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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:	GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:	Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:	KDX200::COOPER

Created:	Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3280
Total number of notes:	61432

1672.0. "Active problems" by CHEFS::DALLISON (Funk-o-metal Carpet Ride) Tue Feb 06 1990 07:16

         
         
    I've recently had an EMG 85 active pickup installed in the bridge
    position of my Vantage. There are a couple of  problem, which 
    are :-
         
    The sound on the bridge pickup is never totally clean. It still has 
    a subtle overdriven sound to it which is hardly notices when you play 
    melodies, but really sounds awful when playing most chrods. If I
    change to the passive neck pickup, other than the fact its more
    bass-y, its as clean as a wistle.
                                                                
    The other problem is that there doesn't seem to be much difference
    in the volume boost between the above mentioned EMG and the standard
    Vantage (passive) neck humbucker. I was under the impression that 
    because the EMG is active, it would overpower the neck pickup, but
    it doesn't.
              
    In both case I've changed the battery several times and had a look
    at the wireing - no joy. Also, on the fist problem, I've checked 
    on the strings and they seem okay.
                                      
    Anyone come across this before ?  
         
    Thans,
    -Tony

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1672.2	check the spec-sheet	HAMER::KRON	BILL-THE-WONDER-MUTANT	`Tue Feb 06 1990 13:51`	14
	I used to have a travis bean bass and I put emg humbucker sized active bass p.u.'s in it and I had a similar problem.....but the solution is simple. Check the paperwork that came with the pickup; you probably need to up the resistance of the pots in the guitar... if the pots are too low a value you will not get full output. I believe I changed mine to 500k ohm and then they CRANKED.... If this doesn't help.....see what the max power input of the pickup is-I believe you can run EMG's w/ 2 9V batteries in series with no problem other than those assault and battery charges filed by your band-mates!!!! This would be handy for soloing if you could switch between 1 and 2 batteries...... Hope everything works out; -Bill
1672.3		CHEFS::DALLISON	Funk-o-metal Carpet Ride	`Tue Feb 06 1990 14:03`	4
	Thanks, I'll check them out. Cheers, -Tony
1672.4	fresh batteries.	MILKWY::JACQUES		`Tue Feb 06 1990 17:35`	5
	Also make sure the batteries are fresh and fully charged. A weak battery will cause the preamp circuit to clip. Mark
1672.5	Pickup height	MFGMEM::DERRICO		`Wed Feb 07 1990 13:04`	3
	What about the height between the pickup and the strings? Just curious.
1672.6	Check your battery, I bet diff guits act different	ASAHI::COOPER	MIDI-Kitty-ADA-Metaltronix rack puke	`Wed Feb 07 1990 13:14`	2
	Yeah, when my batteries start to get low I lose output and the volume pot starts to "pop" and crackle...
1672.7		VLNVAX::ALECLAIRE		`Fri Feb 09 1990 12:51`	6
	When I had an EMG I tried to put 2 batteries in, then 3, then 4, and I can say I didn't notice any difference. The pickup always had a bit of distortion to it, I thought that's the way they were supposed to be. Try lowering the pickup.
1672.8		CHEFS::DALLISON	Funk-o-metal Carpet Ride	`Thu Feb 15 1990 10:33`	7
	I've tried everything (except altering pickup height) without any success, I'll try adjusting the p.u. height tonight. Thanks, -Tony