Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

[Johtosotku]

Hi all, it's time for my next crazy idea: having a guitar with two hums, EMG 81s specifically, wired in without a volume pot! The guitar in question has only a single vol pot on it and no other pots at all. I'm thinking of replacing it with an EMG SPC control. I thought that it would have more of a variety and effect than a vol pot. I think that I can use picking strength as causing a slight variety in distortion. I don't need a clean sound at all. I can use my floorboard to silence the guitar, although my hand muting the strings should be enough anyway.

Any thoughts? Any experiences with no volume with any kind of pickups?

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

To me, volume pots don't really lower the volume, they act more like tone pots than tone pots do. If I had my own custom guitar it'd just have a switch and coil splitter on it, no POS pots required here.

 

[ex-250]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

if youre not gonna have a volume pot, then get something like a killswitch installed, cause you really need something to stop the sound when youre not playing, etc.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

You could always be METAL and clip the strings with a wirecutter, lol.

ROAR!! hahaha, but seriously, I forgot about a killswitch, sounds like a good idea, but I'd probably just have a pedal for it so if the cord comes out the audience doesn't go BLAHGHSGHa!! with the buzz of death.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

if youre not gonna have a volume pot, then get something like a killswitch installed, cause you really need something to stop the sound when youre not playing, etc.

Well, so far I've always been able to kill the noise by muting the strings with my hand. I also have a volume pedal that I can use it for.

The guitar doesn't have any more space on it and I wouldn't like to drill any extra holes in it. If I did, I'd get the volume pot.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

Well, so far I've always been able to kill the noise by muting the strings with my hand. I also have a volume pedal that I can use it for.

The guitar doesn't have any more space on it and I wouldn't like to drill any extra holes in it. If I did, I'd get the volume pot.

If you have a volume pedal, you could easily ditch the volume pot and not suffer any for it.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

If you have a volume pedal, you could easily ditch the volume pot and not suffer any for it.

Yep, that's what I thought of as well. I'm currently using a Boss GT-3 with my setup. When I upgrade, I'll probably use a Peterson Strobostomp for it.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

Anymore opinions?

 

[GRC]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

I did this one time on a guitar and I couldn't control the high end squealing during quick pauses in the music. I think the pot controls a little bit of the gain from the pickup itself.

Burnt

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

I did this one time on a guitar and I couldn't control the high end squealing during quick pauses in the music. I think the pot controls a little bit of the gain from the pickup itself.

Burnt

So you had a problem with feedback? How big were your volume levels? Gain? Did you mute the strings with your hand? Were you playing in front of the amp?

Yes, I think that having the pot takes down the high-end slightly. I don't know how much it means in the end. Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[aleclee]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

Are you looking to do this for the cool factor or is there a functional reason why you don't want a volume contorl?

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

Ya know, you've just inspired to go wire up one of my Kramers sans-volume

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

Are you looking to do this for the cool factor or is there a functional reason why you don't want a volume contorl?

The reason is that there wouldn't be room for the vol if I wanted the EMG SPC mid boost. I reckon I'd use the SPC more than the volume. There's only one pot, and I'd rather not drill a new hole, if there's even room in the control cavity.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

Ya know, you've just inspired to go wire up one of my Kramers sans-volume

Nice! I take it as a compliment! So I take it that you think that my idea is a good one?

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

Nice! I take it as a compliment! So I take it that you think that my idea is a good one?

We'll see in about 5 minutes if it's a good idea or not :laugh2:

Have you ever used the SPC? I guarantee once it's in there, you'll NEVER turn it down. I want one for my Kramer Focus 1000, and don't wanna drill extra holes, so I'll probably just wire it up, turn it all the way up, and leave it in the control cavity.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

We'll see in about 5 minutes if it's a good idea or not :laugh2:

Have you ever used the SPC? I guarantee once it's in there, you'll NEVER turn it down. I want one for my Kramer Focus 1000, and don't wanna drill extra holes, so I'll probably just wire it up, turn it all the way up, and leave it in the control cavity.

Ok, if it's that easy, we'll see!

I've never used a guitar with SPC, I've never owned a guitar with EMGs. I'm getting one now, and I'm thinking of having the SPC there as well.

If it really is that way with the SPC, I'll probably end up doing the same in the end. We'll see about that too!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

Ok, I just hooked up a Distortion straight to the jack. It's not like it's magically the best thing ever, but it does sound more clear. If you're looking for the most gain out of a pickup you can possibly get, try it out.

The Kramer looks sweet with no knobs, too!

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Ever used pickups without volume pots? EMGs?

Ok, I just hooked up a Distortion straight to the jack. It's not like it's magically the best thing ever, but it does sound more clear. If you're looking for the most gain out of a pickup you can possibly get, try it out.

The Kramer looks sweet with no knobs, too!

Ok, nice! I'm not sure if I'm looking for the most gain, especially from an EMG 81, the best tone is what I'm after. I'll try it out, and post the results!