another SG thread

[Vilches3]

So right now I am considering. JUST CONSIDERING swapping out the original pups in my SG special (I'm not sure about making changes because the guitar means alot to me). Anyhow, if I were to change out the pups, I'd be looking for a pup with a growly tone, something that roars and has muscle to it. I guess to simplify it down to make it easier, bands like Van Halen to Alice In Chains. Something that's open and a little grainy that had lots of harmonics to it and a nice clean tone. Tones I really appreciate are the tones Eddie Van halen got out of his destroyer and Jerry Cantrell's tone on the Facelift album. I also really love Iommi's tone, though I don't want to be limited to that.

Bridge Pickups I was considering were -  VHII, Rebel Yell, Black Dog, Nailbomb........I was also thinking Warpig but that might be too massive and saturated sounding.

For the neck pickup, I'm set on the manhattan if I do make a change. Just because I'd want the cleanest, clearest neck pickup, with lots of warmth and an acoustic voice to it. For jazzy stuff. I generally NEVER combine both pickups together while playing.

Thanks a bunch- It's not a for sure thing, but it would be helpful for me to know.

Rob

[solniger333]

Dude if you want that Cantrell punch and chunk like he gets on A looking in View I'd seriously recommend you get a Holy Diver. Unless your SG sounds very low end heavy without much top end response. In which case I'd go the Rebel Yell. The Holy Diver is SERIOUSLY so close to Cantrells latest tone on Black Gives Way to blue its insane. Especially if you have a Marshall type gain to your amp. Splawn/Marshall/Diesel/Peavey

[solniger333]

The holy diver is very punchy in the low mids and is thick dark and warm. Aggressive yet smooth. Chunky not grindy. This tone is seriously pretty close to the HD and a marshall


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP4O3TudBtY


If you have woolly sounding guitar I'd go for the Rebel Yell to get similar results of thick and punchy.

[ericsabbath]

the Diver is definitely the best for Jerry's tones, BUT it doesn't sound good in SGs (well, it does, but for leads only)
I wouldn't put a Nailbomb either
maybe a Rebel Yell might work

[DimeZakk]

It really depends on your SG...

High output alnico pickups tend to sound dark in all mahagony guitars (was like that with a nailbomb in a Gibson V)

Unless your SG is very clear and bright sounding I would stay away from Diver and the Nailbomb

[Twinfan]

I stick by my usual SG recommendation - Riff Raffs.  The obvious choice, but they work SO well and with any amp.  Not the one trick 'Angus' pony you would think them to be.

I also think they will balance well with a Manhattan, kind of like the tamer cousin of the Warpig/Mississippi Queen combination that has been popular.

[hunter]

I stick by my usual SG recommendation - Riff Raffs.  The obvious choice, but they work SO well and with any amp.  Not the one trick 'Angus' pony you would think them to be.

+1

I have a RR bridge in my SG and it can pull off AIC with ease. Actually I find that a more transparent pickup is needed to keep clarity on those open chords. You need to get your compression from the amp for that tone.

[badgermark]

I have a Mississippi queen set in my sg faded and they are fantastic. Sound huge with distortion, I played a few AiC songs at my last rehearsal and it was a big, manly sound. Neck is fantastic clean and thick $%&# when gain is piled on, but still very clear.

[ericsabbath]

riffs raffs are the last pups I would try for Alice
Jerry has the middiest tones ever
and he has always used very middy pickups (and woods, pedals, amps, speakers  :lol:)

[Vilches3]

thanks for all the replies!

the SG itself sounds pretty percussive and can get really punchy but i don't know if i could call it bright. Its in between there so I dont know if id want to take the chance with a holy diver.

How well do the harmonics ring through Raffs and Queens? I really really love harmonics

I also wondered how the old ceramic diver would do?

and as said, its not really a for sure thing since i really really love this guitar, but a the same time the SG special pups sound either too harsh or too weak or a blend of both lol

Thanks
Rob

[hunter]

riffs raffs are the last pups I would try for Alice
Jerry has the middiest tones ever
and he has always used very middy pickups (and woods, pedals, amps, speakers  :lol:)

Well he played a Bogner 100B in the 90s. I have that amp and it's definitely not middy. It's bright and the red channel gives that compression that gives you that "would?" tone.

[ericsabbath]

riffs raffs are the last pups I would try for Alice
Jerry has the middiest tones ever
and he has always used very middy pickups (and woods, pedals, amps, speakers  :lol:)

Well he played a Bogner 100B in the 90s. I have that amp and it's definitely not middy. It's bright and the red channel gives that compression that gives you that "would?" tone.

your videos sound fairly middy to me  :?
not Jerry middy, but middy
never saw him using a 100B (maybe on Boggy Depot, but not with AiC)
on live videos you can almost smell the butter leaking out of the cabs (actually the PA)  :lol:
he sounds VERY middy even with the Uberschall

[hunter]

Guess one person's treble is the other person's mids then ;O)

[Vilches3]

thanks for all the responses

I read that the Rebell yell sounds "too 80's" in a few threads.......Im still considering it, but it wouldn't make my SG sound like something that belongs to Warrant would it? lol

[solniger333]

Cantrells tone is all about the mids upper and lower. Pickups sound how you want them to once you have eq in your chain though... to an extent.



This is a holy diver. Not very eighties.


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=938649&songID=8036136



Not very djenty and super modern though either. It more chunks than barks if that makes sense.


 From the description of your guitars acoustic tone, and the peoples tones you wish to emulate my gut instinct is telling me Rebel Yell but with a custom wind for more lower mids and higher output. I think the Holy Diver may be too compressed and dark for your guitar. RY ftw