help with buying decision: Gibson SG, metal

[donhogo]

Hi everybody,

I'm new to this forum and to the bare knuckle world and I need help or suggestions with my buying decision.

I own a Gibson SG Standard 2013 with 57' Classic pickups in bridge and neck position. I want to replace the 57' Classic with a BKP combination which make this guitar a real modern metal axe (as far as it can be because of its short scale).

I will mostly play high-gain stuff in Standard-D and Drop-C tuning and I'm looking for a real fat, punchy and clear bridge pickup especially regarding palm mutes and chugging. But I wouldn't mind if it was also a versatile pickup.  From what I read so far, the Juggernaut, Aftermath or Painkiller will probably fit my requirements. Anyone out there with experiences regarding one of these three in a Gibson SG? Am I missing another good choice?

For the neck position I don't really have an idea. Is it "good practice" to install a matched set? I would like to play clean and crunchy (e.g. blues) with the neck either. Any recommendations?

Thank you in advance,
Holger

[deftone_86]

Hi,

I don't know about the pickups you asked about, but I use a Holydiver in my Tokai SG and it works for everything I play incl. metal! HD/SG combination has a kinda bad reputation here on the forums, so maybe I got lucky to get the combo working but if you have a balanced sounding SG you might want to give it a try. String separation is excellent and palm mutes are fat and warm but still with enough attack to cut through in my opinion. Overall sound would be thick, fat and punchy I think...the pickups you mentioned in your post would probably be tighter with maybe more of a upper midrange bite compared to the HD because of the ceramic magnets. But that's just speculation on my part:)

Anyways, here's a clip where you can hear the pickup in action in a cheesy metal riff from my bands upcoming album. Sorry for the other instruments but atleast the guitars are NOT mixed so you can hear the raw recorded sound.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5GMXAASRxPyNXVMZ25mLTl5NWM&authuser=0

[Kiichi]

Hi and welcome.

I am by no means an expert on SGs, but from what I hear they are very middy and pick little buggers. Seem to often not like medium output PUs, prefering low or high (this rule seems to not go for P90s though). Because of the middyness I would immediatly discount the Aftermath. Anyhow, for what you describe the Miracle Man would probably be really nice in the bridge. It is certainly chuggy and since the center and high mids are not emphasized that should play well with an SG IŽd imagine. A lighter and more agressive version would be the Cold Sweat. The Warpig could be another possibility for brutal metal.

Sides that you could also look at the Stockholm P90 if you could deal with the slight single coil hum. That one is proven to work in SGs and really delivers raw agression with fatness, cut, and roar. Amazing one that.

The neck largely depends on the bridge you choose, but if you go humbucker IŽd think the Coldsweat to be a good choice, as it can do both metal and bluesy things. However, decide on the bridge first, then we can talk more neck.

[Dave Sloven]

Cold Sweat set
Miracle Man set
Miracle Man (B) & Cold Sweat (N)

These would be my three recommendations.

I have an SG with the Cold Sweat set and another one with the Warpig Set. The Warpig is very throaty. I like it but I'm not sure that's what you would want.  I also have  the Stockholm bridge in my SG Junior and that is amazing too.  More punky than the others.

Out of the ones mentioned so far I would think the Holy Diver and Juggernaut would be very hit-and-miss, depending on your guitar.  I don't think either of them would work well with the 'typical' SG, which is rather bright and middy.  I have seen reports and heard at least one clip that suggest that the Painkiller and Aftermath can work, but be prepared for something very abrasive in the mids.

The MM/CS combo is most likely the best for metal applications in SGs.  SGs also suffer from boomy neck thin bridge syndrome so a less powerful neck pickup compared to the one in the set is definitely not a bad thing.

You will probably want to change your wiring harness a bit too.  500K pots


My CS set is in an E standard guitar, the others are D standard

[donhogo]

Thanks for your opinions. Really appreciated.

You brought up a few other players which weren't on my list before. I read a few other threads concerning the SG and came to the conclusion that the SG is some kind of picky lady. That doesn't make it easier.

The reason I was heading for Painkiller, Juggernaut or Aftermath was that I'm really looking for a modern metal sound. I emailed BKP and Ben also recommended the Juggernaut or Painkiller. He said with the right 500k pots it will probably be fine.

It's really hard to make a decision here. Do you think the MM can be as modern, brutal, punchy and clear as the Juggernaut/Painkiller?

Thanks, Holger

[Dave Sloven]

You could also consider the ceramic version of the Nailbomb.

Basically when you are looking at the EQ curves on the BKP site the best ones will be the ones with a mid 'scoop'

This helps balance the guitar out.  SGs are very mid focused and a pickup with strong mids will sound very hairy and abrasive, much more so than in say a Les Paul.  On the other hand a scooped pickup will sound less scooped in an SG.

If you want something modern sounding I would tend to look at the Painkiller or ceramic Nailbomb.

This is an SG with Painkillers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imPQUg1NK1I

[Alex]

The Miracle Man is a great choice for SGs, works brilliant. I had one myself. Because SGs tend to be so mid-focused the Miracle Man works really well with that and opens up the sound more.

[Dave Sloven]

The Miracle Man is a great choice for SGs, works brilliant. I had one myself. Because SGs tend to be so mid-focused the Miracle Man works really well with that and opens up the sound more.

I may eventually buy a MM bridge and try it in my SG Standard in place of the Cold Sweat for a while.  As my SG collection expands I will be able to move it into another one eventually.