18 volts mod for EMG single coils

[Peter Krasov]

Hi folks, I have two Squiers, Strat and Tele, both equipped with EMG SA and TC respectively. I'm thinking of making the 18 volts mod for these sets. Earlier, I made the same mod with 81/85 combo, and it made the pickups sound a bit cleaner and wider.

Does it have any sence of making this mod to single coils? Who has ever tried them? It is written on the EMG site, that this mod for single coils is unnecessary. Who's got the experience?

Tnx

 

[LtKojak]

Re: 18 volts mod for EMG single coils

t is written on the EMG site, that this mod for single coils is unnecessary

Where exactly is this written? I can't find it. Could you provide a link to it?

 

[Peter Krasov]

Re: 18 volts mod for EMG single coils

Where exactly is this written? I can't find it. Could you provide a link to it?

http://www.emgpickups.com/media/productfile/p/o/powertips_tricks_0230-0190c.pdf. Rules of thumb, etc.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: 18 volts mod for EMG single coils

As a rule of thumb, things written by the marketing department, are nothing but useless blabber.

The higher supply voltage has exactly the same effect on the S and SA series pickups.

 

[Peter Krasov]

Re: 18 volts mod for EMG single coils

You mean that the difference in sound will be noticeable?

Thanks.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: 18 volts mod for EMG single coils

Yes, you are welcome. The higher supply voltage creates higher headroom within the pickups' preamps e.g. minimizing the squish and distortion of the loudest peaks. As a consequence of that, the harder you pick, the more noticeable the difference.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 18 volts mod for EMG single coils

^ What he said. The difference is clear, to me with my old SAs (probably about 25 years old). I won't say the difference is night and day, but it's clearly audible. I played them 9V for like 20 years, and was blown away when I finally started running them 18V. 18V does seem to give you more dynamic range to work with – a more "vintage" or "natural" feel. If you like more compression, 9V is probably better. I think of 18V vs. 9V the same way I think about a standard pickup vs. a slightly overwound pickup, respectively.

Here's the guitar (neck is being repaired ATM):

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: 18 volts mod for EMG single coils

YES!!! I LOVE KAHLER tremolos

 

[LtKojak]

Re: 18 volts mod for EMG single coils

You mean that the difference in sound will be noticeable?

Well, the noticeable part would be the behaviour one, not the sound, intended as EQ-wise, per se.

The 18V mod gets it to feel more as a passive single-coil... the word used lately to descrive this is "organic".

HTH,

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: 18 volts mod for EMG single coils

Anyone compared the 18v on humbuckers mod against each humbucker having its own 9v battery? I've wired each one separately before, but never tried the 18v mod.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: 18 volts mod for EMG single coils

Anyone compared the 18v on humbuckers mod against each humbucker having its own 9v battery? I've wired each one separately before, but never tried the 18v mod.

My I ask you why would you do that? It doesn't make sense, to me, at least.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: 18 volts mod for EMG single coils

I first tried it on an H-S-S layout (9v 85 and 2 SA sharing a battery) and found the singles had less of a volume difference than the 85. I then tried it on an 85/89 combo and found the 89 to have less of a volume drop when switched/split, and both pickups had increased range individually as well as combined.