An EMG/SD wiring question

Johtosotku

Johtosotku

New member
Hi all, I have a JB/Classic Stack/Classic Stack loaded Jackson, and it quite doesn't do it for me. I've been looking into trying EMGs for a while now, and I got this idea that I'd like to ask if it's possible.

I've been thinking of ditching the JB and putting an EMG 85 in. The guitar has 1 vol and 1 tone, I was thinking of replacing the scratchy stock pot with a new 250k vol pot and replacing the tone with EMG SPC control. The 85 wouldn't have a volume control at all. Is this possible? How? Can I use the EMG SPC with the Duncans as well?

What I think this would result in would be a guitar with excellent clean tones with the Classic Stacks and an excellent distortion tone with the EMG. Nothing in between, not needed, I have other guitars as well and I can sacrifice a little versatility. Bypassing the volume and tone would probably brighten the 85 closer to the 81, and the SPC control should add some interesting tones, like more midrange for solos etc. Should be cool.

Now, help me, please! All thoughts, opinions etc. very welcome! Thanks!
 
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Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

Well, you can just replace the pots, throw in an SPC, and wire up the EMG to the normal pots. Vinterland does this. It doesn't affect the tone of the EMG, just makes the volume control more of an on/off switch. It won't reduce volume like it would a passive, it'll just kill it, pretty much.
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

DeadSkinSlayer3 said:
Well, you can just replace the pots, throw in an SPC, and wire up the EMG to the normal pots. Vinterland does this. It doesn't affect the tone of the EMG, just makes the volume control more of an on/off switch. It won't reduce volume like it would a passive, it'll just kill it, pretty much.
Click to expand...

Well, I guess that I could do that but wouldn't it tame the highs a bit? If it's just a kill switch, I can use the pickup switch to kill it. I'll think that I'll try it first without connection to the volume and then, if it doesn't seem to work, I'll do it with the volume control.

Thanks for your thoughts, can you think of anything else regarding the matter?
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

Nope, all the third lug does is activate the battery.
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

Yeah just try wiring it normal. It really isn't any different its just that the EMG will roll off extremely fast in terms of volume and tone. I always run my 85 wide open so this doesn't matter to me. The 85 will have plenty of highs to work with, especially with it in the bridge. The 85 has tons of mids anyways so in that regard, I wouldn't go with not having a volume pot for the 85 just in case you ever decided you needed it.
 
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Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

Here's how I would do it, and my way isn't necessarily better than anyone else's, its just how I would do it:

I would use a 3-way toggle to select between the stacks with a 250k volume control, then use a DPDT on-on switch to do two things: select between either the stacks or the EMG - but not both. That will only require one side of the switch. Use the other side of the switch to connect a parallel resistor with the volume control to bring it down to the EMG's requred 25k.

I can make you a diagram if you need. ;)

Artie
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

the way i have done it.................use the emg PA2 as a buffer...(with the boost at a zero setting) on the two passives......this way the two Classic Stacks have their signal converted to low impedance and you still have a volume control for all the pickups.............All tone, volume pots should be 25k and you can also use the SPC.
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

vinterland said:
Yeah just try wiring it normal. It really isn't any different its just that the EMG will roll off extremely fast in terms of volume and tone. I always run my 85 wide open so this doesn't matter to me. The 85 will have plenty of highs to work with, especially with it in the bridge. The 85 has tons of mids anyways so in that regard, I wouldn't go with not having a volume pot for the 85 just in case you ever decided you needed it.
Click to expand...

I'll look into it, but it seems that Artie below just made me an offer I can't refuse!

Thanks for your thoughts, how do you like that 85/CS/CS -combo yourself?
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

ArtieToo said:
Here's how I would do it, and my way isn't necessarily better than anyone else's, its just how I would do it:

I would use a 3-way toggle to select between the stacks with a 250k volume control, then use a DPDT on-on switch to do two things: select between either the stacks or the EMG - but not both. That will only require one side of the switch. Use the other side of the switch to connect a parallel resistor with the volume control to bring it down to the EMG's requred 25k.

I can make you a diagram if you need. ;)

Artie
Click to expand...

Artie, that sounds wonderful, and I really appreciate your help. You're such a definitive assett to this forum, I think that SD should start paying you! Or do they already? Or at least change your nickname to "SD wiring wizard" or something!

