| Author | Message | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 643 Registered: 5-2007 |
I just got a guitar with EMG pickups. So far, I like the sound but it is not at all what I expected. I like a really clear, clean warm sound to start with; I'm one of those that thinks you should start with a very clean sound and then muddy it up later in the signal chain if you must. ("You can add dirt to a clean sound, but you can't make a dirty sound clean" kind of thinking.) I have an Alembic Tribute, and that is the king of clean and warm, so that is my standard for judging other stuff. The guitar I just got is an Epiphone 1958 Korina Explorer (used), with EMG 81 and 85 pickups. The two things I noticed right off the bat are: 1 - the bridge pickup (81) was WAY weaker sounding than the neck (85). EMG says the 81 is typically used in the bridge position, and has higher output than the 85; so I guess they are in the recommended positions. I adjusted them to their respective extremes, height-wise, with the neck pickup way down into the guitar and the bridge pickup right up to the strings, and that just about made their respective outputs equal. And 2, I was expecting a clear tone out of them, sort of one that could be used for jazz sounds, but I am not getting that. They sound kinda gritty (in a good way), but definitely more appropriate for rock and roll and not jazzy-sounding at all. Not at all like my Alembic. I thought the issue might be that whomever installed them used the guitar's original pots/caps instead of replacing them with the lower K value pots that EMG says are preferred. However, if the pots are wide open (turned up to 10) doesn't that actually take them out of the equation? Any thoughts, as I suss out this new (to me) guitar? | ||
| ed_zeppelin
Intermediate Member Username: ed_zeppelin Post Number: 139 Registered: 2-2010 |
>>>"...I thought the issue might be that whomever installed them used the guitar's original pots/caps instead of replacing them with the lower K value pots that EMG says are preferred. ..." <<< I've never known of that happening. I love EMGs, too (I have the David Gilmour DG-20 set in my '70 Strat and ORIGINAL 1986 EMG active pickups in my Jazz Bass), but they're literally "plug 'n play" with their nifty solderless clip-together connectors. While we're at it, guess who perfected active pickups? ("I'll take 'you're on their website' for $500, Alex!") I've never heard of anyone going to the trouble of keeping their old pots and caps when installing EMGs, since it's such a pain in the ass and EMG pots are vastly superior to whatever Asian clock parts are in there presently. EMGs are a complete package. The electronics are designed to work with the pickups. You need this: http://www.emgpickups.com/accessories/wiring-kits/wiring-kits/1-2-pickup-ppp-wiring-kit.html The 81 is "dual mode," so the push/pull will work. Note the differences between EMG pots and whatever's in there now. Get this in addition: http://www.emgpickups.com/accessories/guitar-accessories/tone-controls/exg.html I could be wrong (<-please note) but I believe it works like this: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-alembic-bbe-tone-stack-explained.491699/ However it works, the EXG boosts lows and highs while scooping the mids, without affecting volume. It's basically a "tone carnival knob." You'll have fun, trust me. (Message edited by Ed_zeppelin on October 13, 2015) | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 645 Registered: 5-2007 |
Thanks for the input, Ed! Yesterday I found out a bunch more about the situation. The controls in the guitar ARE EMG stuff (the guy I bought it from told me different - he was incorrect), but they are soldered, not plug-and-play. So you are on the money ("I've never heard of anyone going to the trouble of keeping their old pots and caps when installing EMGs"). And the gritty sound I get was eliminated when I turned the volume knobs all the way down to about 3 or 4, and the sound became quite clear. I guess I was overdriving the input on my ancient tube amp (1966 Silvertone 1483) unintentionally and unknowingly. These must be VERY high output pickups... Thanks again for the input. |
