EMG electronics

[low2groove]

Yes if you're running any of the EQ systems they do recommend it but I've run tons of them on only one 9 volt. Without distortion or draining the battery to fast.

There was either no room in the control cavity or the client didn't want to route and install a battery box.

If you don't have room for the battery in the control cavity a Luthier can route a cavity and install one for the extra battery or a double battery box for both.

 

[bassfreakah]

yea what he said!!!!

 

[low2groove]

Thanks line6man, we must have been replying at the same time.

 

[JimmyM]

Ya, my P Lyte can't fit two batteries for my BQC and it works great anyway.

 

[awamori]

I called EMG about 9v vs 18V when running their pickup and preamps together when I was installing them in my ESP.

They said if I'm running both I would need to run them at 18v and not 9v to get the best out of pickups and preamp.

 

[DanGouge]

and big letters on any EMG wiring diagram it insists the removal of the ground wire is needed.
there is some type of shock hazard from the strings grounded to the bridge then to the pots.
I know EMG's are dead quiet . the specific reason why the wire should be removed is because the EMG's are internally grounded.

Well, if it's one less step in wiring them up, that might make them just that much more appealing for a project I have in mind.

 

[JimmyM]

EMG will say that about their preamps, and they're not wrong. But they also work fine at 9v.

 

[fruitlabor]

What is "more headroom"? I don't understand what that means.

 

[line6man]

What is "more headroom"? I don't understand what that means.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headroom_%28audio_signal_processing%29

 

[fruitlabor]

Thx

 

[JimmyM]

Ya, with more headroom, you can play harder and crank the active controls harder without getting compression. Not too much of an issue for me, though.

 

[fruitlabor]

I just spoke to Rick @EMG. He said for J5, 9volt is call he'd recommend. Soapbars would work better with 18 volts so I won't have to go through all that after all. Thanks TB !

 

[DanGouge]

Ya, with more headroom, you can play harder and crank the active controls harder without getting compression. Not too much of an issue for me, though.

Nice, not a big fan of compressed-sounding active stuff myself, so I might just prefer 18v by the sound of it.

 

[keyofnight]

My EMG BTS was like that… lots of compression, no headroom, and a dull sound overall. How do I describe it? Ah. It was like driving a steak through a tiny meat grinder…when all you wanted was a steak. Does that make sense?

Going 18v made it a lot better.

 

[Smilodon]

18v is recommended if you crank up your EQ or play very hard, but under normal circumstances 9v is enough.

So far I have used only 18v simply because I can.

 

[fruitlabor]

I have EMGs in a couple of bass guitars. 18 volts gives you more "headroom" according to their literature. I've ran systems with both 9 v and 18 v and I prefer the 18v

Why do you like 18 over 9?