barnesjd
New member
I have an SG that I keep as my primary drop-tuned guitar (C# to be exact). I've been trying to find a good hot pickup I like in it. Thus far I've gone through a Gibson T500, BG Hellabucker, Wolfetone Blisterbucker, and now back to the Hellabucker.
While I generally prefer the more musical feel of hand wound pickups (or at least that's what I perceive of hand-mades. lol), I've been surprised I like the T500 most. I still didn't love it enough to go back to it and it sounds damn near perfect in my Les Paul anyway. With that pickup, I like it's over all eq. It has some really tight lows but doesn't sound like a bass guitar. The treble isn't exaggerated but is solidly present. Plenty of mids. But it's a tad harsh. It reminds me a lot of how V30s were for me at first. Good EQ but harsh.
The Blisterbucker lasted less than an hour in my SG. I popped it in and felt like I was playing a heavily over-driven bass. The low tuning doesn't help that, but damn. I'll be putting this pickup back for a guitar that is thin, trebly, and tuned to standard A444 lol. It's just the wrong match for an all mahogany guitar like an SG that's also tuned down.
I'm happy enough with the Hellabucker. It has that musical feel I referenced earlier. Good tight punchy lows and not boomy like the Blisterbucker. It really needs some more mids tho. I feel like if I could get the EQ of the T500 with the feel of the Hellabucker, I'd have what I'm looking for.
Anybody have any suggestions or experiences to share with hot bridge pickups in dark sounding guitars like my SG? I'd love to find the one that's just right in there.
While I generally prefer the more musical feel of hand wound pickups (or at least that's what I perceive of hand-mades. lol), I've been surprised I like the T500 most. I still didn't love it enough to go back to it and it sounds damn near perfect in my Les Paul anyway. With that pickup, I like it's over all eq. It has some really tight lows but doesn't sound like a bass guitar. The treble isn't exaggerated but is solidly present. Plenty of mids. But it's a tad harsh. It reminds me a lot of how V30s were for me at first. Good EQ but harsh.
The Blisterbucker lasted less than an hour in my SG. I popped it in and felt like I was playing a heavily over-driven bass. The low tuning doesn't help that, but damn. I'll be putting this pickup back for a guitar that is thin, trebly, and tuned to standard A444 lol. It's just the wrong match for an all mahogany guitar like an SG that's also tuned down.
I'm happy enough with the Hellabucker. It has that musical feel I referenced earlier. Good tight punchy lows and not boomy like the Blisterbucker. It really needs some more mids tho. I feel like if I could get the EQ of the T500 with the feel of the Hellabucker, I'd have what I'm looking for.
Anybody have any suggestions or experiences to share with hot bridge pickups in dark sounding guitars like my SG? I'd love to find the one that's just right in there.
