EMG 89/SA/SA wiring help

Bork

I want to wire my HSS strat so I can select bridge and neck pickups in the middle position of the 5 way selector.  

Is this possible?  I have a feeling it may not but google is not my friend, nor Yahoo for that matter.  

If it is,  would the mod be a simple rewire of the pickup selector like on a passive strat?  

exocet

You need a Superswitch to do this. Here’s an example used on Nashville Style Telecasters (3 pickups). https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/557883472568843490/

ICBM

Yes, unfortunately you need a complicated switch to do this apparently simple thing - it’s because the standard 5-way is actually just a 3-way with extra notches.

There’s a version of the Schaller Megaswitch which does it too, which is simpler - the E model. I’m not a huge fan of the feel of them and I’ve seen a couple of reliability problems with them, but they’re not bad.

The switching with EMGs is always the same as for passive pickups.

FelineGuitars

Or just add a mini toggle to give you the option of 2 more sounds to the 5 way

Bork

Thanks chaps

Bork

FelineGuitars said:

Or just add a mini toggle to give you the option of 2 more sounds to the 5 way

I'm reluctant to drill a hole in the pickguard, in what is already a neat layout that relies on push pull pots to split the 89.  I guess I'll have to nose about for the Schaller Superswitch E (thanks @ICBM ;;).

Bork

Also - while I have your attention, the single coil mode of the 89 is a lot quieter than the middle and neck SA's .  I was going to reduce the heights of the SA's to match the output of the 89 in single coil mode but the 89 would still jump significantly in volume when HB mode was switched in.  Specs of the output voltage for both pickups say 1v (89 in SC mode) so perhaps this difference is not intensional on the part of EMG.  

89 spec
SA spec

Am I missing something?

exocet

The other way to do it is to replace one of the Tone pots with a Blend pot. Basically it’s a pot with a break in the track so that you can “break the circuit” when the pot is at the end of its travel. So you end up with a Master Volume, Master Tone and a Blend that fades in the Neck p/u when switch is set to Bridge and visa versa. I have one of my Strats set up this way.

Bork

Unfortunately the spare tone is already a tbx boost.  There's not much flexibility beyond the pick selector. 

ICBM

Bork said:

Also - while I have your attention, the single coil mode of the 89 is a lot quieter than the middle and neck SA's .  I was going to reduce the heights of the SA's to match the output of the 89 in single coil mode but the 89 would still jump significantly in volume when HB mode was switched in.  Specs of the output voltage for both pickups say 1v (89 in SC mode) so perhaps this difference is not intensional on the part of EMG.  

Am I missing something?

Not sure - I've noticed this with a three-SA set as well. The bridge is much quieter than the other two, and even than the bridge+middle - on a passive guitar the loading of the pickups on each other reduces the volume of the parallel positions, but this doesn't happen with the buffered EMGs, so the bridge then seems unusually quiet compared to all four other positions.

FelineGuitars

You could swap the wiring of the neck and middle if position 2 is not so important to you

Bork

FelineGuitars said:

You could swap the wiring of the neck and middle if position 2 is not so important to you

Position 2 is important for practicing those Alan Murphy lines :-)   His signature sound was 'position 2'

Bork

ICBM said:

Not sure - I've noticed this with a three-SA set as well. The bridge is much quieter than the other two, and even than the bridge+middle - on a passive guitar the loading of the pickups on each other reduces the volume of the parallel positions, but this doesn't happen with the buffered EMGs, so the bridge then seems unusually quiet compared to all four other positions.

I'd like to avoid taking the guitar apart and checking the wiring.  It's a 12 year old prewired pickguard as well with the EMG proprietary socket system so I would be very surprised to find any mistakes.  The awkward thing is that the coil switching method for the 89 isn't clear, the website says the switching is 'electronic'.   It might as well be voodoo for all it matters!

I suppose an email to EMG  technical support may be the only option.

Funkfingers

Bork said:

Am I missing something?

No. All of the EMG dual mode humbuckers do that, sir.

In theory, it ought to be possible to add a resistor via the shunts on the push-pull mode switch for the -89. I have no idea what values would bring the -89 output down to -SA level.

My own solution to this dilemma was to use an EMG-HA in the bridge position and dial in an -SPC mid booster to get humbuckeresque sounds (and power). Very Gilmourish.



The superswitch and Seven Sound suggestions depend on permanently soldered connections at the selector switch end. Solderless™ wiring harnesses will require some modification.

ICBM

Bork said:

FelineGuitars said:

You could swap the wiring of the neck and middle if position 2 is not so important to you

Position 2 is important for practicing those Alan Murphy lines :-)   His signature sound was 'position 2'

Or swap bridge and middle. That would give you neck, neck+bridge, bridge, middle+bridge, middle in that order.