Wiktor Wise
When it comes to the pickups that go into the electric guitars of legendary AC/DC guitarist Angus Young, there are a few options that have been used over the years. One of Young's backup guitars, a customized Gibson SG, features custom-wound Seymour Duncan pickups, tailored to achieve a resistance of 7.7 to 7.8 kOhms, delivering his signature tone. Young has also been known to use Super Humbucker pickups, with an output of around 7.5 kOhms, which provide a punchy yet warm sound. Additionally, the Rio Grande BBQ pickup, with a resistance of around 12-13 kOhms, has been considered for use in one of Young's older SGs. Finally, the Pearly Gates pickup, with an output of around 9-10, is another option that has been used in one of Young's signature models.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pickup type | Humbucker |
| Pickup model | Angus Young Signature, Rio Grande BBQ, Seymour Duncan custom shop pickup, Gibson SG Junior with P90 pickup, Super Humbucker |
| Output | 7.5 kOhms, 7.7-7.8 kOhms, 9-10 kOhms, 12-13 kOhms |
| Other pickups to consider | Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates, High Voltage, SH-1 ‘59, Gibson 57 Classics, Gibson Burstbuckers, BareKnuckle RiffRaffs |
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What You'll Learn
The Gibson SG Junior with a P90 pickup
The Gibson SG Junior is a solid-bodied electric guitar manufactured by Gibson from the early 1960s to the early 1970s. It was introduced as a student model and was known for its single P-90 treble pickup. The P-90 pickup is a powerful pickup known for its rich, vintage tone. It has a sharp vintage body scarfing and a lightweight mahogany body, making it much lighter and more comfortable to play than other guitar models. The neck profile of the Gibson SG Junior is also thinner and shallower than similar models, making it easier to access the higher frets.
Angus Young, the iconic guitarist for AC/DC, has been seen playing the Gibson SG Junior with a P90 pickup in the bridge position. This guitar appeared to be a stock model and was spotted during a Howard Stern interview in 1997. While it is unclear if this guitar belonged to Stern, it seems to be the only time Angus used this particular model.
Angus Young is known to have used several different guitars and pickups throughout his career. One of his backup guitars is a customized Gibson SG with custom-wound Seymour Duncan pickups, tailored to achieve a resistance of 7.7 to 7.8 kOhms. Another notable Gibson SG that Angus used during the Back in Black tour in 1980/1981 featured Super Humbucker pickups with an output of around 7.5 kOhms.
When it comes to achieving the signature Angus Young guitar tone, there are several pickup options available. Some popular choices include the Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates, High Voltage, and SH-1 '59' pickups. The Angus Young Signature pickup, with a resistance of around 9-10 kOhms, is also a great option for capturing his iconic sound. Ultimately, the choice of pickup will depend on personal preference and the specific tone desired.
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The Gibson SG Standard with Super Humbucker pickups
The Gibson SG Standard is a well-known electric guitar, used by many famous guitarists, including Angus Young of AC/DC. The SG Standard has featured various pickup configurations over the years, with the Super Humbucker pickups being introduced in 1972.
The Super Humbucker pickups were used in the SG Standard from 1972 until 1984, replacing the T-Top pickups. These pickups offered a warmer and punchier tone compared to their predecessors, with an output of around 7.5k Ohms. This particular configuration was favoured by Angus Young, who used an SG with Super Humbuckers during the Back in Black tour in the early 1980s.
The Super Humbuckers were eventually replaced by other pickup designs, such as the Tarback pickups, which were introduced in the late 1970s. These pickups featured an epoxy coating and were used in the SG Standard until the mid-1980s.
Over the years, various other pickups have been used in the SG Standard, including the P.A.F. (Pat. # humbuckers), the P-90 single-coil pickup, and the more modern Velvet Brick pickup designed by Bill Lawrence. The SG Standard has also been offered with various combinations of mini-humbuckers and standard-sized humbuckers, depending on the specific model and production year.
The choice of pickups can greatly affect the tone and performance of the guitar, and many guitarists have their own preferences for their signature sound. Angus Young, for example, is known to favour the Super Humbuckers for their warm and punchy tone, while also using custom-wound Seymour Duncan pickups in one of his backup SGs to achieve his signature sound.
