EMGs in an Albert Lee?

[uvacom]

Well, I guess it's not really a question. This is more like "I stuck some EMG SVs in my Albert Lee, check it out!".

I also made a few recordings for people curious as to what the change sounds like. In the first set, the first riff is through the stock Seymour Duncan set, and the second riff is through the EMGs. Everything else is the same.


(Neck sample missing. )
Neck + Mid
Neck + Bridge
Mid + Bridge
Bridge

All 5 Positions through amp sim EMG
All 5 Positions through amp sim SD

Oh, and here's a crappy flash shot of what the new config looks like - pretty much like stock, but the little EMG logos are a nice touch (I think) and although you can't really tell, the EMG covers have a textured finish which I think is a lot nicer than the gloss plastic of the stock covers.

 

[Jason5150]

Personally, I preferred the sound of the Seymours. They are nice looking pups though. I think for me personally from the sound on my comp they were a bit bright for me right across the board, different folks! Awesome work though dude! My speakers are not great quality so I have no doubt they do not do your EMG's justice.

 

[Colin]

that is nice, is it trans blue?

 

[uvacom]

that is nice, is it trans blue?

Yup. I've never gotten a good photo of it though, because in most lighting it looks more teal than blue, and the finish is a bit less transparent-appearing in person.

 

[uvacom]

Personally, I preferred the sound of the Seymours. They are nice looking pups though. I think for me personally from the sound on my comp they were a bit bright for me right across the board, different folks! Awesome work though dude! My speakers are not great quality so I have no doubt they do not do your EMG's justice.

Yeah...there are actually a number of differences, for sure. The EMGs have a more percussive attack and better (or perhaps I should just say greater ) high- and low-end response, also the staggered polepieces de-emphasize the B string so it sounds a little less twangy. I think the biggest different is in the bridge position, the EMG is much brighter with less midrange. I think part of that is the baseplate on the duncan, which is of course absent on the EMG. I'm thinking about adding an SPC control to bring back a little of that sound, though.

 

[dfrady]

From the sound clips, i liked the stock Seymour's better, but hey, different strokes for different folks. Anyway's Awsome guitar, i love it !!! Aren't those AL's Awsome, i'm hoping to join the ALOC this fall.

 

[Colin]

are the old pickups for sale?

 

[uvacom]

are the old pickups for sale?

Well, let's see...I don't have any other guitars that I'd want to put them in and I don't plan on selling this guitar so no worries about returning it to stock...hmm...I reckon so!

PM me an offer if you're interested.

 

[uvacom]

From the sound clips, i liked the stock Seymour's better, but hey, different strokes for different folks. Anyway's Awsome guitar, i love it !!! Aren't those AL's Awsome, i'm hoping to join the ALOC this fall.

Out of curiosity, what is it about the sound of the duncans you like better? Of course, my playing is naff on both of 'em so let's not take that into account.

Also (not to preach the EMG gospel or anything) but depending on one's needs, EMGs have a lot of benefits besides the sound - the low impedance output plays well with my studio gear, which is good because that's where most of my guitar playing is done. Plus they are *very* quiet, which is also good because usually when I play my monitor and a lot of other things that produce interference are on. Lots of little things too, like lower string pull (better pitch stability, greater sustain), they make it easier to interface with their expander/active EQ systems, stuff like that.

 

[robelinda2]

yeah i prefer the duncans any day to the emg's, they have so much great tone. but hey, whatever floats ya boat!

sweet lookin AL by the way!!!

 

[Spudmurphy]

Hats off to you and a big thumbs up for the mod.
I think you have lost a lot of the cluck and quack that you had with the See mores!
I have lovely sustain undertones from my AL with the duncans.

It's your instrument and I hope you are happy with it. - I think it looks great.

Edit
Any chance of some more pics, including some full length ones ?
Cheers
Spud

 

[dfrady]

Out of curiosity, what is it about the sound of the duncans you like better? Of course, my playing is naff on both of 'em so let's not take that into account.

