good replacement for gibson SG stock pickup?

[silly_rabbit]

Greetings,
I would like to add more "punch" to my gibson SG by replacing the pickup. For reasons of aesthetics, I would like to have a pickup that has/looks like the stock nickel plated pickups that gibson furnishes.

I have done some searching and asking around and found that the Seymour Duncan JB model with nickel plating (this has to be special ordered from factory) looks/sounds like a good alternative.

My questions are:
1. Does anyone know the quality or difference in sound (how worse?) of the JB (and/or any other alternative pickup) unplated vs. plated?

2. What other alternatives/suggestions does anyone else have

3. Are there other obscure message boards that might offer quality advice suggestions??

Thanks for any replies,
-SR

 

[foo]

You can replace the pickup and still use the Gibson cover. Simply remove the unit, unsolder the pickup cover and solder it into place with the new pickup.

Seymour Duncan's are great pickups - but the model you choose depends on the sound you are looking for. I tried a JB once, but didn't sound anything like his Jeffness
Go figure.

I particularly like the 'Custom' which is pretty ballsy but I also had a lot of success with the 'Mag' - which is capable of being split and giving you a really nice jangly sound when used for rhythm in the middle position with the Custom.

If you have a 'vintage guitar' (i.e. one made in 1965 or earlier) you may want to not mess around with it. (It really screws up the value)

Not using a cover was very popular back when - and depending on who you talk to, the sound is either brighter or louder or doesn't change.

Taking the cover off will have much less effect on the sound than how close to the strings you mount it and how your amp performs.

foo

 

[jrlemonz]

Check out the Schaller's. I love my PAF's, and they make some more "ballsy" ones too. StewMac has 'em. http://www.stewmac.com
Jake

 

[Heero]

Get these....

The Tony Iommi signature pickups from Gibson. They sound so good they are now played by Tony Iommi himself.
Here's a link to a review. I'll try to find an MP3 of him playing an SG with the pickup.

http://www.1800instruments.com/guitar/Tony Iommi pickup.htm

 

[Heero]

Get these....

The Tony Iommi signature pickups from Gibson. They sound so good they are now played by Tony Iommi himself.
Here's a link to a review. I'll try to find an MP3 of him playing an SG with the pickup.

http://www.1800instruments.com/guitar/Tony Iommi pickup.htm

 

[steveaustin]

The Screamin' Demon has punch but it's not too loud or over powering. Punchy & ballsy, not high on the trebs, mid in the mids & sparkling harmonics. Takes on a different tone when the volume is rolled back. Expensive too. Paid $100.00 but willing to sale. Just not my tone.