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View Full Version : SG Classic Upgrades! :)

traynor_garnet
06-04-2010, 09:58 PM
A Canadian store actually had some SG Classics. I've long wanted one, but don't like buying guitars unplayed (why does GC usually only have these?). Anyway, I played two yesterday and came home with one!

Is it just me, or are these P90s really hot? I like them, but they don't clean up as much as I would like. I am thinking it is either the pots or the pickups . . .

Are there any popular mods on these? Pickups, pots, caps etc? I really like the guitar in stock form and will play it much more before moding. However, I already see one area for improvement.

TG
TheLemon
06-04-2010, 10:32 PM
If I were to upgrade one I'd add a blank black truss rod cover, Sheptone P-90s, and make sure the pots are 500k before switching them out. Add some 11's too.
bubbacaster
06-04-2010, 10:57 PM
The SG Classic I have cleans up pretty well just by rolling off some volume on the guitar. But the P90s can drive an amp about as hard as humbuckers, while maintaining better note articulation. These are great guitars, quite versatile, and I loved the way it sounded and played right off the rack. I've long wished I could find a LP Special that sounded as good. It's easy to understand why Pete Townshend favored these guitars during the late 60s.
traynor_garnet
06-05-2010, 08:21 AM
Should I go to 500k pots or stick with the stock 300? I am wonering if an RS Guitarworks kit will make an improvement (it has in other guitars)/

TG
justonwo
06-05-2010, 08:31 AM
I put the 500k RS Super Pots in my Classic. Not only is there a big improvement in the quality of the taper, but the output is stronger with more trebele content. I'd rather have more and be able to roll it back than have the pot bleed it
to ground.

I've found the stock Gibson P90s to clean up just fine, but you should expect them to behave like humbuckers in terms of output level. So choose your input (perhaps low gain) and amp settings accordingly.
declan
06-05-2010, 08:46 AM
So choose your input (perhaps low gain) and amp settings accordingly.

+1,

A decent set of caps and possibly 50s wiring will help retain the clarity when rolling back the volume control.

Dont expect any one part of the tonal chain to do everything for you. My preferred rig is LEs Paul + Trainwreck clone, but not everyone likes to use their guitar volume control to bring them from clean to mean and not every amp suits this approach either

Declan
Tadams
06-05-2010, 10:49 AM
I put some CTS 500k pots from Mojotone and really made an improvement.
Also installed an Allparts ABR-1 on it.
musicofanatic5
06-05-2010, 11:36 AM
I realize it is not viewed here as very sexy, but I upgrade from the bottom up--cheapest parts first. Put in some good pots and see if you notice any difference. Buy a copy of Live at Leeds and dig how Townsend works the vol control. Oh, and the "blank truss rod cover" will really fatten up your lows and bring out your top end (or somthin like that...).
marantz1300
06-06-2010, 02:49 AM
I wish I still had my SG Classic.I liked the stock P90's.I changed the truss rod cover and machine heads on mine to make it look more "classic". http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii98/marantz1300/100_0527.jpg
Metalrulez
06-06-2010, 03:32 AM
P-90's are not nice and pretty pickups!! They are down and dirty in a solid body guitar. Hell I thought the oddball single coil in my Melody Maker would be gone in a week and I find it has more character then most pickups out there single or double coil.
traynor_garnet
06-06-2010, 10:09 AM
I think I will look into new pots, or maybe an entire RS kit. I would like a bit more treble and clarity when roling back the volume.

TG
traynor_garnet
06-06-2010, 10:10 AM
Where did you get the tuners? Did you have to drill new holes? I assume you bought the truss rod cover in the same place . . . ?

TG


I wish I still had my SG Classic.I liked the stock P90's.I changed the truss rod cover and machine heads on mine to make it look more "classic". http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii98/marantz1300/100_0527.jpg
marantz1300
06-06-2010, 12:02 PM
The tuners are Klusons.I bought them at a local dealers.No drilling was needed.The truss rod cover was from E bay.
traynor_garnet
06-07-2010, 08:08 AM
The tuners are Klusons.I bought them at a local dealers.No drilling was needed.The truss rod cover was from E bay.


Thanks. Were the Klusons a specific model or is there only one type?

TG
nsriley
06-07-2010, 08:20 AM
I put a full RS SG vintage kit in mine, along with adjusting my pup heights and putting a light tail on I had lying around with a top wrap (my tail was jacked high). really opened up the sound of the guitar and gave me better volume control through the taper.
traynor_garnet
06-07-2010, 08:23 AM
I put a full RS SG vintage kit in mine, along with adjusting my pup heights and putting a light tail on I had lying around with a top wrap (my tail was jacked high). really opened up the sound of the guitar and gave me better volume control through the taper.

Cool. Did you hear any difference with the tail piece or was it mostly the RS kit that made the difference?

TG
nsriley
06-07-2010, 08:27 AM
Cool. Did you hear any difference with the tail piece or was it mostly the RS kit that made the difference?

TG

Mostly the RS kit I think. But sometimes I think when I make a change I get a placebo effect on things.....I think it sounds better, when in fact it really probably sounds just about the same! I don't have golden ears, but I did notice a bit better volume taper for sure. If I didn't have the tail i wouldn't have ordered one for it, I figured it couldn't hurt to try it. I did like the top wrap though.
Mikey Likes It
06-07-2010, 08:30 AM
You need a good unbleached bone nut, too. That will make a difference in tone, sustain and tuning stability.
mainsale
06-07-2010, 08:50 AM
I sold my Classic and upgraded to this GOTW.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/Mainsale/guitars2550001.jpg
JimmyB
06-07-2010, 09:19 AM
I sold my Classic and upgraded to this GOTW.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/Mainsale/guitars2550001.jpg
I still have my Classic since almost none of those GOTWs made it this side of the border in '07! :cry: Ahhhh... week #37... I remember it well! :rotflmao

By the way, what's the neck profile on this GOTW?
dspellman
06-07-2010, 10:00 AM
P-90's are not nice and pretty pickups!! They are down and dirty in a solid body guitar. Hell I thought the oddball single coil in my Melody Maker would be gone in a week and I find it has more character then most pickups out there single or double coil.

P90's are just fine as nice and pretty pickups -- they were the ONLY pickups on the big jazz boxes for a very long time. As mentioned, however, you don't simply dime them and expect them to stay clean. You do have to learn to roll off the volume to clean them up.
dspellman
06-07-2010, 10:05 AM
You need a good unbleached bone nut, too. That will make a difference in tone, sustain and tuning stability.

I've never found that to be true. I realize there are bone nut devotees, but having worked with the various plastic, teflon, brass, brass/bone, mammoth and tusq nuts out there, it seems to me that the cut of the nut, rather than the material, has far more to do with tone, sustain and tuning stability...