Calling all Yamaha SG owners

[Catalyst77]

First of all what a totally awesome and underated guitar!

It's got the best sounding stock pickups ive ever heard for sure; but this is my problem!!

They are pretty hot and ive been considering sticking some Bare knuckles in there for while, but they are damn
good!

Can't make up my mind whether that means the guitar could be even better with Bare knuckles in (i.e. the guitar is a large factor) or i'm best off keeping the £200 in my back pocket.

Problem is i dont have any spare lying around to put in there, and the pick up rings would also need to be replaced (maybe some minor body work too??)

Has anyone else swapped out the stocks for a set of BK's??  If so was it worth it and what were they?

Cheers

[LP_LOVER]

Which model are you talking about? The famous SG-2000?

If so, I'd keep the output hot (especially for the bridge position). The coil tap is very, very nice for the neck pickup, but it doesn't work properly with bright sounding, low output bridge pickups (to my opinion). I'd choose for a Cold Sweat neck
and a Nailbomb for the bridge position.

[MrBump]

I picked up a Yam SG 200 last year - awesome workhorse of a guitar.

I liked the pickups, but I felt that they could be better, so I fitted Mules, after Lord Mills advised me.

Incredible.  Simply lovely.  Gritty, and toneful and smooth, and everything.

Mark.

[Catalyst77]

I picked up a Yam SG 200 last year - awesome workhorse of a guitar.

I liked the pickups, but I felt that they could be better, so I fitted Mules, after Lord Mills advised me.

Incredible.  Simply lovely.  Gritty, and toneful and smooth, and everything.

Mark.

Hmm tastey

i was thinking of either vh2's or an abraxas

[LP_LOVER]

So, which model SG are you talking about?

If it doesn't have the coil tap functions I'd go for a Mule/Riff Raff or Mule/Mule combo.

If it does have the coil tap functions I'd go for a CS/NB combo.

[Scotty477]

I picked up a vintage Yamaha SG2000 last year.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma as well, on the question of the pickups. I actually quite like the stock pickups but I know deep down that a set of the right BKP's would almost certainly turn an already awesome guitar into a mega awesome guitar  :D

There are other considerations to think of as well though.

Because the guitar has a particular style of pickup holder/rings any change of pickups will fundamentally alter the look of the guitar - unless Tim could make a Yamaha type pickup holder and ring  :P

If I did go ahead and swap the pups for BKP's, I'd be looking at pups that could handle the large amount of maple that the guitar has and the natural 'tight' snap that it has due to the neck through design. I'd also be looking at a mid/high(ish) output set of pups as well, as the stock pups are also mid/ high(ish) output.

If you've followed this so far you're doing better than me  :D

Here's my thoughts on BKP's for my SG2000.

If I didn't already have a set of Emerald pups in my LP I would seriously consider them. They have warm bottom end, punchy midrange and a real bite at the top end when pushed.

Mules would be a safe option but it would possibly lose the character of the guitar? It's an odd thing to say I know, but I'm not putting Mules down - far from it. I think that in a LP they provide an awesome vintage tone but IMHO the SG2000 needs something different to suit it's unique characteristics - neck through design, lots of maple, ebony fretboard, brass sustain block etc.

With that in mind I would consider Crawlers or Holy Diver pups as viable options.

I'm open to thoughts on that - as I'm sure Cat is as well.

Piccies of my SG2000 .....

[LP_LOVER]

Machinehead:

That's a GREAT SG-2000!! Two words: COLD SWEATS!

[Bird]

I have an SG 500 gold top with VH2's in it. Killer :)

[Catalyst77]

I have an SG 500 gold top with VH2's in it. Killer :)

Sweet - I have the SG 500 too.

So it doesnt have the coil taps and its not a thru neck like the SG1500 + versions.

How did the VH2's compare with the stock pickups?


Cold sweats are awesome but i already have a CS bridge in my Greco Les Paul and as mentioned by machinehead id like to bring the character of the guitar out rather than driving through it a little with the ceramics.

[Ratrod]

My SG400 with black engraved covered Crawlers.



Since you like the stock pickups, I would suggest Abraxas pickups with AV magnets. If you want to go low output go for Mules.

[Scotty477]

^^

Excellent piccie of that Yammy  :D

[PhilKing]

I would suggest Abraxas too, they work really well in my Hamer Sunburst, which has an unshaped slab of maple on the top.  I also played them in a neck through guitar at LGS and they sounded great in that too.

[Bird]

I have an SG 500 gold top with VH2's in it. Killer :)

Sweet - I have the SG 500 too.

So it doesnt have the coil taps and its not a thru neck like the SG1500 + versions.

How did the VH2's compare with the stock pickups?

  The VH2's are less muddy than the original pickups. All those good things like clarity and very articulate.. all those good pickup cliches. The yamaha pickups are quite good though. I put one in the bridge of my Ibanez RT.... until I get my Nailbombs that is.

[d1dsj]

Unfortuanately I haven't the funds to try any new pick ups in my SG.... and at the moment it has S.D's in there. To be honest though I'm thinking of putting the original Yamaha pick ups back in. They are called "Spinex"(I think that's what they were called anyway, Spinex was the material used for the magnet which I believe was very expensive?" or something like that, and my sons SG still has those in and they do sound very good, thick and warm with out being too muddy like the '57s in my Custom. I don't want my guitars sounding the same so I'm thinking of going back to stock with this one!   

[scottlynn73]

hey guys, nice to see some yammie sg love!

i am about to stick a warpig in the bridge of my 1000, hoping it will take me to new levels of doom-ness!