SG Raw Power

[1948show]

Hi, I'm getting a Gibson SG Raw Power  - I've had several SGs, always ended up selling them, always ended up going back to them. I think the extra cut that comes from being all maple will work for what I'm doing, but I'm having a problem deciding what to put in the bridge, because as decent as Gibson '57s are, I like hot bridge pickups. I've tried a fair few Bare Knuckles in the past, but never in a guitar this bright or middy.

My main guitar is a double cut les paul with a bigsby, aftermath in the bridge, seymour quarter pound for telecaster in the neck (yes, a telecaster neck pickup in a les paul), and use the neck for cleans and the bridge for extreme dirt. I really like how it works with my amp (Fender PA135 into a 2x12 guitar cab and a 1x15 bass cab) and fuzz, but I like to have an alternative. The PA135 is a PA amp but quite similar to a twin reverb, and could easily be used as a bass amp, so too much of a bassy sound from my guitar ends up being a bit too boomy, plus it gets lost alongside the other guitarist. So warpigs are out...but the Raw Power SG is a bright guitar, and being an SG, is also very middy. My initial thoughts were MM bridge due to the slightly scooped tone, but then I remembered they're a touch bright through my amp (tried one a while ago). Would  a Nailbomb maybe do the trick? I'm looking for something with a bit of bass to add girth to the maple, not too much in the way of extra mids, although mids aren't a bad thing, and controlled highs to avoid ice pick treble.

By the way, I do a mix of ambient post rock type stuff and droney doom. The whole rig is generally on the bassy side, but it's not dark. This should be quite simple, but I can't figure out what to go for that will sound aggressive whilst smoothing off the highs.

[darrenw5094]

Warpig is an animal with smooth highs. Nailbomb seem to be a tad thin in anything but mahogany Les Paul typr guitars

[Telerocker]

This seems to be a job for the Blackhawk.

[Dave Sloven]

The alnico Nailbomb will be too middy.  You could consider the ceramic version.

This might be one SG that could handle a Crawler, but I tend to think Juggernauts might be your best bet

[darkandrew]

This might be one SG that could handle a Crawler,

Do you know what, I was just thinking same thing.

[1948show]

Thought I'd update.

SG Raw Power, all maple guitar - I thought I'd try one of my Aftermaths, because I have experience of them in other guitars (mostly mahogany) and can use it as a point of reference.

The Aftermath has the mid honk as you'd expect, but it sounds kind of thin with the maple. In my mahogany/maple top Les Paul it had thunderous low mids, in my mahogany HH Jazzmaster it was a bit less full sounding but still big and powerful. It seems the Aftermath sounds rich and aggressive with mahogany, but thin and very honky in maple. It's still loud, and really grinds with fuzz, but lacks fatness and warmth.

I also put a Cold Sweat in the neck which is frankly, amazing when I switched to it for lead lines. I don't shred, but the soloing I did with heavy fuzz felt incredibly smooth, balanced and sat very nicely against my band mates Japanese Jazzmaster with fuzz.
The Aftermath was notably louder than the Coldsweat, and I know I could lower the Aftermath for a better balance, but that would probably thin things out a little bit more.

So there you go, the Aftermath is way too thin and mostly very middy.

I need advice on something fatter than an Aftermath, and I think I'd like nice sweet highs. I think the usual rules of SG pickups can go out the window.

[darrenw5094]

I said the Warpig earlier in the thread and i still think it's the one

[1948show]

A Warpig would be far too loud from the experience I've had of them. I was thinking more along the lines of a Crawler or maybe go at it from the other direction and try something like a Stormy Monday.

I think the Raw Power SG is actually fairly balanced EQ wise when compared to a regular mid heavy SG, more like a Les Paul but lacking some of the chunk. It has more body than I expected as the wood is heavy and dense (no nose dive at all, sits perfectly on the strap), it just lacks a bit of thickness.

[Dave Sloven]

If you are finding it to be very middy and honky that suggests that the maple is exaggerating the usual middiness of SGs.  I would suggest a Miracle Man in the bridge of this guitar.  Should sit well with the Cold Sweat neck too.

[gwEm]

I would suggest a Miracle Man in the bridge of this guitar.  Should sit well with the Cold Sweat neck too.

Miracle Men love a bit of maple, could be a good choice.

I see the body is chambered on these Raw Power SGs, that may affect things.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Miracle Man was what I was thinking too but if you want a more vintage tone a Crawler could work well here too.