SG pickup angle adjustment

JCP · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 9:31 am Post subject: SG pickup angle adjustment

If you have an SG Standard or Special without pickup rings (or, I would suppose, any Gibby without rings for that matter), you'll notice that the alignment of the pickup is level with the face of the guitar, rather than the strings. The strings break steeply off the bridge on an SG, causing them to be much closer to the set of coils closest to the neck. The end result is your SG is far thinner and weaker sounding than it can be with proper pickup alignment.

The way I've corrected this problem is to fashion narrow wooden wedge, mounted into the rear of the pickup cavity. As you screw the pickguard back into place, the rear edge of the pickup will contact the wedge, keeping it angled higher in the rear (closest to the bridge). You'll have to do some trial and error for the correct wedge thickness to achieve the correct height/angle, but the results are fantastic.

Once at the proper angle, the strings will pass over the pickup coils at equal distance front and rear, realizing the full potential of the pickup. The guitar gets warmer, more bottom and low mids, and sounds much fuller.

Of course, the other option would be to add the angled pickup ring (s).

Good luck!

Strat Man dwight · Big Guppy Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 48

That's a good tip JCP. I'll try that wedge & angle on my SG Deluxe when I swap pickups. Thanks.

SAguitar · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:

Very good tip, John! Quite clever, really. I had forgotten about this, since I don't play SGs very often, but I have used a small piece of foam in there to achieve the same purpose. Cool

That really does beef up the tone output from an SG.

Captain Bb · Little Guppy Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 30 Location: UK

Just checked my new ES339 and the PUPs aren't level on that either #Mad

Currently they both sit at a an angle (neck PUP dips towards the fretboard and the bridge PUP dips the opposite way).

Looks like the pickup ring on the neck PUP is the wrong way round but the one on the bridge seems okay. I'll have to level them both when I get a chance.

So much for the Gibson Custom Shop Rolling Eyes

herb · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject:

They should both go in a downward slope from high at the bridge to low at the neck so the pickups parallel the strings.

Captain Bb · Little Guppy Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 30 Location: UK

That's exactly what I was thinking Herb. That way the front ring would also be flush with the pick guard (which it currently isn't on mine).

I looked at a few Gibsons in a local store yesterday and all the LPs and SGs had the humbuckers parallel with the strings. The only ES type guitar they had was an Epi Dot and that was set-up the same as my 339 with the PUPs sloping away from each other.

When I questioned the difference, the sales guy said that was how archtops were set-up. I now know not to trust his advice so think I'll wait until the picture curfew on my GT account has been lifted so I can post a picture of my current PUPs for you guys to take a look at (i.e. before I go messing with the set-up).

herb · Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 6:52 am Post subject:

I have news for your "specialist" at the store! Every Gibson archtop I ever saw had the pickup rings installed correctly. My '64 ES-355 has its rings mounted properly and they have always been that way. I remember reading a few years back (I can't remember where or when, though) about Gibson turning the front ring around for some reason that I couldn't make any sense out of. Anybody else remember what the heck it was? Confused

Whatever it was, it supposedly wasn't supposed to be an ongoing thing. Looks like it is! Shocked

Captain Bb · Little Guppy Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 30 Location: UK

Well, I decided not to wait and have spent the afternoon tweaking my 339.

The neck pick-up ring has been corrected and the PUP now sits parallel. I removed the bridge pick-up also and found trapped wiring underneath the front edge of the humbucker, so that is also now sitting pretty.

I sorted some other minor issues while I was about it and she's now fully dressed for action Cool

herb · Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject:

Okay then, Cap'n - FULL STEAM AHEAD!!!! Very Happy

SAguitar · Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 7:56 pm Post subject:

Way to go, Cap'n! I knew you could do it! A little common sense and ingenuity will take you a long way!

Nearly ten years ago, when I bought my Lucille, I had to sort out a few setup issues also. I was a little amazed that a guitar costing that much would be sold needing anything done to it. But I guess Gibsons have long been shipped like that, expecting that the final and expert setup will be done before they are sold. Of course, that doesn't always get done. There aren't that many experts around. Cool

Captain Bb · Little Guppy Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 30 Location: UK

The problem of course is that we put up with this crap instead of sending unsatisfactory products back to the retailers for them to be doing the set-ups correctly. And if that's not really the deal (as I suspect) then they should be getting Gibson to do the job properly at the factory. Technology and manufacturing methods in the 21st Century have come a long way, so for them to be saying that's how we've been making products since 1800 (or whatever) is just BS in my opinion! #Mad

I work in the motor industry and the company I work for fell into exactly that trap and sat on their laurels because (at that time) they held the market share. The result was the Japaenese took over and blew us all out of the water (for the second time!) and we've been playing catch-up ever since.

I'm as guilty as anyone of course for not returning my guitar and demanding that it be put right or replaced (but then we English are rather like that Rolling Eyes

).

<exit rant mode>

JCP · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject:

I bought a new EDS 1275 Doubleneck at the beginning of the year. The DN's all come out of the Custom Shop now. It had the very worst setup of any new guitar I've ever bought. The strings were a foot off the neck on both necks. I was ticked, and wrote to Gibson and told them they should pay to have the local authorized Gibson luthier set it up. I was given a flat no, that their policy clearly states setup is not covered by warranty.

It took cranking a bunch of relief in on both necks. It was as if they had forgotten to adjust the truss rods. Plays great now, but as you say, we expect more from the Custom Shop. (All Gibby's, really) Gotta say, Gibson could learn something about setup from Carvin.

I had read on another Gibson forum of a lot of complaints for the 339. Didn't sound like anything too serious, but less final quality than expected. I think Voodoo got one, and had nothing but good things to say, so, luck of the draw, I guess.