EMG 89 vs 89R
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Funkfingers
Guest
Re: EMG 89 vs 89R
The pickups are identical except that, on the original -89, the stacked coils for the "Strat" mode are on the edge of the pickup casing with the logo. (i.e. Nearer the bridge.) The -89R positions the stacked coils on the edge further away from the logo. (i.e. Nearer the end of the fingerboard.)
The pickups are identical except that, on the original -89, the stacked coils for the "Strat" mode are on the edge of the pickup casing with the logo. (i.e. Nearer the bridge.) The -89R positions the stacked coils on the edge further away from the logo. (i.e. Nearer the end of the fingerboard.)
Franknfilms
New member
Re: EMG 89 vs 89R
I had the original 89. I feel that the 89 in general is a pretty dark sounding pickup, although I really liked it. That being said, having the coils nearer to the bridge in the original model adds a bit of brightness to it and I thought that was a good thing, the 89R would sound darker than the original 89, I personally would recommend the original 89 for a brighter "strat"ier sound.
I had the original 89. I feel that the 89 in general is a pretty dark sounding pickup, although I really liked it. That being said, having the coils nearer to the bridge in the original model adds a bit of brightness to it and I thought that was a good thing, the 89R would sound darker than the original 89, I personally would recommend the original 89 for a brighter "strat"ier sound.
Franknfilms
New member
Re: EMG 89 vs 89R
An actual single coil neck pickup would probably be closer to the neck than the 89 coils. Also, emgs are usually installed in larger scale length 24 fret guitars, thus pushing the neck pickup even closer to the bridge than normal and out of the normal neck pickup spot, so that is probably what they mean by sweet spot. I just happen to think that it is an advantage to have a dark sounding pickup like the 89 closer to the bridge for that extra brightness. The cool thing is that you can just flip the pickup and try out both positions, although one position will have the emg logo upside down.
An actual single coil neck pickup would probably be closer to the neck than the 89 coils. Also, emgs are usually installed in larger scale length 24 fret guitars, thus pushing the neck pickup even closer to the bridge than normal and out of the normal neck pickup spot, so that is probably what they mean by sweet spot. I just happen to think that it is an advantage to have a dark sounding pickup like the 89 closer to the bridge for that extra brightness. The cool thing is that you can just flip the pickup and try out both positions, although one position will have the emg logo upside down.
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Funkfingers
Guest
Re: EMG 89 vs 89R
+1
The idea of the EMG-89R is that it means that the stacked coil "Strat" mode is in the same physical position that a neck position EMG-SA pickup would have been. (Something that the regular -89 could never have done.)
+1
The idea of the EMG-89R is that it means that the stacked coil "Strat" mode is in the same physical position that a neck position EMG-SA pickup would have been. (Something that the regular -89 could never have done.)
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Funkfingers
Guest
Re: EMG 89 vs 89R
When I wrote single coil sound, I referred to the EMG-89 and/or 89R in its SA mode. This is when it is supposed to sound like a Fender single coil pickup.
If, by "single coil sound", you actually meant the sound obtained from two single coil pickups connected in parallel and electrically in phase, the critical detail is the physical distance between the two coils.
In a typical Stratocaster-style guitar, the distance between two coils is approximately 21/4 inches (57mm). On a 24 fret guitar HH guitar, the distance between the two inner coils will be approximately 25/8 inches (66mm). Thus, your best bet might actually be to fit an EMG-89R as your bridge PU and the regular -89 as the neck PU.
When I wrote single coil sound, I referred to the EMG-89 and/or 89R in its SA mode. This is when it is supposed to sound like a Fender single coil pickup.
If, by "single coil sound", you actually meant the sound obtained from two single coil pickups connected in parallel and electrically in phase, the critical detail is the physical distance between the two coils.
In a typical Stratocaster-style guitar, the distance between two coils is approximately 21/4 inches (57mm). On a 24 fret guitar HH guitar, the distance between the two inner coils will be approximately 25/8 inches (66mm). Thus, your best bet might actually be to fit an EMG-89R as your bridge PU and the regular -89 as the neck PU.
ParameterMan
New member
Re: EMG 89 vs 89R
I equipped a guitar with two 89s right before the 89r became widely available. I would very much recommend getting the 89r, in fact I don't know why they don't make it standard. The regular 89 in single mode is similar to using the bridge-side coil of a regular humbucker - the neck sounds more like a middle and the bridge is really plinky.
I equipped a guitar with two 89s right before the 89r became widely available. I would very much recommend getting the 89r, in fact I don't know why they don't make it standard. The regular 89 in single mode is similar to using the bridge-side coil of a regular humbucker - the neck sounds more like a middle and the bridge is really plinky.