EMG-HZ Wiring test

[HBS]

I know this is a bass oriented Forum, but this place seems to be the only place, where I can actually get useful information, about wiring pickups. I bought a low-end Ibanez guitar, because I really like the feel of the neck, and it didn’t cost me a lot of money. However, I don’t care much for the pickups, they produce too much feedbacks. I’ve decided to replace them with EMG-HZ humbucker pickups (got a good deal on them - new). It’s also my understanding that EMG-HZ pickups don’t need a 9v battery, as they are passive.

So, I’m getting a lot of problems, with the wiring. I’ve checked the wiring diagram in the EMG website, but I keep on getting the same result: an extremely loud hum. I’m just trying to test them with a patch cable, plugged into a Boss GT-3. Here’s what I’ve done:

- Black and White wires hooked together.
- Green and Shield wires hooked together
- Connect the Red to the tip of the patch cable
- Connect the Green to the sleeve of the patch cable

No matter what I try, I always get that big hum. The pickup works, I can gently tap on it and I can hear the sound.

Any ideas why I’m getting this?

[line6man]

What kind of hum? Magnetic or electric?

[HBS]

No idea! All I can say is, it sounds like a Chorus effect is on, when it's not. And, I can hear a pulse sound, every 2-3 secs, or so.

[HBS]

Found the problem! I was using crocodile clips to hook the patch cable to the pickup and as soon as I plugged the wires directly into the guitar, the weird humming stopped, and everything is fine!

[darkstorm]

Good news then. Which of the emg hz pups did you get? I rather like the H1 for neck position humbucker. More articulate then most with nice crunch. More a modern rock sound rather then death metal type drive tone. Great when paired with a bridge pup with more drive to let one go either way and do nice varying blends between em.

[HBS]

I got two H3s. I like them, because they do a great job through DI recording. It's not too crunchy and it has a nice low tone.