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Author Topic: What would an SG with single coils sound like?  (Read 4715 times)

Catalyst77

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What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« on: October 11, 2011, 05:25:44 PM »
Ive been hankering after a strat for a while now, but due to redundancy its not financially viable.  But i do have an SG that i was going to sell.

Just wondered what it would sound like if i put a couple of single coils in there?  Has anyone tried it or something similar?, as i know tim sells pickup surrounds to fit single coils in humbucker routings.

Does anyone know how close i could get to a strat sound? or have any thoughts in general about the idea?

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gwEm

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2011, 05:29:51 PM »
great idea, i've experimented with a mahogany strat, and also 24 3/4" scale guitar with strat pickups.

should sound good and stratty, but the warmth of the mahogany will even out the high end and fill out the bass

i believe theres a well know blues rock guitarist with this setup.. will have a look to see who it is
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darkbluemurder

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2011, 05:35:22 PM »
There are SGs with P90s so SGs and single coils are no strangers. But I guess you are talking about putting strat style pickups into an SG. Due to the different woods and neck construction it will never sound "exactly" like a strat but of course strat pickups will get you closer.

However if you don't use a middle pickup it will be difficult to obtain the typical #2 and #4 in-between sounds. The Jerry Donahue wiring is an attempt to get those sounds out of a tele - maybe it works in a similar way on an SG.

Cheers Stephan
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Elliot

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2011, 05:40:18 PM »
Greg, as ever, provides the answer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4ABmCUT8uE
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Philly Q

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2011, 05:45:34 PM »
It'll sound like this  :D :



I think that was a Gibson "Guitar of the Week".  There was also a similar one with a swamp ash body, white scratchplate and sunburst finish:



I have a feeling low-output Strat style pickups might sound a bit weedy in a mahogany set-neck, because notes haven't got that "springiness" and immediacy you get with a bolt-on neck.  But I could be wrong.
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richard

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2011, 12:17:56 AM »
My SG has a JB in the bridge and I have the tone pot wired as a coil splitter. The split sound is really nice, much closer to a Tele than a Strat.  Good enough that I don't need to taken a single coil guitar to a gig.
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Andrew W

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2011, 01:49:31 PM »
The 1960s Epihphone Olympic is a smallish bodied mahogany guitar with a glued in neck and single coil pickups. There's one being demo'd here (Note to Mr Q: Phil X content on the first two):

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RgmOD3xe5A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAlwLKx_G7Y

Not an exact comparison perhaps, but close in many respects.
« Last Edit: October 12, 2011, 02:13:40 PM by Andrew W »
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Philly Q

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2011, 02:10:19 PM »
YouTube is very temperamental on my work computer - the first video wouldn't play but the other two do.  Can't hear the sound (or Mr X's no-doubt-insightful commentary).

The guitar in the second one (nice waistcoat....) looks exactly like an early '60s Melody Maker.

I wasn't particularly keen on the pickup in my '65 MM - it sounds pretty feeble really.
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blue

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2011, 02:42:47 PM »
i have a '65 Melody Maker too, with two pickups.  the single coils had a nice enough tone, but were quite weak, and when the bridge pickup broke (the lug for the height adjustment screw)  i decided to try Lollar's melody maker p90's, on a pre-wired scratchplate.  they sound great :)

doesn't really answer what an SG sounds like with single coils though.  i think it would sound great, myself.  i'd get a batwing plate version and get a scratchplate made for 3 strat single coils, could be a great guitar
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Philly Q

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2011, 03:13:08 PM »
Quote from: blue on October 12, 2011, 02:42:47 PM
i have a '65 Melody Maker too, with two pickups.  the single coils had a nice enough tone, but were quite weak, and when the bridge pickup broke (the lug for the height adjustment screw)  i decided to try Lollar's melody maker p90's, on a pre-wired scratchplate.  they sound great :)

Those Lollars look good.  I got a Seymour Duncan custom shop pickup for mine, it's basically a Hot Rails (wound to about 11k I think) hidden under a Melody Maker cover.
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Alex

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2011, 03:22:53 PM »
I think there is a reason P90s are popular with SGs and not normal single coils. That said, some humbucker pickups split very nicely and I don't see a reason why you wouldn't want to experiment with that. Just keep in mind that the typical strat sound owes a lot to the construction, scale and wood choice of the guitar too.
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gwEm

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2011, 03:57:49 PM »
Quote from: Alex on October 12, 2011, 03:22:53 PM
I think there is a reason P90s are popular with SGs and not normal single coils

because P90 SGs were made by Gibson for a long time and are used on many classic recordings?

in the 60s i doubt Gibson tried strat-type coils and made a judgement
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Catalyst77

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Re: What would an SG with single coils sound like?
« Reply #12 on: October 12, 2011, 05:00:04 PM »
Ive got a few coil splits going on in some other guitars, doesnt quite scratch that itch!

Ive never really had a single coil guitar, but was wondering whether not having a middle pickup would hinder things?

Clearly i'm not gonna hack a whole in the guitar just to try out, as i could prob pick up a cheap squire for the cost of the work!

That single coil sg sounds pretty sweet though :)
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