EMG 85 for SL1?

[El Bastardo]

Hey Guys,

I got a RGF SL1 with the stock SD pups. I also got a custom shop with the lukather EMG kit with the EMG 85 in it. The 85 sounds a lot better than the SD's although it's a completely different guitar as well (KOA) I'm thinking of changing the SD in the SL1 with and EMG 85.
Has anyone done this before and how did it work out.
Somebody out there with some advice/tips on this issue?

Thanks,

Leon..

[neilli]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

I put EMGs in most of my guitars - what you can't really do is leave the single coil SDs wired in with the EMG (EMGs are internally earthed, SDs are not). I'd buy the whole Luke set again, and that'd sound awesome...
Cheers
Ian

[xenophobe]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

EMG 85.. after long hard debate, I'm gonna put one in my strathead. I just love the 85 as a bridge pickup.

[sambencuda]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

You can mix EMG's with the SD's, but you have to wire it so that the sd's have their own volume seperate from the 85 in the bridge. it has to be wired so that SD's and the EMG do not share the same pot's. Since you only have two knobs, you'll have to replace your tone with another volume unless you want to drill a hole for another (I wouldn't). Here's a strat I did with and 89 in the bridge and SD two hot rails.


Good luck!

Jim

[sambencuda]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

Forgot to mention why they can't share the pots. The SD's will need a 250k pot and the EMG requires a 25k pot The EMG pot does not need to be grounded, but the SD's still need to be grounded like they currently are.

I hope this helps. Give a shout if you need more info.

[El Bastardo]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

Thanks for all the tips guys, I'll definately going to do some testing.
Sambencuda, thanks for the advice, good to know in advance [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[toejam]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

Yeah, 85 in the bridge all the way!! [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] I'd personally stay either all active or all passive and not mix the two.

[sambencuda]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

I'd have to say that if it were my guitar, I'd go either all active or stay passive as well. My guitars that have EMG's have all EMG's. I think the closest thing to an active while staying passive would be a Bill Lawerence L500 XL. They absolutly scream and I think they are only 48 bucks direct from Bill himself. You might have to wait a few weeks to get it, but it's well worth it. Check em out...

Bill Lawrence L500 XL

[slayer]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

The EMG 85 is my favorite pickup bar none. I haven`t found anything else I would choose over it or to replace it. Jack.

[guitar geek]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

hmm, question: in a mahogany body with maple top, EMG81 or 85 in the bridge? hopefully I will work out a deal on a 750xl, and it has a 81 in the bridge, but I do not know how that sounds compared to a 85 (I like the 85, but do not know anything about the 81)

Harrald

[Flatpicker]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

I would go for an 89.
That way you have some coil splitting options.

[toejam]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

[ QUOTE ]
hmm, question: in a mahogany body with maple top, EMG81 or 85 in the bridge? hopefully I will work out a deal on a 750xl, and it has a 81 in the bridge, but I do not know how that sounds compared to a 85 (I like the 85, but do not know anything about the 81)

Harrald

[/ QUOTE ]
I've got two 81s (chrome 25th anniversary set) in my Hamer that's all mahogany with a 3/8" maple top... I think the 81 is a little too bright. My Les Paul is all mahogany, including the carved top, and I think the 85 is awesome in the bridge, definitely bright enough, matches wonderfully with the 81 in the neck. I may eventually put an 85 in the bridge of the Hamer... too bad they don't make a chrome 85, as I'm not sure I want to break the set apart. Maybe I'll get an ivory one for the bridge to match the rings.

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

Dude, for the price of your chrome anniversary 81 set, you could get two "reverse Zakk" sets in black. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[toejam]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

Well, I got a great deal and paid $240 for my 25th, $145 for my ZW set. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Immortal]

Re: EMG 85 for SL1?

I think that EMG's are the only pickups whose sound isn't that much affected by body material.

I also agree with toejam (I know this is putting a smile to the ears on his face and he feels like a king of the world now [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]), but EMG 85 is something you can call a bridge pickup. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Really, I didn't notice the different in first place, but after playing some riffs and lick I discovered the whole new horizons. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

85b, 89n is an orgasmic solution for me!!