Pots, caps and pickups for an Sg

[Ale84]

The tech did the mod and and the guitar is more open but the real problem is stock pickups..498/490. I don't like them. They are too powerful, lack clarity, way too compressed etc.. I know that Sg and riff raff is a good match but since the description and reviews/opinions i have the feeling they are a little thin sounding, really bright and better working in a les paul since it's fatter. As i said it's only an opinion because i've never tried them so correct if i'm wrong.  I want definitely more clarity and a beefy/fat low or medium output set. Any suggestion?

[Kiichi]

The tech did the mod and and the guitar is more open but the real problem is stock pickups..498/490. I don't like them. They are too powerful, lack clarity, way too compressed etc.. I know that Sg and riff raff is a good match but since the description and reviews/opinions i have the feeling they are a little thin sounding, really bright and better working in a les paul since it's fatter. As i said it's only an opinion because i've never tried them so correct if i'm wrong.  I want definitely more clarity and a beefy/fat low or medium output set. Any suggestion?

Have you seen these comments on the Stormy Monday in an SG? Perhaps that helps figure things out. Lot of good descriptions and takeaways in that thread imho.

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=33590.0

[Ale84]

yes and it's interesting but i would prefer an alnico V. SM might be weak for some application, for instance 90's rock, grunge etc 

[Dave Sloven]

Mules are probably your best bet.

I'm not sure if Abraxas wouid work.  Anyone tried these in SGs?

[Telerocker]

In this guitar a Black Dog would be a good choice for 90's rock and grunge. If you're into P90's a humbucker sized Nantucket or even a Supermassive could fit your wishes.

[Ale84]

p90 are great but i already have a les paul special loaded with nantucket..Blackdog? interesting. Is it mid heavy? good match with an sg? What about an alnico V mule?

[AndyR]

My gut feeling is Riff Raff will actually be OK for you. I don't find them "thin", but they have a quite "hard" vibe to them that I don't always need.

Now I have the Stormies in a 61 reissue, that has definitely warmed that guitar up (in comparison to 57 Classics, which I believe are already warmer than the 498/490). But I've also been revisiting my Faded SG with the Riff Raffs....

Basically, I'm finding I'm LOVING the Faded with RRs now that I have another SG that I find more versatile. The new 61 has the really skinny fast 60s neck, it's got the Stormies that can do both mean and mellow. It's more the sort of guitar I'd strap on for any style.

My Faded has a big fat neck on it, and with the Riff Raffs, it just punches holes in things! If I want a guitar for "rock" - for me, this is the one to reach for now.

Don't rule out Riff Raffs - and Black Dogs is something I'd like to hear too (from Tom's experiences).

Finally, didn't BKP used to do an AV Mule as an option? But I remember reading somewhere on here that it's pretty much a Riff Raff then? Very SLIGHTLY different wind, but basically a Riff Raff.

EDIT - I'm starting to regard this "hard" vibe I keep talking about as probably the AV magnets talking (I get the same out of AV in strat pickups, etc). Maybe, if AV is what you want, then Riff Raff is where you ought to be going?

[Ale84]

i actually heard a comparison between BD and Mule on an Sg from a user here on the forum and i really liked the Mule. Just wondering it's behaviour  on harder stuff like AIC or soundgarden. Tim suggestion on SG, read always on the forum, are to not go medium or high output on sg.

[AndyR]

I suspect the Mule and BD comparison might be Tom's clips that I've heard?

Sorry, what I meant was I'd like to hear Black Dogs in one of my own guitars - as in actually try them myself!! :-)

But, like you, I've always read on here that medium output (Vintage Hot) might be a bit hit or miss in an SG.

I quite liked the BD sounds Tom was getting, though.

[Ale84]

I suspect the Mule and BD comparison might be Tom's clips that I've heard?

Sorry, what I meant was I'd like to hear Black Dogs in one of my own guitars - as in actually try them myself!! :-)

But, like you, I've always read on here that medium output (Vintage Hot) might be a bit hit or miss in an SG.

I quite liked the BD sounds Tom was getting, though.

Yes, Tom comparison. I really liked the Mule in that clip. I found another post from Tim who said he would go for alnico V mule in an sg..

[Ale84]

Ok..i think i'll go for riff raff bridge and mule neck..hope it works..

[_tom_]

I've actually ended up going back to the stock pickups in my SG as I found the Black Dog just sounds better in my all mahogany LPC. I prefer the output of the 498t in my SG and I also found the Mule a bit too "soft" sounding for an SG, needs more balls imo. I'd like to try an A5 Mule though but I suspect it wouldn't have enough output for me.

[Dave Sloven]

I went from a 498T to a Cold Sweat in my SG Standard.  There's something of the 498T vibe to the Cold Sweat, not much but still it sits with the acoustic instrument in the same way, if that makes any sense. It's got plenty of balls too.  The other one I've thought about and nearly got was the Miracle Man bridge, to match with the Cold Sweat neck.  The CS neck is totally different from the 490R.

[Ale84]

I haven't placed the order yet but  i'll go for RR and mule cause i really hate stock pickups (too compressed and no clarity). The only thing i am worried about RR is the brightness coming from the baked maple that might be too much with RR bridge. Anyway i hope it works because i really like the neck and the finish of the guitar so i don't want to give up