Incoming NGD. An SG.

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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mkt3000
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Incoming NGD. An SG.

Post by mkt3000 » Fri Mar 08, 2019 11:55 am

I didn't need another guitar. I wasn't even really looking. But MF did it again, with their stupid deal of the day.

2018 SG Special in Natural. I've always wanted an SG, with the half pickguard, and in a color other than cherry. The 24 frets are definitely different, but not a deal breaker - especially at the price.

Here's some internet pics:

Image

Image

Image

Should be here in a week or so (pref by the 22nd, since I'm going out of town for a weekend then).
Last edited by mkt3000 on Wed Mar 13, 2019 5:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Larry Mal
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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by Larry Mal » Fri Mar 08, 2019 12:04 pm

Thanks wonderful right there.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by Embenny » Fri Mar 08, 2019 12:10 pm

Oh man and it has firebird pickups. Even if they're the stupidly overwound ceramic ones, that means that vintage style ones would drop right in.

Firebird pickups have been one of my recent obsessions. Didn't realize any modern SGs came with them!
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TeenageShutdown!
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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by TeenageShutdown! » Fri Mar 08, 2019 4:35 pm

mbene085 wrote:
Fri Mar 08, 2019 12:10 pm
Oh man and it has firebird pickups. Even if they're the stupidly overwound ceramic ones, that means that vintage style ones would drop right in.

Firebird pickups have been one of my recent obsessions. Didn't realize any modern SGs came with them!
How do firebird pickups sound, like a mini bucker?

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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by Larry Mal » Fri Mar 08, 2019 4:52 pm

I'll let Jason Lollar talk about them:

The Firebird and Mini-Humbucker might be the two of the most underrated and misunderstood pickups that are available today. These two designs are as versatile and complex as any of the pickups we make, and many discerning players are taking advantage of their unique capabilities in order to expand their tonal options.

Pickups in the “mini” family have a different tone than the larger PAF for various reasons; some apply to all the smaller ‘buckers and some are specific to each design. All of these secondary pickups share a smaller size, 2-5/8” X 1-1/8”. The narrower width of these pickups (1-1/8” compared to 1-1/2”) senses a shorter length of string vibration. This makes the pickup sense higher harmonics generated by the string, which gives you a slightly brighter and more focused sound due to the smaller size.

The internal constructions of these little guys are also a huge part of the tone. A Mini-humbucker is made like a miniature PAF pickup, with one bar magnet positioned under each coil with adjustable pole pieces made out of a ferrous alloy and the other coil containing a ferrous metal bar that is not adjustable. This corresponds to a PAF with adjustable poles in one coil and a series of metal slugs in the other coil. A Firebird on the other hand, has a bar magnet in each coil. Each coil is wound around the bar magnet, one coil is south up and the other is north up. The inductance properties of steel and alnico magnet grades are very different. Also the magnetic field shape and strength are different between the Mini-Humbucker and the Firebird which gives them different characteristics.

Steel cores tend to have a higher inductance- you get more bass and more output verses an alnico magnet core. That gives Mini-Humbucker a smoother attack with more sustain and you’ll get more of a grind to the tone when you push your amp into distortion. Traditional Firebird pickups have a tighter, “spankier” tone that stays more defined when you really crank up your amp.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by BlueSparkle » Fri Mar 08, 2019 4:53 pm

The mini humbucker route is exactly the same as soapbar p90's from my past experience.

You now know what to drop in there if your mini's don't give you the growl you're looking for.
:o)
----
'95 JDMJMCS Blue Sparkle w/ McNelly 46/58's.
other non-offsets.

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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by Embenny » Fri Mar 08, 2019 7:56 pm

Yes, those are P90-sized mounting rings and a P90 can retrofit into there no problem.

Measure the resistance of the pickups. If they're like 15k, those are the crazy-overwound ceramic modern firebird pickups which sound absolutely nothing like the magical 6-7k alnico vintage style ones.

The overwound firebird pickups just sound kind of like the 490R/498T overwound PAFs. They lose all the unique character of the firebird design.
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Larry Mal
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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by Larry Mal » Fri Mar 08, 2019 8:06 pm

Well, I didn't think that the ceramic Firebird pickups sounded anywhere near as good as the 490r/498t pickups- but I like those PAF pickups.

That being said, the ceramic Firebird pickups were not totally unusable. They are certainly one trick ponies, but if you are performing that trick, they do a great job at it. They work for some people.

Real vintage type Firebird pickups are a thing of wonder- don't rush down the P90 path with this if you decide to give up on the pickups you have (which I am virtually certain will be the ceramic pickups).
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by Larry Mal » Fri Mar 08, 2019 8:08 pm

Incidentally, I'm glad I missed out on these selling for the $549. That would have been hard to pass up. I think it's a great guitar for that money.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by Embenny » Fri Mar 08, 2019 8:31 pm

Agreed, both that the "one trick" of the overwound ceramics suits certain purposes, and that proper firebird pickups are a thing of wonder.

Maybe my "humbucker ear" is less refined, I cannot stand the 490/498s or any high-inductance PAF. The ceramic firebird pickups just reminded me of the characteristics I hate of overwound humbuckers.

MF doesn't ship most guitars to Canada so I was protected from my own GAS on this one. I did recently buy a blacktop Jag with P90s expressly to put firebird pickups into, so I couldn't justify another firebird-in-P90-mount guitar anyway, but this is a straight up fantastic buy at that price.
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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by Pacafeliz » Fri Mar 08, 2019 11:18 pm

When our Nick Paige was visiting me here a couple months ago, we tried one of these at the MusicStore. Amazing feel I must say and priced to sell.

But I hate the pickups in my 2015 Firebird, especially the bridge one.

The other day I picked up a 2007 Epi Firebird (the "custom shop" ones with the neck thru) and It sounds way better than the Gibby!
Guess I'll put p90s in there...
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by Unicorn Warrior » Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:31 am

Almost pulled the trigger on one of these. Bought an interface instead

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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by CorporateDisguise » Sat Mar 09, 2019 4:20 am

The neck pickup in my 2001 firebird measured something absurd. I think it was like 18k. I couldn't get a good sound out of it. But it had this sorta fun over compressed feeling that made fretboard gymnastics feel easy. I think if you play hard rock or metal the og pickups are passable. If you want a nice clean sound, its definitely worth a swap. Vintage style firebird pickups are one of my favorite pickups ever made.

Oh, and rad guitar.

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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by PixMix » Sat Mar 09, 2019 4:57 am

What a great deal that was. I tried to behave and not buy one yesterday, but kept coming back and looking at them. I was relieved when they were gone. You should post some fresh pics of the actual guitar once it arrives.

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Re: ncoming NGD. An SG.

Post by shoule79 » Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:47 am

Pacafeliz wrote:
Fri Mar 08, 2019 11:18 pm

But I hate the pickups in my 2015 Firebird, especially the bridge one.
This. My 2015 NR Firebird is soooo comfortable, it’s one of my favourites to play. But plug it in and...nope.

I found lowering the pickups really helped, but it still isn’t quite there. Okayish clean, but honky if strumming, especially if I dig in. Sounds horrible with light breakup.

I don’t mind the bridge with lots of pedal overdrive (dimed SD-1 FTW), it’s a good Classic Rock Sound. Unfortunately that’s not a sound I strive for.

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