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Author Topic: pickups for an sg?  (Read 4842 times)

Adog2202

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pickups for an sg?
« on: December 27, 2013, 04:31:24 AM »
So, I traded my prs ce 22 for a new SG standard. It'll be here in about a week. Trying to decide what pickups to get for it. I know I don't care for the 57 classics. I'm thinking Riff Raff. I like a more vintage sound. My favorite right now are Mules in my Les Paul. Has anyone tried Mules in an SG?
Any suggestions.
94 Les Paul/Stormy Mondays  92 Les Paul Mules
07 Explorer Pro/ Emeralds  13 SG/Riff Raff...

Dave Sloven

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2013, 08:16:46 AM »
I think people have had good results in SGs with the Mule set.  The Riff Raff is also a popular choice.

Mississippi Queen is also popular, especially in the neck.
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Kiichi

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2013, 10:31:45 AM »
Yeah, vintage sound in a SG is either Riff Raff of MQ. Both are amazing in that.
BKPs in use: 10th set / RY set / Holy Diver b, Emerald n / Crawler bridge, Slowhand mid MQ neck/ Manhattan n
On the sidelines: Stockholm b / Suppermassive n, Mule n, AM set, IT mid

Dave Sloven

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2013, 10:39:13 AM »
Yeah, vintage sound in a SG is either Riff Raff of MQ. Both are amazing in that.

Here's one with both, plus some tricky wiring:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeTZ4v7CaKk
BLACK HAWKS
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metale

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2013, 02:07:45 PM »
Wow, great video  :o very useful.

Edit: wrong emoticon
« Last Edit: December 28, 2013, 09:18:05 AM by metale »
Black Dog (b), Abraxas (b), The Mule (n), Mississippi Queen (n), Trilogy Suite (m)

Had: Riff Raff 7 (b), Painkiller 8 (b)

Adog2202

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2013, 04:42:01 PM »
I've seen that video....really nice tones. That pickup combo is definitely a possibility!

Maybe a mule in the bridge and a stormy Monday or a mqueen in the neck.

I've got some shoppin to do!

94 Les Paul/Stormy Mondays  92 Les Paul Mules
07 Explorer Pro/ Emeralds  13 SG/Riff Raff...

Kiichi

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2013, 04:55:51 PM »
I've seen that video....really nice tones. That pickup combo is definitely a possibility!

Maybe a mule in the bridge and a stormy Monday or a mqueen in the neck.

I've got some shoppin to do!
Now this is just my view, but if you already got a set of Mules working nicely I would perhaps go for another flavour for the SG. Something with somewhat of the same idea, but done in another way.

I would certainly highly recommend the MQ neck, it is stellar. For the bridge most people seem to go for HBs, but personally I donīt quite know why, bridge P90s are increadible, I perhaps like them even more than the necks (but pairing a P90s bridge with a neck HB is something that is hard to get working). Judging from that video the RR seems to be able to keep up in terms of output with the MQ, but beware that it has more than you might assume. Not that it is very hot or so, it is open and vintagy lovely, but it has quite a kick. The neck can be used with a WP bridge, so yeah.

P90s are great cause they will cut through things, be it a SG or the thickest fuzz sounds. Full frequency response, a lovely warm midrange growl, a attack that seeks an equal and while it can scream like hell it can also sing like heaven. Really best of SCs and HBs combined!


If you wanne go a bit more vintage, as your other PUs you already have imply, you might also be very interrested in the Bluenote as a set or with a MQ bridge. If you ask nicely BKP will do them in HB format and those babys should really deliver. I am just waiting to get myself a set of those. Talk about sweet vintage singing sound!
« Last Edit: December 27, 2013, 04:57:44 PM by Kiichi »
BKPs in use: 10th set / RY set / Holy Diver b, Emerald n / Crawler bridge, Slowhand mid MQ neck/ Manhattan n
On the sidelines: Stockholm b / Suppermassive n, Mule n, AM set, IT mid

Adog2202

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2013, 06:37:00 PM »
The P90s are a good idea. I used to have an sg classic that I loved the sound of.  I also had a Grosh Electrajet with G90s....killer guitar! Im leaning more towards humbuckers these days. I like it when I can clean things up with the volume knob. I may have to look into that bluenote deal!
94 Les Paul/Stormy Mondays  92 Les Paul Mules
07 Explorer Pro/ Emeralds  13 SG/Riff Raff...

