SG electronics fun.

[EOengineer]

I’ve shown this 2021 SG Standard off around here because I love it. It was a totally blind online GC order at a price I couldn’t resist and I got lucky.

Anyway, this guitar has been a workhorse. It’s my stage guitar, hangs in my living room, gets played all the time.

Despite loving pretty much everything about it, I’ve battled with and barely tolerated this guitar’s electronics. The bridge 490T felt weak against the 490R in the neck. This is a common issue with SGs, and my crude quick fix in rehearsal was just to crank the bridge pickup to the absolute ceiling. Not my best.

I realized this morning that I’ve been playing this guitar this way for 4 years. The treble pickup is so high it’s actually cutting into the lower strings sustain.

I finally took 5 minutes to drop the neck pickup down - not quite to the floor but low. This allowed me to drop the bridge pickup height out of the danger zone, and the pickup balance is much better now.

Next issue - this thing is using modern wiring from the factory. I STRONGLY prefer 50s wiring for the better treble response when rolling off the guitar volume. Check this shit out.

I was hoping to switch the caps to get to the 50s wiring scheme and the dreaded PCB rears its head. To add to the turdpile, Gibson is using 300k volume pots instead of 500k.

My thinking was to break the cap connection by breaking the lug on the pot (or the trace) and free running a new cap into the 50s positions. But now I’m thinking I want the 500k pots and might have to rip this whole quick connect mess out.

The PCB honestly doesn’t bother me but it’s just somewhat inflexible if you want to depart from the modern wiring at all.

Gonna let it marinate for a day or two and make a decision on whether to gut the pcb or just run new caps and roll with the 300k setup.

 

[Eagle]

I’ve fitted pio caps on pcb Gibsons , it’s not hard because the parts are high quality. The thing I would be changing is the pickups. 490s are horrible.
You can also cut a high density foam block ( wedges) for under the pickups to get them a lot straighter.

 

[EOengineer]

I’ve fitted pio caps on pcb Gibsons , it’s not hard because the parts are high quality.

Did you remove the existing cap and replace it in the PCB or just clip the trace and add another run?

The thing I would be changing is the pickups. 490s are horrible.

Yeah pickups are decisive. I don’t hate these pickups but I don’t love them either. They seem like an odd choice given their sensitivity to wanting to be flush with the strings (or at least more picky about placement) to sound their best.

I originally was investigating swapping them for burstbucker pros, which I have in one of my Burny LPs and like quite a bit. Still may go that direction eventually.

You can also cut a high density foam block ( wedges) for under the pickups to get them a lot straighter.

I’ve read about this, next on my list of things to do.

 

[TSJMajesty]

I’ve read about this, next on my list of things to do.

Yeah I would get them parallel with the strings before you make a final decision whether you like them. I gotta think that angle doesn't help the tone, but I don't know for a fact.

 

[Eagle]

Did you remove the existing cap and replace it in the PCB or just clip the trace and add another run?


Yeah pickups are decisive. I don’t hate these pickups but I don’t love them either. They seem like an odd choice given their sensitivity to wanting to be flush with the strings (or at least more picky about placement) to sound their best.

I originally was investigating swapping them for burstbucker pros, which I have in one of my Burny LPs and like quite a bit. Still may go that direction eventually.


I’ve read about this, next on my list of things to do.

Yes I put them on the pcb replacing the existing ones.
Getting them parallel to the strings is a big improvement in tonal balance ( and visual appearance.)

 

[Eagle]

Yeah I would get them parallel with the strings before you make a final decision whether you like them. I gotta think that angle doesn't help the tone, but I don't know for a fact.

It helps a lot.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Yes I put them on the pcb replacing the existing ones.
Getting them parallel to the strings is a big improvement in tonal balance ( and visual appearance.)

With the added bonus of no string buzz.

 

[EOengineer]

Ok so the next project will be adding some high density foam wedges to flush the pickups to the strings and not the body.

 

[EOengineer]

With the added bonus of no string buzz.

Are you suggesting the strings aren’t supposed to rest on the pickup covers??

Tone is in the buzzing.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Are you suggesting the strings aren’t supposed to rest on the pickup covers??

Just an educated guess, but..., yes I am.

 

[EOengineer]

@Eagle a question for you - from the vantage point of a player using lots of volume rolloff and trying to keep edge of breakup lively on Gibsons, do you think there’s a functional advantage or difference between modern wiring with a treble bleed vs 50s wiring?

I’m trying to preserve that top end. For whatever reason I’ve always preferred 50s wiring but I’ve never used the modern wiring scheme with a treble bleed in a Gibson.

 

[Eagle]

@Eagle a question for you - from the vantage point of a player using lots of volume rolloff and trying to keep edge of breakup lively on Gibsons, do you think there’s a functional advantage or difference between modern wiring with a treble bleed vs 50s wiring?

I’m trying to preserve that top end. For whatever reason I’ve always preferred 50s wiring but I’ve never used the modern wiring scheme with a treble bleed in a Gibson.

I actually think both work. I have 50s wiring in my PRS and modern in everything else.
I don’t use anything in Strats with three sc because I like the treble roll off of the volume on 7.
Also different treble bleeds can be tried.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I’ve settled on 500k pots wired in 50s style with a Parrish style treble bleed.

 

[Eagle]

I’ve settled on 500k pots wired in 50s style with a Parrish style treble bleed.

If you do 50s wiring do you really want a treble bleed too?

 

[HomespunEffects]

If you do 50s wiring do you really want a treble bleed too?

Yes. Parrish style.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I know it’s often said that with 50s wiring you don’t need a treble bleed but I tried it anyway and now I find that I use the volume control more. I find the tone consistent all the way down until it cuts off.

 

[Eagle]

I know it’s often said that with 50s wiring you don’t need a treble bleed but I tried it anyway and now I find that I use the volume control more. I find the tone consistent all the way down until it cuts off.

I like the attenuation in treble as long as it’s not too much. It’s part of the sound of a paf set up imo.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I like the attenuation in treble as long as it’s not too much. It’s part of the sound of a paf set up imo.

Ah, I see. That’s something that I never liked but i can see how some players would use it.

I like the tone consistent and having the volume only control the breakup in the amp.

 

[Eagle]

Ah, I see. That’s something that I never liked but i can see how some players would use it.

I like the tone consistent and having the volume only control the breakup in the amp.

Eric Johnson has used it to smooth out his Strat tone for ever.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Eric Johnson has used it to smooth out his Strat tone for ever.

Well, I have a 500k volume and a Parrish treble bleed in my Strats, too.