Strange Brew
Well-Known Member
Pots, caps and pickups « Previous Next »
Author Message
Losingstreak
SG Junior Member
Username: Losingstreak
Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 02:15 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi,
I've been playing my sg for about a year now, and after browsing a couple guitar forums i've become curious of modifications which could be made to my guitar. Is it recommended that the stock pots and caps be replaced? i have read that this is a common practice for owners of les pauls, but how about sgs?
Also, what would be good pickups for playing heavy music? I have considered a seymour duncan JB for the bridge but am unsure what would go well with this in the neck position.
thanks.
Keithsauls
Vintage SG Member
Username: Keithsauls
Post Number: 175
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 03:39 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yeah losingstreak,some guys do change out the pots and caps on thier sgs.somewhere on this board there is a very informative post on pots/caps and where to buy a replacement wiring kit for sgs.just do a search on this site for pots and you should find it.as far as pickups go, i am sure everyone will have a different opinion, but i put an iommi pup in my 74 and it screams! (in the bridge)i left the stock pup in the neck (for now)mainly because i dont use the bridge pup very often. volume wise they actually match up pretty well.
Lagger
Vintage SG Member
Username: Lagger
Post Number: 556
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 02:28 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
check my review of the RSguitarworks historic upgrade kit in the reviews section
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ultimate SG wiring Schematic
Cybergall
SG Standard Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 10
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 10:11 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most people change the pots in Gibsons because Gibson usually uses 300k linear taper pots which don't give you a great deal of range in the volume control and makes the guitar sound too dark. If you would like your guitar to "clean-up" a little more with the volume rolled down, then you probably want to swap out your pots for 500K audio taper.
In regards to pickup selections for the SG for heavy rock, I would go with a SD Custom in the bridge. I think the JB will sound harsh and will lack bottom. The Custom has more of a midrange snarl to it and is great for palm muting. In the neck, I would put either a Pearly Gates or a Duncan Distortion neck pup. The PG by third party recommendation. I do have first hand experience with the Custom/Distortion config in my own SG. They mix well together. Most hot neck pickups ruin the middle position by overpowering the bridge. A Custom Bridge with Distortion neck will not do that. Your guitar will scream in all three positions and you'll still be able to get definition rather than mud.
Sgmaniac
Vintage SG Member
Username: Sgmaniac
Post Number: 706
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 10:19 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test your Pot values with a multi-meter before you swap them out. My SG Standard already had 500K pots from the factory.
Essesseel
Vintage SG Member
Username: Essesseel
Post Number: 1106
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 02:00 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yup me got 500's as well on 73 spesh
Markos
SG Supreme Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 47
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 11:01 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting about the pot values. My new luthier commented on the dark tone of my SG, and suggested it was the pots. But if mine are like Ess' that wouldn't be the problem; it's the old, hot Dimarzios!
Note to Ess: the luthier found out that the body was routed out for full-size pups (I'd previously been told otherwise; I checked, and they ARE routed out), so my whole plan for putting in the minis is down the drain. Aaaargghhh!!!! ^%$*%))_*(&!!
Now I'm looking at a vintage setup, like '57 Classics. Anyone have any suggestions for low output vintage PAF style pups?
Sgmaniac
Vintage SG Member
Username: Sgmaniac
Post Number: 718
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 11:09 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
57's or Burstbuckers. I prefer the Burstbuckers, but the 57's are good as well. Anything with Alnico 2 magnets sounds good to me.
Markos
SG Supreme Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 49
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 12:41 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks. I was just reading up reviews on Harmony Central, and though people liked the Burstbucker 2's, the 1's were seen as dark sounding. Maybe just put two 2's in there? Laturrr.
Essesseel
Vintage SG Member
Username: Essesseel
Post Number: 1129
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 02:33 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
markos, this should make your pup search easier!
Spunky99
Vintage SG Member
Username: Spunky99
Post Number: 251
Registered: 04-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 02:47 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My LP R7 had Burstbuckers and they sounded great. They had beautiful harmonic complexities and range. I tore them out and installed 57' Classics because I want the guitar to squeal tone as a blues monster not a jass master. I only used the bridge pup anyway as they were a bit dark. I use bridge and bridge/neck now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SG Standard
Markos
SG Supreme Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 50
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 06:48 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey kids;
Yeah, it's a smorgasbord of choices for regular humbuckers!! I'm still leaning toward the '57's since I'm not much of a jazz player; more toward blues, and a slightly brighter tone would be cool. My luthier recommends '59 Duncans. The Duncan Phat Cat p-90's sound interesting too since they can fit regular hb rings. The choices are endless!
