Best pickups for Blues/Rock on a SG

[AJM]

Here is my rig:

[98 Gibson SG with [SD SH-2 Jazz (neck)] [SD SH-5 Duncan Custom (bridge)] modified with RS Guitarworks pots and caps with a Bigsby B-5 with Vibramate mounting bracket] -> HBE Germania Treble Booster -> Way Huge Swollen Pickle (Dunlop) -> GCB-95 CryBay (with Fasel yellow inductor and TPDT Switch) -> Love Pedal Gen 5 Echo (with a reverb like setting) -> Zvex Vexter Super Duper -> Marshall Class 5.

The guitarists I love are (in no particular order) Jack White, Dan Auerbach, Jimmy Page, Gary Clark Jr., of course Hendrix, etc. I use really natural tube distortion but with good definition without falling into a muddy mess. I run my Class 5 around 8-9 with the Treble booster cranked (the Super Duper is used mainly as a line driver and buffered attenuator to clean up the amp a bit) and I love to play on the SD SH-2 (neck) with the tone rolled most of the way off so its warm and thick but with a bit of boosted clarity. The problem is my bridge pickup(SD Sh-5). It is just too much. The warmth and clarity I love just seems to disappear and it sounds screechy and thin when I swap. What I'm really looking for is something that retains some good warmth but a bit more clarity and has a bit more note definition than the SH-2. I've heard many people recommend Riff Raffs in SGs but wanted to make sure there wasn't a better option for me since I don't see a lot of guys using SGs for Blues/Rock. I'm looking at replacing both pickups with BKPs so any recommendations would be much appreciated.

[Telerocker]

I'm not an SG-expert, but alnico mediumoutput humbuckers often don't work very nice in SG's. I would look at Mules or (a bit brighter) RiffRaffs. If you can stand some hum, the Missisippi Queens are an option too. They sound nice in SG's.

[AJM]

I'm not an SG-expert, but alnico mediumoutput humbuckers often don't work very nice in SG's. I would look at Mules or (a bit brighter) RiffRaffs. If you can stand some hum, the Missisippi Queens are an option too. They sound nice in SG's.

Would the MQ work well with the Treble booster?

[Telerocker]

I'm not an SG-expert, but alnico mediumoutput humbuckers often don't work very nice in SG's. I would look at Mules or (a bit brighter) RiffRaffs. If you can stand some hum, the Missisippi Queens are an option too. They sound nice in SG's.

Would the MQ work well with the Treble booster?

Sorry, I don't know, I never use one. There a lot of forummembers who do, hope they will chime in.

[BigB]

Everything from the Stormy Monday to the RiffRaff is a safe bet for blues/rock tones on a SG. Check Kerhonen's clips on the players section of the forum, he started with a SM set and finally swapped the bridge for a RiffRaff.

As far as I'm concerned and given your requirements, I'd rather go for something a bit warmer than the RiffRaff - it's a very good pickup for blues/rock tones and works JustFine in a SG, but it's really on the bright side (but 300K pots might tame the highs a bit).

Also and FWIW, I did have an old SH2 on my SG, and the Mule neck just smoke it.

[Twinfan]

Sounds like you're looking for "warmth and clarity"?  Riff Raffs are great for rock but they're bright and edgy, quite hard sounding.  Perfect for rock but not so much the lo-fi blues stuff.

I'd go for a set of AII Stormy Mondays, they're great all round pickups and a bit "softer" sounding than Riff Raffs.  :)

[AJM]

Thanks for the responses. My worry about the Riff Raffs was that they would be too bright especially with a treble booster, which you guys are confirming. My only other question would be about a Mule (neck), Black Dog (bridge), a lot of people have commented that the Black Dog is extra dark in an SG but given my set up is that something I might go after? Even having said that I have to admit that driving my rig with a pair of AII SMs, which I had never considered till now, sounds really good.

[Philly Q]

I had a Black Dog and AII Stormy Monday combo, not in an SG but a lightweight Flying V, so a pretty similar all-mahogany tone.

I wouldn't say the BD was "extra dark" in that context, in fact on its own it sounded good, but I didn't think the combination of the dark-ish BD bridge with the relatively "light", clear SM neck worked particularly well.  There wasn't enough contrast between the two.

From your initial description I think you'll like the SM neck (maybe Mule if you want a bit more balls, but since you like the SH-2 neck the SM should suit you fine).  But maybe something a bit brighter than the BD for the bridge.

[Alex]

I'm another BD user (I confess!). When I play it, it always reminds me a lot of Guns'n'Roses/Aerosmith music, and, of course, Jimmy Page, but I'm always surprised at how easily it can venture into Megadeth/Metallica-territory.
I guess it could work for the sound you're looking for.
Think heavy Jimmy Page hard rock sound, that I think sums up the BD quite well.

[BigB]

My only other question would be about a Mule (neck), Black Dog (bridge), a lot of people have commented that the Black Dog is extra dark in an SG but given my set up is that something I might go after? Even having said that I have to admit that driving my rig with a pair of AII SMs, which I had never considered till now, sounds really good.

Never tried the BD (and I'd like to) but SGs are known to easily mud out with mid-output 'buckers so while it _might_ work for you it's not a safe bet.

[ericsabbath]

riff raff is quite bright, but not really trebly or annoying
you get used to its sparkly top easily and eventually become a bit addicted to it  :lol:

the black dog is more mid heavy, definitely darker and more a bit more compressed

maybe you want a mule set instead

[AJM]

So at this point I'm thinking either mules or stormy Monday's. Any recommendations between those two or maybe a combination of the two?

[roland_rat]

I have got Stormy monday AII in a couple of mine and I think they could be great ina SG. Like the others said Riff raff bit bright and hard and edgey.  PG blues  maybe another to consider though I have not tried that one myself!

[Philly Q]

So at this point I'm thinking either mules or stormy Monday's. Any recommendations between those two or maybe a combination of the two?

From what's been said so far, I'd be inclined to say SMs. 

Regarding the combination, you could go Mule bridge, SM neck..... but I think I remember reading somewhere that AIV and AII don't work well together (that could be completely wrong, though  :? )

[AJM]

Thank for all the advice, just ordered a set of stormy mondays. Can't wait to get them installed.