Pickups for punk rock - SG Standard

[codenamespivey]

Hey guys...

first post, and I don't know much about bare knuckle pickups... but I've heard great things...   i play punk rock pretty much..  I use a Mesa Boogie Mark V head, it's hard to describe the band, very hardcore punk, but not so much modern hardcore punk, but more 80's style...     

here's a song of ours to reference.  http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47719883/Viva%20Valhalla%20-%20Kill.mp3

I have a few guitars, a BC Rich Mockingbird Exotic (with Rockfield Mafia pickups) - a Gibson Les Paul Traditional (57 classic in neck/57 classic plus in bridge) and a Gibson SG Standard (490/498T) - I dig the rockfield pickups, but for what I'm doing - the Gibson pickups aren't working too well..  and I'm starting to shy away from BC Rich a tad...     So for the sound I'm doing, what would you guys suggest for pickups?    I play my Mark V in IIC+ mode, however, that may be changing...   as I'm trying to tweak the amp more to this project versus how I play at home... also considering getting a 5150 III or a Mesa Stiletto... 

[BigB]

Hi there

SGs are not supposed to work fine with mid/hi output alnico pups, but the ABomb bridge on mine works fine for these kind of tones (and a few others).

[Mr. Air]

Like BigB I think the A-bomb might be suitable. I got the bridge model in a LP and it can produce some good punk tones (is that an oxymoron?). The A-bomb is very aggressive and somewhat modern sounding so if you want a more "vintage" tone you should go for something else. MQs are supposedly good in SGs and I think they can give you a nice raw punk tone. You might find them too polite though...

[BigB]

Like BigB I think the A-bomb might be suitable. I got the bridge model in a LP and it can produce some good punk tones (is that an oxymoron?). The A-bomb is very aggressive and somewhat modern sounding

I won't try to answer the "good punk tones oxymoron" question :mrgreen:

wrt/ the "modern sounding" part, yeps, the ABomb is not trying to replicate vintage 'buckers, but while being able to deliver the good when it comes to hi gain, it does also work fine for more classic rock / blues rock / old school hard rock stuff, you just have to use your volume pot (and possibly pair it with a more vintagey neck - Mule as far as I'm concerned -, the intermediate position offers a very wide range of lovely tones).

My 2 cents...

[BigMacFullerton]

"a good punk rock tone is an oxymoron" is actually a statement of ignorance.I've played in punk bands for 30 years and tone has always been my main concern as well as my bandmates and most the bands we play gigs with.I play a '78 gibson les paul custom through either a jcm 800 2203 single jack or my beloved '90 carvin x-100b.All this through an '84 marshall 800 cab with  vintage celestion 70's X with celestion 75's.I even went as far as putting a piece of baltic birch in the back of my cab.That my friend IS tone.Sure there are alot of kids in garage bands with cr@ppy equipment playing punk and that's fine,that was me when I was 14 too.Go listen to the clash,sex pistols the damned or hundreds of others and tell me their guitars don't have killer tone.Now that I got that off my chest,what bareknuckles should I put in my les paul.I want eighties punk tone all the way to metallica kill em all.I don't want vintage fuzz and I don't want modern metal,I want eighties to ninties punk,grundge and metal.Which pickup would be best for me?

[Telerocker]

Nailbombs!

[Mr. Air]

"a good punk rock tone is an oxymoron" is actually a statement of ignorance.I've played in punk bands for 30 years and tone has always been my main concern as well as my bandmates and most the bands we play gigs with.I play a '78 gibson les paul custom through either a jcm 800 2203 single jack or my beloved '90 carvin x-100b.All this through an '84 marshall 800 cab with  vintage celestion 70's X with celestion 75's.I even went as far as putting a piece of baltic birch in the back of my cab.That my friend IS tone.Sure there are alot of kids in garage bands with cr@ppy equipment playing punk and that's fine,that was me when I was 14 too.Go listen to the clash,sex pistols the damned or hundreds of others and tell me their guitars don't have killer tone.Now that I got that off my chest,what bareknuckles should I put in my les paul.I want eighties punk tone all the way to metallica kill em all.I don't want vintage fuzz and I don't want modern metal,I want eighties to ninties punk,grundge and metal.Which pickup would be best for me?