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 11
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 02:06 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Markos,
What year is your SG? Mine is a 78 and had the 300K Pots. According to some of the Gibson message boards, 300's were used from the mid 70's through the late 80's. I have since replaced my volume pots at 500K but left the tone pots. As far as pickups go, I have been lusting after P90 tone for a while now. I was also thinking about Phat Cats but was able to score Kent Armstrong WPU900C's for 100/pair. I installed them yesterday and they sound awesome! True P90 growl and jangle. I don't think I'll be able to pick up another guitar again. Although the pups are made in Korea, so far the only downside to that is that the instructions indicated that I should solder the braided wire to "The Earth". That's going to suck, having to bring a soldering gun with me to all my outdoor gigs. My review should find its way onto Harmony Central within the next few days. I'll post pics in the pickup section after I have desoldered myself from the Earth.
Losingstreak
SG Junior Member
Username: Losingstreak
Post Number: 2
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 07:10 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
thanks to everyone that replied.
Does anyone who has made the pot swap find that the 500k's let through too much treble?
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 12
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 08:13 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Losingstreak,
The only thing that I regret about switching out my 300's for 500's is that I used to get a really cool growly sound out of the guitar with the tone all the way down. I never changed the tone pots, but for some reason, the 500K volumes lowered the frequency range that the tone pots will cut. I guess I'll now have to swap my caps for higher values. Other than that, the guitar sounds more open, but not too open. The guitar also cleans up better with the volume rolled down. However, if you have employed a single coil or parallel switch on your guitar, you may not be able to tolerate the thinner sounds with 500's. The Kent WP900C's (P90 single coil > Humbucker retrofits) sound perfect with 500's. Anyway, the industry standard rule of thumb is "humbucker = 500K post, single coil = 250K pots". With P90's having more juice, you can get away with 500's.
Sgmaniac
Vintage SG Member
Username: Sgmaniac
Post Number: 732
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 08:52 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's how to turn your 500K pots into 300K ohms pots for a change of pace. Maybe you already have 500K pots and need to step down instead?
http://www.stewmac.com/wiring101/resistors_capacitors.html
Essesseel
Vintage SG Member
Username: Essesseel
Post Number: 1147
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 10:09 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
that anti shock circuit is a great idea SG, for those of us without radio packs! like some kinda fuse thingy there.
Markos
Vintage SG Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 51
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 10:52 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Cybergall;
Mine's a '73 Special identical to Essesseel's except that I've got retrofited full-size pups. I'm assuming that since my pots are all original, they are 500K. I don't actually remember seeing anything on my pots about their impedance; will check next time.
Your P-90 experience sounds awesome. I love those; have them on my archtop Casino. Since all my other guitars are single-coil, I decided the other night to order the '57 Classics so I'd have something with humbuckers. If I really don't like that, I'll consider the P-90's.
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 13
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 06:51 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay folks, I did a little research. According to posters at the Gibson forum, including the Gibson tech, the current line of Gibsons use 300K linear volume pots and 500K audio tone pots. By current, they mean "post-Norlin" which would be 1986. Norlin took over in 1970 and were in power up until '86. During that time, Les Pauls used 300K volume pots and 100K tone pots (Lil' John says "Whooowhaaattt!!!)
Upon discovering this, I took out the multimeter and sure is ****, my 78 SG has 100K tone pots in it. So I have 500K Linears (after market) for volume and 100K audios for tone. I just disconnected the tone pot to see what it would sound like. It was nice clean but a little too "Tele-ish" with distortion. I may actually wire my tone pots to the mini-switches left over from my humbucker days, so I can "true-bypass" the tone pots for clean work. As for volume, I would replace the 300's with 500's. I find it gives more range to the volume knob. But get audio taper, not linear taper like me, because I was a dumb-ass.
Markos
Vintage SG Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 56
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 10:00 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excellent work Cybergall! My luthier was suspicious about my electronics, so I'll encourage him to check the pots when I drop it off very soon (that is, when I get my new pickups in the mail). Laturrr.
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 14
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 07:00 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As promised, here are pictures of my modified '78 SG Studio with P90 retrofits by Kent Armstrong. One of the pictures also features the guitars that I don't play anymore. The SG was quite a conversation piece during last weekend's gig.