That proposition of yours sounds way cool, but as the thick-skulled bastard that I am, I need a bit of clarification, if you don't mind!

Do you mean a "normal" (?) push-pull pot with DPDT? Or an extra switch? Can you link it to me or elaborate it to me a bit?

That resistor "stuff" sounds great, but all the technicals about it really fly over my head. You mean that with that switchable resistor I can in one position use it as 250k and in the other position use it as 25k emg vol control? Does it require a special vol control? Where can I get my hands on those resistors, can you link them too? You think that I should get a push-pull pot for it, or drill an extra one?

I have a 5-way switch with the guitar at the moment, the typical fender style switch, do you think that we could use it in all five positions to some effect?

That offer about the wiring diagram is simply an offer I can't refuse. If I can make it up to you anyway, let me know! Thanks A LOT!
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

fenderiarhs said:
the way i have done it.................use the emg PA2 as a buffer...(with the boost at a zero setting) on the two passives......this way the two Classic Stacks have their signal converted to low impedance and you still have a volume control for all the pickups.............All tone, volume pots should be 25k and you can also use the SPC.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input! Do you mean that you use the PA2 to convert the higher CS signal to emg-level? It really does that? Can it be wired to a push-pull pot or does it need a switch of it own? How well does the PA2 work?Thanks again!
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

fenderiarhs said:
Yes...the PA2 acts as an impedance match.
It comes with a switch of its own but i don't see why you could not wire it on a push pull pot. Here's the guitar i've installed it to:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/fenderiarhs/Picture020.jpg

The switch where the bridge tone control should be is the PA2
Click to expand...

Okay, I'll think of that. Is it just the PA2 that can work as an impedance match, or could the SPC do it too?

The guitar looks nice, how do you like the setup? Are those stock fender singles? Do you use the PA2 with the emg, singles, both or only as an impedance match?

Big thanks for your help, keep it coming if you can!
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

I believe we can use the 5-way without any problems. I'll post a couple of diagrams tonight. One using the resistor technique, and one using the PA2, like fenderiarhs suggested. That might be the better way to go since he's actually done it. I haven't. ;)
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

Johtosotku said:
I'll look into it, but it seems that Artie below just made me an offer I can't refuse!

Thanks for your thoughts, how do you like that 85/CS/CS -combo yourself?
Click to expand...

Its a good setup, heaven and hell with a flick of the pickup selector. I'm going to eventually change the classic stacks but I've been hesitant to because they sound so damn good for single coils. The only problem with it is using all the pickups on the same channel cause there is a drop off in volume. I don't use the CS's for distortion and I don't use the 85 clean so my clean channel is set to make up for the volume loss of the CS's and my distortion channel is EQ'd to the 85. It all evens out nicely.
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

Bro, what i did with my lone star strat(bucker,single,single) is to have the EMG wired to the 25K pot(volume)
and the next control down is a 250K volume for the singles and then the next control is the tone for the singles also a 250K
works for me and was NO PROBLEM:)
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

ArtieToo said:
I believe we can use the 5-way without any problems. I'll post a couple of diagrams tonight. One using the resistor technique, and one using the PA2, like fenderiarhs suggested. That might be the better way to go since he's actually done it. I haven't. ;)
Click to expand...

Okay, great! I'm looking forward to it, thanks!
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

vinterland said:
Its a good setup, heaven and hell with a flick of the pickup selector. I'm going to eventually change the classic stacks but I've been hesitant to because they sound so damn good for single coils. The only problem with it is using all the pickups on the same channel cause there is a drop off in volume. I don't use the CS's for distortion and I don't use the 85 clean so my clean channel is set to make up for the volume loss of the CS's and my distortion channel is EQ'd to the 85. It all evens out nicely.
Click to expand...

Sounds nice, I think that the volume drop would be a good thing if I'd like to use the same channel for distortion and clean. Sounds like just what I expected to be = great! Thanks!
 
Re: An EMG/SD wiring question

WICKED LESTER said:
Bro, what i did with my lone star strat(bucker,single,single) is to have the EMG wired to the 25K pot(volume)
and the next control down is a 250K volume for the singles and then the next control is the tone for the singles also a 250K
works for me and was NO PROBLEM:)
Click to expand...

Sounds nice, but my guitar only has two pots and I'd really like to try out the SPC! There's room for only one volume, and I think that it'd be better if it was for the singles.

Thanks for your input, keep it coming if you have some more!
 
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