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Re: SG pickups

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Posted by Strat Man Dwight Listmayer (from: ) on October 02, 2004 at 06:42:37:

In Reply to: SG pickups posted by guitar rat on August 26, 2004 at 12:15:26:

What a great question! Great guitar too! I've owned several (though I'm not saying how many)... virtually all varieties of Gibson SG and have been following their history, styles and many players since they were first introduced as a Les Paul model in 1961. Guess you like AC/DC Angus Young too?

The Epiphone SG's have either Epiphone or contracted-out pickups with many differences from their Made in USA counterparts. Most people swap them for an aftermarket pickup - I prefer Gibsons with the 4 lead wires, DiMarzios, Rio Grande or Seymour Duncan.

Anyhow, SG's come standard with a Gibson 490R for RHYTHM at the neck, and a hotter 498T for TREBLE at the bridge. From the factory, these have only 2 leads, and are not splittable. But they sound good.

I personally prefer and am currently using the Gibson 57 Classics on my SG62 Reissue. Now that's AC/DC!

Seriously, the 400 series pickups are a little brighter and bolder, the older-style PAF's (patent-applied-for's), Patent #'s and 57's are sweeter and harmonic without sacrificing vintage power. Power & distortion are not the same thing ... get your distortion later, from a stomp pedal. It's not a good thing if it's already in the pickup.

Lastly, Gibson's open (black) pickups are the 497R and the near-ultimate, mind blowing 500T for serious shredding. These are ceramic pickups, currently Gibson's hottest offering since the days of their discontinued Dirty Fingers pickups which I'd love to see again. Perhaps some DiMarzios can replicate their sounds?

Anyhow, for OFFICIAL facts & figures, Gibson has a great toll-free customer inquiry service at 1-800-4-GIBSON which is more than I can say for their competitors.

Good luck and great sounds! Dwight

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: What a great question! Great guitar too! I've owned several (though I'm not saying how many)... virtually all varieties of Gibson SG and have been following their history, styles and many players since they were first introduced as a Les Paul model in 1961. Guess you like AC/DC Angus Young too? : The Epiphone SG's have either Epiphone or contracted-out pickups with many differences from their Made in USA counterparts. Most people swap them for an aftermarket pickup - I prefer Gibsons with the 4 lead wires, DiMarzios, Rio Grande or Seymour Duncan. : Anyhow, SG's come standard with a Gibson 490R for RHYTHM at the neck, and a hotter 498T for TREBLE at the bridge. From the factory, these have only 2 leads, and are not splittable. But they sound good. : I personally prefer and am currently using the Gibson 57 Classics on my SG62 Reissue. Now that's AC/DC! : Seriously, the 400 series pickups are a little brighter and bolder, the older-style PAF's (patent-applied-for's), Patent #'s and 57's are sweeter and harmonic without sacrificing vintage power. Power & distortion are not the same thing ... get your distortion later, from a stomp pedal. It's not a good thing if it's already in the pickup. : Lastly, Gibson's open (black) pickups are the 497R and the near-ultimate, mind blowing 500T for serious shredding. These are ceramic pickups, currently Gibson's hottest offering since the days of their discontinued Dirty Fingers pickups which I'd love to see again. Perhaps some DiMarzios can replicate their sounds? : Anyhow, for OFFICIAL facts & figures, Gibson has a great toll-free customer inquiry service at 1-800-4-GIBSON which is more than I can say for their competitors. : Good luck and great sounds! Dwight

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