EMG Active H-S-H setup?

[phoenixrage]

Has anyone done one?

I have an RG370, and am thinking about going to the active pickup route. But I just hate the fact that I have a spot for a Single and am not using it.

So has anyone ever done a H-S-H setup with active EMGs?

like 81-S-60 setup, or 85 instead of the 60.

then would you use the 5-way switch and do H, H-S, S, S-H, H switching like the original 5-way on the passives that come with the RG?

[RSVampire]

yeah that setup would work

keep in mind though that unless you get the Dual Sound humbuckers when you go to positions 2 and 4 you'll have a fully working humbucker and the single coil activated at the same time unlike the passives which will split the humbuker along with the single coil.

[phoenixrage]

Originally Posted by RSVampire

yeah that setup would work

keep in mind though that unless you get the Dual Sound humbuckers when you go to positions 2 and 4 you'll have a fully working humbucker and the single coil activated at the same time unlike the passives which will split the humbuker along with the single coil.

i've read that people with just the H-H setup can do a 3rd position that has both on, so would an H-S combo not sound/work right? I understand that the actives (in this case) can't be split like the passives, but just wondering if its not recomended? or just have it wired in a way that 2 & 4 would just have both humbuckers on, leaving the single coil only available on the 3rd position?

[JoonasJ]

Forget that single emg in the middle if u dont use it (and it costs almost as much as emg humbuckers, 80euros almost in finland), get bridge and neck pups and just leave it like that or get H/H pickguard. You can get those pickguards cheap from **** for example or from pickguard paradise if that middlehole bothers.

[fretboardpyro]

you sure you want actives? horse's for course's and all that but i'm not mad keen on them. Bare in mind active emg's and actives in general technically aren't humbuckers, if you wanna go down the tapped route with 5 position you'd certainly be better off with passive's. it may just be me but if i was going down the emg route in a superstrat i'd go for 81, 81. but take a look at dimarzio de-activators, they really are good!

[phoenixrage]

yea, its just something im just toying around with in my mind. I might just stick with passives, and go active on a 2nd guitar.

good idea about getting the pickgaurd to cover it up, never thought of it that way.

[jaxadam]

Quite a few of my guitars are H-S-H with EMG's.

I'd have to say my favorite is probably a 81-SA-60 setup with a 5 way switch, set as H, H-S, S, S-H, H.

I would also highly recommend doing an 18 v mod.

[freewheeler]

I had 81 - Sa - 85 in my Ibanez RG470L when I recorded my guitarparts for my band's fourth album "Immortal", really excellent combination.
I used this guitar for all rhythms and alot of solos and it worked really well with the leadsolos I did with my Rg3120TWL.

If You want then check out at www.myspace.com/cryonictemple
the track "Immortal" (all my solos on that song was made with Emg 81 and 85).
All the rhythms and all my solos on Train of Destruction was made with the Emg 81 and 85. The Sa singelcoil is really sweet to use for cleanparts as well as for more mellower guitarsolos.

Now Im thinking of having either EMG 81Tw in bridge instead of the Emg 81 and the Emg 89 instead of the Emg 85 because I want to use position 2 & 4 on my 5 switch for cleans as well.

[_FR0D0]

you can have a 89 - S (or SA that I love) - 81tw setup and you will get a lot of different options of sounds

[_FR0D0]

.....

[georgyyy]

May i ask...
I am going to change my pickups too with this complex...
emg 81/SA/60 With the 18V battery mod.
However i was wondering if a set up as
1 Neck pickup
2 Neck & middle pickup
3 Neck & bridge pickup
4 Bridge & middle pickup
5 Bridge pickup
is a good idea!...????
What do you think?

[LonePhantom]

I don't think you'll be able to do that exactly.

[georgyyy]

Why not?
vigier Excalibur ultra has these combination with an emg 85 instead of the 60!
is it something i'm missing?

[LonePhantom]

Ok, I don't think its possible with a standard 5 way switch. You have three hot wires, and your ground from memory with those EMGs. You solder them to the first three positons on a standard 5 way, so you can only order them by those three positons. I may br wrong though.

You might be able to wire it the way you want with a super switch. Im not sure though.

Have you done a google search for a wiring diagram for the vigier model you mentioned?

[georgyyy]

Unfortunately i didn't find a diagram i only found the specs of this guitar in their website, actually i was lucky enough to listen to this guitar and i loved the sound.
Anyway, after your answer i lost my hope about this set up!
Thank you LonePhantom. Your word is a contract for me!