Question EMG Gilmore set on Albert Lee

[edstorer]

I bought a mint 1996 Albert Lee over the weekend - Vintage Burst with tortise shell pickguard. Apparently the AL's didn't get locking tuners or a Silent Circuit in 1996.

The previous owner installed a set of EMG DG-20 active pickups, but retained the original pickups with 04-dated Seymour Duncans. I've played around with the controls of the EMG's and find the primary (1-3-5) selector positions have the sound that one expects from EMG's but the notch (2-4) positions are sort of "mushy".

Question One: Has anybody else used the DG-20's in his AL?

One of the big gripes in the H-C reviews of the DG-20's the need to remove the pickguard when the 9-V battery needs changing.

Question Two: EBMM battery boxes are among the industry's best. How would I go about obtaining one and the template/instructions on installing it in my guitar?

The good news is that I don't own a router and would definitely take this job to a professional.

 

[kbaim]

I have a set of DG-20 in my strat that I NEVER play, but loved the way they sounded.
It has 2 tone knobs. and I found you have to roll off most of one of them (Can't remember which) to get the quack sounds of positions 2&4. Not sure how the AL is wired for that if it's only a single tone knob on yours. push/pull maybe?

 

[Spudmurphy]

I bought a mint 1996 Albert Lee over the weekend - Vintage Burst with tortise shell pickguard. Apparently the AL's didn't get locking tuners or a Silent Circuit in 1996.

The previous owner installed a set of EMG DG-20 active pickups, but retained the original pickups with 04-dated Seymour Duncans. I've played around with the controls of the EMG's and find the primary (1-3-5) selector positions have the sound that one expects from EMG's but the notch (2-4) positions are sort of "mushy".

Wow that sounds interesting - I can't help you with the technical queries but would love to see pictures of that baby?

 

[beej]

I'd also like to see pics

Can't commend on the EMGs, but the older EBMMs didn't come with the locking tuners or Silent Circuit. You can retrofit both. New tuners require drilling a small pilot hole, but most of it is covered by the new tuner. I've done this in a few older EBMMs including my AL. Ditto with the Silent Circuit (if you want to go back to the stock p'ups).

You can order a battery box from EBMM or you can order them at places like Stewmac. I've installed one myself (using a plexiglass routing template) and I've had one installed (didn't cost much). Nice to have in both cases. Though I think the current draw is pretty low on the EMGs (it is in the Silent Circuit), so you probably won't have to access it much.

Do you have a trem? If so, another option is to hide the battery in the trem compartment. No routing required that way.

 

[robelinda2]

Yes Ive used the DG-20's, cannot see a good reason to switch from the fabulous stock AL pups.

 

[threeminutesboy]

congrat on this purchase and while you are at it, replace the pickguard with a AL pickguard for piezo you will see that the volume and controls will fit more naturally in this Guitar (I saw the auction and the pics of your guitar)

 

[edstorer]

Per request, photo attached. Note the 3rd knob placed too close to the Volume knob.

Since the EMG's are installed and the strings aren't begging for replacement, I'll audition the guitar as is at my band's next practice. Then I'm going to install the original pickguard and see how it sounds.

With my 2 Silos, I've found that EBMM's stock pickups are generally very well matched to the guitar. I experimented with my red Silo and replaced the bridge pickup with a Duncan PG Plus which is a little stronger than the PAF Pro and delivers more harmonics. I kept my white Silo stock and it sounds damn fine.

I'm anxious to hear the stock setup.

Mysteries of the world: Why would anybody buy a Strat?

 

[Slingy]

What all needs to be changed when you switch pickguards from a passive to active set? I would think even the output jack would be different as EMG use a stereo jack which is wired to the negative side of the battery. Also EMG does not require string grounding. Sorry just curious.

 

[beej]

What all needs to be changed when you switch pickguards from a passive to active set? I would think even the output jack would be different as EMG use a stereo jack which is wired to the negative side of the battery. Also EMG does not require string grounding. Sorry just curious.

If you have the Silent Circuit then just the pickups, pots & preamp. If not then you need a battery & output jack that disconnects power when unplugged. That can be done a few different ways, stereo jack works fine for it.