Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

[Max Salas]

Hi guys, happens that I have the tickles for my EMGs again...
I have an 85 and an 89 humbuckers and two SLV ready to go back to my Luke.

One of the things that I never liked in my HSS Luke was the 85 SLV combo, I even bought an 89 this week to use instead of the 85, so when reinstalling the EMGs on the guitar I could have the split 89 plus the SLV and live stratty happy with it...
but then I read that there is a mod to make the 85 SLV combo sound more like a real strat. It seems to be called the Suhr Knopfler mod... I couldn't find a diagram on Google, only comments about the thing being good...
Anyone has a diagram for this that could share with us please?

Also, can someone advise if the 89 can AUTO split in the bridge and middle combination? If not, I think I just wasted some dollars...


Thanks to all in advance
Max

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

You can split the 89, but you have to change the pot. 89s come with a push pull pot. You're not going to get a true middle position quack with EMGs, but an slight approximation. Also, the SLV pickups are darker than vintage Strat pickups. The 89 split is more like a SA. The EMG SV and S are brighter and more vintage sounding. Don't get me wrong I like my SA set in my Strat. The SLV set is more like a covered version of the SAV set with a little more heat.

 

[Max Salas]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

You can split the 89, but you have to change the pot. 89s come with a push pull pot. You're not going to get a true middle position quack with EMGs, but an slight approximation. Also, the SLV pickups are darker than vintage Strat pickups. The 89 split is more like a SA. The EMG SV and S are brighter and more vintage sounding. Don't get me wrong I like my SA set in my Strat. The SLV set is more like a covered version of the SAV set with a little more heat.

Thanks BRHGM, I do have the push pull pot for the 89, it came with it.
What I dont get is whether I will be getting auto split in the middle+split bridge combination, or I can only access to that via using the push pull pot?
I cant find the info for some reason, which is weird considering these are pretty popular pickups

Or I would also be interested in a schematic of the mod Suhr did for Knopfler in his Pensa Suhr MK1 with the 85/SA/SA.
Suhr wired a cap an resistor in the 4 pole 5way switch, I just dont know where to solder this mod?? It is a 22k resistor/.033uf capacitor...

help please

 

[Max Salas]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

Confirmed, emg 89 cannot auto split, it can only be splitted via its supplied push pull pot.
For future reference
Thanks guys

 

[Max Salas]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

And this is the Suhr Knopfler MK mod for the bridge and middle combination for the 85 and a single like an SA or SLV
https://flic.kr/p/JZEUjC

 

[juka]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

Sorry to disagree, but a long long time ago, back in the days when the 89 was relatively new, I had a guitar equipped with 2 89s and a special 5way switch by Schaller, called "Megaswitch M" (sometimes it's also called "Eyb Megaswitch" in reference to its "inventor", but be aware that there are at least 5 versions available and you will need the M one).
Wiring and soldering was an even worse nightmare than figuring out the switching scheme, but as this special switch offers twice the possibilities of even a Superswitch, it can be wired as several "independent" switches in one.
I figured out two switching schemes, one was H/S/SS/S/H, the other one was H/S/HH/S/H.
Couldn't decide on which I liked better. Liked the PUs, hated the guitar, so I sold it long ago.

I will try to find my notes from back then if you want me to, they must be somewhere in my parents house attic...

 

[jtougas]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

And this is the Suhr Knopfler MK mod for the bridge and middle combination for the 85 and a single like an SA or SLV
https://flic.kr/p/JZEUjC

So that's what, a .033 uf cap and a resistor in series? Anybody scope which value that is?

 

[Max Salas]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

sprry, I didnt see this before

its a 22K resistor, .033uf capacitor=33nf

you can also read it here:
http://www.hugeracksinc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=68495&p=676808&hilit=suhr+knopfler+mod#p676846

 

[Max Salas]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

I wanted to thank everyone that helped on this topic.

I finally got to do this over the weekend and let me tell you, it works exactly as it claims to.... I loved the results!!
Worth noting that I now use 85/SA/SA combination in my EBMM Luke II

To my tastes, the SLVs that come stock on this guitat are too dark sounding for this specific guitar so I swapped them and I couldnt be happier than I did ...
(I had to remove the duncans and the suhr humbucker in my avatar as it was noisy in pos 2... couldnt sort the wiring!!, emgs are dead quiet so went back)


I have recorded something just to show you how it sounds, hope you like it.
Put special attention to the bridge+mid combo; in the recording I start from the humbucker towards the neck for your reference
Please dont kill me for my sloppy playing, just an amateur player here :guilty:

https://soundcloud.com/max-salas-2/pearl-jam-sin-reglas

 

[allstarrme]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

i have an 81tw and an 89 that auto split from the 5 way switch, just need a superswitch for it.

 

[Max Salas]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

i have an 81tw and an 89 that auto split from the 5 way switch, just need a superswitch for it.

I searched high and low for a wiring diagram but couldnt find it! Even contacted EMG and they said 89 could ONLY be split via the push pull pot. If you could share a diagram it would be awesome, thanks

In the Luke guitar though, the super switch did not work cause the lever is too short. Fits but the lever doesnt reach to 1st and 5th position because its too short
I still have another set of EMGs I would like to use in a future project, would be 89/SA/SLV , so if you have the schematic it would be much appreciated.

 

[Patrick Hat Trick]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

IF anyone has the Wiring Diagram sa,sa,85 with superswitch push/pull 1 volume only, 1 tone only
Fatswitch etc. Please share, I'm trying to convert a Strat to the Suhr Mk1 configuration and its making me crazy.

Thanks in advance

Patrick Hat Trick

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

Apparently the Early MK guitars using the EMG 85 did not have a split coil setup for the Bridge pickup. It used a high-pass filter as described in post #8 above.

If you want a coil split you need to use an EMG 89 or 89R pickup instead.

 

[Max Salas]

Re: Suhr Knopfler mod or 89 auto split?

Correct
The 85 cannot be split