need schematics for an EMG and a single...

[Luke Vader]

I need some help re-wiring an old Charvel that I have. It's a spare guitar that was in much need of repair (both electrical and cosmetic) so I tore it apart about a year ago to tinker with it. I refinished it and it's pretty much just been sitting in it's case for a year now under my bed doing nothing because I havent had the money to have it rewired and setup by a "pro". Mainly because I feel confident that I can do it myself if I knew a few basics.

And it'd probably still be sitting under my bed if my American Strat hadnt fallen over and broken it's nut. I had to order the nut to replace it but I'm itching to play. Guess this is the right time to finally finish that Charvel.

Anyways, the humbucker that was in the Charvel was junk, so my brother-in-law gave me a EMG that he had taken out of one of his guitars. So I've got an EMG and a single coil Charvel with a volume knob and a 3-way switch that I need to wire up. I just dont know where to start though. I do have a bit of soldering experience from working on RC cars, so that shouldnt be an issue. I just need to know what needs to be connected where and was wondering if anyone knew of a site that I could find some schematics for this, or even better yet, if someone could possibly talk me through it and give me some tips...

Any and all help is greatly appreciated

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: need schematics for an EMG and a single...

Combining active (EMG) and passive pickups is a little complicated. I've always meant to try it (just to figure out how to do it), but have never gotten around to it. If you don't use some type of booster circuit to raise the volume of the single coil, they're probably not gonna mix very well.

BTW, welcome to the forum!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: need schematics for an EMG and a single...

If I were you, I'd only wire up the EMG, and stick in the single coil as a dummy. If you need help with the EMG, I'll tell you how to do that.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: need schematics for an EMG and a single...

Is this an active or passive EMG?

 

[Luke Vader]

Re: need schematics for an EMG and a single...

Combining active (EMG) and passive pickups is a little complicated. I've always meant to try it (just to figure out how to do it), but have never gotten around to it. If you don't use some type of booster circuit to raise the volume of the single coil, they're probably not gonna mix very well.

BTW, welcome to the forum!


If I were you, I'd only wire up the EMG, and stick in the single coil as a dummy. If you need help with the EMG, I'll tell you how to do that.

never thought about an active and passive not mixing well, but it makes sense...i'm not against using the single as a dummy because from what i remember, it didnt sound too great in the first place...

i'm kind of an airhead at times, but if you type really slow, i might be able to figure out hooking up only the EMG :22:

and thanks for the welcome

Is this an active or passive EMG?

it's active...an EMG 60...

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: need schematics for an EMG and a single...

Do you want to hook up a volume and tone knob, or just a volume? Also, do you have the 25k potentiometer(s)? EMGs need different pots than passives.

BTW, if you ever decide you would rather have an EMG 81, let me know (Sorry... shameless trade attempt)

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: need schematics for an EMG and a single...

You can mix the two and its not really hard to do... Just the 500k pot for the emg will work more like an on off... you will turn it almost all the way down and it will still be wide open then suddenly shut off (emg's run 25k pots)... You will need a 3 lug output jack also... if it was me I would wire in the 60 with the correct 25k pots and then save up and get an emg sa to go with it...

 

[Luke Vader]

Re: need schematics for an EMG and a single...

Do you want to hook up a volume and tone knob, or just a volume? Also, do you have the 25k potentiometer(s)? EMGs need different pots than passives.

Really, I'm open to any kind of set up right now...I just want something that I can plug in and play, so whatever works is fine with me...I'm pretty sure that I have 2 25k pots (that is, by looking at the sides of them, they appear to be 25's)...one of them I know to be in good working condition, and the other I'm not so sure on.

I took the cover off the back of my guitar last night to see what kind of shape I left it in, and to be honest, it's a fine mess...basically all I did was cut the wires in a place that I thought was enough to be able to just put both of the old pickups right back in there...but whoever wired it up before wasnt too concerned with doing a neat job...mind you, I probably wont be much better at it since this is my first wiring job, but just looking at it makes my head hurt

BTW, if you ever decide you would rather have an EMG 81, let me know (Sorry... shameless trade attempt)

I'm lost when it comes to picking out a pickup to suit your own playing style, but from what I can gather, the 81 is better suited for lead (which I play little to none at all). So I think i'll stick with this old 60 for now, but thanks for the offer

 

[Luke Vader]

Re: need schematics for an EMG and a single...

...You will need a 3 lug output jack also... if it was me I would wire in the 60 with the correct 25k pots and then save up and get an emg sa to go with it...

the output jack, meaning the jack that goes to the amp has 3 soldering points on it? Told ya I was an airhead at times :22:

as far as I can tell, the one that I have has only 2...

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: need schematics for an EMG and a single...

Exactly yes... Most jacks do have just 2 lugs... Sometimes they call the 3 lug ones stereo jacks. If you go to EMG to get the the 25k pots just get a output jack to go with it. I havent looked at the SA's but I know when you buy like a new 81 it will come with volume and tone pots and an output jack. Maybe look and see if they have something similar with an SA and get all the parts at once...