Dimarzio Fortitude in an SG?

[N_I_B]

I'm on a tone hunt again for my SG and was wondering if anyone has tried the Fortitude in an SG? I currently have the stock 490R/498T in - the 498T sounds pretty good but I often feel like my tone is just all nasally mids - I'd like deeper lows with a more even response in the mids (more like an LP I guess). I've previously had a Bare Knuckle Warpig alnico which definitely filled those lows out, but I found it a bit hot and compressed. I'd like a similar level of chunk without that compression if possible. I tend to like "hot PAF" medium levels of output rather than super high or super low wind.

It seems like it would be a good fit - Joe's signature guitars are all mahogany like an SG and I play a similar style of music with higher gain amps.

Fortitude™ Bridge | DiMarzio

Gojira guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Duplantier favors the tonality and nuances of a vintage PAF®. Joe had specific requirements based on adjustments made in his Silver Cord Recording Studio. First and foremost, he wanted a passive pickup that was vintage-sounding. For Joe, it’s all about the...

www.dimarzio.com

Or anything else worth checking out? I'm basically looking for mid output PAFy with big/chunky low end, flat mids and a decent high end to keep some of that SG cut. I've tried a Duncan Custom 5 before but it didn't stay for long, can't remember why. I also didn't like the Custom 8 which is a Duncan forum SG favourite - felt like too much of everything and not very refined. I never tried the ceramic Custom.

 

[papagayo]

Gibson 490R / 498T is a great combo, I love those HBs, the 498T can sound acid that' s right. Look at a PAF set or a bridge pickup like DiMarzio PAF '59, DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary, Seymour Duncan Seth Lover, Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1, etc...

 

[Decadent Dan]

The Fortitude specs look similar to Burstbucker Pro + Lead in the SG & LP Modern.
I’ve heard the LP HP with BBP+ through a JCM-800 plus Hot Mod and it sounded like a mix of George Lynch and your Gojira dude.
I don’t know what it would sound like in an SG though.

 

[N_I_B]

Don't think I've ever tried the Burstbuckers but that sounds promising!

Just realised we have a pickup forum here, could a mod please move my thread?

 

[sazista]

I'm on a tone hunt again for my SG and was wondering if anyone has tried the Fortitude in an SG? I currently have the stock 490R/498T in - the 498T sounds pretty good but I often feel like my tone is just all nasally mids - I'd like deeper lows with a more even response in the mids (more like an LP I guess). I've previously had a Bare Knuckle Warpig alnico which definitely filled those lows out, but I found it a bit hot and compressed. I'd like a similar level of chunk without that compression if possible. I tend to like "hot PAF" medium levels of output rather than super high or super low wind.

It seems like it would be a good fit - Joe's signature guitars are all mahogany like an SG and I play a similar style of music with higher gain amps.

Fortitude™ Bridge | DiMarzio

Gojira guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Duplantier favors the tonality and nuances of a vintage PAF®. Joe had specific requirements based on adjustments made in his Silver Cord Recording Studio. First and foremost, he wanted a passive pickup that was vintage-sounding. For Joe, it’s all about the...

www.dimarzio.com

Or anything else worth checking out? I'm basically looking for mid output PAFy with big/chunky low end, flat mids and a decent high end to keep some of that SG cut. I've tried a Duncan Custom 5 before but it didn't stay for long, can't remember why. I also didn't like the Custom 8 which is a Duncan forum SG favourite - felt like too much of everything and not very refined. I never tried the ceramic Custom.

Have you tried and EQ? Sounds too simple, but it will give you many sounds of many pickups by tweaking the dials.

 

[N_I_B]

Yeah I think I'm headed down the EQ/always on boost pedal route and just keeping the guitar stock now. Expensive but the Drybell Unit 67 seems really cool - high/low EQ and a rangemaster style mid boost control, plus I could blend in some compression to get more of an LP-style playability and sustain out of it. Seems to just make everything sound better.

