badsun79 Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 hey everybody im new here i need a bit of direction i traded a esp ltd for this sweet sg gibson not epiphone i think the sound is a bit thin im wondering if there is a better neck p/u for this guitar or do i leave well enough alone and be happy i traded a esp for a gibson thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Well, if you're not happy with the sound then I say start upgrading. If it were my guitar, I'd start with just the pots & caps, or do everything at once - pickups, pots & caps. Replacing just the pots & caps can have a drastic change on tone and may be all you need. If it's a Gibson USA SG, then you have 500K tone pots, 300K volumes pots, and sh*tty ceramic caps. Upgrading all the pots to 500K and putting in paper in oil caps may do the trick. Do some searches on the internet to see what's out there and also check out RS Guitarworks. Everybody who replaces their electronics seems to go with RS, for some reason. As for the pickups, if you're looking for a PAF type sound, I would suggest you look into hand wound pickups. There are a few highly praised winders that will make you some kick a$$ pickups for just a little bit more money than a Gibson pickup would cost you. Skatterbrane, WB, Wolfetone, Peter Florance Voodoo, etc. I did everything at once in my LP Custom and went with Wolfetone Marshallheads, RS caps & pots, and let me tell you, I couldn't be happier with the guitar now. RS pots are cheap. The caps can go up to $40/pair. Pickups can get expensive but not all of them. For example, the Marshallheads cost me around $40 more than a pair of Gibson '57 Classics would have cost me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmiJAMM Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 I'll never understand why so many guys buy a substandard instrument and then try to figure out how to make it better. You can buy a Hondai and modify 'till the cows come home but it'll never be a Porsche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 ^ it's more like buying a 911 and upgrading the intake & exhaust. How is a Les Paul Custom substandard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmiJAMM Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 ^ it's more like buying a 911 and upgrading the intake & exhaust.How is a Les Paul Custom substandard? You're right. Poor choice of words but you get the idea. So many people round here buy these Epi's and wanna make 'em sound awesome. To those I say good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbomb76 Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 I'll never understand why so many guys buy a substandard instrument and then try to figure out how to make it better. You can buy a Hondai and modify 'till the cows come home but it'll never be a Porsche. No' date=' but a HYUNDAI does have a 100,000 mile warranty, and you'd be amazed at how much less time they spend in the shop than the neighbor's Carrera. A Porshe, after all, is a weekend-car, not a practical mode of daily transportation. :) (I'm not a Hyundai fan though, don't get me wrong. I hate 'em in fact...lol) So many people round here buy these Epi's and wanna make 'em sound awesome. To those I say good luck. This coming from a cat with an Epi Zakk Wylde? Seriously though, I'm one lucky essobee I guess, because a little pickup upgrade was all my Epi's needed to sound just fine. Not mindblowing, but then again the ONLY guitar I've ever been really blown away by was an original '63 SG/LP Junior, and nothing else has come close to really knocking my socks off like that baby did. And since no amount of vanity in the world is going to make me take my favorite Custom Shop SG Standard to some $hitty club to get all funkified with jerks blowing cigarette smoke all over her, I will proudly carry my modded Epiphones to take the beating, which they do admirably and still shine up well at the end of the night. Don't expect any upgrade to make an Epiphone a Gibson, but nowadays I haven't met many Epi's that WANT to be a Gibson. :P It's apples and oranges...no, that's not fair...it's more like Granny Smith apples and Red Delicious apples. Both give you what you want or need, but in different ways. And you all have to admit, at least Epi's are miles above Squier Affinity crap, right? H-Bomb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmiJAMM Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Well said, H, but as I've posted, I'm currently trying to unload that LP on CL. Epiphone makes some excellent guitars but unfortunately this particular model doesn't suit my style of playing. I have my heart set on a 100% all-original 1967 Standard. My personal Holy Grail. Oh, it's out there and i WILL own it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badsun79 Posted April 26, 2009 Author Share Posted April 26, 2009 thanks for the help to neogeoriffic i did'nt get a piece of **** hondo sg copy i got a great GIBSON guitar just trying to get a lil more *** out of it no meed for the harsh im just here for some help thats it but thank you all very much hope for more answers AIR NINE AND hbomb76 THANKS FOR THE BACK UP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmiJAMM Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 thanks for the help to neogeoriffic i did'nt get a piece of **** hondo sg copy i got a great GIBSON guitar just trying to get a lil more *** out of it no meed for the harsh im just here for some help thats it but thank you all very much hope for more answers AIR NINE AND hbomb76 THANKS FOR THE BACK UP No offense. You've got a great guitar and I wish you all the best in making it even better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badsun79 Posted April 26, 2009 Author Share Posted April 26, 2009 none taken you got some sweet guitars i'd give my leg for the 78 sg it's all good i've had bad experience with forums there seems to be 1 a-hole there that has to be that guy thought you were him im a lil bitter sorry but well you know i do agree that u can't mak a pinto a lambo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 And since no amount of vanity in the world is going to make me take my favorite Custom Shop SG Standard to some $hitty club to get all funkified with jerks blowing cigarette smoke all over her' date=' I will proudly carry my modded Epiphones to take the beating, which