What are good pickups for the SG I built?

[Skyler]

I just finished the staining and finishing of an SG I built and am now at hardware stage of the guitar. What kind of pickups should I buy for it? I have positions for a neck and bridge pickups. I was looking at Alnico 2 pickups and p90's. I'm looking for a good country sound.

[charlie brown]

Welcome, to the forum, Skyler.

 

Usuable pickups, for your SG are many! For more of a "Country" twang,

I'd recommend P-90's (fat, twangy, and they can "Growl" too!), or some

TV Jones Filter Trons. Nothing will sould like a Fender Telecaster, except

the Telecaster, or cloan...but, P-90's, and Filter Trons, can give a good

"Twang," that traditional Humbuckers don't always have. But, of course,

a lot of that "Country" sound, is technique, and amp settings, as well.

Hank Williams Jr. used/uses an SG with Humbuckers, so it can be done!

If you going to use "Humbuckers," I recommend lower powered ones, like

Gibson Classic '57's, or similar. "Hot" humbuckers aren't usually as

desirable, for that sound, as the cleaner toned, lower powered, versions.

 

But, it's really up to you, as to what type of "Country" tone, you're

after. A lot of the "new country" is as raunchy/distorted, as any "Rock"

genre! So, pick your poison, so to speak.

 

Good Luck,

CB

[drzing]

Are you going to play it? If yes, what kind of music?

 

Come on! =]

[DiamondJig]

I just finished the staining and finishing of an SG I built and am now at hardware stage of the guitar. What kind of pickups should I buy for it? I have positions for a neck and bridge pickups. I was looking at Alnico 2 pickups and p90's. I'm looking for a good country sound.

 

For country I'd go with a pair of burstbucker 2's

[10K-DB]

3 PAF's front to back,,with a floyd rose,,maybe with a coil split switch

[Wilshire]

When all is said and done, the most important factor when it comes to pickup selection, that due to the physical characteristics of a guitar strings operation, the neck pickup should be 8K, (1/2 the windings of bridge pickup), and the bridge pickup should be 15K ohms to compensate for the difference in vibration amplitude at each pickups location.

i.e. - more vibration amplitude at neck position, less vibration amplitude at bridge position.