Markos
Vintage SG Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 58
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 12:48 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, I'm feeling jealous too! You're making me think I made the wrong choice in ordering the '57 Classics! Teehee....well I'll keep the P-90's in mind in case the Classics don't do it for me.
Keithsauls
Vintage SG Member
Username: Keithsauls
Post Number: 194
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 05:05 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
that pearl pickgaurd is gorgeous!!!!i like the white pup rings too.damn good looking guitar cybergall
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 17
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 05:37 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Keithsauls,
I was originally going for the "SG Exclusive" look and had ordered a creme pickguard along with the rings. It didn't fit because today's SG's have a longer neck joint for more stability. So I sent them (WDMusic) my original black guard to trace. My wife suggested the pearloid guard to match the dot inlays. Gotta love women! And there it is.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rock on, Baby Bear!!
Losingstreak
SG Junior Member
Username: Losingstreak
Post Number: 3
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 10:57 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
would the SD custom/Duncan Distortion be suitable getting this kind of sound?:
http://www.waterispoison.com/music/rare/thrice-eclipse.mp3
Other recommendations have been JB in bridge with jazz or '59 in the neck...would these also be able to give this kind of sound?
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 20
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 05:32 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For that kind of music, you're not going to use the neck much, but when you do, you'll probably want a Distortion instead of the more delicate Jazz or 59. If you need delicate, you can always add a series/parallel switch to the neck pup. As far as the bridge goes, with enough distortion driving your sound, it won't matter too much which pickup you go with. All three (JB, Custom, Distortion) are high output ceramics. They differ in their midrange emphasis ranging from mid-mid to high mid. Custom's are more nasty "mid-mid" where as the JB and the Distortion are more "high-mid". That MP3 sounds pretty heavy, so you might want to go with an Invader in the bridge. I think Jerry Cantrell used a G&L one pickup guitar with an Invader on the early Alice in Chains stuff.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rock on, Baby Bear!!
Losingstreak
SG Standard Member
Username: Losingstreak
Post Number: 6
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 06:29 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the RSguitarworks historic kit will fit my sg standard right?
Lagger
Vintage SG Member
Username: Lagger
Post Number: 727
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 07:57 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yes losing streak it will
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ultimate SG wiring Schematic
Author Message
Losingstreak
SG Junior Member
Username: Losingstreak
Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 02:15 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi,
I've been playing my sg for about a year now, and after browsing a couple guitar forums i've become curious of modifications which could be made to my guitar. Is it recommended that the stock pots and caps be replaced? i have read that this is a common practice for owners of les pauls, but how about sgs?
Also, what would be good pickups for playing heavy music? I have considered a seymour duncan JB for the bridge but am unsure what would go well with this in the neck position.
thanks.
Keithsauls
Vintage SG Member
Username: Keithsauls
Post Number: 175
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 03:39 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yeah losingstreak,some guys do change out the pots and caps on thier sgs.somewhere on this board there is a very informative post on pots/caps and where to buy a replacement wiring kit for sgs.just do a search on this site for pots and you should find it.as far as pickups go, i am sure everyone will have a different opinion, but i put an iommi pup in my 74 and it screams! (in the bridge)i left the stock pup in the neck (for now)mainly because i dont use the bridge pup very often. volume wise they actually match up pretty well.
Lagger
Vintage SG Member
Username: Lagger
Post Number: 556
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 02:28 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
check my review of the RSguitarworks historic upgrade kit in the reviews section
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ultimate SG wiring Schematic
Cybergall
SG Standard Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 10
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 10:11 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most people change the pots in Gibsons because Gibson usually uses 300k linear taper pots which don't give you a great deal of range in the volume control and makes the guitar sound too dark. If you would like your guitar to "clean-up" a little more with the volume rolled down, then you probably want to swap out your pots for 500K audio taper.
In regards to pickup selections for the SG for heavy rock, I would go with a SD Custom in the bridge. I think the JB will sound harsh and will lack bottom. The Custom has more of a midrange snarl to it and is great for palm muting. In the neck, I would put either a Pearly Gates or a Duncan Distortion neck pup. The PG by third party recommendation. I do have first hand experience with the Custom/Distortion config in my own SG. They mix well together. Most hot neck pickups ruin the middle position by overpowering the bridge. A Custom Bridge with Distortion neck will not do that. Your guitar will scream in all three positions and you'll still be able to get definition rather than mud.
