Author Topic: Upgrading pickups in a 1970's Yamaha SG (Read 21029 times)

everton_fc · « **Reply #30 on:** November 27, 2006, 07:30:10 PM »

Cool, cheers

everton_fc · « **Reply #31 on:** November 28, 2006, 09:56:55 AM »

Thought I'd say - just purchased a pair of Mules. Thanks for all the responses to questions, really appriciate it.

Ratrod · « **Reply #32 on:** November 28, 2006, 12:58:32 PM »

You're welcome.

You won't regret your purchase.

zigmund · « **Reply #33 on:** December 06, 2006, 08:40:12 PM »

Hi everton and all: am combining this my first post with a bump in a sense.
Everton, have you resolved this at all yet? I ask specifically, as this question is exactly why I just mailed BK, funnily enough.
I too have an old SG2000 of which I'd like a bridge p/up that combines a little better with the gorgeous neck one; bless 'em, mine have also gone a little microphonic.
Until I'd considered BareKnuckles, I was going to go for some Wizards, which have done me so very well for s/c and buckers thus far...yet am all a bit warmed to the idea of a brace of Abraxas, if by name alone!
Ratrod, those look stunning in the SG mate, btw!
I realise asking other axepersons' opinions is a bit like lighting blue touchpaper, which is merely why I'm curious as to how you're progressing.
Do any of you have Abraxas btw? Any idea of how a neck Abraxas would marry with an Emerald bridge.....or shall I just stop being a retentive knobber, plump for Mules and be grateful....?? Thoughts anyone?
Oh, and thanks for a terrific forum all; a real mine!

zigmund · « **Reply #34 on:** December 06, 2006, 08:46:10 PM »

Duh,( that'll teach me not to read all of them)..my apologies all.
Am agog to hear your opinion on the Mules.
Thx Ratrod and Twinfan for your really helpful stuff here.

Philly Q · « **Reply #35 on:** December 06, 2006, 09:45:02 PM »

Quote from: zigmund

Do any of you have Abraxas btw? Any idea of how a neck Abraxas would marry with an Emerald bridge.....or shall I just stop being a retentive knobber, plump for Mules and be grateful....??

I have an Abraxas neck pickup (with a Rebel Yell bridge). If you're considering the Abraxas for "obvious" reasons, then yes it gives a great Santana tone. Can't help on the Emerald though, sorry.

zigmund · « **Reply #36 on:** December 06, 2006, 10:57:09 PM »

Thanks Philly, very helpful. Am reading avidly the many testimonials of the Crawler too at present, tho' not much on the Abraxas.
(I must say I've just received a reply to the mail I sent Tim, who seemed to both read my mind as well as write a spot-on reply instantaneously...sheesh, these guys redefine Customer Service!)

38thBeatle · « **Reply #37 on:** December 06, 2006, 11:03:19 PM »

Tim and the BKP guys have built up a passionate and loyal fan base because of a superb product and excellent service. The worl is to be assimilated-just a question of time. Welcome to the forum btw.

Twinfan · « **Reply #38 on:** December 07, 2006, 08:48:56 AM »

Quote from: zigmund

Am agog to hear your opinion on the Mules.
Thx Ratrod and Twinfan for your really helpful stuff here.

No problem my friend :D

everton_fc · « **Reply #39 on:** December 07, 2006, 11:41:48 AM »

Havn't fitted the Mules yet. I pulled out the stock pickups yesterday from the SG1500 - that was quite exciting, especially to see the construction of the SG1500 pups in comparison to the BKP - has to be said, those old yamaha's seem to be very well built. Looks like those guitars had alot of effort put into the design/construction, and I was well chuffed to see that my guitar did infact have the stock pick ups in the guitar as on the underside of the pups was the SG1500 model number printed. Cool. Think I'll keep hold of those bad boys, seeing they are 30 years old - may want to put them back in one day if the old SG range become collectable.

