Author Topic: pickups for gibson sg special?? (Read 8222 times)

Owen · « **on:** May 31, 2005, 09:42:58 AM »

hello all :D
just a quick question. just purchased the gibby and im adding some bare knuckle pickups on the strength of reviews and the sound clips i've heard. Im definately putting an Emerald pickup in it but my problem is bridge or neck?? i was thinking of putting a different pickup with it, possiblly a black dog, just for versatility. I'm really spolit for choice here, which is great i guess! any opinions? also what are the benefits of getting a calibrated set of emeralds? (another option) thanks alot

Ratrod · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2005, 11:09:46 AM »

You could put a Mule in the neck.

A calibrated set means you get a pair of pickups with the same character and they are tuned into one another. I'm sure Tim could explain it better.

PhilKing · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2005, 11:45:01 AM »

Hi, I have Les Paul with an Emerald at the bridge and a Mule at the neck as a calibrated pair, and they wound great. I would also suggest the new Riff Raff for an SG. It has a great sound and now has an Alnico V magnet for a bit more power.

Another great SG pickup is the Warpig.

I thought the SG Special was P-90's not humbuckers? Has yours been changed, because if not and you were going to change it, Tim does great P-90's (including the Pig-90!).

Ratrod · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2005, 04:35:46 PM »

SG specials have solid colour paint, no binding and uncovered pickups (mostly the ceramic ones). They're a tad cheaper than the standard.

The Les Paul special is the one with the P90's.
The SG classic (discontinued) and the Pete Townsend sig. have P90's. Some older SG's have P90's, mostly from the 60's and 70's, they're quite rare.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2005, 08:18:54 PM »

The original 'special' or 'junior' models that Gibson made were 'budget' guitars and had downgraded appointments such as a lack of binding, solid colours, P90 pickups etc...

The current SG 'special' that Gibson offer is nothing like the vintage ones and does indeed have humbuckers.

A vintage SG special or junior is still one of the best bargains to be had out there. You should be able to find a junior for somewhere between £800-£1200 and a special for between £1000-£1400 depending on condition and originality.

:twisted:

Ratrod · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2005, 09:51:48 PM »

That's still a lot of cash. Too bad Epiphone doesn't make SG's with P90's.
The now discontinued SG classic was between 800 and 1000 dollars new. Probably 1100 Euro's in Europe. Maybe you could find a used one for 800 Euro's or approx. 550 quid.

lulusg · « **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2005, 01:16:16 AM »

Hi, there! I have a costumized SG special with BKP P90's. The most complete axe so far. Also I have an SG standart on which I am getting installed the Emerald calibrated set. I will have to wait on this one. There are many different pickups that you can try, according to your style or likeness. I am finding many possibilities, and all are valid. There is Chris that got a demo of his Emeralds on this forum, and Tim who would be your best advisor :) Good luck

Owen · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2005, 10:11:38 AM »

well, i love thin lizzy's tone from the live and dangerous album (hence the emeralds). So i was thinking that in the bridge but then something in the neck that can deliver a gary moore style tone for slower, cleaner stuff. Any ideas?

HJM · « **Reply #8 on:** June 01, 2005, 10:35:48 AM »

Quote from: Owen

well, i love thin lizzy's tone from the live and dangerous album (hence the emeralds). So i was thinking that in the bridge but then something in the neck that can deliver a gary moore style tone for slower, cleaner stuff. Any ideas?

I've got some Special Edition Emeralds, slightly Hotter than standard. the neck pickup will do a Gary Moore type tone, and works very well clean. It maybe best to go for a calibrated set. 8)

Owen · « **Reply #9 on:** June 01, 2005, 10:40:38 AM »

excellent! although i still need a proper description of the benefits of a calibrated set. I have enough money for the one pickup but the the calibrated set is just out of reach at the moment, meaning I would have to save a bit longer. So a description of some kind would be good, just to justify the extra money

HJM · « **Reply #10 on:** June 01, 2005, 10:53:55 AM »

Quote from: Owen

excellent! although i still need a proper description of the benefits of a calibrated set. I have enough money for the one pickup but the the calibrated set is just out of reach at the moment, meaning I would have to save a bit longer. So a description of some kind would be good, just to justify the extra money

As far as my experience goes, calibrated sets complement each other. You know that a Emarld bridge is going to work well with an Emerald neck, and have a similar sonic signature. Sometimes you get into difficulties with different voiced pickups, eg a Warpig and a, erm, riff raff, they've both gopt a different character. So what that means is the combined tones perhaps don't work so well in the middle position, or you have to change amp settings when swapping between pickups.

However, I've been one for mixing in the past, Miracle Man dridge, Black Dog neck; VH2 bridge, Stormy Monday Neck; etc It gives some different tones, but I've now gone for a VH2 neck with the VH2 bridge, and the guitar (PRS) just works better, in between sounds are more balanced and even.

Hope that helps a bit!

Owen · « **Reply #11 on:** June 01, 2005, 11:38:05 AM »

thanks alot everyone. i think im just about set now

Tim · « **Reply #12 on:** June 01, 2005, 12:48:09 PM »

Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL

The original 'special' or 'junior' models that Gibson made were 'budget' guitars and had downgraded appointments such as a lack of binding, solid colours, P90 pickups etc...

The current SG 'special' that Gibson offer is nothing like the vintage ones and does indeed have humbuckers.

A vintage SG special or junior is still one of the best bargains to be had out there. You should be able to find a junior for somewhere between £800-£1200 and a special for between £1000-£1400 depending on condition and originality.

:twisted:

I got my 1970 SG Special off fleabay for £400 from the US plus import-beautiful guitar-it has mini humbuckers.

PhilKing · « **Reply #13 on:** June 01, 2005, 03:52:50 PM »

Hi Tim, are they the black plastic mini humbuckers? I used to play with another guitarist who had one of those and they had a great sound. I was using a 1970 LP Custom at the time (long gone, otherwise it would have the Miracle Men in it :wallbash: ).

I think they are very under-rated, I know it is a Norlin Gibson, but this was when they finally started to get their collective finger out and got rid of all the plastic on the front of the guitars (SG Deluxe and 100/200).

Are you going to put mini-mules in it :plasma:

Tim · « **Reply #14 on:** June 01, 2005, 06:23:46 PM »

I'm living with it for now, I'll probably rewind the minis at some point.