Off Topic painting EMG pick up

[ba2m]

Hi guys,

I need your opinion about painting emg pickups (emg 85). I heard the cover is only made from plastic so we can paint it freely but i am also curious because some people said that coating and paint will block some magnetic power or whatever that electric things which impacting the decreasing quality of the sound of the pick up.

I also notice that one painted EMG (camo emg) coming out from emg factory was painted not by airbrush method, but using dipping method.. don't know why .. (EMG Camouflage 81/85 pickup set Limited Edition)

please tell me about what you think about it.

ow.. don't worry , i won't paint emg on my luke .. i am planning to paint emg pu's on my "other" guitar .. so it will match the white pick guard.. that's why i put off-topic prefix on this thread's title.

thanks before.. cheers,

 

[ba2m]

this simple white color would be the ideal color of my black emg's..

would it decrease the sound quality if i paint it like this?

 

[petruccirocks02]

You should be able to paint the EMG's with no problem. Others have done it before wihout problems. As a matter of fact, if you look at Kirk Hammett from Metallica, most of his touring guitars have graphics, so the EMG's are painted over. The other thing you could do is see if anyone has white EMG's that they'd be willing to swap with you.

-Phil

 

[ba2m]

You should be able to paint the EMG's with no problem. Others have done it before wihout problems. As a matter of fact, if you look at Kirk Hammett from Metallica, most of his touring guitars have graphics, so the EMG's are painted over. The other thing you could do is see if anyone has white EMG's that they'd be willing to swap with you.

-Phil

Thank you very much for the reply Phil! so.. i think i don't have to worry about anything then. Btw do you have any info about how Kirk Hammet painted his EMG pick ups? was it a common usual method (air brush) or he was doing it with special method.. but.. i don't think it matter, doesn't it?

thanks Phil,
Abraham

 

[GoKart Mozart]

So EMG doesn't sell just the replacement covers?

 

[glockaxis]

I thought they were epoxied on and were not removable. As far as painting them, I do not know.

 

[petruccirocks02]

So EMG doesn't sell just the replacement covers?

Not that I'm aware of. The way that EMG covers their pickups, once that cover it on, its on. You'd have to destroy the whole pickup trying to get it off.

-Phil

 

[petruccirocks02]

Thank you very much for the reply Phil! so.. i think i don't have to worry about anything then. Btw do you have any info about how Kirk Hammet painted his EMG pick ups? was it a common usual method (air brush) or he was doing it with special method.. but.. i don't think it matter, doesn't it?

thanks Phil,
Abraham

Abraham, I'm pretty sure they were probably just airbrushed.

-Phil

 

[koogie2k]

Airbrush would be the way to go.

 

[NorM]

I would like to know if anyone has done this before. Can you ask EMG?

 

[gtrman66]

I would like to know if anyone has done this before. Can you ask EMG?

+1
It shouldn't be a problem but I would contact emg customer service and ask them before going any further just to be sure.

 

[ba2m]

Thanks guys, i tried to contact the costumer service but they haven't replied. I will post the explanation here after i got it.

 

[ba2m]

Hi Guys,

I just got a reply from EMG costumer service, it confirmed your inputs and opinions.

Hello;

You can paint your pups if you like. Be sure to try a test spot on the side of the pup first.

Best Regards,

R.Hunt

Technical Support

EMG Pickups
Electric Guitar Pickups, Bass Guitar Pickups, Acoustic Guitar Pickups & Accessories - EMG Pickups, Since 1976

I suppose it's okay to airbrush the pick up cover.. and would it be ok to sanding the existed black paint?

 

[GoKart Mozart]

Is the original cover painted black, or is it molded out of black plastic? Either way, I'd sand it just enough to rough up the surface and give your white paint something to stick to.

 

[ba2m]

Is the original cover painted black, or is it molded out of black plastic? Either way, I'd sand it just enough to rough up the surface and give your white paint something to stick to.

Thanks man! Will do it..

 

[alba22]

Use Krylon Fusion paint no prep or sanding needed

 

[ba2m]

Use Krylon Fusion paint no prep or sanding needed

i'll try to find it. Thank you for your input!

 

[GoKart Mozart]

Let us know how it turns out!

 

[ba2m]

Let us know how it turns out!

I will!