BEST HUMBUCKER Pickups for GIBSON SG Style Guitar. Learn about its Characteristics and the Standard Models: Gibson and Seymour Duncan.
Pickups for SG Guitar Gibson Classic
Gibson 490R y 490T
The Gibson 490 pickup set for both bridge and neck (490R Neck – 490T Bridge), is one of the classic configurations for an Gibson SG.
Unlike the 490R, the 490T in the bridge position has more output, even though both pickup models feature Alnico II magnets, just like the traditional Gibson 57 Classic pickups. Widely used the 57 in Les Paul models and Gibson semi-solid body guitars.
Honestly, if your Gibson SG has 490 pickups, and you plan to change them for a 57 Classic, I’ll tell you that it’s not worth it. Since these are very similar versions, with a slight more punch on the part of the 490. We can say that the 490 would be in a range between the 57 Classic, and the 57 Classic plus. Known this slight plus of gain in a general way, as modern classic sound.
Gibson 498T
Another classic pickup setup for an SG-style guitar would be to keep the Gibson 490R in the neck position, next to a Gibson 498T in the bridge position. The Gibson 498T has alnico V magnet, has additional winding, and would be the high-output version of the 490, to offer a more powerful response, greater sustain and presence.
This same pickup set can be found in Gibson Les Paul Custom and Gibson Les Paul Studio series.
Gibson BurstBucker
Another of Gibson’s versions of its legendary PAF from the 50s, and in the style of the 490 or the 57 Classic, is the BurstBucker series. This range has three versions, in which the level of output is increased as the series progresses.
For example, version 2 for the neck and version 3 for the bridge are his most suitable models for an SG guitar, given the daring nature of these pickups.
Another very interesting option could be the BurstBucker Pro with alnico V magnets. As the name suggests it has a higher output but retains the traditional sound of PAF humbucker pickups.
Epiphone ProBucker
We can also opt for the Epiphone ProBucker, with a value for money worth reviewing. Since it is the Epiphone version of the Gibson BurstBucker, and they also have versions 1, 2 and 3.
And as with the BurstBucker version, the ProBucker 2 for neck and ProBucker 3 for bridge would be the most suitable for an SG-style guitar.
Humbucker Pickups Burstbucker 61R y 61T
Some SG guitars and also Les Paul install Burstbucker 61R and 61T pickups with some differences in their winding compared to other pickups. One of the most loved and hated sets of Gibson brand pickups.
This may be due to the extreme sensitivity of these pickups, when it comes to height adjustments relative to the strings. I can guarantee that these pickups will sound great once they have been precisely adjusted.
Gibson 496 y 500
There are other models of Gibson double-coil pickups that can lead to confusion, especially if we do not remember exactly the reference of the model in question, such as the Gibson 496R for the neck position, and the 500T for the bridge position.
These pickups are high-gain equipped with ceramic magnets, widely used in the Flying V and Explorer ranges. But there would be no problem riding on a SG guitar, if that’s what we’re really looking for.
Seymour Duncan Humbucker Pickups for Gibson SG
- Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Special
One of the most desired sets for SG and Les Paul models are the Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Special. This set of pickups has a slightly more aggressive character than the traditional PAF models of the 50s, they maintain a full-bodied tone in the bridge position, and a not too thick sound for the neck position.
Pickups with a medium output, with alnico IV magnets, and with a unique character and personality.
- Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates
Another very interesting option is the Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates with Alnico II magnets, which are somewhat cheaper than the previous ones. This set of pickups maintains an extra boost to traditional humbucker models, well suited for SG guitars.
- Seymour Duncan SH-JB Hot Rodded
If it continues to be a disproportionate investment, we can opt for one of Seymour Duncan’s most iconic and classic games. The Seymour Duncan SH-JB Hot Rodded set consists of a Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 in the bridge position, which has a powerful output but performs well in soft styles and is highly versatile.
In the neck position, the Hot Rodded set features a Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 pickup. This offers a brighter sound than classic humbucker pickups in this position. So it maintains some definition in highly distorted sounds. Both pickups equipped with alnico V magnets.
DiMarzio Humbucker Pickups for Gibson SG
The DiMarzio brand also offers suitable pickups for a Gibson SG, such as the versatile and legendary DiMarzio PAF Pro DP151, which is moderately priced at around $100 per piece.
This pickup model features Alnico V magnets and has a medium output. Its transparent sound ensures that our guitar will not lose presence when passing through a chain of effects pedals. It can be placed in any position and is suitable for almost all guitar.
In the neck position, we will achieve a clear tone and presence, avoiding a muddy sound. This can be combined with almost any high-gain pickup in the bridge position.
But the DiMarzio PAF Pro also performs exceptionally well in the bridge position when a high output isn’t required.
How to Modulate the Tone of Guitar Pickups
Finally, I will share some tips on how to adjust the tone of your guitar pickups.
To finish I will give you some tips on how to modulate the tone of the guitar pickups. The first is the aforementioned adjustment of the pickup height.
We can adjust the height of the pickups to customise the guitar’s presence and tone. However, inappropriate adjustments, especially bringing the pickup too close to the strings, can spoil the sound of a quality pickup.
The standard measurements appear on the “Guitar Setup” page. Although this, as I have commented, can be adjusted to personal taste, and always compensating for the volumes of the pickups.
Another way to soften the tone of an SG guitar is through its potentiometers. The standard potentiometers for humbucker pickups would be 500 kilohms. But we have the option of placing 250 kilohm potentiometers that will sweeten and soften the tone for softer styles.
In addition, this operation will not be too expensive for us, since the price of a quality potentiometer can range between 5 and 8 dolars.