[thesteve]

Depending on the shop, the pickups might not be returnable. A lot of shops consider the money back guarantee voided if the gear is damaged, and soldering the pickups into the guitar would count as damage. Make sure you get that clarified before going that route.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by Voxman

As far as guitars, I have grown more fond of the single coil sound recently. However, I used to play through the same TS9 into my church's Fender HR Deluxe, and that was a good sound to my ears. And I still love the cleans I get with my Vox, so I'm not about to throw out my SG yet If you hold to what you said about Vox amps not liking TS's, a Fulltone OCD or Fulldrive 2 MOSFET (I like this one for the 2 gain stages) look good right now. As far as money, I can really only go either the pedal route, or try a new pickup(s) right now. Whatever I get is returnable within a 45-day period. If I went with the pickups, does anyone think swapping out my neck pickup with an appropriately sized single coil (like a P90 variation) be desirable for a creamy/ambient overdrive sound?

Also, I've played with my pickup height a bit, with no improvement to my ears.

I would not go with a p90 with what your goal is. A lot of HB sized p90s run on the darker side of p90 territory. Though for a neck pickup it might work

I would either go with a hb sized single coil, not wound like a p90, or go with an unpotted humbucker perhaps.

Personally the gibson bridge pickups they normally use these days are atrocious IMO. They sound like you have a heavy blanket over the speakers and sound really wooly.

Caveat, an SG has the capacity to get really bright, so I might avoid the JB for this one.

Some that I might reccomend.

Lollar imperial
Rio Grande BBQ
SD Seth Lover
SD Alnico 2
or if you really feel the need for crazy chime and want something altogether different, a lace alumitone will give you chime in spades.

Or if you can't make up your mind at all go for a prails and have humbucker, p90 and single coil on tap.

[WideAwake]

If you have not already, try getting your amp off the floor, and pointing more at your head than your feet. I had a fender amp that was so muddy sounding with the LP, but once I got it on a stand, it was totally different.

Worth a shot. I play with my AC30 on a stand, slightly pointed up.

[Voxman]

Thesteve, thanks for that warning!

BillS, I appreciate that input. I'll definitely be looking into SD's, they're quite affordable and sound good from what I've heard.

WideAwake, you're right, I've put the amp on a chair before and it did sound different. Not as muffled-sounding as on the floor. Definitely something I have to keep in mind.