EMG gurus? ID help, please...

[jtougas]

I recently traded a pickup for a Kahler bridge, and needed a guitar to put under it.

Found what is an '86 BC Rich ST III (purportedly) NJ series, routed for a Kahler bridge (nifty). They fit together perfectly.

Rather than dig up BC Rich pickups, I figured I'd put in reasonable '80s BC Rich upgrades: EMGs.

I managed to snag a five pickup estate sale pickguard arrangement for a whopping $50.

Enclosed was:
pearloid HSS pickguard
5 way switch
1 V pot (with knob)
1 T pot (also with knob)
1 EMG 85 with quick connect, sticker that says 1G and gold emblem
2 EMG single coils, with quick connects, stickers that say "1F", and silver EMG emblems
1 EMG single coil, without quick connect, sticker that says 1B, and silver EMG emblem
1 EMG single coil, without quick connect, and sticker that says 1C, with a silver EMG emblem

If EMG has been consistent with those emblems, then I think I have 4 model S's.

If they haven't, I suspect I have two recent model S's, and two older whoknowswhat.

What do y'all think?

To (possibly) confuse the issue a hair, under the shipping label that got them to me is a sticker: "EMG SA/SA/85, PSC-28 White".

According to EMGs id chart, SA's are supposed to be gold emblazoned, not silver.

 

[jtougas]

Re: EMG gurus? ID help, please...

To answer my own question, it looks like I have three S's, and a single SA. Woot.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: EMG gurus? ID help, please...

Yeah, as far as I've ever been been able to find out the emblem color is the only indicator.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: EMG gurus? ID help, please...

+1

Silver logo (either style) indicates S
Gold logo (either style) indicates SA

The 85/SA/SA sticker is what would have originally been on the pre-assembled pickguard. With a Quik Connect wiring harness, it is possible to have arrived at numerous permutations.

Just to confuse matters, as the golden logo on an SA, 85, T, P or J wears, it turns a dirty yellowish silvery colour. Eventually, all that remains is the impressed edge of the logo in the colour of the casing plastic. (Early Eighties EMG pickups had a raised logo, similar to the original SD Active EQ Bass and 18v Live Wires pickups.)

 

[jtougas]

Re: EMG gurus? ID help, please...

Hm.

The muddle p'up is pretty worn - they may both be SA's.

With how the wiring has been hacked up, it looks like the original owner may have spliced the direct wiring to quick connect leads to try out the S's, then put the SA's back in, before pulling the pick guard entirely.

Which doesn't explain the pristine quick connect 85 at the bridge.

*shrug* F@&$ it.