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What do the pickup rings do for the 20th?

This is a discussion on What do the pickup rings do for the 20th? within the Music Man Guitars forums, part of the Gear Talk category; On the 20th Ann. Silo and the other guitars it spawned (except Luke's version IIRC), what do the pickup rings ...

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    roburado's Avatar
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    What do the pickup rings do for the 20th?

    On the 20th Ann. Silo and the other guitars it spawned (except Luke's version IIRC), what do the pickup rings achieve tonally? Why was the choice made to put them in? It seems JP likes what they do, because on that latest prototype, they're on there.

    EBMM people, I'm not complaining. Just asking.
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    Quote Originally Posted by roburado View Post
    what do the pickup rings achieve tonally?
    Tone wise I 'd imagine it doesn't change it that much. But 2 thumbs up for EB pushing the envelope and trying new things.
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    I think the rings allow you to adjust the pickup positions. The normal JP model has the pickups mounted directly to the body, so you can only adjust by shimming them. I'm not sure if the normal Silo has direct-mounted pickups as well.. but I think most if not all of the EBMM guitars do.

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    Quote Originally Posted by SteveB View Post
    I think the rings allow you to adjust the pickup positions. The normal JP model has the pickups mounted directly to the body, so you can only adjust by shimming them. I'm not sure if the normal Silo has direct-mounted pickups as well.. but I think most if not all of the EBMM guitars do.
    Sil Specials are mounted to the pickguard and are adjustable.

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    Quote Originally Posted by roburado View Post
    On the 20th Ann. Silo and the other guitars it spawned (except Luke's version IIRC), what do the pickup rings achieve tonally? Why was the choice made to put them in? It seems JP likes what they do, because on that latest prototype, they're on there.

    EBMM people, I'm not complaining. Just asking.
    I think part of it is that the pickup shape is the same as the bass humbucker pickup shapes--something that is very identifyable with the line of basses, and this brings the two lines together. Much like a good rug will pull a room together....
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    Quote Originally Posted by bassmonkeee View Post
    I think part of it is that the pickup shape is the same as the bass humbucker pickup shapes--something that is very identifyable with the line of basses, and this brings the two lines together. Much like a good rug will pull a room together....
    You know, I was thinking that might have been part of the thinking there.
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    Looking at the rings, it would allow for tilt adjustment as well as height. Dunno if that's the only reason.
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    Tilt adjustment is great.
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    Quote Originally Posted by KungFu Grip View Post
    Looking at the rings, it would allow for tilt adjustment as well as height. Dunno if that's the only reason.
    Makes sense.
    JP6 Pearl Redburst; 20th Anniversary Silhouette; Silhouette Special Las Vegas Gold; 2007 LE Bongo 4H; BFR JP6 Trans Ruby; AL MM90 Pacific Blue Burst; 2006 LE AL; 25th Anniversary Guitar Quilt, Maple Fretboard, Hardtail; 25th Anniversary Guitar Quilt, Rosewood Fretboard, Tremolo; DD2 BFR JP6; DD2 BFR GR; AL HH Black; Luke with Piezo, Black Sugar Roasted Maple

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    Everyone knows that pickup rings has been around forever. And unfortunately, as simple as they seem, have remained unchanged for whatever reason for TOO LONG.

    The EBMM rings have a few design changes that allow for better functionality than the standard rings you find on every other guitar.
    1. The 3 point height adjustment not only allows you to move the pickup to it's desired location, but to keep there without the potential for rocking from front to back.
    2. The pickups are hard mounted to the ring itself with the desired height protruding out of the top of the ring. You may notice on some older archtops the pickups can be almost 1" above the rings which not only decreases stability, but also looks kind or wierd (in my opinion).
    3. Laslty, due to the fact that the pickup+pickup ring assembly move together in and out of the body cavity, there is no need to shape the pickup ring to match the arch in certain tops. So you always get a sleek looking, tight fitting pickup mount. You can really notice the advantage to this on poorly made guitars where a generic square rings is simply thrown onto whatever body shape.

    Check them out and take a closer look sometime....I think you'll dig it!
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    Quote Originally Posted by bassmonkeee View Post
    Much like a good rug will pull a room together....
    ...matching drapes are good too but not always necessary



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    A fantastic look. Like an update of the old Gibson Mini Bucker Deluxe idea yeah Drew? Were the housing moves up and down instead?

    Fabulous look. Can't wait for what the future has in store.
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    Quote Originally Posted by drewbixcubed View Post
    Everyone knows that pickup rings has been around forever. And unfortunately, as simple as they seem, have remained unchanged for whatever reason for TOO LONG.

    The EBMM rings have a few design changes that allow for better functionality than the standard rings you find on every other guitar.
    1. The 3 point height adjustment not only allows you to move the pickup to it's desired location, but to keep there without the potential for rocking from front to back.
    2. The pickups are hard mounted to the ring itself with the desired height protruding out of the top of the ring. You may notice on some older archtops the pickups can be almost 1" above the rings which not only decreases stability, but also looks kind or wierd (in my opinion).
    3. Laslty, due to the fact that the pickup+pickup ring assembly move together in and out of the body cavity, there is no need to shape the pickup ring to match the arch in certain tops. So you always get a sleek looking, tight fitting pickup mount. You can really notice the advantage to this on poorly made guitars where a generic square rings is simply thrown onto whatever body shape.

    Check them out and take a closer look sometime....I think you'll dig it!
    Hey, thanks for the insight, Drew! Having never seen them up close, I never knew about the 3-point height adjustment. That's awesome. Leave it to EBMM to come up with something like that. Thanks again!
    JP6 Pearl Redburst; 20th Anniversary Silhouette; Silhouette Special Las Vegas Gold; 2007 LE Bongo 4H; BFR JP6 Trans Ruby; AL MM90 Pacific Blue Burst; 2006 LE AL; 25th Anniversary Guitar Quilt, Maple Fretboard, Hardtail; 25th Anniversary Guitar Quilt, Rosewood Fretboard, Tremolo; DD2 BFR JP6; DD2 BFR GR; AL HH Black; Luke with Piezo, Black Sugar Roasted Maple

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    Cool innovations, Rookie!

    I like the no-rocking improvement. I always disliked that about guitars with pickup rings. (Although I don't mind pickup rings anyway..)

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    Quote Originally Posted by drewbixcubed View Post
    Everyone knows that pickup rings has been around forever. And unfortunately, as simple as they seem, have remained unchanged for whatever reason for TOO LONG.

    The EBMM rings have a few design changes that allow for better functionality than the standard rings you find on every other guitar.
    1. The 3 point height adjustment not only allows you to move the pickup to it's desired location, but to keep there without the potential for rocking from front to back.
    2. The pickups are hard mounted to the ring itself with the desired height protruding out of the top of the ring. You may notice on some older archtops the pickups can be almost 1" above the rings which not only decreases stability, but also looks kind or wierd (in my opinion).
    3. Laslty, due to the fact that the pickup+pickup ring assembly move together in and out of the body cavity, there is no need to shape the pickup ring to match the arch in certain tops. So you always get a sleek looking, tight fitting pickup mount. You can really notice the advantage to this on poorly made guitars where a generic square rings is simply thrown onto whatever body shape.

    Check them out and take a closer look sometime....I think you'll dig it!
    Hi there,

    I'm looking to replace the pickups on the 20th silo with Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAFs. Will they fit into the current pickup mounting rings or do I need to work out some mods?

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