Gibson sg speedrock

[SpeedwayDeluxe]

Alright everyone, been thinking about changing the pickups in my sg for a while, leaning towards the riff raffs but let me know what you think.

I'm playing through an Orange rockerverb 50, no effects just the amp and guitar. I mostly play speedrock, think Motörhead but more full on. Bands like Zeke, Puffball, or Peter Pan Speedrock. I also play some classic rock, Ac/Dc Led Zepplin, Lynyrd Skynyrd Thin Lizzy, and 80s hardcore and metal.

The sg has got stock pickups at the moment, I just feel they lack bite, and could be better. I don't want some super hi gain sound, I'm after a real loud rock and roll tone.

Any suggestions or am I on the right path with riff raffs?

[Telerocker]

Welcome here!

RiffRaffs and SG are  usually a happy couple. They should do the job. I have an Orange Rockerverb 50 head/cab and the amp has plenty of gain for your style. Actually I think the Orange likes low to medium output pickups better then contemporary pickups with high(er) output.

[SpeedwayDeluxe]

Thanks for the reply

I agree about the amp, I definitely don't want hotter than what I've already got, just general 'betterness'

[Telerocker]

I don't own RiffRaffs, but I feed my Rockerverb with Mules (in a Saint Blues Missippippi Bluesmaster). Great pickups, from clean to heavy rock they deliver.

[SpeedwayDeluxe]

I've read that the mules can start to lose clarity when you put more gain on them, but more gain is kind of a subjective thing.

[Telerocker]

I've read that the mules can start to lose clarity when you put more gain on them, but more gain is kind of a subjective thing.

RiffRaff is brighter, tighter and has a little more punch, where the Mule is softer in the midrange, but the tones sound more complex, nearly 3D, especially clean, and the mix of bridge and neck is too die for. The bass is indeed softer then the RR, but tight enough for me.
Nevertheless some metalplayers use Mules too. I think the Mule-bridge is a bit underestimated. It doesn't loose much clarity with highgain, but I never max out the gain on the Rockerverb. That one sounds imho better with the gain at max 13.00-14.00 o'clock and the master a bit more up. With humbuckers the right amount of bass dialed in, is important to keep things tight, but I guess you know the amp by heart.  :)
But for a big lump of mahogany like an SG - the Saint Blues is all mahogany, but smaller and bolt-on - the RR's are the obvious choice. Certainly considering your musicstyle.

[SpeedwayDeluxe]

I always have gain somewhere between 12 and 1 anyway. Seems like riff raffs are the way to go, thanks! On an unrelated note, how much difference does changing the pots and caps make? Internals are a mystery to me

[Telerocker]

It does make (quite) a difference. I'm using 500k pots, but BKP recommend often 550K. There a lot of members here that know everything about capacitors (oil-in-papercaps make a difference too). I hope they will chime in or you can PM our honorable forummember Feline. He's a guitarbuilder.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

RR will be great for this, it's what I'll be using them for.