8 on:** September 15, 2006, 08:40:21 PM »

The standard pickups are good, don't get me wrong, better than most standard pickups. It's just that once you've heard a set of BKPs in a guitar you realise you can get better ones!

The cedar sounds very similar to mahogany to be honest, that's why John Smith uses it ;) My Gordon Smith SG is made of cedar too and that's what's getting the MQ, so I don't want two the same. So that leaves:

VHII
Emerald
Rebel Yell

I'm not a big fan of biting treble, so which would be a touch smoother at the top end?

Ced777 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 15, 2006, 09:36:04 PM »

I would say Emerald.

Ratrod · « **Reply #10 on:** September 17, 2006, 01:46:35 PM »

Quote from: TwilightOdyssey

Actually, I would totally do a Mississippi Queen in there! Perfect for 70s - 80s arena rock/hard rock!!

I was thinking the same. Plus, in that guitar, a MQ can nail Malcolm's tone!

Twinfan · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2006, 08:37:47 PM »

Quote from: Ratrod

Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
Actually, I would totally do a Mississippi Queen in there! Perfect for 70s - 80s arena rock/hard rock!!

I was thinking the same. Plus, in that guitar, a MQ can nail Malcolm's tone!

It's a shame I'm Angus then isn't it!!!!

I'll be putting a MQ in another guitar, so that's off the list! I'm currently leaning towards the Emerald, although Tim reckons a Rebel Yell...

Twinfan · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2006, 05:13:21 PM »

I think I'm going to go for a Mule after all my deliberations! I've not tried anything with an Alnico IV magnet, so that'll be cool. An open coiled Zebra will be ordered as soon as I have the cash!

PhilKing · « **Reply #13 on:** September 18, 2006, 05:39:34 PM »

A rebel Yell will give you lots of drive and harmonics. I have a pair in an all mahogany PRS Standard and love them.

If you want something for the older school blues rock sounds, look at the Stormy Monday. I have unpotted ones in my 335 and love the tones. They get a great ZZ Top tone through a small valve amp and the guitar nails Clapton's Crossroads tone.

Twinfan · « **Reply #14 on:** September 18, 2006, 05:49:52 PM »

Cheers Phil. I like things a bit hotter than the SMs, and the Rebel Yell clips I've heard have been just that bit too edgy and treble biased for my taste. I'll go with the all-round Mule, and if I don't like it Tim will swap it for me anyway I think?