Dimarzio Fortitude in an SG?

N_I_B

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I'm on a tone hunt again for my SG and was wondering if anyone has tried the Fortitude in an SG? I currently have the stock 490R/498T in - the 498T sounds pretty good but I often feel like my tone is just all nasally mids - I'd like deeper lows with a more even response in the mids (more like an LP I guess). I've previously had a Bare Knuckle Warpig alnico which definitely filled those lows out, but I found it a bit hot and compressed. I'd like a similar level of chunk without that compression if possible. I tend to like "hot PAF" medium levels of output rather than super high or super low wind.

It seems like it would be a good fit - Joe's signature guitars are all mahogany like an SG and I play a similar style of music with higher gain amps.


Or anything else worth checking out? I'm basically looking for mid output PAFy with big/chunky low end, flat mids and a decent high end to keep some of that SG cut. I've tried a Duncan Custom 5 before but it didn't stay for long, can't remember why. I also didn't like the Custom 8 which is a Duncan forum SG favourite - felt like too much of everything and not very refined. I never tried the ceramic Custom.
 
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papagayo

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Gibson 490R / 498T is a great combo, I love those HBs, the 498T can sound acid that' s right. Look at a PAF set or a bridge pickup like DiMarzio PAF '59, DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary, Seymour Duncan Seth Lover, Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1, etc...
 

Decadent Dan

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The Fortitude specs look similar to Burstbucker Pro + Lead in the SG & LP Modern.
I’ve heard the LP HP with BBP+ through a JCM-800 plus Hot Mod and it sounded like a mix of George Lynch and your Gojira dude.
I don’t know what it would sound like in an SG though.
 
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N_I_B

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Don't think I've ever tried the Burstbuckers but that sounds promising!

Just realised we have a pickup forum here, could a mod please move my thread?
 

sazista

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I'm on a tone hunt again for my SG and was wondering if anyone has tried the Fortitude in an SG? I currently have the stock 490R/498T in - the 498T sounds pretty good but I often feel like my tone is just all nasally mids - I'd like deeper lows with a more even response in the mids (more like an LP I guess). I've previously had a Bare Knuckle Warpig alnico which definitely filled those lows out, but I found it a bit hot and compressed. I'd like a similar level of chunk without that compression if possible. I tend to like "hot PAF" medium levels of output rather than super high or super low wind.

It seems like it would be a good fit - Joe's signature guitars are all mahogany like an SG and I play a similar style of music with higher gain amps.


Or anything else worth checking out? I'm basically looking for mid output PAFy with big/chunky low end, flat mids and a decent high end to keep some of that SG cut. I've tried a Duncan Custom 5 before but it didn't stay for long, can't remember why. I also didn't like the Custom 8 which is a Duncan forum SG favourite - felt like too much of everything and not very refined. I never tried the ceramic Custom.
Have you tried and EQ? Sounds too simple, but it will give you many sounds of many pickups by tweaking the dials.
 

N_I_B

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Yeah I think I'm headed down the EQ/always on boost pedal route and just keeping the guitar stock now. Expensive but the Drybell Unit 67 seems really cool - high/low EQ and a rangemaster style mid boost control, plus I could blend in some compression to get more of an LP-style playability and sustain out of it. Seems to just make everything sound better.
 

bibimbap

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I have a DiMarzio fortitude/36th combo in my Charvel Joe Duplantier, they're great sounding pickup. I'm considering swapping the 490R/498T in my Standard SG for them ....
Really different pickups less output, way more open sounding (but it could be the guitar ...), the beauty is you don't lose the chug power with the fortitude.
 

MR D

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I'm on a tone hunt again for my SG and was wondering if anyone has tried the Fortitude in an SG? I currently have the stock 490R/498T in - the 498T sounds pretty good but I often feel like my tone is just all nasally mids - I'd like deeper lows with a more even response in the mids (more like an LP I guess). I've previously had a Bare Knuckle Warpig alnico which definitely filled those lows out, but I found it a bit hot and compressed. I'd like a similar level of chunk without that compression if possible. I tend to like "hot PAF" medium levels of output rather than super high or super low wind.

It seems like it would be a good fit - Joe's signature guitars are all mahogany like an SG and I play a similar style of music with higher gain amps.


Or anything else worth checking out? I'm basically looking for mid output PAFy with big/chunky low end, flat mids and a decent high end to keep some of that SG cut. I've tried a Duncan Custom 5 before but it didn't stay for long, can't remember why. I also didn't like the Custom 8 which is a Duncan forum SG favourite - felt like too much of everything and not very refined. I never tried the ceramic Custom.
PUT a set of '57 Classics in your SG, and maybe even a '57+ in the Bridge. THEY ROCK ! IMO you will be glad you did. I don't blame you for wanting to get the 490's out of it.......OMG, the 490 series Pup's make me cringe and are the only GIBSON pickup's I truly do not like. GIBSON knows what they are doing. After all, GIBSON invented the P-90 all those years ago and SG's , to my ears, were made for '57 Classics. GIBSON just lowered the prices on most of their pickup's as well.......Keeping your axe all stock GIBSON products is not a bad idea....and, WTF, while your at it add a FULLTONE 'OCD' pedal to your board, and that BIG BAD FAT A$$ LOW END you are looking for will be, HOLY $#!T, all yours ! Oh yes it will.
 


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