Just got my EMG's!!! but...

[Metalman_666]

After 3 months or painful waiting I finally received my EMG's and got them installed... 81 in the bridge, 60 in the neck! I'm really happy with the 60, but I have just one concern..

The 81 isn't quite aggressive enough in the bridge, and it could use more bass. I believe the lack of aggression can be solved by raising the height of the pickup right.... so sorry for my complete ignorance but how would you do that? This is my guitar ... yes lol anyway on each side of the pickup rings, there are 3 screws... the middle one is raised... which screw so I tweak to raise/lower pickup height?

Now the bass issue. Is there anyway I can inject some more bass into my 81? Will raising the pup help at all? Should I just turn up the bass on the Metal zone? (The bass on the amp is cranked)

Thanks in advance

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

I'm no expert on EMG's, but aren't EMG's supposed to be installed with their own pots and switches? I think the EMG circuit has a battery in it, meaning you need to have it installed with that. Otherwise, you're running active pickups like passive pickups.
Just my guess. Maybe someone with EMG's or their customer service can give you exact details.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

I think the EMG circuit has a battery in it, meaning you need to have it installed with that. Otherwise, you're running active pickups like passive pickups.
Just my guess.

EMG's won't work at all without the battery.

 

[Bones]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

The pickups are supposed to be as close to the strings as possible if I remember correctly. Take a picture of your inards so we can see how you wired it.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

Now the bass issue. Is there anyway I can inject some more bass into my 81? Will raising the pup help at all? Should I just turn up the bass on the Metal zone? (The bass on the amp is cranked)

Thanks in advance

The center screw adjusts hight.

What I do is push the string down at the last fret and raise the pickup until it's as close the the string as possible while allowing the string to vibrate freely.

It might help the bass some when you do this, but the 81 is meant for high gain rhythm and lead stuff where the bass would cause the amp to mud out, so you'll never get alot of bass out of it. The 85 has more bass.

If your guitar has been configured with two volume knobs (which I suggest) there's a way to wire them so that each pickups volume stays separate, which allows you to blend the bridge and neck pickups. If your guitar is setup this way and you want more bass, set the pickup selector in the middle position to blend some of the necks tone in.

When I'm after the sound I think your after I run my bridge on full and my neck on 3. It gives me that tight cut on the bridge, and the neck adds some more bass and overall fullness.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

I'm no expert on EMG's, but aren't EMG's supposed to be installed with their own pots and switches? I think the EMG circuit has a battery in it, meaning you need to have it installed with that. Otherwise, you're running active pickups like passive pickups.
Just my guess. Maybe someone with EMG's or their customer service can give you exact details.

Yes, and the EMG's also come with their own pots, switches and battery clips. I had a pro lutheir install them so everything should be as is.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

It might help the bass some when you do this, but the 81 is meant for high gain rhythm and lead stuff where the bass would cause the amp to mud out, so you'll never get alot of bass out of it. The 85 has more bass.

If your guitar has been configured with two volume knobs (which I suggest) there's a way to wire them so that each pickups volume stays separate, which allows you to blend the bridge and neck pickups. If your guitar is setup this way and you want more bass, set the pickup selector in the middle position to blend some of the necks tone in.

When I'm after the sound I think your after I run my bridge on full and my neck on 3. It gives me that tight cut on the bridge, and the neck adds some more bass and overall fullness.

Well I guess I'm stuck with little bass. But then again that's probably a good thing! I'll just screw with the height and settings and see how I can make the pickup sound.

About the wiring thing, I already have the volumes wired like that, so I'll try your blending suggestion. Thanks!

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

the 81 is not a bass heavy pup at all. i suggest you do what all other 81 users do use a para EQ or a graphic EQ.
the guys in slayer use EQ's with thier rigs as does metallica, and all other 81 users.
the 81 has a lot of presence but is not a thumping bass model.
the 85 has more lows actually :burnout:

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

the 81 is not a bass heavy pup at all. i suggest you do what all other 81 users do use a para EQ or a graphic EQ.
the guys in slayer use EQ's with thier rigs as does metallica, and all other 81 users.
the 81 has a lot of presence but is not a thumping bass model.
the 85 has more lows actually :burnout:

Well like I said.. I guess I'm stuck with the 81, because I'm flat broke now . But anyway, maybe my next purchase will have to be an EQ, or I could just use the 81 as is and get used to it. There are some things I like about it, it just makes me sad thinking that an Ibanez stock pickup has more of what I want than an aftermarket replacement that so many pros use. :smack:

 

[theodie]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

Install the emgs as close to the strings as possible. They have a very low magnet pull so you would want to keep it close to the strings. The way I do this is by fretting the highest fret on the Low E while adjusting the pickup so it almost touches the string. Then I fret the highest fret on the high E and do the same. This should fatten up the pickup a little if your pickups were adjusted low. If you need more bass, turn it up anywhere you can. You can also get a EMG spc. It replaces one of your tone controls. It is a preamp that fattens up your guitar when you turn it up. That will work like a charm. I highly reccomend it!!!!! Good Luck!!!!!

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

Well like I said.. I guess I'm stuck with the 81, because I'm flat broke now . But anyway, maybe my next purchase will have to be an EQ, or I could just use the 81 as is and get used to it. There are some things I like about it, it just makes me sad thinking that an Ibanez stock pickup has more of what I want than an aftermarket replacement that so many pros use. :smack:

well all is not lost,the 81 is a hell of a pup,but sounds best with a EQ and a hot amp.
the stock ibanez pup is not as good overall so upgrading was a good idea.
what made you want EMG's? others tones?

 

[some_dude]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

But anyway, maybe my next purchase will have to be an EQ, or I could just use the 81 as is and get used to it.

This is what I use;


Sniper Mod Boss GE-7


Very low noise. I usually run my pickups un-EQ'd, but to get a more passive pickup type sound I sometimes scoop the low mids and boost the high mids.

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

to tell you the truth metal man, i use a EQ with all pups not just a 81

a pup will only do so much for the tone,sometimes a EQ is the only other way to get the xtra thump or mid scoop or whatever you like

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

I too have the EMG's in my Hamer basically kissing the strings. You'll get a huge, rompin' stompin' sound out of those things.

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

I too have the EMG's in my Hamer basically kissing the strings. You'll get a huge, rompin' stompin' sound out of those things.

yeah under the plastic cover are two thin bars like a dimebucker and you can set the 81 very close to the strings with no pull problems, give it a go

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

Post in the trading post about a trade for an 85, or sell the 81 and buy the 85.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Just got my EMG's!!! but...

Ok, so after a bit of experimenting, and some raising of the pickups, I'm happy to say I'm quite happy with the sounds I'm getting. No complaints for the 60, still, and the 81 is amazing when blended with it, or just by itself. Thanks a lot to everyone for your suggestions, especially the blending suggestion from Screamingdaisy!