Installing EMG active pickups

LonePhantom · #1 01-24-2005, 11:07 PM

Hey just wondering if anyones installed a set of EMG active pickups in to an RG or similar, and whether or not they took photo's, did a write up of the process of installing?

I'm looking at buying some shortly for my guitars, and would like to see how it's done with photo's to see if I feel up to installing them myself.

Thanks all.

Jammy · #2 01-25-2005, 08:20 AM

Its quite an easy process, the pickups have 3 wires coming from them - one is connected to the +ve side of the 9v battery, one is the "hot" output, which is switched, sent through the volume/tone pots and to the output like normal pickups. The third is connected to the -ve side of the battery - this is switched "on and off" (to avoid running down the battery quickly) using a stereo jack plug. The instructions that come with the pickups are very informative, so read up and Im sure you'll be fine

thrice56 · #3 01-20-2006, 11:20 AM

So it is possible to install EMG active's into an RG? I just bought an EMG-81 active pickup for my RG. i was wondering if you knew where you would put the battery and all that.?

lyconxero · #4 01-20-2006, 01:55 PM

I have EMGs in my RG370DX. The battery should fit quite comfortably in the controls cavity. Just remember to take a piece of the foam that the pickups come with and wrap it around the battery to keep it from touching anything. If you do that then everything should fit very snuggly and securely.

buddroyce · #5 01-20-2006, 08:55 PM

I've never really come across any problems with installing EMGs in an RG. (Other than 7 string EMG's into a RG7620//RG1527.)

ibanez.shredder · #6 01-20-2006, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrice56

So it is possible to install EMG active's into an RG? I just bought an EMG-81 active pickup for my RG. i was wondering if you knew where you would put the battery and all that.?

Yes but if you are mixing passive pickups with actives it gets slightly more complicated. Just post if you need me to explain how to do it.

Installing active EMGs into RGs is easy. Ring-mounted and Pickguard mounted fit easily, but ive heard that direct mount pickup RGs have to be routed slightly to accomidate for the larger mounting ears. Its only a tiny amount to rout though so don't let that affect your decision.

God i wish the 7-string ones were easier to fit. I debating whether to get some for my RG1527, as i love the ones in my RG520 so much.........

lyconxero · #7 01-21-2006, 01:46 AM

EMGs in a 7 string would sound phenominal, so it would probably be worth it. Besides, I don't think you'd have to do a terrible amount of routing...more so just re-size the pickup holes a bit around the edges. You could probably get someone to do it and then install some pickup rings to cover up the work and you'd be set.

ibanez.shredder · #8 01-21-2006, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyconxero

EMGs in a 7 string would sound phenominal, so it would probably be worth it. Besides, I don't think you'd have to do a terrible amount of routing...more so just re-size the pickup holes a bit around the edges. You could probably get someone to do it and then install some pickup rings to cover up the work and you'd be set.

Theres are fair bit of routing but its quite easy, just a bit on each side and possibly make them a bit deeper. i'm not going to put rings on though, i'll just do it slowly and carefully and paint the insides matt black to cover it up. I found some pics on evilbay ages ago that had EMGs in an RG1527:

Looks pretty nice to me

lyconxero · #9 01-21-2006, 01:01 PM

Now that looks sexy...

LonePhantom · #10 01-22-2006, 06:22 PM

Well my thread has been resurrected!

Got an EMG 85 in the bridge position in my basswood RG and sounds great, and an 81 in my alder bodied custom RG style axe and sounds great too. You can do it and the battery fits easily in the electronics cavity in the back. As lyconxero said just use some of the foam to pad it.

chris42773 · #11 02-14-2010, 08:51 PM

can you send me a schematic on this...im wiring two emg passive single coils and a active emg 81 in a rg340

LonePhantom · #12 02-15-2010, 05:02 PM

Resurrected again!

I'm not sure who you are asking for a schematic, but I doubt anyone has one for a mix of passive and active pickups.

You are going to have to wire up two volume pots, one (probably 250K) for the single coil passives, and one 25K pot for the EMG. They will not play nicely together on the one volume/tone pot.

Ditch the tone pot, and you can then install two different volume pots for each sort of pickup.