Sgmaniac
Vintage SG Member
Username: Sgmaniac
Post Number: 706
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 10:19 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test your Pot values with a multi-meter before you swap them out. My SG Standard already had 500K pots from the factory.
Essesseel
Vintage SG Member
Username: Essesseel
Post Number: 1106
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 02:00 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yup me got 500's as well on 73 spesh
Markos
SG Supreme Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 47
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 11:01 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting about the pot values. My new luthier commented on the dark tone of my SG, and suggested it was the pots. But if mine are like Ess' that wouldn't be the problem; it's the old, hot Dimarzios!
Note to Ess: the luthier found out that the body was routed out for full-size pups (I'd previously been told otherwise; I checked, and they ARE routed out), so my whole plan for putting in the minis is down the drain. Aaaargghhh!!!! ^%$*%))_*(&!!
Now I'm looking at a vintage setup, like '57 Classics. Anyone have any suggestions for low output vintage PAF style pups?
Sgmaniac
Vintage SG Member
Username: Sgmaniac
Post Number: 718
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 11:09 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
57's or Burstbuckers. I prefer the Burstbuckers, but the 57's are good as well. Anything with Alnico 2 magnets sounds good to me.
Markos
SG Supreme Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 49
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 12:41 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks. I was just reading up reviews on Harmony Central, and though people liked the Burstbucker 2's, the 1's were seen as dark sounding. Maybe just put two 2's in there? Laturrr.
Essesseel
Vintage SG Member
Username: Essesseel
Post Number: 1129
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 02:33 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
markos, this should make your pup search easier!
Spunky99
Vintage SG Member
Username: Spunky99
Post Number: 251
Registered: 04-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 02:47 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My LP R7 had Burstbuckers and they sounded great. They had beautiful harmonic complexities and range. I tore them out and installed 57' Classics because I want the guitar to squeal tone as a blues monster not a jass master. I only used the bridge pup anyway as they were a bit dark. I use bridge and bridge/neck now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SG Standard
Markos
SG Supreme Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 50
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 06:48 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey kids;
Yeah, it's a smorgasbord of choices for regular humbuckers!! I'm still leaning toward the '57's since I'm not much of a jazz player; more toward blues, and a slightly brighter tone would be cool. My luthier recommends '59 Duncans. The Duncan Phat Cat p-90's sound interesting too since they can fit regular hb rings. The choices are endless!
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 11
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 02:06 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Markos,
What year is your SG? Mine is a 78 and had the 300K Pots. According to some of the Gibson message boards, 300's were used from the mid 70's through the late 80's. I have since replaced my volume pots at 500K but left the tone pots. As far as pickups go, I have been lusting after P90 tone for a while now. I was also thinking about Phat Cats but was able to score Kent Armstrong WPU900C's for 100/pair. I installed them yesterday and they sound awesome! True P90 growl and jangle. I don't think I'll be able to pick up another guitar again. Although the pups are made in Korea, so far the only downside to that is that the instructions indicated that I should solder the braided wire to "The Earth". That's going to suck, having to bring a soldering gun with me to all my outdoor gigs. My review should find its way onto Harmony Central within the next few days. I'll post pics in the pickup section after I have desoldered myself from the Earth.
Losingstreak
SG Junior Member
Username: Losingstreak
Post Number: 2
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 07:10 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
thanks to everyone that replied.
Does anyone who has made the pot swap find that the 500k's let through too much treble?
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 12
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 08:13 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Losingstreak,
The only thing that I regret about switching out my 300's for 500's is that I used to get a really cool growly sound out of the guitar with the tone all the way down. I never changed the tone pots, but for some reason, the 500K volumes lowered the frequency range that the tone pots will cut. I guess I'll now have to swap my caps for higher values. Other than that, the guitar sounds more open, but not too open. The guitar also cleans up better with the volume rolled down. However, if you have employed a single coil or parallel switch on your guitar, you may not be able to tolerate the thinner sounds with 500's. The Kent WP900C's (P90 single coil > Humbucker retrofits) sound perfect with 500's. Anyway, the industry standard rule of thumb is "humbucker = 500K post, single coil = 250K pots". With P90's having more juice, you can get away with 500's.
Sgmaniac
Vintage SG Member
Username: Sgmaniac
Post Number: 732
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 08:52 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's how to turn your 500K pots into 300K ohms pots for a change of pace. Maybe you already have 500K pots and need to step down instead?
http://www.stewmac.com/wiring101/resistors_capacitors.html
Essesseel
Vintage SG Member
Username: Essesseel
Post Number: 1147
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 10:09 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
that anti shock circuit is a great idea SG, for those of us without radio packs! like some kinda fuse thingy there.
