Versatile SG setup - Help please

[BigB]

Here's a very old quote from Tim Mills:

The ones to avoid are the medium output humbuckers as they simply seem to add to the bottom end of the mahogany.So I wouldn't bother with VHII,Emerald, Crawler or even a Nailbomb as that's got a big bass response too even though it's quite high gain.
I wouldn't totally dismiss it but my experience of SG's is the bottom end blooms up quite a bit with certain pickups and the Nailbomb has a lot of bottom and mid range both inherent in an SG.Some SGs will take a Nailbomb perfectly well if they're very bright

My SG is rather on the dark side (not overly dark, but definitly not bright sounding), and the ABomb bridge works wonder in it - the low end is chunky yet _very_ tight and totally controlled,  not boomy nor muddy at all. 

[Dusty]

Here is what Tim answered (very promptly, I might add):

my favourite for a SG is the Raff Raff humbucker especially for that original Iommi tone however there's no reason why you couldn't use an Abraxas set. Their output range is well suited to an SG and the AIV magnets ensure a good balance in the high end.

I have no permission to quote from the mail, but I am sure he won't mind that I share this basic info with fellow BKP-enthusiasts.

I guess the Riff-Raff IS the ideal pickup for SGs, but as mine is not lacking in the highs and I like to have a little compression for rhythm playing and sustain for soloing, the abraxas seems ideal.
It's not listed for Heavy Metal on the BKP site, but I guess that means it's not ideal for metal core or death metal.
I have a strong feeling that for our bluesy kind of heavy, this pickup will work wonders in my SG.

[Philly Q]

It's very interesting that Tim said "there's no reason why you couldn't use an Abraxas set".  Perhaps he's revised his thoughts about medium output pickups in SGs!  Of course I defer to Mr Mills and retract my earlier comment!  :lol:

In that quote I posted above, Tim didn't specifically mention the Abraxas, but if the Abraxas is OK then I would guess other not-too-bassy sets like Rebel Yell, VHII and Emerald might now be considered OK too.... unless there's something very specific about the voicing of the Abraxas which suits an SG.

As has often been observed on this forum, BKPs tend to have more clarity than some other manufacturers' pickups.  There won't be too many cases where they'll sound too dark or muddy for a particular guitar.  I'd still shy away from fitting Crawlers or (probably) HDs in an SG though.

[Dusty]

I have to decided to choose a set of Abraxas BUT at the same time I'llreplace the bridge with a brass one, the stop tailpiece with an aluminium one, and the volume potis with 500ks. Also, I ordered a chrome covered Abraxas.
I guess that all of these measures supply vividness and highs, so the Abraxas won't sound too Santana-ish...
does that make any sense? :D

[Philly Q]

Good thinking, I like aluminium tailpieces and the 500k pots will brighten things up.

What brass bridge will you be fitting?

[ViggoPower]

Cool, let us know how it works out!

[Dusty]

AAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW YEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
The deed is done :D

-bridge: Normal ABR-1, but with brass bridge saddles
-aluminum tailpiece
-set of Abraxas
-high quality exact 500kohm vol AND tone pots (Gibson had installed 200kohm tone pots!)
-new transistors
-my own copper foil shielding

What made me happy was that the guys at the shop all found it was an extraordinary guitar with impressive dry sound.
And they should really know. One has a '59 Paula, and what is hanging on their walls is pretty damn sweet :japon:

The result: The axe is now a lot louder even unamplified, and it has completely opened up.
The plan to make all other components emphasize the highs in order to prevent muddiness worked out.
The sound is just sweet. The lows are less muddy, and everything is more open and defined.
So far, I was only able to play through my Fender at low volumes, but next weekend we'll hit the rehearsel room and I can see what this baby really is capable of.  It's already clear though that I have a completely different guitar now. I love it.
Maybe I'll make a vid when I have the time.

Thanks for the help everybody.

[Philly Q]

Pictures please!  :D

[Dusty]

OK, pimped electronics:



Everything else:



As you can see, my poor baby is played down to the wood in some places, also I once broke out a big chunk of wood when i stepped on the cable while playing (which was glued in again), but scars just add character, don't they?
Besides, she fits me well, my shins look like Tony Hawks' and my knee has just recently been 'glued together' again :lol:

[Philly Q]

Looks good!

[Dusty]

Oh my God.
We finally rehearsed and I could play my baby through the Engl E650.
And it is the sound. It is there. Using the neck pickup, it is so easy to dial in an incredible Blues/Southern Rock sound, and the bridge PU gives me a hard rocking classic Iommi tone.
Everything has changed. The tone pots don't make everything sound mushy and dark anymore when turned down, but rather seem to emphasize other frequencies (subjectively). almost every combination makes sense.
The sound is sweet, tight, quick and aggressive.

For those of you who only think of modern metalcore amps when they hear Engl, I gotta say that the Blackmore model is special. Most Engl amps are too modern and heavy sounding for my taste, but this one has classic tone and is just an amazing amp.

My initial fears that a full mahogany might sound bassy and mushy with Abraxas turned out ot be unsubstantiated.
All the frequencies are there, and it just rocks. The Abraxas, along with the other modifications, turned a guitar with a very good wood sound into a true tone beast.

Seriously, if somebody came up to me right now and offered me a mint 59' Paula in exchange for my worn, mistreated SG, or as much cash as you get for Paulas these days, I would not do it, hands down.
I spent a decade making this my guitar, and it has just the tone I want now. Tone heaven.

As far as I'm concerned, players of (not too dark sounding) SGs can add the Abraxas to the list of perfect pickups.

[lulusg]

Enjoyed your review very much !! Cheers !!

[BigB]

Oh my God.
We finally rehearsed and I could play my baby through the Engl E650.
And it is the sound. It is there.
(...)
I spent a decade making this my guitar, and it has just the tone I want now. Tone heaven.

Glad to know you found your holy grail - and welcome to the Happy BKP Users club 8)

As far as I'm concerned, players of (not too dark sounding) SGs can add the Abraxas to the list of perfect pickups.

First mention of this combo on the board AFAICT, so samples would be welcome if you can manage this.

[Alex]

As far as I'm concerned, players of (not too dark sounding) SGs can add the Abraxas to the list of perfect pickups.

Glad to see that I'm not the only one "violating" that SG rule of avoiding mid-output pickups!  :D

I'm really considering getting a new bridge and tailpiece for my SG Standard now.

May I ask where you bought yours? I have trouble finding a suitable replacement.

[Dusty]

I'm really considering getting a new bridge and tailpiece for my SG Standard now.

May I ask where you bought yours? I have trouble finding a suitable replacement.

I've been looking around shops for a long time before this, too, and never found anything.
The guys at Tonehunter (the German distributor of BKP)did it all. They have an incredible little shop that is os full of vintage gear it makes your eyes water, and almost any replacement part you may need.
So small, fanatic guitar repair shops are an option, but I am sure there must be sites on the internet where you can get all kinds of parts.