18v mod for EMG's

[frehley]

I tried the 18v mod I hear about so much about and when I plugged the guitar in, it sounded muddy and distorted the clean channel. I went back to the 9v, and it sounded fine again. :smack:

Yes, I wired the batteries in series but I didn't use a EMG battery clip (which shouldn't matter) for the new battery. I used an old battery clip I had lying around. It might be a bad battery clip or it might be the mod itself. Is the mod supposed to increase distortion and kill clean tone or might it be something else? What do you guys think? :usa1: :usa1: :usa1:

 

[DML]

Re: 18v mod for EMG's

Strange. A long time ago I did the same mod, with a 89+SA-set. I've had increased dynamics running on 18V. This is exactly what EMG claims. So it seams that there's something wrong with your setup?!

 

[Artie]

Re: 18v mod for EMG's

This is a long shot, but if you used alkalines, its important that both batteries be "fresh". Otherwise, the weaker battery becomes part of the "load" rather than a power source, and the stronger battery will try to recharge it. (Which is dangerous.)

Just a thought.

Artie

 

[HarrisonDavid]

Re: 18v mod for EMG's

No way not muddy at all! New batteries and it seems less compressed and more natural sounding. Something is wrong there.

 

[frehley]

Re: 18v mod for EMG's

Thanks for all of your replies,
I found the problem, a faulty battery clip and I used two new batteries as well because there was a mismatch in power. I can hear the difference between 9v and 18v. Less compressed and more responsive to pick attack. I think I'll convert all my guitars over to 18v now.
Thanks you all for your fine input, I really appreciate it. :usa1::usa1:

 

[Zerberus]

Re: 18v mod for EMG's

18v EMGs are great, much better than with 9.... glad you got the problem solved already :beerchug:

 

[frehley]

Re: 18v mod for EMG's

18v EMGs are great, much better than with 9.... glad you got the problem solved already :beerchug:

I agree with you about the 18v mod sounding better than with 9v.
I can't believe this was something I could have done years ago when I bought my first EMG81 pup back in 1991. Oh, well.
I'm going to convert all of my guitars over to 18v now. Do you mod all your EMG guitars to 18v as well or just some of them?

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: 18v mod for EMG's

You also said you wired them in series, that would have resulted in twice the battery life, you wire them in parallel (- to -, + to +) in order to increase the voltage.

 

[pinto79]

Re: 18v mod for EMG's

You also said you wired them in series, that would have resulted in twice the battery life, you wire them in parallel (- to -, + to +) in order to increase the voltage.

You're backwards man...


Black on the jack, black on the red, red on the pickup power lead... +-+- = 18 volts

 

[frehley]

Re: 18v mod for EMG's

Series is + and - or - and +
parallel is + and + or - and -

My problem was a bad non-emg battery clip and maybe the fact that the batteries were mismatched in power level. It's awesome now. Should have done this sooner.