Pickups for my SG

There's more to life than just amps?

Moderators: VelvetGeorge, BUG

guns4hire34
Senior Member
Posts: 83
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:09 am
Location: Flint, MI

Pickups for my SG

Post by guns4hire34 » Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:56 am

I have a Gibson Angus Young Signature SG and I want to change the pickups. The stock pickups are AY signature in the bridge and 57 Classic for the neck. I can live with the 57 but the AY pickup has to go. It sounds to trebly through my 68 circuit Metro modified Marshall. The sound I am after is AC/DC "let there be rock" and "Powerage". I am willing to spend some coin on the right pickup. I run 46-10 strings and have a modified tube screamer with a NOS JRC4558 chip for the boost. I have tried to adjust the settings on the amp and the TS808 without much luck. I had put a SD Custom Custom in the guitar that did not sound to bad but it was not what I wanted. Can sombody help me in my quest??? I run a Marshall 1960 bottom cab with greenbacks also. :cry:

User avatar
VelvetGeorge
Site Owner
Posts: 7233
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2003 5:12 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: The Murder Mitten
Contact:

Post by VelvetGeorge » Sat Aug 09, 2008 10:35 am

I've been dying to try those Psychobilly pickups from RS. Take a look at those.
Gutpile loves Fralins in his SG. I've always wanted to try Tom Holmes too.

There are so many PU's available these days, it's hard to know where to start.

VG
Check out Plexi Replicas for my personal amp builds...
Image

philmanatee
Senior Member
Posts: 226
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:15 am

Post by philmanatee » Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:48 am

The High Order Sgt. OD Rainbow 61 is the best pickup I've heard in my SG. Phil

User avatar
Scumback Speakers
Supporting Advertiser
Posts: 4517
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:27 am
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Prescott, AZ
Contact:

Post by Scumback Speakers » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:08 pm

I'm partial to five pickups in my SG's.

1) WCR American Steele
2) WCR Crossroads
3) Original PAF's
4) Wolfetone Marshallheads
5) Original P90's.
Scumback Speakers - Kick Ass Vintage Tone
sales@scumbackspeakers.com
http://www.scumbackspeakers.com
310-833-6632

guns4hire34
Senior Member
Posts: 83
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:09 am
Location: Flint, MI

pickups for my SG

Post by guns4hire34 » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:53 pm

This is what sucks about the whole thing!! for the most part a good pickup is not cheap!!!! you hate to drop down the money and find out the thing sucks ass!!!! this is the problem and I know that there are alot of you that know what I am talking about. This is the best playing guitar that I have ever owned or played. There has to be a pickup that will work but which one??????
P.S. George I am still lovin' the amp thanks again.

User avatar
Flames1950
Senior Member
Posts: 9294
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 1:04 am
Location: Waukee, Iowa

Post by Flames1950 » Sat Aug 09, 2008 3:53 pm

It does suck. Especially when for all that money, you cannot directly compare anything apples-to-apples in the same guitar without a LOT of headache.

I've had Bustbuckers in my SG -- they blew. The original 498T/490R's were better in my SG. I've had HighOrders in my SG, but they were too dark in this particular guitar (8.3K A2 and 7.6K A3.)

Currently all my Gibsons have Manlius Fat Dianes in them (two Les Pauls and the SG.) There was a set on eBay direct from Manlius this morning for $140 -- a little cheaper than some you could potshot at.........he offers a thirty day guarantee on the tone, he'll work something else up if it isn't what you had in mind.

Smits are also great pickups, and last I knew he would modify your pickups within thirty days if you weren't happy with the tone. At least that's a little peace of mind for your purchase dollar!!!
Image

guns4hire34
Senior Member
Posts: 83
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:09 am
Location: Flint, MI

Pickups in my SG

Post by guns4hire34 » Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:25 pm

Flames,
Tell me about these Manlius Fat dianes! Comments????

User avatar
Flames1950
Senior Member
Posts: 9294
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 1:04 am
Location: Waukee, Iowa

Post by Flames1950 » Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:44 pm

Not sure what to say.....I had some of the Smits in my Les Paul and loved them, had no intention of changing them out. I bought the first set of Fat Dianes intending to put them in my SG to replace the Buttbuckers, and I couldn't resist dropping them in one of my Les Pauls first. And they just floored me, thicker richer sound than the Smits I had in there and yet they didn't make my amp ghost any more than usual. So I ordered them for all my Gibsons.