they do admirably and still shine up well at the end of the night. [/quote'] Never understood this thinking..... Why even own an instrument you're not going to use in the real world? It's a tool....it's not the Mona Lisa. If the Epiphones "take the beating....and still shine up well" why won't the Custom Shop SG Standard do the same? What good is owning a tool that must be treated with kid gloves? I'm sure the Gibson is a fine guitar, but in the end it is just a guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 ^ makes perfect sense to me. Theft should also be a concern to any gigging guitarist. Someone steals your $3,000 Gibson SG and the world suddenly stops turning. Someone steals your $500 Epi SG and you go out and buy another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Theft is not a problem for anyone exercising their wits.........taking care of business. I gigged for 25 years and never once had a single thing stolen. It's called paying attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGman94 Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 at least Epi's are miles above Squier Affinity crap' date=' right? H-Bomb[/quote'] u better ****ing believe it buddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corrosion of conformity Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I'll never understand why so many guys buy a substandard instrument and then try to figure out how to make it better. You can buy a Hondai and modify 'till the cows come home but it'll never be a Porsche. I agree with you, but some people just like modding guitars, it can be fun sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg420blues Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 hey everybody im new here i need a bit of direction i traded a esp ltd for this sweet sg gibson not epiphone i think the sound is a bit thin im wondering if there is a better neck p/u for this guitar or do i leave well enough alone and be happy i traded a esp for a gibson thanks Something to consider ... the bridge pickup in my brother's SG ended up doing something REALLY wacky and lost a lot of output. You could hear a distinct volume difference when you went from the neck to the bridge. Could it be you have a bad pickup in it?? Anywho, think about the type of music you're playing, then go for the right pickup. Anybody in here can help you figure out the type that'll best suit you. We need to know the kind of tone you're going for, though ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badsun79 Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 i play rhythm in a modern rock band ala godsmack nickleback ect my tunings are e drop d and c thanks for the help i also beat the snot out of em so i need something that can take a beating if it aint scratched up you aint playin it!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmiJAMM Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 if it aint scratched up you aint playin it!!!!!! Word the F up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badsun79 Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 ok another question my sg is a 2000 and the color is weird it's like a purpley wine color any ideas? help for the newbe again thanks again guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGman94 Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Epiphone makes some excellent guitars but unfortunately this particular model doesn't suit my style of playing. umm im guessing u dont play metal then...i mean what would use for it 4 besides that...its an ZW les paul with EMGs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinFish Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 i play rhythm in a modern rock band ala godsmack nickleback ect my tunings are e drop d and c thanks for the help i also beat the snot out of em so i need something that can take a beating if it aint scratched up you aint playin it!!!!!! Something a bit hotter: 498T which uses an Alnico V magnet Something a lot hotter: 500T Which uses a Ceramic magnet or a Dirty Fingers which also uses a Ceramic magnet. Here is a comparison chart of Gibson Pickups: http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Divisions/Gibson%20Gear/Pickups/How%20They%5Fre%20Made%20%281%29/ Seymour Duncan is also a popular brand of pickup that most people are familiar with. One of their more versatile pickups it the JB model(SH-4) I also like the Duncan Custom(SH-5). They really make a pickup for everyone though. Here is a SD comparison chart: http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones They also have audio samples of their pickups: http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/audio-samples/humbuckers_and/ Dimarzio is another popular pickup manufacturer' date=' though I don't have any personal experience with any to recommend them. http://www.dimarzio.com/site/#/pickups/ A lot of guys prefer hand wound pickups like Are Nine mentioned, I do not have any experience with those either. ok another question my sg is a 2000 and the color is weird it's like a purpley wine color any ideas? help for the newbe again thanks again guys My guess would be that it is a Wine Red SG Special (a color they discontinued recently) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geff Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Replying to a mix of points here. On pups, dont forget the cheaper possibility of a GFS pup that might suit (and so much cheaper you can afford to experiment) On the car front its more like comparing a Corvette to a Ferrari - Just as fast but less than half the price because it doesnt have the name and it uses cheaper materials! On the Epi ZW LP - unless I am mistaken the trouble with that EPI model is it DOES NOT have the ZW EMG 81/85 set but uses a cheaper set of pups and cannot therefore really call itself a ZW and hold its head up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geff Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 I like that wine red, why did they discontinue it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinFish Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 I like that wine red' date=' why did they discontinue it?[/quote'] Why does Gibson do anything they do? Why is there an Eye guitar??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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