EvoRider Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I am having a serious problem in finding my own sound. it seem i am never happy with the sound of my pickups. My rig consist of a 2006 Gibson SG Standard loaded with 57 Classic and classic +. Marshall JCM 2000 DSl 50 into a 1960AV. i also use a Marshall class 5 too. i mean everything sounds great but i just cant decide on a pickup.. I have tried Angus Young sig, 490's, Dirty finger, all sound good but i would like to find something that does classic rock, Metal and Grunge well but i would like to stay with Gibson pups... Any ideas?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 To my taste and experience, all the Gibson humbucking guitar pickups rock. Did you try several pick and string makes and materials? There are so many things which affect the tone. Experimenting with picks is the fastest and - in most cases at least - cheapest part to start when evaluating the range of tonal options. Then comes trying different strings using these picks, causing more costs and work for intonation adjustment. It takes some patience since all the strings have a break-in period, so you won't get instant results as with varying pics, and you can't perform true A/B comparisons. Finally, desires and requirements may be different for playing for oneself or with a band. In many cases variations of amp control settings will do, but there can be strings, picks, and pickups which make it easier than others to cut through without being too loud or even obtrusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I am having a serious problem in finding my own sound. it seem i am never happy with the sound of my pickups. My rig consist of a 2006 Gibson SG Standard loaded with 57 Classic and classic +. Marshall JCM 2000 DSl 50 into a 1960AV. i also use a Marshall class 5 too. i mean everything sounds great but i just cant decide on a pickup.. I have tried Angus Young sig, 490's, Dirty finger, all sound good but i would like to find something that does classic rock, Metal and Grunge well but i would like to stay with Gibson pups... Any ideas?? Well, you've already got what I would have recommended! '57 Classic/Classic Plus! So...??? I have them in several of my Gibson's (all of my SG's), and 2 of my Les Paul's! Took the ceramic's out of my LP Classic, and replaced them, with '57 (neck) 57+ in the bridge! Couldn't be happier! Might try some "Burstbucker's? Or, even the "Hot" Ceramic's? But, for me, '57's are the bomb! But, that's just me! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon S. Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 '57 Classics are a personal favorite for SG's, but for heavier music the 496R/500T combo are a good choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTV Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I would suggest you try the Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck. A true classic. A friend of mine was having a similar issue with his LPJ. He put a Jeff Beck in and bingo, it was like instant! The tone he was waiting for all along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgplayers Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 All great replies. My 2011 S-G standard has the 61 speed neck advertised as the fastess neck in the world. it is thin and feels nice, also came with burst bucker 1 and 3 combo with split coil. and even though I don't really use the push pull function It is becoming my favorite. raising and lowering the pups can change the tone as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg50 Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 It sounds like you're not looking for a tone, but many tones. I've found that most pickups have a sweet spot -- many have a range -- but one set of pickups typically doesn't do the kind of range you want. If a second guitar is out of the question, you might try adding a pedal to get the range you want. A Big Muff fuzz pedal, for example, will definitely put you into grunge territory. I would also look into another guitar with single coils to really extend your range. In addition to my SG with 57 classics, I have an Epi Casino with p90s, and it extends my tone choices significantly. In fact, I'd say the Epi has more range than the SG, but it's not as much fun \m/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvoRider Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 It sounds like you're not looking for a tone, but many tones. I've found that most pickups have a sweet spot -- many have a range -- but one set of pickups typically doesn't do the kind of range you want. If a second guitar is out of the question, you might try adding a pedal to get the range you want. A Big Muff fuzz pedal, for example, will definitely put you into grunge territory. I would also look into another guitar with single coils to really extend your range. In addition to my SG with 57 classics, I have an Epi Casino with p90s, and it extends my tone choices significantly. In fact, I'd say the Epi has more range than the SG, but it's not as much fun \m/ I have a guitar i like for metal it is a Ibanez RG 370. But it has a Edge III Trem that wont stay in tune with the least amount of dive it goes out of tune. i like the sound of the pickups in it and the feel of the guitar.. just dont care for the trem on it. so i plan on trading it for a old Peavey amp i once had that i wished i had never traded away. That will leave me with my SG. I mean the pickups in it sound great i would just like a little more output in them for metal.. I also changed out the pots and the wiring in the SG which helped alot. I guess i am looking for a 57+ with a little more output. Is there anything out there like that in Gibson pups. I only use Gibson Pups.. also my string choice is Ernie Ball Regular Slinky .10-.46. I have never even though about trying different strings.. Any ideas? would like to stay with ernie ball tho.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I would suggest you try the Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck. A true classic. yes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvoRider Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 yes! I would like to stay with Gibson Pickups... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 The thing is, WE can't hear what YOU hear! So you're the only one that can determine which pickups (Gibson, or otherwise) will actually get you "your" sound. Advice, while freely given, and solicited, is only that! For decades, we didn't even have a choice, as to "which pickups" worked best! They were the one's in the guitar, from the factory. Then in the late '60's early 70's things started to change, and the "tone chase" began! Yet most of the early tones (Save "Metal"), a lot of which are still coveted, were just stock pickups, into overdriven Tube amps! Fender's first, then Vox, then Marshall, then...well, the sky's the limit! So, you'll know what you like, when you find it. THEN, you'll get tired of that, and search for another! It (really) never ends. Or, maybe, it should never have really started? I don't know? But, good luck on your quest! We've all been there, done that! Some, still are! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10K-DB Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 I like old PAF's,,and SD HB's,,have them in my kramers, wouldnt trade them for the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old mark Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 I might be a despised minority, but I really like the Gibson 490's. I find you can get a lot of variation out of them just by adjusting the pickup hight and even a bit more by adjusting the pole pieces...I just bought a 1970 SG Standard that has a lot of repair and mods, including both pickups replaced by aftermarket humbuckers...I am buying a set of used 10 year old 490's to install in it. Set up the pickups the way they sound good to you, and work with your V & T knobs and maybe strings and pick changes or even where and how you pick to affect your sounds...you might just surprise yourself. mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvoRider Posted August 2, 2014 Author Share Posted August 2, 2014 I guess i am having a hard time settling on just one.. so far i am likeing my 57 + in the bridge but just cant help what a different one might sound like.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karloff Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I might be a despised minority, but I really like the Gibson 490's. I find you can get a lot of variation out of them just by adjusting the pickup hight and even a bit more by adjusting the pole pieces...I just bought a 1970 SG Standard that has a lot of repair and mods, including both pickups replaced by aftermarket humbuckers...I am buying a set of used 10 year old 490's to install in it. Set up the pickups the way they sound good to you, and work with your V & T knobs and maybe strings and pick changes or even where and how you pick to affect your sounds...you might just surprise yourself. mark I love the sound of the 490's in my SG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn6490 Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 The guitar is only half of the insturment. The amp is the other half. Maybe the sound you are after is in a different amp.... I play My guitars through a Fender Deluxe Reverb. Through the Deluxe I can find the sound I'm looking for. I bought a Fender Blues Jr. a few months ago and I am still looking for the sound I want. I'm now looking into Blackstar amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazarusvt84 Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I love the sound of the 490's in my SG ...Ditto...and they sound equally great in an ES-137 (for jazz). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I like the 57-57+ also. But for what your looking for the 500T might be the way to go. They sound great through a Marshall pushed hard. I would say think Alnico V and not II for what you desire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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