 

[bibimbap]

I have a DiMarzio fortitude/36th combo in my Charvel Joe Duplantier, they're great sounding pickup. I'm considering swapping the 490R/498T in my Standard SG for them ....
Really different pickups less output, way more open sounding (but it could be the guitar ...), the beauty is you don't lose the chug power with the fortitude.

 

[MR D]

I'm on a tone hunt again for my SG and was wondering if anyone has tried the Fortitude in an SG? I currently have the stock 490R/498T in - the 498T sounds pretty good but I often feel like my tone is just all nasally mids - I'd like deeper lows with a more even response in the mids (more like an LP I guess). I've previously had a Bare Knuckle Warpig alnico which definitely filled those lows out, but I found it a bit hot and compressed. I'd like a similar level of chunk without that compression if possible. I tend to like "hot PAF" medium levels of output rather than super high or super low wind.

It seems like it would be a good fit - Joe's signature guitars are all mahogany like an SG and I play a similar style of music with higher gain amps.

Fortitude™ Bridge | DiMarzio

Gojira guitarist and lead vocalist Joe Duplantier favors the tonality and nuances of a vintage PAF®. Joe had specific requirements based on adjustments made in his Silver Cord Recording Studio. First and foremost, he wanted a passive pickup that was vintage-sounding. For Joe, it’s all about the...

www.dimarzio.com

Or anything else worth checking out? I'm basically looking for mid output PAFy with big/chunky low end, flat mids and a decent high end to keep some of that SG cut. I've tried a Duncan Custom 5 before but it didn't stay for long, can't remember why. I also didn't like the Custom 8 which is a Duncan forum SG favourite - felt like too much of everything and not very refined. I never tried the ceramic Custom.

PUT a set of '57 Classics in your SG, and maybe even a '57+ in the Bridge. THEY ROCK ! IMO you will be glad you did. I don't blame you for wanting to get the 490's out of it.......OMG, the 490 series Pup's make me cringe and are the only GIBSON pickup's I truly do not like. GIBSON knows what they are doing. After all, GIBSON invented the P-90 all those years ago and SG's , to my ears, were made for '57 Classics. GIBSON just lowered the prices on most of their pickup's as well.......Keeping your axe all stock GIBSON products is not a bad idea....and, WTF, while your at it add a FULLTONE 'OCD' pedal to your board, and that BIG BAD FAT A$$ LOW END you are looking for will be, HOLY $#!T, all yours ! Oh yes it will.

 

[N_I_B]

I'm not sure the 57 will be right for what I want, they seem too tame and "classic" where I'm looking for something beefier and heavier. The 498T is not that bad, I've had a lot of pickups in this guitar and came back to the 498T as a good all rounder. I may end up going back to a Warpig though, I loved how fat it made it. Though I'll probably try an EQ/"always on" boost pedal first.

 

[Westernrider]

Always on / Boost pedal?
May I suggest the MXR Timmy. The bass control is before the pedal amp and the treble control is after the amp, so it will help tighten bass. Also has a useful slight compression.

Just thinking. Ignore me if ya want. It's Saturday nite, and I'm field testing some single malts that I plan on giving as wedding presents next month.....

I've used several DMZ pickups 36 set, PAF Masters, the 36 neck with the Air Zone and Tone Zones ......

Gibson Probuckers - These make a Les Paul sound like a Les Paul! They are in my 2017 LP Classic and sound incredible.

The 57's - If I was going for a traditional / generic ES-335 sound!

Stuff that has worked for me .... with medium output bridge pickups......
SD WLH Set, WLH Neck - 59/Custom Bridge.... part 59 and part Custom, Has the flat response of both pickups without the scoop of the 59. Might be worth looking into......
SD Jazz Neck and 59/Custom Hybrid
SD Jazz Neck and the SH5 Custom
The Custom has a ceramic magnet - Don't crap on it until you give it a good try....
SD Jazz Bridge and the Screaming Demon ... Two badly named pickups together. Sceaming Demon - think slightly scooped PAF that just ate some spinach .... Popeye the sailor reference.


Have a good night folks.
Be good and you cant do that, at least stay out of jail.