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The Rio Grande BBQ pickup
The BBQ pickup has a brighter tone than the original, with more punch and a mid-boost. It offers sonic flexibility, allowing guitarists to dial up a wide range of sounds to suit various music styles. The BBQ pickup is particularly well-suited for classic rock, rock, and alternative music, providing the necessary punch on clean sounds and power for rhythm and leads.
The BBQ pickup is part of the Texas Barbeque Humbucker Set, which includes the Zebra Coil' Genuine Texas pickup for the neck and the BBQ for the bridge. This set offers a sublime depth of sound, taking the tone, playing experience, and feel to another level.
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The Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates pickup
The Pearly Gates pickup is known for delivering a classic rock sound with a unique tonal variation that provides more midrange than typical humbuckers from that time. It captures the mojo of the original neck pickup from Billy Gibbons' 1959 Les Paul, with stronger tailored mids and an open and airy treble attack from the alnico 2 bar magnet. The pickup also has a warm, spongy low end, making it suitable for both rhythm and lead playing.
The Pearly Gates pickup is a popular choice for guitarists seeking a sound that ranges from country to hard rock. It is available for Telecaster players, delivering the necessary grunt and grit while retaining the instrument's twang and bite. The pickup has been a go-to for guitarists since the late 1970s, and its versatility allows it to be used alone or in combination with other pickups to capture a full voicing.
Angus Young, the iconic guitarist of AC/DC, is known to have used the Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates pickup in the neck position of one of his signature models. This pickup contributes to Young's signature tone, which is characterised by its punchy yet warm sound. The Pearly Gates pickup's output ranges from 9 to 10, making it a suitable choice for achieving a classic rock tone with a little extra heat.
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$59.99
The Schaffer Vega wireless system
The Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (SVDS) was a wireless guitar system developed in 1975–76 by Ken Schaffer in New York City. It was the first wireless system to be widely adopted by major rock acts, including Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and Kiss. The system provided reliable sound and freedom of movement, allowing bands to tour with large multi-level stages in arenas.
The SVDS combined several new technologies to create a wireless system that was largely immune to the frequent signal issues of previous wireless systems. It utilized a space diversity method with two independent VHF receivers fed by antennas placed at least one wavelength apart, making it the first "True Diversity" system. This prevented signal degradation due to multipath cancellation and achieved high interference rejection using helical resonator filters. The system also employed companding, compressing the signal amplitude 2:1 in the transmitter and then expanding it in the receiver, resulting in a superior signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range.
The unique preprocessing of the wireless design enriched the signal with harmonic content, contributing to its popularity among artists. Angus Young of AC/DC was a notable user of the Schaffer-Vega system, employing it in the studio and on tour from 1977 to at least 1984. He utilized the system's proprietary processing and companding to shape his signature tone, and the slight coloration added by the system became part of the desired guitar sound.
Production of the original Schaffer-Vega Diversity System ended in 1981 when Schaffer shifted his focus to communications satellites, and stricter FCC regulations later prohibited fully-analog wireless systems of its calibre. However, the impact of the Schaffer-Vega system endured, and in 2015, the audio section was reintroduced as a stand-alone effect by Filippo "SoloDallas" Olivieri. This replica unit, known as the Schaffer Replica, allows modern guitarists to recreate the iconic sound of the original Schaffer-Vega system.
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Frequently asked questions
Angus Young has been known to use a variety of pickups, including the Gibson P90, the Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates, the Seymour Duncan High Voltage, the Seymour Duncan SH-1 ‘59, the Gibson 57 Classics, the Gibson Burstbuckers, the Rio Grande BBQ, and the SoloDallas T-Tops.
The best pickup to match Angus Young's sound depends on the specific tone you are going for. For an early AC/DC tone, the Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates, the Seymour Duncan High Voltage, or the Seymour Duncan SH-1 '59 would be a good choice. For a punchier yet warmer tone, the Super Humbucker pickups with an output of around 7.5 kOhms are perfect.
The output of the Angus Young signature pickup is reported to be between 9kohm and 10kohm, although some readings have been even higher.
Angus Young has used a variety of guitars over the years, including the Gibson SG, the Gibson SG Junior, and the Gibson SG Standard.
