Swapping LUKE pickups - EMGX ?

[floyd99]

hey guys

I'm thinking of trying some different pickups in the Luke. Staying with EMG is probably the better choice I'm guessing, particularly for ease of installation etc.

What I'd ideally like is something that is slightly more "strat" sounding. I know the Luke EMG's are close already, but in particular I'm after the position 2 & 4 tones that you get on a strat. On the Luke, those tones aren't quite the same, and I'm finding I do miss them.

I was reading up on the EMGX series.. does anyone have any thoughts?

Obviously I'd need to go for the 89X in the bridge, in order to get the coil split function, which is not possible on the stock Luke.

Does anyone know what the difference between the 89X and the 89XR is ? I know they reverse the coils, but what does this mean as far as sound goes?

Appreciate any advice.

Cheers
Dave

 

[denny99]

What I'd ideally like is something that is slightly more "strat" sounding. I know the Luke EMG's are close already, but in particular I'm after the position 2 & 4 tones that you get on a strat. On the Luke, those tones aren't quite the same, and I'm finding I do miss them.

I was reading up on the EMGX series.. does anyone have any thoughts?

Hi Dave,

I thought of EMG-X, too. However, after hearing the X series comparison samples on this website, I opted for keeping the set as it is. That said, I think those kind of tests aren't as accurate as trying the pickups on your amp, with your sound and your guitar.

BTW, I love position 4 and 5 on my Luke, gives me a good strat sound. Position 2 is different, because you can't split the 85, so you can't get the strat sound out of that position. For that, you need an 89.

Does anyone know what the difference between the 89X and the 89XR is ? I know they reverse the coils, but what does this mean as far as sound goes?

On the 89R the active coil is towards the neck, when split. In terms of sound, you would get a more typical, treble and bright strat sound with the coil close to the bridge. But I guess it is more a matter of taste

 

[jcm900]

I'm also thinking about changing the pick ups to this setup in my Roll Burgundy Luke, but haven't pulled the trigger yet...

 

[beej]

Position #2 is often the issue for people since, as said, you can't split the 'bucker.

One thing you can try is wire in a cap and resistor to roll off the bass and get the combination to quack a little better. I can try to dig up the values on Monday that are popular. Some guys really seem to like that mod rather than having to swap in different p'ups.

 

[denny99]

Position #2 is often the issue for people since, as said, you can't split the 'bucker.

One thing you can try is wire in a cap and resistor to roll off the bass and get the combination to quack a little better. I can try to dig up the values on Monday that are popular. Some guys really seem to like that mod rather than having to swap in different p'ups.

I'm interested in it, so please post the details!

thanks

 

[beej]

Will do- when I'm back at home I'll buzz you.

 

[denny99]

Will do- when I'm back at home I'll buzz you.

Great! Thank you

 

[JonWands]

I like the #2 position on the Luke. You can't get that sound out of any of the other guitars.

 

[meanMRmustard]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the wiring would all need to changed as well if you decided to go with the X series EMG's so thats some added cost as well.

 

[denny99]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the wiring would all need to changed as well if you decided to go with the X series EMG's so thats some added cost as well.

Only if you choose the 89, which requires a push/pull pot as well. If you replace the stock EMGs with the corrispondent EMG-Xs, it's straightforward.

 

[look_at_her]

Only if you choose the 89, which requires a push/pull pot as well. If you replace the stock EMGs with the corrispondent EMG-Xs, it's straightforward.

Yeah but no but
My guitar tech found the way to avoid push/pull with a tone ctrl-he made it simple:in 2nd pos I can dial the splitted sound without tapping the T pot.

@floyd99.
Try the famous 18 volt mode-you`ll get the impression of X series evaluation of your EMG set (well,kind of...).
Cheers

 

[floyd99]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the wiring would all need to changed as well if you decided to go with the X series EMG's so thats some added cost as well.

true....

 

[floyd99]

Yeah but no but
My guitar tech found the way to avoid push/pull with a tone ctrl-he made it simple:in 2nd pos I can dial the splitted sound without tapping the T pot.

@floyd99.
Try the famous 18 volt mode-you`ll get the impression of X series evaluation of your EMG set (well,kind of...).
Cheers

that's exactly what i would love.. position 2 being the middle pickup + single coil of the humbucker.

i'll look up the 18v mod..

 

[denny99]

Yeah but no but
My guitar tech found the way to avoid push/pull with a tone ctrl-he made it simple:in 2nd pos I can dial the splitted sound without tapping the T pot.

That sounds great!

 

[panther_king]

Yeah but no but
My guitar tech found the way to avoid push/pull with a tone ctrl-he made it simple:in 2nd pos I can dial the splitted sound without tapping the T pot.

@floyd99.
Try the famous 18 volt mode-you`ll get the impression of X series evaluation of your EMG set (well,kind of...).
Cheers

This works great, as is the same advice I would give.


When I had some EMG's, the 18v mod it really opened up the headroom and dynamics of the pickups. Especially on clean/low gain settings. Easy to do and try without soldering anything too; just get 3 battery clips from radio shack and wire them in series (black to red). Then clip one to the clip in the guitar, and batteries to the other two. Easy way to do it without messing with the guitar, and it's a simple removable harness if you find you don't like it.

 

[floyd99]

This works great, as is the same advice I would give.


When I had some EMG's, the 18v mod it really opened up the headroom and dynamics of the pickups. Especially on clean/low gain settings. Easy to do and try without soldering anything too; just get 3 battery clips from radio shack and wire them in series (black to red). Then clip one to the clip in the guitar, and batteries to the other two. Easy way to do it without messing with the guitar, and it's a simple removable harness if you find you don't like it.

cheers... that is easy enough.

however the Luke has a battery holder, not a clip.. where does the 2nd batt go?

 

[panther_king]

cheers... that is easy enough.

however the Luke has a battery holder, not a clip.. where does the 2nd batt go?

Doh; Well you might have to solder the clips with the wire running into the electronics cavity if there is space for another battery. I forgot about the battery box; the guitars I've used EMG's with all had plain cavities with space for both batteries.

I guess you could attach a clip to the battery box, and run the wires through the channel to the cavity, then solder the other tow clips and place the batteries in the cavity if there is room.

Otherwise, you might have to (*gasp* ) solder a single battery in series the old fashioned way.

 

[panther_king]

Oh, and if you end up thinking of doing a complete pickup swap to the EMG-X models, consider going with the seymour duncan blackouts. They tend to have a more organic and open sound to my ears, even without modding to 18v, and are a better meld of active and passive sounds. And they plug right into the same quick connect connectors.

I might suggest checking out 'samhillband' on youtube for some great clips. Mark Day uses the blackouts pretty exclusively in his guitars, and though alot of what you hear is his amps and great chops, the blackouts do figure into it a little too.

 

[denny99]

I thought of EMG-X, too. However, after hearing the X series comparison samples on this website, I opted for keeping the set as it is.

Sorry for bringing this thread from death. I recently saw Steve Lukather live with Goodfellas (awesome gig!) and I was amazed by the golden colored Luke with EMGX pickups. Sounds AMAZING!