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EMG Club!

#301
Wow, there's some gorgeous basses in this thread.

Here's my humble creation: Fender Geddy Jazz body w/ a Warmoth flame P-neck. I went with the EMG JX set. An absolute snap to install and a wonderful sound. I may investigate adding a preamp at some point, just as an experiment.

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#302
So i managed to get some work done on my SX Today, which was: filling the pickgaurd to fit around the control plate, and in the bottom of the neck pocket.
I also raised the height of both my basses today, its really improving on my 1234 picking. I need to get a damn finger ramp for my Aria Pro II at somepoint. Also my improvising is coming along great :)

heres somes pics i was able to take today aswell.

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#303
I don't expect many to understand this much less approve of it either. I have a 66 Jazz that does not have the original pickups. At the moment I have a set of Lindys that I have learned to hate. Low out put, weak tone. Just junk in MY eye. Before the Lindys were put in I had a set of EMG Selects that I installed back in 1983. They are great pickups. Loud, full range, punchy. I have them in a Mexi Jazz at the moment. I'm going to swap the two around.
I have a Precision that has Nords in it and it sounds great so I'm exposed to good pick ups and know what they sound like. These Lindys are a big disappointment. I know the Selects get a bad rap but maybe it has something to do with the fact that they were made 27 years ago that make these pick ups sounds so good.
 
#306
So, I've been playing the same basses since 1989 (Spectors). While I LOVE the tone with the EMG's, I really like the necks on the Ibanez basses better. And I'm kind of bored and want to try something new. But basically keep the same tone. So much for change, huh? :p

Have you guys found that with EMG's you can make different basses sound essentially the same?

So say a Spector vs Ibanez with the same pre and same EMG reverse P and J setup will sound similiar?

Ok, I know woods, strings, weight and everything else effect tone, but I also have been told EMG's kind of override a lot of that?
 
#308
Subscribed. I'll have to post some pix...after I take some pix...of my Spector (which I converted to EMG's)

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I modified this NS2A from the factory "Spector" pickups & preamp to EMGs with the standard VVT controls (thus the empty control on the bass, as pictured) Later I modified, adding a BTS system: vol, bal, teb, bass. Not a huge change in the sound, but better control over the tone.

Loved the bass, hated the (stock electronics) sound. EMG's turned this bass into a keeper. I have another set of EMG's that I plan on installing in a Fender Pbass Lyte I have. Another example of love the bass, hate the tone. I'm sure EMGs will make all the difference on that bass also.
 
#309
NS2A said:
So, I've been playing the same basses since 1989 (Spectors). While I LOVE the tone with the EMG's, I really like the necks on the Ibanez basses better. And I'm kind of bored and want to try something new. But basically keep the same tone. So much for change, huh? :p

Have you guys found that with EMG's you can make different basses sound essentially the same?

So say a Spector vs Ibanez with the same pre and same EMG reverse P and J setup will sound similiar?

Ok, I know woods, strings, weight and everything else effect tone, but I also have been told EMG's kind of override a lot of that?
Click to expand...

I've heard that Spector uses EMG pickups, but a different preamp. I would think that the tone would be different. I've owned two Ibanez SDGR basses with EMG's. The before and after is like night and day. Plus the Ibanez neck makes it a joy to play.
My only suggestion is to place a DC style pickup in the bridge instead of the Jazz pickup. It gives the bass so mouch more bite.
My first Ibanez with EMG P/J setup with the stock pots.
Serum14.jpg


My second Ibanez with P & 35DC setup with BQC preamp and Hipshot hardware.
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#313
bassgod76 said:
How is the MM EMG? You're the first guy I have ever seen who owns one.
Click to expand...

It's super quiet, responsive, and just beautiful sounding. It has that slight EMG compression, but not enough to color the sound drastically. The paperwork said to raise it up as close to the strings as possible, but I found out that it needs to back off from the high side, or else BWONK.

I love it. I love it. I don't run any pedals between, except the Ibanez Weeping Demon for songs that need some Q, and it just SINGS. Sustain from here to forever.

Did I mention that I love it? here's a better pic of the Rocket, just to be gratuitous:

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#316
EMG HBs, these in the fretted bass below. Sadowsky preamp though, sorry!

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(Also have EMGs in the XL2/A link below, obviously!)

Interesting story: When I first got this bass and its partner fretless from Bill Wilkat they both came with EMG HB-CS pickups, the Ceramic & Steel version of the HBs that are closer to the tone of the original EMG-SS "Steinberger Sound" pickups. But both basses exhibited a very strong directional noise problem, which varied from a slight buzz to a "Wahl trimmer held to your ear" (almost) depending on which direction I aimed them.

Took them into my local pro shop here in Nashville and the (excellent) tech guy there agreed there was no other preamp/wiring issues and the pickups must be the problem. So we sent them back to EMG and, sure enough, they were mortified to discover that they'd shipped me 4 bad pickups out of that batch. To their credit they immediately called me to apologize and FedExed me a brand new set of HBs which were installed and are typically-EMG dead quiet and great sounding. I actually think the tone of the HBs suits the instruments better than the HB-CSs anyway.

First time in 20+ years of playing I've ever personally seen a bad EMG pickup, and I've had lots of 'em over the years (Spectors, Modulii, etc.)
 
#319
I guess this is as good a place as any to ask, instead of starting a new thread:

At some point I may mod a project bass or build one from parts and I am currently considering putting 2 EMG humbuckers on it. I'll probably go with the newer X series stuff on it. Problem is I have not yet heard how these things sound myself. Has anybody here used them? I'm particularly interested in the CSX models, if anyone has had experience with those.

Thanks in advance for any replies. :)
 

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