1986 G&L Rampage with EMG , recomendation on swap out

[Fumble fingers]

I have a G&L Rampage that I bought the guitar already modded with a EMG with coil split (not sure of model number ? ) ..... love the guitar but would like to get rid of the EMG and go back to a conventional pick up with no batteries , plus not crazy about the EMG that's in it as it is weak when tuned down like how we play ......

recommend me a pick up .... we play hard rock to heavy rock and 90's metal , we tuned a full step down and then drop C on top of that , so I need a pick up that's still powerful down low and still sound great clean

what else will I need for the conversion from the EMG ???..... my guitar has a push pull volume for the coil split and a 3 position mini toggle switch that seems to turn everything off except in 1 position .... so 1 push pull toggle volume switch and 3 position mini toggle is what the guitar has to work with , no tone knob


thanks , Eric

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: 1986 G&L Rampage with EMG , recomendation on swap out

You could make like Jerry Cantrell and use a JB. If not that, probably the Nazgul or Black Winter.

To convert from the EMG setup you'll just need to change the potentiometer for a higher value (anything from 250K to 1M would be common - the higher you go, the more high end you'll have). You can get a Push/Pull if you still want a coil split or parallel wiring, or you can just get a regular pot that will only have the volume control. Depending on what type of switch the 3 position mini toggle is, you may be able to use that switch and not even need the P/P for split and/or parallel wiring. Pics will help if you don't know for sure.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 1986 G&L Rampage with EMG , recomendation on swap out

I'd start at a '59/Custom Hybrid. Can get heavy, yet retains clarity pretty well. It's a good compromise between a vintage style and an overwound pickup. And they split extremely well, if you split to the stud coil (the coil that is from the Custom model pickup).

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: 1986 G&L Rampage with EMG , recomendation on swap out

Custom? EVH? Distortion ?

Bill

 

[Fumble fingers]

Re: 1986 G&L Rampage with EMG , recomendation on swap out

how much difference/similarity does the Custom Trembucker TB5 sound compared with 59/Custom hyhbrid or totally different animals ?? ..... Mesa 3 channel Dual Rec amp

SD's I'm familiar with are the TB4 , Sinister Gates and seth lover

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 1986 G&L Rampage with EMG , recomendation on swap out

You have all the overdrive/gain you'll ever need on tap with that amp. You don't need a hot pickup. I would go for the 59/Custom Hybrid in your case, because it's got a leaner sound then the Custom. You can always add overdrive and mud to a clean pickup, but it is much harder to add clarity to a high output pickup. That said, the Hybrid does have a good amount of beef to it, so don't think that it will behave like a vintage style pickup. It isn't a vintage style pickup, and it isn't a high output pickup. It sits right in between, in a really nice spot. And in my opinion it is also the best pickup there is for coil splitting, because you don't lose a bunch of output and the tonal character doesn't change a huge amount when you split.

 

[BlueSkiesAndPaign]

Re: 1986 G&L Rampage with EMG , recomendation on swap out

The Perpetual Burn sounds like a good option. It's kickass for the hard-rock, shred, 80-early90s metal things. Sounds nice clean. And the bass is tight enough to downtune.