Should have the Mules in on the weekend. waiting for the Mrs and the kid to go "shopping" for a couple of hours so I can tweak my amp settings etc - will feedback with opinions and comparisons to the old stock SG1500 pups. Cool. Seems, by everyone elese opinion, that The Mules are very versatile, a good all rounder which is exactly what I'm looking for - and can't wait to hear them in the SG1500 through my Marshall...

zigmund · « **Reply #40 on:** December 08, 2006, 12:22:41 AM »

Everton, I swear this thread has me gripped.
Yes, I also was enthralled by the sheer attention to detail and quality of all the gubbins..and to be sure, hanging onto the stock pups = ohyeah.
I've reread your posts here and am intrigued: if I've got this right, the "normal" pots you mention are more of a signifier of age, than of whether it is a 1500, 2000, etc; in other words, the push-push pots were put on as part of Yamaha's desire to distance themselves from Gibson.
To clarify(I hope): as Gibson took Yamaha on about the "SG" nomenclature, Yam started a few mods so as to increase the sense of differentiation(as if the quality of the Yams wasn't enough): thus, the 1976 SG2000's bits were superseded around '79 by the addition of push-push pots.
Therefore, if one has a low serial numbered babby with untapped(normal, non-pushy) pots, chances are that it's maybe between 76 and 79. At least for a 2000. Yamaha did so many refinements and changes to both it and its predecessors(the 2000 was "merely" an outworking of the earlier 150...er, ..1974??) that it can get very confused.
[Ev, I'm asking the obvious here buddy,.... the neck is a bolt-on, yes?]
Me and my fevered mind; apologies for drifting OT all

everton_fc · « **Reply #41 on:** December 08, 2006, 08:32:12 AM »

My SG1500 does not have push/pull features - I think that is a standard for the SG1500 where the SG2000 and the SG1000 etc do have the push/pull volume pots. I got the SG1500 for two reasons - 1. It was a bargain that I couldn't refuse, and secondly I didn't want the push/pull feature.

The neck is a "through neck" or whatever you call it - if you look at the back of the guitar in the the light, getting the angle right, you can see the neck travelling through 3/4 the length of the body! Fantastic. The weight of the guitar is something I had to get used to, but the sustain is FANTASTIC! I loved the bridge tone but for me, the neck pickup was what was turning me on. I'm getting really into varying the volume/tone controls for different songs, and wipping over to the bridge when I need to give it some.

I'm really pleased with this guitar. The reson I wanted a Yamaha SG (from the 1970's) is they just seem more "muscular" than a Gibson SG - these guitars have real depth to the body, a solid feel to them. And I think they look cool!! Anyone else comment on an Yamaha SG (1970's style) - especially interested in comments with Yamaha SG's with BKP in them.... Bring on the Mules!!!

Twinfan · « **Reply #42 on:** December 08, 2006, 08:40:54 AM »

"Malcolm" in YC/DC is currently using a Black SG600S. It's pretty beat up but sounds OK. There are probably a few pics on our site (see my sig).

It'll become his backup guitar when his Malcolm Young II Signature Flame Top Gretsch turns up this week :D

Ratrod · « **Reply #43 on:** December 08, 2006, 01:42:12 PM »

Quote from: Twinfan

It'll become his backup guitar when his Malcolm Young II Signature Flame Top Gretsch turns up this week :D

That's cool! I don't think there are any Malcolm signature players on the Gretsch pages forum yet. He's welcome to join.

http://gretschpages.com/forum/

everton_fc · « **Reply #44 on:** December 10, 2006, 12:24:23 PM »

Just installing my pups now and notice that the pickups are at a slight angle, almost kind of parralell with the angle of the mounting rings. I cant remeber if the stock pups were at an anlge or not as the stock Yamaha mounting rings had two adjuster screws, which I should imagine, was to make the pup more parallell to the strings? Not sure...

Can anyone shed any light on this? Should I be concerned, especially about the bridge pup, that it is an angle, and not flat? I'm totally unsure about this and am starting to beat myself up about it...

Thanks