Markos
Vintage SG Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 51
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 10:52 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Cybergall;
Mine's a '73 Special identical to Essesseel's except that I've got retrofited full-size pups. I'm assuming that since my pots are all original, they are 500K. I don't actually remember seeing anything on my pots about their impedance; will check next time.
Your P-90 experience sounds awesome. I love those; have them on my archtop Casino. Since all my other guitars are single-coil, I decided the other night to order the '57 Classics so I'd have something with humbuckers. If I really don't like that, I'll consider the P-90's.
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 13
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 06:51 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay folks, I did a little research. According to posters at the Gibson forum, including the Gibson tech, the current line of Gibsons use 300K linear volume pots and 500K audio tone pots. By current, they mean "post-Norlin" which would be 1986. Norlin took over in 1970 and were in power up until '86. During that time, Les Pauls used 300K volume pots and 100K tone pots (Lil' John says "Whooowhaaattt!!!)
Upon discovering this, I took out the multimeter and sure is ****, my 78 SG has 100K tone pots in it. So I have 500K Linears (after market) for volume and 100K audios for tone. I just disconnected the tone pot to see what it would sound like. It was nice clean but a little too "Tele-ish" with distortion. I may actually wire my tone pots to the mini-switches left over from my humbucker days, so I can "true-bypass" the tone pots for clean work. As for volume, I would replace the 300's with 500's. I find it gives more range to the volume knob. But get audio taper, not linear taper like me, because I was a dumb-ass.
Markos
Vintage SG Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 56
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 10:00 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excellent work Cybergall! My luthier was suspicious about my electronics, so I'll encourage him to check the pots when I drop it off very soon (that is, when I get my new pickups in the mail). Laturrr.
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 14
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 07:00 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As promised, here are pictures of my modified '78 SG Studio with P90 retrofits by Kent Armstrong. One of the pictures also features the guitars that I don't play anymore. The SG was quite a conversation piece during last weekend's gig.
Markos
Vintage SG Member
Username: Markos
Post Number: 58
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 12:48 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, I'm feeling jealous too! You're making me think I made the wrong choice in ordering the '57 Classics! Teehee....well I'll keep the P-90's in mind in case the Classics don't do it for me.
Keithsauls
Vintage SG Member
Username: Keithsauls
Post Number: 194
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 05:05 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
that pearl pickgaurd is gorgeous!!!!i like the white pup rings too.damn good looking guitar cybergall
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 17
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 05:37 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Keithsauls,
I was originally going for the "SG Exclusive" look and had ordered a creme pickguard along with the rings. It didn't fit because today's SG's have a longer neck joint for more stability. So I sent them (WDMusic) my original black guard to trace. My wife suggested the pearloid guard to match the dot inlays. Gotta love women! And there it is.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rock on, Baby Bear!!
Losingstreak
SG Junior Member
Username: Losingstreak
Post Number: 3
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 10:57 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
would the SD custom/Duncan Distortion be suitable getting this kind of sound?:
http://www.waterispoison.com/music/rare/thrice-eclipse.mp3
Other recommendations have been JB in bridge with jazz or '59 in the neck...would these also be able to give this kind of sound?
Cybergall
SG Deluxe Member
Username: Cybergall
Post Number: 20
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 05:32 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For that kind of music, you're not going to use the neck much, but when you do, you'll probably want a Distortion instead of the more delicate Jazz or 59. If you need delicate, you can always add a series/parallel switch to the neck pup. As far as the bridge goes, with enough distortion driving your sound, it won't matter too much which pickup you go with. All three (JB, Custom, Distortion) are high output ceramics. They differ in their midrange emphasis ranging from mid-mid to high mid. Custom's are more nasty "mid-mid" where as the JB and the Distortion are more "high-mid". That MP3 sounds pretty heavy, so you might want to go with an Invader in the bridge. I think Jerry Cantrell used a G&L one pickup guitar with an Invader on the early Alice in Chains stuff.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rock on, Baby Bear!!
Losingstreak
SG Standard Member
Username: Losingstreak
Post Number: 6
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 06:29 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the RSguitarworks historic kit will fit my sg standard right?
Lagger
Vintage SG Member
Username: Lagger
Post Number: 727
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 07:57 am:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yes losing streak it will
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ultimate SG wiring Schematic
