EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

[Peter Krasov]

Just installed EMG SA set into my Squier.

Also have the intention to try EMG SV set also in another guitar, but before buying want to ask: has anyone tried both sets?

I've listened the videos at YouTube, but it's hard to judge pickups by the sound at YouTube. As far as I understand the description, SV is the variations on 1950s pickups, while SA tend to be meatier, something like those were used in 1960s and 1970s.

So, who has tried both sets? Are both of them worth trying, or SA fully covers the territory of SV?

Thanks.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

In my opinion, the most significant difference between the EMG-SA and -SV, -SAV and -SLV models is that the latter three all employ rod magnet polepieces. This definitely increases the percussive attack transient when compared to the -SA.

Direct comparisons to Fifties and Sixties Fender pickups are unfair - in both directions. The EMG-SA, -SAX and -SLV have mildly increased midrange.

 

[jeremy]

Re: EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

In my opinion, the most significant difference between the EMG-SA and -SV, -SAV and -SLV models is that the latter three all employ rod magnet polepieces. This definitely increases the percussive attack transient when compared to the -SA.

this

 

[lkr]

Re: EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

I recently went through a few emg strat pups. I started with the David Gilmour set. This is three sa pups. I liked them, but they were dark in my setup and not very strat like. I then tried the sv in the bridge. This is a much brighter pup than the sa. I moved it to the neck and that is where it stayed. Then out of curiosity I put a sav in the bridge. I didnt like it. To me it sounds like the sa with external pole pieces. So, I put another sv in the bridge giving me a sv, sav, sv setup and they work well with the david gilmour controls. The biggest difference is that the sv is much more quiet. I can hear a lot of preamp his from the sa and sav when on my overdrive channel. I think the emg sv is the most strat like of the emg offerings.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

I put a sav in the bridge. I didnt like it. To me it sounds like the sa with external pole pieces.

There is an extraordinarily simple explanation for this. :fingersx:

I have an EMG-SLV in the middle position of an old MIJ Charvel Model 3. It contributes the percussive "quack" to selector switch positions 2 and 4. I tried the -SLV in the neck position. It was okay but, for my requirements, an -SA worked better. I suspect that an EMG-FT or -FTC might be even better suited to my needs.

 

[Peter Krasov]

Re: EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

Well, I can say, that with SA I got everything I like: depth in the neck, jangling in the bridge, strength in the middle and just right amount of quack in #2 and #4 positions.

So, do I understand correctly, that SV is just the brighter version of the SA? And that I won't get completely different tone from it?

 

[lkr]

Re: EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

The sv is emgs vintage version. It really isnt comparable to the sa other than it is an active pup. I personally like it better. Depending on your guitar they could be to bright but my guitar is fairly dark for a strat. With the spc I can get spanky strat sounds or full humbucker sounds from the same pickup. The audible hiss is what drove me away from the sa. The sv has the lowest noise threshold of the emg singles.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

It would be fair to say that the EMG-SV is a brighter version of the -SAV.

The models with rod magnet polepieces manage to replicate more of the properties of a vintage style Fender single coil pickup than the -SA with its single blade pole running the length of the pickup.

As mentioned earlier, on my Charvel, I have the rod magnet pole pickup in the middle where it contributes to the "Stratty" hollow tones. I have an -SA in the neck position where its blade polepiece eliminates string alignment issues and its slightly boosted output gives a more humbucker-like overdriven sound - especially when the -SPC midrange booster is turned up.

 

[Peter Krasov]

Re: EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

Can we say that SA and SAV are quite close in tone?

It would be fair to say that the EMG-SV is a brighter version of the -SAV.

The models with rod magnet polepieces manage to replicate more of the properties of a vintage style Fender single coil pickup than the -SA with its single blade pole running the length of the pickup.

As mentioned earlier, on my Charvel, I have the rod magnet pole pickup in the middle where it contributes to the "Stratty" hollow tones. I have an -SA in the neck position where its blade polepiece eliminates string alignment issues and its slightly boosted output gives a more humbucker-like overdriven sound - especially when the -SPC midrange booster is turned up.

 

[lkr]

Re: EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

They are close in tone. The slv is supposedly an overwound sa with exposed poles for steve lukather. I found the sav a little lifeless compared to the sa or sv.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

EMG-SLV features equal length rod magnets, concealed under the plastic top cover. http://www.emgpickups.com/guitar/single-coil/strat/slv.html

 

[lkr]

Re: EMG SA и SV - who has tried both

My bad, the slv does not have exposed coils.