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Fender wide range in a Gibson SG?

schotter611
August 1st, 2012, 03:58 PM
First of all 'Hi'! I am new here and this is my first post.
Here's my story: Bought my Gibson Special '84 model back when I was 16rs old an used it in different bands/very different styles (R&B, Goth, HC...) through the years. Due to some research it seems to be made of alder, neck of maple. It plays itself and is very light (which is a plus since I am, too) BUT I had some very eye-opening experiences with a Strat (on a gig when a string on my SG broke) and even more favorable on a Tele (which I played frequently when taking 'band lessons'): To me it seemed like both guitars cut through a band mix much better than my SG. I also like the tone better, it sounded more complex, less compressed. On the downside I found both guitars to be a little 'twangy' for my tastes and my fingers really work best on my SG; for me no other guitar ever came close in playability.
I considered putting P94's or Phat Cats in but I guess this would be only going half-way and would make the guitar end up a mid-heavy classic rock-beast without the complexity of what I liked about the Tele. I seem to be a 'warm single coil' type of guy.
So I am wondering: Would a pair of Fender Wide range PUs do the trick? If I'd buy a new guitar, it would probably be a Tele or Thinline Tele with those (but can't justify the purchase at this point).
After all my SG seems brighter sounding than the mahagony Gibsons...whaddayathink? Has anybody have experience with a combo like this? Combination of weaknesses or strenghts? Heresy even??

MonkeyJefferson
August 2nd, 2012, 05:26 PM
I'd try some GFS Mean 90's.

KevinB
August 2nd, 2012, 07:01 PM
First off you would have to route your SG for the WRHBs to fit as they're larger than regular HBs.

Secondly, the new/current Fender WRHBs are nothing like the vintage ones with their now unavailable CuNiFe magnets. The old ones are very expensive when you can find them; the new ones aren't that good.

twiggymac
August 2nd, 2012, 07:28 PM
i'd listen to both of the above posters. mean 90's are SWEET pickups (dont get the dream 90's, way too tame for me) and wrhb are bigger than a standard humbucker. there are some other humbucker sized wrhb type pickups, but i think if you went that route try out filtertrons or whatever for more twang.

something like in here maybe? https://guitarfetish.3dcartstores.com/GFS-Retrotron-Series_c_99.html

MonkeyJefferson
August 2nd, 2012, 08:18 PM
When I first started playing these Mean 90's, I immediately thought of putting these in a Gibson-y guitar....very warm and even.

teleforumnoob
August 3rd, 2012, 12:43 AM
TV Jones Classics.

schotter611
August 6th, 2012, 04:34 PM
Thanks for the info....and sorry for the lack of research about the wide range Fenders. Differently sized than standard humbuckers, they're out. I was also wondering about the Lindy Fralin P-92s or even Twangmasters but not quite ready for boutique. Am I right to assume GF Filtertrons and TV Jones Classics are in a similar ballpark (soundwise, not price)?

The mean 90s sound good (price!): So pitching those (incl. import duties to Germany and the wait) against Gib P-94 and SD Phat Cats..I love the black/nickel P94 looks but read mixed reviews. I guess the differences won't be huge but what I would definitively want to hear is more of the 'acoustic quality' of my guitar, rather than loudness and grit.

waparker4
August 6th, 2012, 04:38 PM
Dimarzio EJ Custom?

schotter611
August 11th, 2012, 02:59 PM
So yeah. the more I spent listening to P90 type PUs sound samples, the less I felt like wanting them at this point. Nothing wrong with it; just my current tastes and curiosity regarding a more airy/articulate tone. So when a pair of The Creamery Filtertrons poppedup on Ebay for decent money, I went for them by impulse...I am not entirely sure if this is the right thing. But very curious. Keep you posted.

Strat62
August 11th, 2012, 03:29 PM
The GFS Retrotrons are a really great sounding pup for the money. They're not Filtertrons by any means, but IMO they're excellent in their own right.

schotter611
August 26th, 2012, 03:37 AM
..I received my Filtertrons which they turned out not to be. Instead, they were the 'Wide O's by the Creamery (with Filtertron look covers), which pretty much are what I originally was looking for (from the Creamery description): 'Essentially a humbucker sized single coil but with more presence and fatter tone...' well, put them in and like 'em. The sounds is a little less smooth and silky (Than my humbuckers were), but more open, complex 'present'. Very nice when clean to crunchy. Will probably post something on Youtube when I have a minute. Thanks for the input!

J. Hayes
August 26th, 2012, 06:14 AM
I have a pretty good sized collection of guitars and like all of 'em to be able to handle any playing situation. I currently have two SG's and both of 'em have the pickups "tapped" and have phase switches. They both have the stock pickups that are tapped by a pull pot on the bottom rear. The front lower knob is a pull pot phase switch. Also they've been wired with the top two knobs working as master volume and tone controls..... All of my four knob guitars are wired like this including a Fender Deluxe Telecaster with two Fender humbuckers. Here's a shot of my SG's, the reddish one is a Gibson, the black one is a "Goth" Epiphone..........JH in Va.

chrisj1602
August 26th, 2012, 07:38 AM
This guy has loads of options, including WRHB in standard sizes.

http://www.at-the-creamery.co.uk/index.php

schotter611
August 27th, 2012, 03:01 PM
Chris, agreed. My new PUs are by this guy. But here's a technical one: They seem out of phase in the middle position (combined). Logical thing to do is reverse polarity on one of them. I tried swapping the cables but this resulted in no sound at all (I guess since now the outer shielding was 'hot'...?). How do I reverse polarity?