WTB: EMG H or Similar

Duppy03 · June 2022

After a Humbucker sized, active single coil. Something that will get me in the ball park of a Tele neck tone.

Im sure there’s other options out there, but my limited knowledge of active pickups has lead me to believe that the EMG H is the kind of thing I need.

Thanks

Funkfingers · June 2022

I have one. It has, until very recently, occupied the neck position of an Ibanez RG321MH, where it sounded very Stratty unless or until I used the -SPC midrange booster.

In you circumstances, I would worry about the possible output level mismatch between an EMG-H and whatever you are using in the bridge position.

FWIIW, my EMG-H is Solderless™, black plastic cover, old typeface logo. Price would depend on whether you need cables, pots and other electronical gubbins.

ToneControl · June 2022

Funkfingers said:

I have one. It has, until very recently, occupied the neck position of an Ibanez RG321MH, where it sounded very Stratty unless or until I used the -SPC modrange booster.

In you circumstances, I would worry about the possible ohtput level mismatch between an EMG-H and whatever you are using in the bridge position.

FWIIW, my EMG-H is Solderless™, black plastic cover, old typeface logo. Price would depend on whether you need cables, pots and other electronical gubbins.

Yes, the EMG-H and EMG-HA are lower output than the other humbuckers, 1.0v to 3v (same as the S and SA single coil), as opposed to 3v-4.5v for the humbuckers

https://www.emgpickups.com/pub/media/Mageants/h/_/h_instructions_0230-0106rh.pdf

Duppy03 · June 2022

Ah okay, you’ll have excuse me as I have next to zero knowledge on active pickups.

The guitar in question is from the new Squier Contemporary line. The pickups are their own brand SQR, the neck position soubds pretty terrible but the bridge rather nice.

After a bit of digging I can’t see what voltage they are unfortunately.

Also I haven’t looked under the pickguard yet, but I’m guessing it won’t be a solderless system?

Funkfingers · June 2022

Duppy03 said:

The guitar in question is from the new Squier Contemporary line.

Which body shape?

The Squier web site describes the SQR active humbuckers as high output with ceramic magnets but says nothing about the polepieces.

To me, "high output, ceramic" suggests an EMG-81 clone. If you are very fortunate, the neck pickup could be an EMG-60 clone.

Duppy03 said:
the neck position sounds pretty terrible but the bridge rather nice.

Try adjusting the neck position pickup lower. If they are both EMG-81 clones, this might help to differentiate between the two positions.

Duppy03 · June 2022

@Funkfingers thanks!

If the 'SQR' pickups are EMG-81 clones, would an EMG H in the neck position work? Or would there too much volume drop?

Funkfingers · June 2022

Work? Of course.

Volume drop from -81 to -H? Vast.

•

As mentioned previously, I habitually used my EMG-H in the neck position and enhanced its performance with an EMG-SPC mid booster. (This device made surprisingly little improvement to my bridge position humbucker.)

The usual suspects for pairing with an EMG-81 are the -85 or the -60. Much depends on whether you require two different "voices" or two different "modes".

-81/-85 pair offers crunchy treble and smooth neck PU sounds.

-81/-60 pair offers less tonal change but introduces a different intensity. i.e. -81 for lead and heavy riffing. -60 for rhythm work and cleaner interludes. Almost like lead/rhythm mode switching, if that makes sense.

•

FWIIW, the Alegree Pickups Old Timer range now includes a few active humbucker options. One is a fairly blatant EMG-81 clone. I need to check the other options.

ToneControl · June 2022

Funkfingers said:

FWIIW, the Alegree Pickups Old Timer range now includes a few active humbucker options. One is a fairly blatant EMG-81 clone. I need to check the other options.

what is this one similar to do you reckon?

Old Timer 'Thunderclap' active humbuckers – Alegree

Funkfingers · June 2022

I refer to the Lightning Bolt models. Closed black covers, ceramic bridge, alnico neck. Looks suspiciously like homage to the EMG-81/-85 pair.

The OP might get by with the A5 "neck" position model to compliment the stock SQR bridge position unit.

It is faintly possible that the SQR neck position pickup is already A5 and that contributes to its terrible sounds.

It would help to know whether the OP's guitar is a hardtail solidbody, a semi-hollow with a budget Tune-o-Matic, a Floyd Rose-equipped Strat or an offset with all the set-up joys of Jazzmaster/Jaguar vibrato tailpiece.

Duppy03 · June 2022

My Squier is the latest offset offering from the Contemporary Active range, so has a Strat style trem and solid body.

I bought it as a knock around the house do everything kind of thing, has all the appointments I love, thrown into one guitar (I appreciate it's specs aren't for the purists):

- Strat style trem
- Offset body
- 25.5" scale length
- Bolt on construction
- Roasted maple neck

Before buying it i'd already planned on swapping out the pickups (and electrics) as I didn't really think active pickups would be my thing, I was going to put a Seymour Duncan Custom Custom in the bridge position and a Telecaster neck pickup in the neck position, but was presently surprised by how much I liked the sound of the Bridge humbucker.

So thought before I go to the trouble of ordering a new pickguard, electrics and getting the soldering iron out, it would just be easier to swap out the neck pickup for a single coil active pickup that can get close to Tele neck sound. But it doesn't look like that going to happen. So maybe a Should just resort back to Plan A?

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WTB: EMG H or Similar

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