Dave Sloven

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #8 on: December 28, 2013, 12:38:17 AM »
A HB size blue note in the neck could be sweet indeed.

The idea of two humbucker size P-90 pickups in an SG has always seemed weird to me though, as you can get a regular P-90 version of an SG and I'm guessing if you wanted all P-90s you might have bought one of those instead (I have a humbucker SG Standard and a P-90 SG Junior myself).  I'm wondering if a Black Dog with a coil split switch in the bridge might pair up well with a Blue Note?  I remember someone saying they had used a Black Dog in an SG but I can't remember if it was great or not.  The problem with SGs is that for many pickups in the range only one or two people have actually tried them and there is some variation between SGs in terms of tonal characteristics.  A-Bombs for example work in some SGs but not in most.
BLACK HAWKS
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Adog2202

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #9 on: December 28, 2013, 05:51:36 AM »
Well...I'll will say that I don't want a typical SG sound. I tend to try to get  similar sounds out of different guitars. Maybe similar sounds isn't quite what I mean...a similar feel is more like it I guess. I'm looking for a clear articulate neck pickup....like a stormy Monday....with a powerful but not super  hi gain pickup in the bridge. 

The more I think about it the more I'm leaning towards a Stormy neck...with either a mule or a riffraff bridge....
94 Les Paul/Stormy Mondays  92 Les Paul Mules
07 Explorer Pro/ Emeralds  13 SG/Riff Raff...

Dave Sloven

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2013, 06:01:57 AM »
I usually go the other way - different sounds from similar guitars!
BLACK HAWKS
IMPULSES
COBRA-T
WAR PIGS
STOCKHOLM
COLD SWEATS
MIRACLE MAN
TRUE GRIT

https://slovendoom.bandcamp.com/releases

Adog2202

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2014, 12:14:33 AM »
So, it's been a few weeks and I decided on a set of Riff Raffs. Just got done dropping them in and trying it out. I'm glad I got these. They really fit an SG nicely. They clean up well with the volume knob and sound great in all switch positions.

If you play blues, rock (classic/southern)...funk etc...you'll love these in an SG. I even cranked up some higher gain amps and pedals and tried it out...and it handles that nicely too. (I used to be a complete metal head...from Sabbath all the way to Machine Head, Tool, etc....I think this would cover a bit of everything). Not that I don't dig that stuff anymore...but its not my focus at the moment.

Very nice versatile tones to be had! If you're looking for a set for an SG..I highly recommend them.
There's hardly any videos out there for BKPs in an SG. I might have to throw down a bit and provide one.

94 Les Paul/Stormy Mondays  92 Les Paul Mules
07 Explorer Pro/ Emeralds  13 SG/Riff Raff...

darrenw5094

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #12 on: January 15, 2014, 01:00:27 AM »
Nice lump of wood there. What is the tone like now with the RR?
Is bright, or maid rangey etc?
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Adog2202

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2014, 01:45:32 AM »
Thanks Darren...

as far as the tone...the best way I can describe it is articulate and balanced if that makes sense. All the notes ring out nice and even and I'm not finding any harshness like I used to on SGs. You know...when you strum a chord with some overdrive and you hear some tones that just shouldn't be there. I've had probably about four or five SGs over the years and I'd get rid of them as quick as I got them. They look killer..but I'd take one to practice or a gig and just not enjoy it.

I will say that the description on the website gets it right...the lows are nice and deep but are tight. You hear the note definition. And...it screams on the bridge pickup and really cuts through.

So...to answer your question more directly I guess...it's bright but not overly bright. Just sounds nice!
« Last Edit: January 15, 2014, 01:47:32 AM by Adog2202 »
94 Les Paul/Stormy Mondays  92 Les Paul Mules
07 Explorer Pro/ Emeralds  13 SG/Riff Raff...

DaveyHoran

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Re: pickups for an sg?
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2014, 02:28:45 PM »
I have a set of stormy Mondays in an SG and I'm loving them, more than a mule/riff raff set in another SG
Nailbomb, Coldsweat, Mule, Riffraff and a set of Stormy Mondays