Install a EMG 81 in my RG370dx

Dahls · #1 11-02-2006, 04:57 PM

Hi! I just bought a EMG 81 active pickup (thinking of buying a 85 for the neck position) but I'm having som troubles installing it. I wonderd if anyone have done this before (or on a similar guitar) and could give me some help on how to do this, step by step. I dont realy understand how the wires are supposed to be connected to the 5-position switch + some other problems... I'm going to disconnect the other two pickups because I dont want to buy a Pa-2 preamp for the passive pickups.

I'd realy appreciate it if someone could explain this to me!

Roland · #2 11-02-2006, 05:30 PM

What little help I can offer you here is that you cannot coilsplit the EMG's. Thus, a pair of EMG humbuckers can only be wired to a 3-position toggle switch.

crevis · #3 11-02-2006, 08:16 PM

You cant use a 5 way with EMGs, I would bypass the switch altogether until you get the 85 and then buy a 3 way. There are wiring diagrams on the EMG website and be sure to be careful when installing it, you'll have to widen the hole in the pickguard and alot of people crack them because they havnt widened it enough.

Dahls · #4 11-03-2006, 02:24 PM

Ok that clears up alot! Thanks

Dahls · #5 11-05-2006, 01:20 PM

But... wouldn't the 3 way also have a dead point wich will screw with the amp? Since I only need 2 positions to swich between the two pickups... (yes, I am a noob

)

User010101 · #6 11-05-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dahls

But... wouldn't the 3 way also have a dead point wich will screw with the amp? Since I only need 2 positions to swich between the two pickups... (yes, I am a noob

)

no, a 3 way selector is perfect for emgs:

position one: emg 85
position two: both pickups
position three: emg 81

**jaxadam** · #7 11-05-2006, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crevis

You cant use a 5 way with EMGs, I would bypass the switch altogether until you get the 85 and then buy a 3 way. There are wiring diagrams on the EMG website and be sure to be careful when installing it, you'll have to widen the hole in the pickguard and alot of people crack them because they havnt widened it enough.

You sure can use a 5 was switch with EMGs.

Dahls · #8 11-05-2006, 06:05 PM

ok, now I get it, thanks! Jaxadam : How?

crevis · #9 11-05-2006, 09:36 PM

with split 89s?

Dahls · #10 11-07-2006, 06:51 PM

Okay, all done with the first pickup

skipped the swich so I only use the EMG, it has alot of noise though =/

LonePhantom · #11 11-07-2006, 10:00 PM

You didn't earth it to the spring claw did you? It's a common mistake many people make when making the switch from passive pickups to EMGs.

Moibanez · #12 11-07-2006, 10:18 PM

I just put a set of zakk 81 85's in my rg570 ..get a 3 way

Dahls · #13 11-08-2006, 12:12 PM

Disconected the earthing wire from the spring calw when I mounted the EMG. but thanks for the tip

Just ordered a brand new EMG 85 for the neck and a 3 way swich. I will probably come back with some more questions about how to wire the swich when that problem comes

crevis · #14 11-08-2006, 12:21 PM

All pickups should be earthed. Make sure the ground is connected to the pot correctly. Also just touch all the connections with your finger to see where its grounded or not.

Demiurge · #15 11-08-2006, 03:45 PM

Also, if you have the quick-connect cable on reversed, that can account for low output and noise. You used the EMG-supplied stereo output jack, right?