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Pimp my SG

Discussion in 'Guitars in General' started by mikebriggs, Jul 6, 2005.

  1. Jul 6, 2005 #1
    mikebriggs

    mikebriggs Member

    Messages:
    36
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2004
    Location:
    Canada
    So I've got a 2002 Gibson SG Standard. It's a sweet one too compared to ALOT of sg's i've seen lately. I don't feel so bad for paying top dollar for it right before Gibson dropped the price by 500 bucks and started producing firewood.

    It's pretty much stock. Bone nut and graphite saddles just to keep things smooth, but otherwise, all original top-notch gibson parts (hehe).

    I HATE the neck pickup. It sounds like ass, and that's all there is to it. Plus, it wobbles around and rattles in the body. It's too muddy to even use.

    I would like to entertain options to replace both pickups, but am not exactly sure where to start looking. The bridge pickup is somewhat lacking in the thumpy and clear department. It's also nearly impossible to coax feedback out of it.

    I like a crisp, but thumpy overdrive sound. Clear and wet sounding I suppose. I don't really know how to describe it. It needs to be thick and very responsive. I play through a Soldano Astroverb through a Verven 412 cab with Swamp Thangs.

    I'm also looking at replacing the stock pots and caps and such. Basically tossing the electronics and getting new ones.

    Also, is there someone who makes tuners that LOOK like the kluson ones that come stock on the SG standard but actually hold the thing in tune properly?
     
    mikebriggs, Jul 6, 2005
    mikebriggs, Jul 6, 2005
    #1
  2. Jul 6, 2005 #2
    Shemp

    Shemp Member

    Messages:
    981
    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2002
    Location:
    Mendon, MA
    I like PAF style pups, and there's a bunch to choose from. Antiquities are reliable and reasonable used on E-Bay and seem to ranked in everybodies top 10 PAF list. If you're looking to go higher end, I love the WCR Crossroads I just installed in a LP. Voodoos, Fralins, etc etc... they're all good. It depends on what floats your boat.

    CTS audio taper pots and decent caps do make a difference as well.

    I'd throw a Bigsby on it if it was me.
     
    Shemp, Jul 6, 2005
    Shemp, Jul 6, 2005
    #2
  3. Jul 6, 2005 #3
    drummondrs

    drummondrs Member

    Messages:
    230
    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2005
    Bigsbys rock on SG's.

    Basically change the pickups. Everyone here loves WCR, I am just about to get a Darkburst neck pickup to compliment my Seymour Duncan hybrid.

    And an electronics upgrade from RS Guitarworks would also be pretty cool.
     
    drummondrs, Jul 6, 2005
    drummondrs, Jul 6, 2005
    #3
  4. Jul 6, 2005 #4
    Antero

    Antero Member

    Messages:
    1,448
    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2005
    How about P90 types?

    For the neck, that would definitely get rid of the mud.
     
    Antero, Jul 6, 2005
    Antero, Jul 6, 2005
    #4
  5. Jul 6, 2005 #5
    mikebriggs

    mikebriggs Member

    Messages:
    36
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2004
    Location:
    Canada
    What's the word on Rio Grande pickups?
     
    mikebriggs, Jul 6, 2005
    mikebriggs, Jul 6, 2005
    #5
  6. Jul 6, 2005 #6
    Mike Dresch

    Mike Dresch Silver Supporting Member

    Messages:
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    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2003
    Location:
    Sioux Falls, SD
    Mike Dresch, Jul 6, 2005
    Mike Dresch, Jul 6, 2005
    #6
  7. Jul 6, 2005 #7
    kwaves99

    kwaves99 Member

    Messages:
    1,889
    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2003
    Location:
    NJ
    I had a stock 72 Gibson SG back in the early 1980's. So of course, the G string never stayed in tune and it had a POS vibrato with a metal tailpiece that said the Gibson on it.

    So in an effort to make it sound better i put 2 EMG pickups in it, a set of Grover tuners, a brass nut and bridge and a stopgap tailpiece. being stupid i din't keep the original parts and when i went to sell the guitar in 1999 i only got 500 bucks for it becuase I didn't have the original parts.:(

    lesson learned save ALL of your original parts even if you swap them out for better ones...or you won't get jackshit in the resale.
     
    kwaves99, Jul 6, 2005
    kwaves99, Jul 6, 2005
    #7
  8. Jul 7, 2005 #8
    Antero

    Antero Member

    Messages:
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    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2005
    Antero, Jul 7, 2005
    Antero, Jul 7, 2005
    #8
  9. Jul 7, 2005 #9
    loudboy

    loudboy Member

    Messages:
    27,399
    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2003
    Location:
    Sedona, AZ
    Dude needs it to stay in tune. Virtually impossible with a Bigsby.

    I have a '73 SG, w/a factory installed Bigsby. Between that and the skinny neck, it was impossible to keep in tune.

    You couldn't tune it sitting down if you intended to play it standing up, because the thing would go out due to the different weight distribution.

    I eventually took it off, altho I'm going to restore it to its' original glory, soon.

    Loudboy
     
    loudboy, Jul 7, 2005
    loudboy, Jul 7, 2005
    #9
  10. Jul 8, 2005 #10
    alderbody

    alderbody Member

    Messages:
    682
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2004
    Location:
    overseas
    +1 for the WCR Crossroads (or other WCRs) and the RS Upgrade Kit.

    you'll never look back!
     
    alderbody, Jul 8, 2005
    alderbody, Jul 8, 2005
    #10
  11. Jul 8, 2005 #11
    jordanL

    jordanL Member

    Messages:
    1,484
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2003
    Location:
    UES - New York, NY
    I've had good experiences with the Rio pickups-I have a Texas bucker in the neck of a tele, IMHO They fall into the PAF+ range.

    As an alternative to the RS electronic kits check out Acme Guitar Works
     
    jordanL, Jul 8, 2005
    jordanL, Jul 8, 2005
    #11

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