EMG's with a DR - sounds flat

[MF]

I just had a set of Zakk Wylde EMG's installed in my guitar but i'm finding that i've had to alter my playing style significantly by hitting the strings with much more force than usual when playing through my 3ch DR to get the response and punchiness i want out of these pickups. When i play normally it just kind of falls flat.

Could it be that the pickups aren't positioned close enough to the strings? I could post a picture later on, but the neck pup is about 1/3cm from the strings and the bridge pup is about 1/2cm. I don't think it's much different than how the stock ones were positioned.

 

[primerib]

the beauty of EMGs besides their high output is that they have a very low magnetic field so you can place them closer to the strings without causing intonation issues (string pull in the mag field). You can move them closer to your strings for even more punch.

 

[MF]

How do i adjust how the pickup is situated? I tried using the screws on the sides of the pickup but that seems to be how it is attached.

 

[Silverwulf]

This may seem like an obvious question, but are you sure the battery is good? If the battery is old, you'll start losing punch/clarity.

I've used EMG's with Rectos for about 4-5 years now, couldn't imagine many other pickups for my heavier playing with it now. Never had any probs. Even after constant use (playing at home plus with the band twice a week and gigs), I've only had to replace the batteries twice in that 4-5 year span.

 

[MF]

Well, the assumption would be that the battery is good. They were just installed last week so i couldn't imagine the tech using a bad battery but who knows.

 

[primerib]

How do i adjust how the pickup is situated? I tried using the screws on the sides of the pickup but that seems to be how it is attached.

???

Does the pickup height change when you turn those screws? there should be springs on the mount screws that should push to height depending on the screw adjustment.

 

[MF]

How do i adjust how the pickup is situated? I tried using the screws on the sides of the pickup but that seems to be how it is attached.

???

Does the pickup height change when you turn those screws? there should be springs on the mount screws that should push to height depending on the screw adjustment.

Nope. When i adjust it the resistance increases or decreases but there is no noticeable change in the height of the pickup. I thought that was odd. Maybe i should take another look at it.

 

[R_ADKINS80]

Put EMG's as cose to the strings as you can get them without the strings touching when fretting the highest fret. you also want to take into account the movement of the strings when picking hard and palm muting. I would also highly recoment getting an extra 9v battery lead and putting a second battery in series for a total of 18volts to the pick-ups. That made a HUGE difference in tone and feel when I did it.

 

[MF]

Put EMG's as cose to the strings as you can get them without the strings touching when fretting the highest fret. you also want to take into account the movement of the strings when picking hard and palm muting. I would also highly recoment getting an extra 9v battery lead and putting a second battery in series for a total of 18volts to the pick-ups. That made a HUGE difference in tone and feel when I did it.

I'm definately doing the 18V mod. I just want to play it for a few weeks/months so i can actually notice the difference when i do it. This is my first set of EMG's.

And thanks for the advice folks, i'll take another crack at adjusting the pickups and maybe putting a better battery in there before practice tonight to see if that makes a difference.

 

[Elpelotero]

Put EMG's as cose to the strings as you can get them without the strings touching when fretting the highest fret. you also want to take into account the movement of the strings when picking hard and palm muting. I would also highly recoment getting an extra 9v battery lead and putting a second battery in series for a total of 18volts to the pick-ups. That made a HUGE difference in tone and feel when I did it.

I've always read about 18v mods but never understood how it affects the actual tone. What did you notice about it?

 

[R_ADKINS80]

Put EMG's as cose to the strings as you can get them without the strings touching when fretting the highest fret. you also want to take into account the movement of the strings when picking hard and palm muting. I would also highly recoment getting an extra 9v battery lead and putting a second battery in series for a total of 18volts to the pick-ups. That made a HUGE difference in tone and feel when I did it.

I've always read about 18v mods but never understood how it affects the actual tone. What did you notice about it?

Warmer, rounder tone. More dynamic fatter low end. Feels more like a passive but still retains the cut and punch of an EMG. In short it un-sterilizes them somehow.

look for a youtuber user named brownhog. He does a before/after vid of it on a les paul through a triple rect....you can hear a huge difference.

 

[primerib]

You get 6 to 7 decibels more with 18V and no distortion from clipped peaks. A very good mod.

 

[MF]

Egad, if there's one thing i don't need more of it's decibels :lol: .

Ah hell, who am I kidding.

 

[primerib]

Don't think of it as loudness in the overall amp. What this essentially does is hit the front of the amp "harder". This will slightly compress the tone and tighten the bottom end up a hair too..

As for the data I posted, it was from a lab conducted by Mutant @ the UMF:

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/equipment/293799-my-emg-18v-experiment.html

 

[crane]

+1 for the 18v mod.
The différence is huge, and all the dynamic that you loose when you put EMG is back !

 

[MF]

I took a look at the pickup last night and it seems that the spring is at it's maximum compression so it can't go any closer to the strings. Despite that, things seem to have gotten better because during practice the pickups were significantly more responsive than before.

Btw, this is where the pickup is sitting. Is it possible to buy a pickup mounting ring that is a little taller? That would probably help. Or maybe get some shorter springs?

 

[R_ADKINS80]

That's still waaaaay to far away for EMGs. I have wear indentations under the strings ON the pick-up because mine are so close. I woud take the pick-ups out and try cutting a coil or two out of the spring with some wire snips.

 

[MF]

Ok so i'm not crazy then. The neck pickup is nice and close with lots more room to travel and the strings come dangerously close to making contact...but the bridge pickup is a lot further that i thought it should be cause that's about where the stock one sat. Maybe it's just a design thing with the SG.

 

[R_ADKINS80]

You'll nver get the complete tone of an EMG with it that far away from the strings.....somethings is wrong in there somewhere. You should be able to crank the pick-up all the way into the strings on any guitar.

 

[MF]

I think i'll take R_ADKINS80's advice and clip the springs a bit and maybe lower the bridge a tad as well. The action is pretty low as it is so i can't move too far though.

i guess my only other option besides that would be to either find a taller pickup mounting ring or maybe get a piece of rubber or something and make a gasket to go between the mounting ring and the body.