Help me select a BKP for a 2005 Gibson SG Supreme

[a38yearoldguy]

Hello,

I am about to acquire a 2005 Gibson SG Supreme, which has a flamed maple top.
My favorite band is Ghost. I also love 80s metal, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Iron Maiden as well as 70s rock.
Ghost tunes down one full step. So not sure if I'd need a pickup that can handle that.

I'd appreciate your suggestions.

[johnny_rock_it]

I'd recommend going with the holy diver.

[darrenw5094]

Mid heavey pups are usually overkill in SG guitars.

I think a Cold Sweat might balance out better

[Telerocker]

Yeah Cold Sweats, maybe Rebel Yells.

[Dave Sloven]

Cold Sweat will be better than a Holy Diver or Rebel Yell for this application.

If you want something hotter than that, try the Miracle Man.  I think the Cold Sweat will do you right for those sounds though.  I would go for 500K pots with a 0.033uf cap at the bridge and a 0.022 or 0.015 at the neck if using the CS set.

[ericsabbath]

nailbombs

[Dave Sloven]

I really wouldn't recommend Nailbombs for an SG, at least not the alnico version.  Too risky.  Stick with something less middy and hairy

[Slartibartfarst42]

If you want a brighter tone, the Cold Sweat will be fine. If you prefer things a bit beefier, the Miracle Man is a great choice and has a lot of the 80's Metal vibe that is in the Holydiver. There was a guy some time back who seemed to have a lot of success with an Abraxas in an SG and that pickup also has a large amount of 80's Metal tone.

[Dave Sloven]

I have a Cold Sweat neck and Miracle Man bridge in my 2011 SG Standard at the moment and it is pretty nice.  I liked the Cold Sweat bridge too but it is brighter and lower output.  The MM really does hit those pinch harmonics pretty hard, as its reputation led me to believe.

On the other hand I had an A-Bomb in the same guitar at first and never liked it.  Switched it out after persevering with it for six months.  Not even remotely versatile, just one aggressive tone all day long. Reminded me of Sepultura, Possessed, and Poison Idea all rolled into one.  On the other hand it is great in my Explorer, quite versatile.  You need to get the pickup that will balance the EQ of the guitar.  SGs are all mids acoustically, with not a lot of bottom end.

Other pickups I've used in SGs that have worked very well: A-Pig (with matching neck pickup) and Stockholm P-90.  If you were to use the Stockholm bridge in an SG I'd recommend the Supermassive neck to go with it.

[ericsabbath]

I remember Tim having a nailbomb in his old polka dot gibson flying v for his ozzy cover band
not a sg, though

I prefer the miracle man, though
the vhII also sounds great in SG's

[Telerocker]

Good call Eric, I totally overlooked the VHII. (and I have one).

[ericsabbath]

Good call Eric, I totally overlooked the VHII. (and I have one).

it sounds really good for 80's iommi tones and probably iron maiden

[Telerocker]

Good call Eric, I totally overlooked the VHII. (and I have one).

it sounds really good for 80's iommi tones and probably iron maiden

Yeah, it is clear, non-compressed, very focused and tight for a PAF. Output is medium-hot, nearly on par with the Crawler.