I didn't intend to bash punk with the oxymoron statement. I like punk myself and I have no doubt about punk bands striving to get the best tone, but people who doesn't like punk would pick on the genre for being "tonedeaf" hence my oxymoron remark. Both the Sex Pistols and the Clash had killer guitar tones, but I'm pretty sure their intention was: Let's get a killer tone, but in in an ugly, snearly kinda way - opposed to a lot of players who're going for a polished hi-fi tone.

[BigMacFullerton]

Sorry if I'm a little defensive on the subject,I love punk rock and I think it gets a bad rap.Yes there are thrash bands that don't sound that great tone wise but there are others that sound fantastic.The clash london calling is one of the best recorded albums I've ever heard(yes it is on cbs records) but still it just depends on the band.No heart feelings,I understand where your coming from and I hope you understand me.

[stonehenge]

"a good punk rock tone is an oxymoron" is actually a statement of ignorance.I've played in punk bands for 30 years and tone has always been my main concern as well as my bandmates and most the bands we play gigs with.I play a '78 gibson les paul custom through either a jcm 800 2203 single jack or my beloved '90 carvin x-100b.All this through an '84 marshall 800 cab with  vintage celestion 70's X with celestion 75's.I even went as far as putting a piece of baltic birch in the back of my cab.That my friend IS tone.Sure there are alot of kids in garage bands with cr@ppy equipment playing punk and that's fine,that was me when I was 14 too.Go listen to the clash,sex pistols the damned or hundreds of others and tell me their guitars don't have killer tone.Now that I got that off my chest,what bareknuckles should I put in my les paul.I want eighties punk tone all the way to metallica kill em all.I don't want vintage fuzz and I don't want modern metal,I want eighties to ninties punk,grundge and metal.Which pickup would be best for me?

Well, Jones'y of the sex pistols didn't spend all his time mucking about with pickups. He played a 'borrowed' from NYD lp custom and played it through a very trebly fender amp, liberated I believe from another group. What he did do was play the bejasus out of it. Most pioneering punk bands had about 2 pence to spend on kit, so they used what ever they had.  Not sure 'perfect tone' was high on their list really, it was more about playing with attitude.

[Mr. Air]

Sorry if I'm a little defensive on the subject,I love punk rock and I think it gets a bad rap.Yes there are thrash bands that don't sound that great tone wise but there are others that sound fantastic.The clash london calling is one of the best recorded albums I've ever heard(yes it is on cbs records) but still it just depends on the band.No heart feelings,I understand where your coming from and I hope you understand me.

No hard feelings at all  :) You deffend your heart blood no matter what like every passionato should.

[BigMacFullerton]

jonesy went out and borrowed a les paul custom which at that time was the finest instrument in the world rather than play the piece of cr@p he had lying around because he didn't care about tone,he just wanted to look cool I guess.And besides a marshall fender amps had the best punk tone at that time so he wasn't really slouching there either.Also I'd bet never mind the bullocks was not recorded with a fender.The record co. got him whatever he wanted which I bet was a marshall jcm 800 or a hi-watt by the sounds of it.

[FELINEGUITARS]

The emerald pickup is based on what Tim had in a great 1970s LP custom , as would have been used by Thin Lizzy's Brian Robertson, and could also have been in Steve Jones' guitar too
I find that the Emerald works great in SGs too - certainly did in my friend's one.
It's really clear yet pushy and not congested /saturated sounding.and thats the sound you describe

[ericsabbath]

my first thought was nailbombs for the OP's SG, specially considering his amp choices

for the les paul guy, I'll say emeralds

[HTH AMPS]

I'd agree on Emeralds, they make me think 70s LP Custom right away.

[gwEm]

jonesy went out and borrowed a les paul custom which at that time was the finest instrument in the world rather than play the piece of cr@p he had lying around because he didn't care about tone,he just wanted to look cool I guess.And besides a marshall fender amps had the best punk tone at that time so he wasn't really slouching there either.Also I'd bet never mind the bullocks was not recorded with a fender.The record co. got him whatever he wanted which I bet was a marshall jcm 800 or a hi-watt by the sounds of it.

i tend to agree. alot of that "don't give a $%&#" punk attitude has in recent years been shown to be more or less a front for image/publicity reasons.

watched recently the bbc documentary about making of 'never mind the bollox' and steve jones seemed to care about his playing, writing decent songs and having a tight band.

but yeah, i'm sure he just got the best gear available to him and used that, i also don't see him being a gearhead. in one story it is claimed they stole the original les paul from Mick Ronson. but that story has a waft of bullshitee about it, since it is elsewhere acknowledged it came from a New York Dolls guitarist.