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EMG Pickups .... opinions?


vintagevibe

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I have a Charvel model-6 I bought in '88. I replaced the PU's with active EMG's shortly after I bought the guitar. The only reason I haven't sold the old beater is because I love the sound of those EMG's. The have a great clear sound reminisant of 'Aeroplane' by RHCP's.

 

-The batteries will last a fairly long time (approx. 3 months -Duracell) if you remember to unplug the guit. from the amp or pedals when idle.

 

Matt

In two days, it won't matter.
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I've got EMGs on my bass (P-J setup) and on three of my guitars (humbuck bridge and single coil neck on two, strat set-up on another). It's weird, but setting in a room playing them, they don't sound all that great, but when you listen back to a live recording of your band, or a multi-track session, they sound unreal.

 

I use the vintage strength active ones.

 

I've found the batteries will last 6 months to a year as long as you remember to unplug your guitar. On week gigs, sometimes I'd forget to unplug the guitar cord and they'd get eaten up quick.

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Originally posted by James P. Sullivan:

I have the DG-20 EMG system in my Strat and I like it. Battery life? Well I hear they will last 6 months if you remember to unplug it.

 

I average about three weeks.

I put the DG20 set on my 82 American Strat and HeyZoos Christo do they sound good. Zero noise (even under flourescent lights). The DG20 also includes two replacement "tone" controls . . . one that scoops the mids as you turn it up and the other that boosts the mids. This second one delivers a very respectable humbucker tone out of a single coil.

 

I unplug the strat all the time, I use a Lithium battery (they're about $7 compared to the $4.50 for a standard 9v), and I haven't changed batteries in over a year. Granted, the Strat is one of several guitars that sees action so it's not getting played exclusively, and your mileage may vary. :D

 

As a precaution, I'm going to try to place a battery holder on the trem plate this weekend to allow easy access. Right now the only way to change battery is to take off the pickguard. :(

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Originally posted by Hippie:

I have a Charvel model-6 I bought in '88. I replaced the PU's with active EMG's shortly after I bought the guitar. The only reason I haven't sold the old beater is because I love the sound of those EMG's. The have a great clear sound reminisant of 'Aeroplane' by RHCP's.

 

-The batteries will last a fairly long time (approx. 3 months -Duracell) if you remember to unplug the guit. from the amp or pedals when idle.

 

Matt

Hippie-you have a model 6? outasite, mon. I went to Sam Ash, not too long before they were discontinued, played through half a dozen or so and found one I really liked. It`s still in great shape except for one of the nuts that holds the locking bolts down (an incredibly lame design) that`s gone missing. It`s a major pain in the ass-because of one stupid little nut I may have to replace the whole assembly. and lest we forget-they`ve been discontinued.

Anyway, the original pickups sound fine to me but some people can`t get past the `metal` association. I remember a bass player I knew, he replaced his pickups with EMGs and his bass got so loud and huge sounding it was ridiculous. Some people feel that actives in general are a lot better for sounding huge than sounding clear-matter of taste.

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Skip,

 

Re: the nut thing on your bridge. I'm assumming you mean a mechanical threaded nut. If so, there are only two standards in the world for threads and it's EXTREMELY unusual to find any thread that isn't standard (only in larger, i.e. 2 inch diameter threads).

 

If you can measure the outside diameter of the thread and count how many threads over the length of the male thread, I may be able to tell you the thread standard and specification for the nut, and you can buy one very easily for around $0.10 or less.

 

Dave

Gotta' geetar... got the amp. There must be SOMEthing else I... "need".
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Dave-

Many thanks for that info sir. Unfortunately, the guitar is in New York at the moment-I won`t be able to get to it before spring at the earliest. I tried one size that seemed large, I`ll probably get a set of the other this winter. Back to ya on the subject once I`m stateside.

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Originally posted by daddyelmis:

As a precaution, I'm going to try to place a battery holder on the trem plate this weekend to allow easy access. Right now the only way to change battery is to take off the pickguard. :(

daddyelmis, can you elaborate on that a little more? I agree, it IS annoying to take off the pickguard in order to change the battery, but I'm not sure exactly what you mean when you mentioned your solution. I'm REAL interested in doing something to make changing the battery easier (as long as it's non-destructive).

 

BTW, to address the original question, I also have a DG-20 set. Well, sort of. The configuration is identical to the DG-20 except that mine is in all black, with a black pearl pickguard. Like those above me I also like the sound, and the quietness. I wouldn't say I have vintage Strat tone, but that doesn't mean it sucks. It's just different. If you want vintage Strat tone you might get close with these (the set uses the EMG-SA's) but you might be better off with some other choice.

 

As far as battery life goes, I've only changed mine once in the three years I've had the EMG's. However, I've been playing my bass a lot more over the last two years, so the guitar is seeing a lot less duty. And I always unplug so the battery doesn't drain.

--------------------

Dave O.

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Originally posted by dave64o:

Originally posted by daddyelmis:

As a precaution, I'm going to try to place a battery holder on the trem plate this weekend to allow easy access. Right now the only way to change battery is to take off the pickguard. :(

daddyelmis, can you elaborate on that a little more? I agree, it IS annoying to take off the pickguard in order to change the battery, but I'm not sure exactly what you mean when you mentioned your solution. I'm REAL interested in doing something to make changing the battery easier (as long as it's non-destructive).

 

Carvin makes this cool little battery compartment that opens on it's own. You have to route the back of your guitar, but it's a very cool solution.
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