Pickup swap for RG2020xtb

pierce34celtic · #1 06-21-2007, 10:15 AM

I have an RG2020xtb. I had been thinking of going with an EMG 81/89 set, but I'm still on the fence in which direction to go with, I've had several recommendations for several brands. As far as Dimarzios I've been recommended Evos, SS/Air norton, breeds, however, some say Dimarzios aren't all that great. Been also recommended Duncan Full Shreds, maybe JB/59 or Distortion/Jazz, but I'm not sure if Duncans are really the best choice. I'm looking for a thrash metal sound in the bridge, something tight and aggressive, and something fluid and clean for the neck, but also that can rip for leads and shred. What do you guys have to recommend? Any reviews/info/sound clips would be appreciated. I'm leaning towards the EMG 81/89 since the 81 is great for aggressive metal tones and the 89 is versatile since it can be split into an SA for clean tones, and it has a nice lead tone as well. I have a chance to pick up a set at a very good price. Here's a clip as well of the 89 in humbucker mode.
http://media.putfile.com/Instrumental-93

Here's a pic of the Ibanez:

Devo · #2 06-21-2007, 11:43 AM

sounds like you might like an EVO2 or D-sonic in the bridge and then Air-norton/Breed in the neck... I personally think the SS is a bit lacking in the crotch area... but I havent had one equipped for about 7 years now...

I run an Air norton in the neck position of my 2020xtb and love it ... I think its sounds nice direct mount in mahogany... and its single coil sound when tapped is quite useable...

I use an Air classic bridge in mine... I need the versatility of a lower ouput air bucker for two reasons... first to be able to cover everything from funk to pop to metal... second to reduce magnetic string pull so that my piezo gets better sustain...

The air classic is a much overlooked pup... my personal favourite at the moment... I think I have two equipped...

Anyway... This combination gives great parallel sounds across the two pick ups... would reccomend it to anyone!

Steve

pierce34celtic · #3 06-21-2007, 12:42 PM

Are dimarzios suited well for metal? It seems that most of the clips and users tend to be more shred oriented. I need something crushing in the bridge, that's why i was leaning towards the emg 81, and something clean and fluid in the neck (EMG 89)

NeglectedField · #4 06-21-2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierce34celtic

Are dimarzios suited well for metal? It seems that most of the clips and users tend to be more shred oriented. I need something crushing in the bridge, that's why i was leaning towards the emg 81, and something clean and fluid in the neck (EMG 89)

If you get the right model of Dimarzio, yes. D-Sonics and D-Activators are meant to be good. Though I guess you can't go wrong with EMGs. All I'm thinking is how much of a fiddle I hear it is to install EMGs on any guitar let alone you'll have to have a steady hand to wire it amongst all the electronics for the piezo *and* find a space for the 9volt! If you do go with EMGs it'd probably be worth the money to get a professional to do it for you.

I imagine that must be pretty cool range though, EMGs on a piezo'd guitar. Show us pics when you're done upgrading!

Devo · #5 06-21-2007, 05:34 PM

someone must have done it before... EMG's and a piezo... I have never installed a set of EMG's so I dont know if they have to have an extra pre-amp in the already cramped electronics cavity of a 2020... plus I know the LR baggs circuit is designed to run off anything from ~9.6 - 8.2 volts ... If the EMG's have a preamp then they will be designed to expect the same input voltage... even though the preamp might only use 1 or 2V in boosting the signal the input stage will be expecting ~9v so you would need to change some resistors etc on the preamp... hence you might need to make some modifications to both preamps to run them off a single battery...

otherwise you will need to have a second elecrtical circuit for the EMG's ... and you should look into that ... email LRbaggs website or EMG website.. and look in their FAQ pages ... they should be only to glad to help

_FR0D0 · #6 06-21-2007, 05:53 PM

If you run both the Piezo preamp and the EMG preamp (the EMG preamp is inside the pickup) with the same battery you will have very little headroom in your sound, and it will sound very dull and life less, just the opposite of running your EMG with 18V (that is the recommended voltage by the manufacturer btw). If I were pierce34celtic I'll throw a pair of D-Activators in that RG2020xtb. I don't think the EMG worth the extra trouble in this case.

pierce34celtic · #7 06-21-2007, 10:07 PM

If I decided to go the non-EMG route, could anyone give me a rundown of the D-Sonic, as well as the Steve's Special, and the X2N? Also would appreciate some suggestions/clips/reviews on Dimarzio or Duncan neck pickups as well. Thanks

pierce34celtic · #8 06-22-2007, 12:55 AM

Any help here?

_FR0D0 · #9 06-22-2007, 01:22 AM

D-Activator Bridge sounds close to the EMG-81 sound and the Neck sounds close to the EMG-60 sound. I think that you should use the D-Activator Bridge for the sound you are looking for (you can find reviews of it in this forum). For the neck you could use one of the following (ordered based on what I think you want): SH-6N, Evolution Neck, D-Activator Neck

pierce34celtic · #10 06-22-2007, 01:26 AM

Are there any clips of the D-Activators?

Holy Katana · #11 06-22-2007, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devo

someone must have done it before... EMG's and a piezo... I have never installed a set of EMG's so I dont know if they have to have an extra pre-amp in the already cramped electronics cavity of a 2020... plus I know the LR baggs circuit is designed to run off anything from ~9.6 - 8.2 volts ... If the EMG's have a preamp then they will be designed to expect the same input voltage... even though the preamp might only use 1 or 2V in boosting the signal the input stage will be expecting ~9v so you would need to change some resistors etc on the preamp... hence you might need to make some modifications to both preamps to run them off a single battery...

otherwise you will need to have a second elecrtical circuit for the EMG's ... and you should look into that ... email LRbaggs website or EMG website.. and look in their FAQ pages ... they should be only to glad to help

EMGs are extremely easy to install, thanks to their Quick-Connect system. The preamp is inside the housing, so there's no special wiring you have to do.

Devo · #12 06-22-2007, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _FR0D0

just the opposite of running your EMG with 18V (that is the recommended voltage by the manufacturer btw).

wow... do EMG equippped guitars come with two 9V batteries then?

Having three 9V batteries would be really expensive!

_FR0D0 · #13 06-22-2007, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devo

wow... do EMG equippped guitars come with two 9V batteries then?

Having three 9V batteries would be really expensive!

No they generally don't have 2 batteries, but 18V is how the sound best, you can read it in EMG's website FAQ.

_FR0D0 · #14 06-22-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierce34celtic

Are there any clips of the D-Activators?

I have, I'll post them when I arrive to my home today.

rty13ibz98 · #15 06-22-2007, 11:46 AM

i have an air norton, tone zone rig in my rg2120x. i love that setup best in my mahogany rg's. all of the ones in my collection have them. even my s series.

rich