luke II pickups

[luke69]

WHO HAVE CHANGED THE EMG OF HIS LUKE

WHAT KIND OF PICKUPS

I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE BRIDGE PICKUP

THANK'S FOR YOU'RE HELP

 

[W.Suitor]

I put an EMG '81 in mine. It is a very personal matter as to whether one sounds better than an another, but I find the '81 to be an improvement as it makes position two on the selector switch actually useable! The '85 is a good pick-up but IMO when mixed with the middle it sounds terrible . The '81 with the middle sounds just a bit warmer than on its own and it's still great for lead or crunchy rhythm playing. Choices are limited though if you want to maintain the stock appearance of thr instrument.

 

[vexed73]

I put an S in the neck but will be changing back on next string change. I would like to try a SV though.

 

[Eilif]

I haven't changed the pickups, but I've heard samples on EMG's web site of the 81 and the 85. Based on those samples, I think I prefer the 85, and I can see why Zakk Wylde uses an 81 in his bridge.

You can get more information here:

http://emgpickups.com/displayproducts.asp?section=Guitar&categoryid=6

 

[glockaxis]

This might be off topic but it got me thinking. Years ago I had a Gib*** SG and had active emgs put in it (81 and 85 I believe). This was before I was educated in pickup design/function. The guy who did it in San Diego turned out to be a hack as well.

The guitar never sounded good after. Was this because he didn't change the pots? How would a guitar sound if all that was replaced w/ active EMGs w/o touching any other wiring/pots etc..?

Also, w/o a battery would there be any noise coming out of the amp?

 

[tommyindelaware]

This might be off topic but it got me thinking. Years ago I had a Gib*** SG and had active emgs put in it (81 and 85 I believe). This was before I was educated in pickup design/function. The guy who did it in San Diego turned out to be a hack as well.

The guitar never sounded good after. Was this because he didn't change the pots? How would a guitar sound if all that was replaced w/ active EMGs w/o touching any other wiring/pots etc..?

Also, w/o a battery would there be any noise coming out of the amp?

it's a totally different circut......that requires a battery in series w/ the pickups in order to get any sound. so....... if you are getting any sound.......he did more than only change the pickups.
those emg's take ( i think) 25k pots. . so .......if he did skip the pots install....&
if the gibson pots were left in ....(500k pots) .......i'm sure they would sound like dooky. i doubt he was THAT stupid..........but just look at the writing on the back of the pots & read there value. 50k ? 500k ?

 

[vexed73]

EMG's use 25K pots. They will sound super quite with any other pots. I like the 85 and I think the 81 would only sound good for mosquito metal. I have used both the 85 will do anything well.

 

[glockaxis]

it's a totally different circut......that requires a battery in series w/ the pickups in order to get any sound. so....... if you are getting any sound.......he did more than only change the pickups.
those emg's take ( i think) 25k pots. . so .......if he did skip the pots install....&
if the gibson pots were left in ....(500k pots) .......i'm sure they would sound like dooky. i doubt he was THAT stupid..........but just look at the writing on the back of the pots & read there value. 50k ? 500k ?

I got rid of itback in the day so i can't check it out. My old instuctor was sponsored by Jackson and had a custom V with emgs that sounded awesome through the studios little practice amp. i was hoping the Gib*** would have duplicated that sound but it was nowhere close. Pickup height might have contributed to it.

So what you're saying is that an EMG hooked up to a Gib*** pot will still play but not that good?


By the way, the work was sloppy----almost wish I had done it myself.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[glockaxis]

EMG's use 25K pots. They will sound super quite with any other pots. I like the 85 and I think the 81 would only sound good for mosquito metal. I have used both the 85 will do anything well.

So in essence the 85 in the Luke can do metal (80's era), hard rock, classic rock, blues w/o any mods like pickup adjustments etc...?


(I had to delay buying a Luke II because I've been waiting for my local dealer to bring in a friends one so I can try it out before ordering as there is none in stock. The guy's been busy and hasn't done this for me but did call and said tomorrow for sure. Thus the need for all my questions).

 

[vexed73]

yes the luke will do anything you want it too. It is a very versital instrument as long as you like the neck contour go for it.

 

[DML]

I don't think the Luke is that versatile. For example, leverswitch on #2 (mid SLV and 85) doesn't sound that much different from #1 (85). And it's a pitty that the Luke isn't fitted with 2x 9V batteries. If you run EMG's on 18V the dynamics will increase a lot.
The other guitarist of my former band has got two Luke's, both of them he got out the EMG's and put a combination of Dimarzio's and Seymour Duncan's in 'em. The first Luke is fitted with a ToneZone at the bridge and SSL1's in mid en neck. The second Luke is fitted with a AirZone at the bridge and SSL6's in mid en neck.

 

[glockaxis]

I don't think the Luke is that versatile. For example, leverswitch on #2 (mid SLV and 85) doesn't sound that much different from #1 (85). And it's a pitty that the Luke isn't fitted with 2x 9V batteries. If you run EMG's on 18V the dynamics will increase a lot.
The other guitarist of my former band has got two Luke's, both of them he got out the EMG's and put a combination of Dimarzio's and Seymour Duncan's in 'em. The first Luke is fitted with a ToneZone at the bridge and SSL1's in mid en neck. The second Luke is fitted with a AirZone at the bridge and SSL6's in mid en neck.

I wonder why EMG hasn't done something w/ the 18V thing. What are you specifically meaning by dynamics, especially comparing your friend's EMG's to the other passive pickups? I would think the EMG 85 would still get a great metal/hardrock tone w/o the 18v change, don't you?

 

[DML]

I mean that EMG's in general haven't got that much dynamics in comparison to passive pups. If an EMG-player thinks that EMG's sound great with only 9V, than that's okay, of course. But if you like the EMG-sound AND want more dynamics, just put in an extra 9V battery. I've tried this myself and the increase of dynamics is IMHO very clear. Not EMG does a lot with this thing, but especially bassmanufacturers do make some basses with EMG circuits (preamps and/or pups) on 18V. I think guitarmanufacturers should do this as well. But hey, it's just a matter of taste.

And yes, a 85 will do a great job with rock/ metal without the 18V circuit.

Check this link as well:
EMG's on 18V