Also (not to preach the EMG gospel or anything) but depending on one's needs, EMGs have a lot of benefits besides the sound - the low impedance output plays well with my studio gear, which is good because that's where most of my guitar playing is done. Plus they are *very* quiet, which is also good because usually when I play my monitor and a lot of other things that produce interference are on. Lots of little things too, like lower string pull (better pitch stability, greater sustain), they make it easier to interface with their expander/active EQ systems, stuff like that.

Um, i don't really know how too describe it but, the duncans are more of a natural straty sound, and with the silent circuit they should also be very quiet, when i play single coils thats what i'm going after is the middy, kinda high twangy sound. But i'm not saying the EMG's didn't sound good, because they really did, i just preffered the tone of the duncans a whole lot more, but if you are happy that's all that matters.

 

[beej]

Nice! Looks like the swap turned out great. Great looking AL, too!

 

[fogman]

That thing is just toooooo pretty!!!!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I liked the EMG's myself!

 

[candid_x]

How did you get 1+3 (bridge/neck) pickups together? Did you rewire the switching system?

 

[candid_x]

I think the SDs sound a bit warmer and the EMGs, more articulate. Both sound good, imo.

Thanks for posting the clips, btw.

 

[uvacom]

How did you get 1+3 (bridge/neck) pickups together? Did you rewire the switching system?

Yup, I used a Schaller Megaswitch-E. You can get one at stewie-mac. They have a few other similar switches which offer different combos for different pickup configurations. Personally, for a 3-coil system I like having the bridge+neck more than middle only (which I never use if it's the same pickup as the neck).

I think the SDs sound a bit warmer and the EMGs, more articulate. Both sound good, imo.

Thanks for posting the clips, btw.

I would agree with that. It's actually much more apparent when playing since the EMGs are more articulate and responsive, the duncans let you get away with a little more. The bridge pickup especially on the AL is much warmer, no doubt about that. In application, a little EQ corrects that nicely - that's one thing I like about the EMGs, because of their neutral response the tone is very malleable. But perhaps they lack some of the intrinsic grace - and dare I say it - mojo of the duncans.

Oh! And before I forget, I'll cross-link the duncan recording to your sound example thread.

 

[candid_x]

Yup, I used a Schaller Megaswitch-E. You can get one at stewie-mac. They have a few other similar switches which offer different combos for different pickup configurations. Personally, for a 3-coil system I like having the bridge+neck more than middle only (which I never use if it's the same pickup as the neck).

Cool. So do I prefer 1+3 over 2. HSS Silo Specials and 3-pup Axis Sports are already wired this way.

I would agree with that. It's actually much more apparent when playing since the EMGs are more articulate and responsive, the duncans let you get away with a little more. The bridge pickup especially on the AL is much warmer, no doubt about that. In application, a little EQ corrects that nicely - that's one thing I like about the EMGs, because of their neutral response the tone is very malleable. But perhaps they lack some of the intrinsic grace - and dare I say it - mojo of the duncans.

Yes, I could see how the EMGs may make more sense if you're going to use heavy processing. Same with using a flat response speaker and cab for sampling. But for plugging straight into a tube amp, I'd choose the stock AL pickups.

Oh! And before I forget, I'll cross-link the duncan recording to your sound example thread.

Cool. I pretty much gave that thread up for dead.

 

[uvacom]

Hats off to you and a big thumbs up for the mod.
I think you have lost a lot of the cluck and quack that you had with the See mores!
I have lovely sustain undertones from my AL with the duncans.

I would agree, positions 2 + 4 definitely sound different. Fuller, but less funkified. I'm definitely going to reverse the phase of the middle pickup, hopefully that will help. the sustain is very measurably longer with the EMGs though, I measured about 23 seconds of audible sustain on just the low E string with the SDs, the EMGs gave over 34 seconds of sustain! Cool.

It's your instrument and I hope you are happy with it. - I think it looks great.

Edit
Any chance of some more pics, including some full length ones ?
Cheers
Spud

Sure, here's a few more. I'm still not totally happy, I need to get together with a photographer friend with an SLR and see if we can do better. OTOH, I took a couple really great shots of the headstock.