Which pickups for my SG?

[Hardrockerdave94]

Hi, I'm lookg at getting an SG, I'm not sure which yet, probably the special but I'm considering saving up more for the Standard. Anyway, which pickups are closest to the original PAFs in early SGs? Cos I really love that old SG tone.

[dem00n]

Id go for 57 classics, im pretty sure you wont have to change the pups btw.

[Lungimsam]

I don't know for sure what was used on the originals. But my '61 reissue SG has the '57 pups in it.

 

I think they have more of a "barking" tone to them when you play chords. More separation and clarity of the notes in the chord even when distorted. A nice growl and punchy attack when you hit the chord. At least that is what I hear from them.

 

For leads, they are just as awesome as the ones in the standard SG's. So in my opinion, the '57's are superior.

 

I like their sound better than the regular pups on the standards I have had.

 

If I were you, I would save up a few hundred more and just get the '61 reissue. In my opinion, that's the ultimate SG. Flatter slim-taper neck; cutaway horns are more tapered with smaller points; bevelling is deeper on the cutaways; better craftsmanship and sound; smaller neck joint, wider headstock, etc. I mean if you are into those sort of features.

 

The SG standards are going to have the opposite of everything I stated in the last paragraph. Based on my SG's that I have had in the past.

 

Here are a couple pics of the smaller horns. The deeper bevelling of the lower cutaway, as you see, comes all the way down to the pickguard:

 

 

 

 

Here is one just for fun:

[sellen]

those pearly gates have a great vintage sound , and i hear Bare knuckle pickups have some great vintage stuff to. btw that's a great 61 lungimsam. That maestro sure looks nice on the sg body.

[pete c]

57 classic + at the bridge, haven't found a sound yet i cant do with it.

[Lungimsam]

those pearly gates have a great vintage sound , and i hear Bare knuckle pickups have some great vintage stuff to. btw that's a great 61 lungimsam. That maestro sure looks nice on the sg body.

 

Thanks, that was one main reason I got the '61, because the lyre vibrola was a factory option back in '01 when I got it. Looks very cool. I don't know why they don't offer it anymore on the reissue. I think alot of people would want it. If I ran Gibson, I would include all the cool stuff on the models.

[sellen]

Thanks, that was one main reason I got the '61, because the lyre vibrola was a factory option back in '01 when I got it. Looks very cool. I don't know why they don't offer it anymore on the reissue. I think alot of people would want it. If I ran Gibson, I would include all the cool stuff on the models.

They don't have it on the Gibson USA model so if you want it you have to break the bank on a Gibson custom. Its business , and i can understand it

[tartanbeastie]

I have an SG special and i love the sound from it. I havent changed anything other than strings. I would try them with stock pick ups and take it from there.. you may surprise yourself as to how good they sound, and the amp your using will make a difference too

[AlanH]

I have an SG special and i love the sound from it. I havent changed anything other than strings. I would try them with stock pick ups and take it from there.. you may surprise yourself as to how good they sound, and the amp your using will make a difference too

 

I agree entirely.

 

490R/490T pickups are marketed as PAFs with a modern take. They have even windings and wax potting (so do the '57 Classics) but have the added advantage of 4 wires for coil splitting (although I'm not so sure about 4-wire on the stockers.) There's plenty of mid range grunt and a nice bite to be had with this set. Many people like the 498T that comes with the SG Standard but it's just hotter because of the alnico V magnet. You don't necessarily need 498T to do high gain stuff because the 490T handles high gain amp settings with ease.

 

I'm sure a special would suit your requirements better.

[SG FAN]

If I were you, I would save up a few hundred more and just get the '61 reissue. In my opinion, that's the ultimate SG. Flatter slim-taper neck; cutaway horns are more tapered with smaller points; bevelling is deeper on the cutaways; better craftsmanship and sound; smaller neck joint, wider headstock, etc.

I'll admit that the bevels and horn tapers are Slightly better on the 61 RI. When I was in the market for my SG, I demoed the 61 vs the Standard (which I bought by the way) and while they are different, I couldn't find anything that makes the Standard inferior to the 61. The quality of the nitro, inlay, binding, woodwork was totally the same. The Standard I bought, In fact, had much better grain than the 61 and a one piece body. The pickups are different but that's just a preference. I understand that you like your 61 and are proud of it, but don't down on someone elses guitar just because you don't happen to prefer it.

[Bender 4 Life]

the amp your using will make a difference too

 

an extremely true, and all too often overlooked point........

 

My Standard has all the "appointments" a lot of people don't like.....490/498 p'ups, PCB circuitboard, and 300K V-pots.

amped right, and actually USING the tone controls (an also too often overlooked idea) it has balls the size of a hippity hop !!

[StijnV]

Why not try a Burstbucker? 1, or 2 or 3

[Ronnie Robinson]

My take on this, is that if u can afford the Standard then buy it or pick one up second hand. It is better made than the special.

 

Which ever u decide dont rush into changing the pickups! Try the guitar at different Amp and Guitar setting, if your not happy u may consider tweaking the pickup height and the sound will of course be different at gig volumes as opposed to home volumes.

 

That said, I would choose the 57 classic and 57 classic plus over the 498 and 490 pickups in the standard. The classic 57 are much more vintage sounding with the 498t being overly midd sounding.

[oasis1242]

57's