EMG active pickups - no sound?

[2284cd]

Hello everyone! This is my first post here. I signed up specifically to ask for help with my pickup installation. I have an Epiphone LP, and recently I purchased a whole bunch of solderless EMG active electronics. I haven't been able to find the right information anywhere online, and my trial and error hasn't produced anything either, so that's why I need help.

Onboard, I am running two EMG concentric (stacked) knobs for volume and tone, a kill switch (EMG), and a phase inverter (EMG pi2), along with EMG's active "Het Set." I am using EMG's toggle switch and output jack, as well.

The problem I'm having is I have no sound at all coming from the amplifier. I have followed the instructions to a T, but the problem is that there are no instructions out there for my particular setup. The instructions that come with the components are for the particular component only, and EMG's website isn't helpful either. Setting aside my aspirations, I'd be happy if even one of those produced sound right now.

For troubleshooting, I have tried simply running one concentric pot connected to one pickup and even that didn't work. I plugged my other guitar in, and it works great. I have replaced multiple batteries with new ones, and that doesn't work either. So obviously, I am missing something in terms of wiring.

Can anyone help me troubleshoot, and if you happen to be a whiz with EMG active solderless electronics, can you help me get my entire setup up and running?

Thank you so much!

[sumgai]

Dumb question here: You don't mention anything about the battery... is it installed properly, and is it at full strength?

Smart question here: EMG is pretty highly regarded for their customer service. May we presume that you've emailed them for support?

In between question here: Do you have a multimeter available?

HTH







sumgai

[reTrEaD]

Sept 18, 2023 1:19:43 GMT -5 2284cd said:

For troubleshooting, I have tried simply running one concentric pot connected to one pickup and even that didn't work. I plugged my other guitar in, and it works great. I have replaced multiple batteries with new ones, and that doesn't work either. So obviously, I am missing something in terms of wiring.

EMG makes things very simple with their solderless wiring system. However a few things can easily go wrong with the battery wiring. The positive side of the battery is usually connected directly to the junction box and distributed out through the connector cables so it's unlikely you'll make any errors there.

But the connection of the negative side to the RING terminal is very important, so let's start there. You'll want to insure the Ring, Sleeve, and Tip connections of the output jack are being fed by the correct wires.  Also, you MUST have a mono plug on the instrument cable you insert into the output jack of your guitar. To complete the circuit on the negative side of the battery, EMG depends on the shorting action of the mono cable, between the ring terminal and sleeve terminal. If you inadvertently exchanged the connection that's intended to go to the tip, with either of the other two, you won't get power to your pickups and preamp.

Here's a generic pic of one of the wireless systems. I reckon the only help it will provide is to show what I'm talking about regarding the negative connection of the battery to the output jack.

SPOILER: Click to show

If you have any trouble identifying the Tip, Ring, and Sleeve connections of the output jack, please let us know.

[mikecg]

Yes, I would definitely check the battery wiring, and the TRS jack socket connections, as mentioned above. It is just possible that the TRS socket ring contact, may be out of alignment, and not making contact with the mono jack sleeve. A simple multi-meter, set to measure voltage, will be useful for testing the continuity of the battery wiring.