Aaaaaaarrrrghh!
- Thread starter Gahr
- Start date
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Gahr, I forget what pups are on a Trucks SG and are your electronics stock still? I heard good things about that model for sure.
OP
Gahr
Ambassador of Blues & Brews
The Derek Trucks SG came with '57 Classics. They have been replaced, though. Currently I have a set of 1963-65 Gibson patent sticker pickups in it.
The electronics are not stock in this one, I'm using a harness from Mojotone at the moment. I originally used this harness (50s wiring) in a different guitar, but I wanted 50s wiring in the DT, so I just swapped them. Since then I have sold the other gutar, with the DT electronics. For the sake of the guitar's resale value, perhaps I should have been worried about swapping out the electronics and then selling the other guitar off, but I know the DT is never going anywhere, so it's all ok.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
I definitely like your DT, Gahr. Did the 50's wiring and pot choice, cap choice, etc all " do it" for you on this SG? In other words, happy with everything sound wise? As for me and my guitars, my skill has a LONG way to catch up to the stock setups and my 2 modified guitars I own. My Walnut color Faded SG had faulty pot that prompted me to swap out the Gib CTS pots for Bourne's 500 k and I decided to try 50's wiring while I was at it. I like it so far with the 490's in that guitar. My other " changed" guitar is my EPI LP std that only has 2 changes, bone nut and 1979 T Tops I kept all the Epi Wiring, full size Alpha pots, switch and jack. However, I have switchcraft jack and switch for it. If I put my other 4 Bourne's pots in it, I will rewire things modern wiring again.
OP
Gahr
Ambassador of Blues & Brews
Honestly, I can't say there is an incredible difference tone-wise with this harness compared to the stock one. The reason I swapped was mostly I noticed that my Gibson GA-5 Skylark sounded better when I played a guitar with 50s wiring and vintage tapered pots through it (less treble lost and a more even volume drop when rolling back the volume knob). So I put a harness like that in the Derek Trucks. Now, when I mostly play through a Gibson GA-20T, the difference is not as dramatic. But the guitar sounds bloody good to my ears! The pickups are somewhat different. The current pickups feel a bit "sweeter", with a smoother treble, more prominent mids and a nice and tight bottom end. Not a world of difference, but enough that I prefer these. If I were playing a 100W Marshall at full tilt, I guess it wouldn't matter; the '57 Classics are very nice pickups, I would recommend them to anyone.
The pots are all CTS 500k, and the caps are .022, by the way.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Thanks for the nice explanation. Gahr. 57 classic pups are in my Es135
I have 57 Classics in my 2014 SG, but I swapped magnets. I have an A4 magnet in the neck pickup and an un-oriented A5 in the bridge pickup.
OP
Gahr
Ambassador of Blues & Brews
How is that A4 magnet working? I swapped the original A2s for A5s, but I have never tried A4s.
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Sure sounds like Frankenstein to me.
The A4 is definitely bolder than an A2. But, isn’t as powerful as an A5. In fact, an un-oriented A5 bites less than a regular A5. I tried an A5 in the bridge, at first. But, I found it to be a little too brash and bright. I’m more satisfied with the UOA5.
Overall, I like the A4/UOA5 combo.