The Yamaha SG pickups that Carlos Santana rejected. Seriously?
OK before we get down a rabbit hole here, let me state that the pickups tested are Yamaha’s first “hot” humbucker, from the SG-70. This was built in the same year as the SG-175 and there really wasn’t much development time or difference in the pickups, so it stands to reason then that these are pretty much the same as the pickups that would have been sent to Carlos Santana back in 1974.
OK. We’re through… and here we go.
Actually, before I do; these pickups are great. Really gritty and fun.
This episode I’m taking a look at one of Yamaha’s first attempts at a hot humbucker… well, it’s kind of warm, but was pretty hot back in the early 70s. It’s the SG 70… and we’re going to get into how Carlos Santana fits into this pickup in a minute.
OK let’s start with a bit of history.
The 70s was a new era of Japanese guitar making, some would say the golden era – and some refer to it as the lawsuit era.
I’m not touching that with a barge pole.
While brands like Greco and Ibanez were busy blatantly ripping Gibson and Fender, Yamaha took a massive step forward.
In 1973 Yamaha debuted the bolt-on SG-35 and SG-30… and a little later came the set neck versions, like the SG 50.
The SG-70 was very similar to the SG-50, but had a mahogany body. It also had the first of Yamaha’s “hot” humbuckers. These Yamaha SG pickups are where it all began really.
It’s fair to say that momentum really swelled following the release of the SG-90 and SG-175 in 1974.
Of course, two years later the redesigned SG2000 took the world by storm… and this is where Santana comes into the story.
I’m not a Yamaha historian. And I don’t know much about Santana, but it’s fair to say his involvement in the SG project the Yamaha’s SG2000 to one of the most desirable guitars in history.
From what I’ve been able to work out in my research, Yamaha sent Santana an SG-175.
He must have seen potential in it, but came back with a list of changes. These included the weight, neck construction,some design features like the Buddah inlyas.
At the end of the day he wanted more resonance from the guitar. He still wasn’t happy and when they came back to him with the next guitar, it sported the OPG1 pickups – they used the Alinco V pickups
well, I guess these were kind of the SG pickups that Santata rejected. Or pretty close to it.
I have later versions of the SG pickup range, but today, let’s focus on these pre-santana pickups.
These are stamped late 1974. That’s the same year yamaha released the SG-175, which kick started the famous relationship.
According to vintage Japan Guitars Site the pickups should be Alinco magnets.
These ones measure just on 7.95k
They’re uncovered now and don’t appear to have ever been wax potted.
I do love the chunky phillips head poles that Yamaha was using. They look awesome.
This one actually came in a pair with the original harness.
The pickup lead had been sticky taped together so I soldered on a new lead.
In case you’re wondering, I’m planning to drop the pickups and harness into an SA 50 hollowbody that I am currently rescuing.
Before I get into how they sound, I know that I am meant to have someone better than me play them. And I will! I will. It’s not going to be in this episode though.
I’m going to try and wrangle a Jazz guitarist to play the SA 50 when it’s built, so stay tuned for that video.
Anyway, please tune in to the Yamaha SG pickups tone test below.
Next episode will hopefully be the second generation VH-1 – just waiting on my mate Rob’s tone test with them.
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