HELP! Installing EMG707s into a UV777BK pickguard

[revsharp777]

Does anyone know how to do this? I know most people direct mount these in RG7s. Please help.

[Lonely Raven]

What exactly are you having problems with? Be more specific!

I believe I heard you have to cut the pickguard to fit them in.

I've never done it, but I'm sure someone around here has.

[darren wilson]

EMG 707s have to be direct mounted. They're housed in soapbar-style enclosures, and they screw directly into the wood. Mounting them to a pickguard is not an option.

You can keep the pickguard on your UV, though, but you have to enlarge the holes in the pickguard and the pickup routing in the body itself to accommodate them. You might want to just order a new pickguard from Jeannie's Pickguards, pre-cut for the 707s, and use that as a template for routing or chiseling out the wood underneath.

[EKG]

I've done this to several RG7's and Darren is absolutely correct. They need to be mounted diectly, the routes in the body need to be widened to accept the EMG7's. The pickguard also has to be modified. On the 777BK, I would fill the deeper pockets, the area for the mounting screws, in the existing pup routes to be level with the area directly under the pups. Then I would route it all out for the EMG7's. They may be a way to mount them to the pickguard, but I couldn't imagine why. Here is an example of the routing on a rear electronics body

[revsharp777]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I took the guitar to my guitar tech's place & he came up with the same plan as you, Eddie. The pups will be screwed into the body, but with some foam between the pup and body so can move the pup up and down for various heights. He will also be making me a replacement pickguard (black/white/black) w/ 2 EMG707 holes, no middle pickup hole, & a 3-way switch instead of a 5-way. Should look spiffy!

[Lurch]

I had a mirror pickguard made EXACTLY like what you want by Jeannie's pickguards about a year ago. It was his first one with EMG707's and a Les Paul style switch, so I know that he still has the template for it. You may want to have him do it instead of your tech because it is very difficult to make one accurately. Also, he told me that there is a slight difference between the lower horn cut-out between certain years of UV's so the pickguards are different (specify the year)

I took the mirror one he made and traced it out on a peice of polished-diamond-plate aluminum and cut it out at work. It looked AWESOME! I sold it a while back, but I still have pics if you want. Post them here for me if you know how. Thanks.

P.S. Forgot to mention that you must cut the wood out underneath for the pick-ups and also some out of the middle pick-up area to put the battery. I actually cut a cavity out in the jack-cavity area for the battery so I didn't have to remove the pickguard to change batteries. Wouldn't recommend this though, because it's very difficult and risky. Also, instead of foam just use the pickup-screw springs that you take out. You can cut them in half and put them on the screws between the wood and the pickups to control the height of the pickups.