RG3120 pick-up question

[RickStar]

I just got my 3120 today and noticed the hole for the pick-ups seems rather small. does anyone have one with emg's in it. will they fit ok? thanks

[jb4674]

Why would you want to put emg's on that guitar?

Jimmy

[jaxadam]

Because EMGs ROCK and they are the end-all and if I had a '59 Les Paul I would put them in that, too.

Just kidding. I think EMG's get a bad rep, but you should not have any problems with installing them in that guitar, or any guitar for that matter.

I personally like them for some things, and I think they can make an already killer sounding guitar sound even better.

[TheJazzTerminator]

Originally Posted by jb4674

Why would you want to put emg's on that guitar?

Jimmy

I'm gonna have to agree. But, everyone has different tastes!

[Ki swordsman]

most people who dislike emgs havn't heard them on 18 volts. but even when they are, it's still an altogether different beast to the usual passives

[RickStar]

well i have emg's in all my guitars but it just looks like the pick-up holes on this one are a bit small. i'm still looking at passive ones as well. anyone have any input on what are the closest passive pick ups to an emg 85.

[Martyr Machine]

Originally Posted by Ki swordsman

most people who dislike emgs havn't heard them on 18 volts. but even when they are, it's still an altogether different beast to the usual passives

Meh. EMG's have ridiculous amounts of power, but they lack any sort of tone (good or bad...they just "lack tone")

[TheJazzTerminator]

Originally Posted by Martyr Machine

Meh. EMG's have ridiculous amounts of power, but they lack any sort of tone (good or bad...they just "lack tone")

I sort of agree with this. I think EMG's sound pretty good with distortion, you know, for chunky rhythms and cutting solos, but that's about it. Clean tones are terrible and everything else just sounds sterile.

So, if you want to have a good crunch/ lead and don't care about the other stuff so much, then I guess they're okay. I actually prefer DiMarzio pickups to EMG in every way, so I choose those, personally.

[RickStar]

which dimarzios. I like the ones in my PGM 301. They are a little thin sounding. but they crunch pretty well.
Also I get great clean tones out of my emg 89's. they sound really good and full.

[edguyrocks]

This doesn't relate to the emgs, but I am thinking about swapping out the paf pro's in my RGT3120 with Steve's special/Air Norton. I have that combo in my 2020, and it sounds great to me.

I am one who thinks the Tonezone is okay. Not great, not bad. Just different.

How does the zebra(black & Cream) pickups look with the brown flame. I know my axe has the cream binding so I was contemplating the zebras instead of the straight black?

[belial]

Originally Posted by TheJazzTerminator

I sort of agree with this. I think EMG's sound pretty good with distortion, you know, for chunky rhythms and cutting solos, but that's about it. Clean tones are terrible and everything else just sounds sterile.

So, if you want to have a good crunch/ lead and don't care about the other stuff so much, then I guess they're okay. I actually prefer DiMarzio pickups to EMG in every way, so I choose those, personally.

It is all a matter of taste, but I personally disagree with you EMG 81 haters. In my opinion they DO definetely have lots of tone, and the aggressiveness and clearness is the best out there, if you want to play hard rock or metal. I do prefer a DiMarzio Evolution for the neck for leads, but for rhythm I have EMG81's in all of my guitars.

As for the dude who asked about an EMG81 fitting into the 3120 - I am not sure, but I do have EMG81's in a JEM555, a RG550 and RG1570 and they all fitted without problems. I am also gonna install one in my J-Custom JCRG1-S NT within a few days. Hope it works out for you mate :-)

[RickStar]

I used to be the same way with 81's until i put 85's in a couple then an 89 in one. In the bridge. The just cut through the mix so much better than the 81's. Things are just clearer sounding. try one out. **** they are just plug in and go. give it a shot. you may be surprised. i sure was.

[Ki swordsman]

Originally Posted by Martyr Machine

Meh. EMG's have ridiculous amounts of power, but they lack any sort of tone (good or bad...they just "lack tone")

18 volts man. 18. don't judge it til you've tried it.. i sort of agree if they're emgs on 9v, they are a bit straight and dynamicless to me compared to the passives i've always played(i may just be used to them) but 18 is a step up imo.

with 18 you get a high power(yet not screamy like a high output passive can be), dynamic sound. (i'm using a 60alnico in the neck, 85 in the bridge btw)

it's still a different beast altogether and not for all applications but for now it's cool having one axe setup with them, while my others are passive.