I do have some clips of amps I've worked on here with my '06 Les Paul loaded with Fat Dianes, but no SG clips. I can send you the LP clips if you like though.

He's at www.manliusguitar.com if you didn't find his site already.
Image

jcs
Senior Member
Posts: 407
Joined: Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:31 am
Location: on a frickin hill

Post by jcs » Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:43 am

i own several highorder humbuckers,currently i have an 8.5k alnico 3 in the bridge of my 65 sg special, i dont care for alnico 2 in bridge positions usually (too compressed-mushy on wound strings-dark overall).

all said, you are going to have to experiment to find the right match to your guitar and yes its going to take some money and trial and error and patience :roll:

there is no better pu than jeff at highorder especially for the money,but you will have to wait (get on the waiting list) and pay in advance,worth the wait though imo 8) :wink:

56goldtop
Senior Member
Posts: 252
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2005 12:46 pm
Location: Sweden

Post by 56goldtop » Sun Aug 10, 2008 6:41 am

+1 for Jeff at High Order!

He wound a set of 7,4K neck and 8,1K bridge, unpotted PE wire pickups for me with alnico 2 magnets. They're the best, and cheapest pickups I've ever played, they really capture that "swirly" or "phasery" sound from the wood.

The waiting was well worth it IMO.

guns4hire34
Senior Member
Posts: 83
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:09 am
Location: Flint, MI

Pickups for my SG

Post by guns4hire34 » Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:22 am

Flames,
O.K. I did it! I bought the Manluis Fat Dianes!! I hope this is the answer. I dropped Mick an E-mail and he explained the technical aspect of it. I have never heard of Manluis pickups before so I am very intrigued. I looked them up on Harmony Central and the Fat Dianes had good reviews. Has anyone ever tried the Bareknuckles Riff Raff???? They are awfully $$$$.

User avatar
JimiJames
Senior Member
Posts: 3550
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:32 pm
Just the numbers in order: 13492
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Post by JimiJames » Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:02 pm

keep us posted... :wink:
(me likey T-Tops for SG's)
RIP Mark Abrahamian-rockstah -classmate/roommate
RIP Ben Wise -StuntDouble- comrade-in-arms

__________________________________________
Build'sClip'sVid's

User avatar
Flames1950
Senior Member
Posts: 9294
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 1:04 am
Location: Waukee, Iowa

Re: Pickups for my SG

Post by Flames1950 » Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:55 pm

guns4hire34 wrote:Flames,
O.K. I did it! I bought the Manluis Fat Dianes!! I hope this is the answer. I dropped Mick an E-mail and he explained the technical aspect of it. I have never heard of Manluis pickups before so I am very intrigued. I looked them up on Harmony Central and the Fat Dianes had good reviews. Has anyone ever tried the Bareknuckles Riff Raff???? They are awfully $$$$.
I had never heard of him either when I bought that first set. But I get a kick out of trying stuff no one's heard of before. That's how I found the Smits stuff too, on eBay and no one but St. August had any idea who he was.

But it is a little peace of mind with both Manlius and Smits to get the thirty day guarantee, so if they don't work out you can swap them for something else that they offer. :D
Image

Roe
Senior Member
Posts: 5056
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:36 pm
Just the numbers in order: 7
Location: Drontheim. Norwegen
Contact:

Post by Roe » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:14 am

angus's old strat has t tops. his 64 sg has pat # pups. both should be degaussed a5 magnets and low output (7.2k-8k). highorder made me a pair of t top clones for my SG that I am ver happy with
http://www.myspace.com/20bonesband" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.myspace.com/prostitutes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Super 100 amps: 1202-119 & 1202-84
JTM45 RS OT JTM50 JMP50 1959/2203/34/39

User avatar
908ssp
Senior Member
Posts: 2954
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 12:56 pm
Just the numbers in order: 7
Location: Michigan
Contact:

Post by 908ssp » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:02 am

Do you have some old Duncans or DiMarzios laying around? Try the Hybrids they sound amazing.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/show ... hp?t=22538

Post Reply