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Post by gfxbss on Dec 12, 2006 23:15:07 GMT -5
hey guys, i have a steinberger w/ EMG pups in it. Im not very familiar w/ EMGs but are those covers on them, or not. the setup on it is SSH and ive been thinking about trying to coil tap the humbucker and just wanted to see if it can be done.
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Post by RandomHero on Dec 13, 2006 8:40:37 GMT -5
If it's a Steiny, and those EMGs are true active EMGs (does it take a 9-volt?,) then the short answers are no and maybe. EMGs differ quite a bit from your standard electromagnetic pickup. Inside each of those little block epoxy-sealed bricks is a pickup coil with a comparitively weak output. The lower the resistance of a pickup, the higher detail with which it captures frequencies across a broader range. Were they alone, these low output coils would be weak and tinny. But each EMG pup also houses it's own individual preamp, which is why they require batteries. This delivers some distinct advantages, and in the cases of most EMGs, disadvantages. Advantage one: Most EMG models' bar polepieces and very weak coil windings exert substantially less magnetic pull on your strings than your average pickup. As a result, they can be jacked as close as the strings as you can get them, and the result will be extra volume and more "in your face" tone, without the false tones and "wolf tones" that come with magnetically detuned strings. Advantage two: Since EMG places all noise-collecting elements of the electric guitar circuit into a tiny little box, they can (and do) completely sheild them. The output from an EMG is not a high-impedance AC current, like that of a standard pup, but instead a low-impedance, almost line-level DC signal, which is not easily contaminated by flourescent lamps, computer monitors, amps, and whathaveyou. Result? Almost noise-free signal. Also, by using active pups, you open up an entire arsenal of tone-shaping accessories that EMG peddles to be used exclusively with actives. Things like boosters, phase inverters, parametric midrange EQs, and their ilk are now all at your disposal, if you're handy with a soldering iron and have some coin. The disadvantages of active pups are there too though. That battery in the back won't break your bank, but you still might need to replace it every few months if it's powering a whole guitar of EMGs, or your tone will falter and eventually fail until you get a new one. Also, to date, EMG only makes one humbucker model that can be split to a single coil sound, that being the EMG-89. All EMGs I've seen have a model sticker or stamp on their underside, so check yours out. Hope I could help. If you have any more questions, ask here, or www.emgpickups.com is full of good info too. |
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Post by gfxbss on Dec 13, 2006 11:45:55 GMT -5
it has passive pups. looks like someone acctually dropped emg selects in it and i never noticed. i suppose thats what i get for buying used and not paying attention. there is no model number on the back of the pup....
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Post by vonFrenchie on Dec 13, 2006 17:04:03 GMT -5
If they are selects you MOST LIKELY can split the humbucker.
I've never heard an EMG Select that I liked (in comparison to EMG-HZs and full active EMGs) I would recommend taking the step to EMG HZs because Selects are only designed, Ill repeat "DESIGNED" by EMG. This could mean a whole number of things (cheap construction, imported, or even a well made pickup)
Thats just my opinion. If you like the pickups, keep them. I like my stock Jackson pickups and all I've done was to split them.
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Post by gfxbss on Dec 13, 2006 17:56:54 GMT -5
they actually do sound good. but i may drop some duncans into it. im not sure. depends how much i decide to put into it. i really dont wanna put the cash down for true EMGs. not to mention, ive been missing my high e string on it, and that saddle has gone MIA. ill probably never find it again....
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