Voltage Starving an EMG?

['59]

I've heard the results of people replacing the 9v power supply to their EMGs with 18v, but has anyone tried doing 4.5v? 4.5v is the minimum I believe.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Voltage Starving an EMG?

Test an old 9V in your EMG-equipped guitar, chances are it's pumping out 5V-7V

 

[dave74]

Re: Voltage Starving an EMG?

Test an old 9V in your EMG-equipped guitar, chances are it's pumping out 5V-7V

They don't stay at full strength very long do they! lol

In some pedals they don't even make it an hour before you can see the LED beginning to dim slightly.

I like the standard EMGs at close to 9v, like right when the battery is brand new and for a few hours after. They still work for a long time, but if I was recording or doing shows I would replace the battery every few sessions/shows.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Voltage Starving an EMG?

My only active instrument, a bass, actually has a rechargeable battery box so that I can get the fresh battery sound, but I only play that one clean. If you use distortion the freshness of the battery makes less of a difference. All you do when you cut the voltage is lessen the headroom, meaning that you create more compression and an unmusical form of distortion.

In this application higher voltage tends to be better.