EMG singlecoils

[Big V]

Yeah, me again, after much back and forth, i've finally decided what guitar i'm going to get... (YAY ME :hello2
Now, the only real issue left is: what size is the EMG-jack? I want a strat with the top-jack-rout, but if that ain't possible, i'll live with a side-jack :guitaristgif:
Also, if you guys have any experience with either the EMG SA or S singlecoils, any inputs? :cool01:

 

[Alfang]

what size is the EMG jack?    What is an EMG jack?  are you talking about the normal jack that all guitars have? it's a standard 1/4" phone jack.

You can choose a body that has the jack anywhere you want, you can order one without a jack hole / route and drill your own jack location anywhere you want it.

I have a set of David Gilmour EMG's that I really like, I dont know what SA or s singles are

 

[Big V]

what size is the EMG jack?    What is an EMG jack?  are you talking about the normal jack that all guitars have? it's a standard 1/4" phone jack.

You can choose a body that has the jack anywhere you want, you can order one without a jack hole / route and drill your own jack location anywhere you want it.

I have a set of David Gilmour EMG's that I really like, I dont know what SA or s singles are

Actually, you DO know what he SA-s are: http://www.emgpickups.com/products/category/11/1 Can you describe the sound?
Also, did you buy the pickguard, in that case, does it fit the Warmoth strat?

The reason to why I asked about the jacks was that I may have been confused by the difffering input-jack-holes :icon_scratch: (1/2"-12,70mm, 3/4-19,05mm and 7/8"-22,23mm) Do all the different jacks http://www.warmoth.com/Jacks-Jackplates-C68.aspx that Warmoth sell fit all these jack-holes? ???

 

[Patrick from Davis]

EMG's, in general, have a stereo jack connecting them to the electronics and to the audio signal.  The audio signal is nothing different form normal, the tip of the jack.  The sleeve and ground make a mechanical switch to the battery's ground.  The battery's ( - ) term is on the middle sleeve, and the rest of the guitars ground is on the ground sleeve.  When a 1/4 inch cord is inserted, the two grounds are connected and the circuit for the active pickups is live.  Simple and effective.  The jack that EMG shows has nifty little connectors on it, but they are not necessary.  A regular switchcraft stereo jack will do just fine.  It will do just fine in a strat jackplate as well.
Patrick

 

[Death by Uberschall]

The EMG SA is the warmer sounding of the single coils they make, think David Gilmour's live lead tone. The S series is brighter, a little more twang/chime. The only guitars I have with EMG singles coils are my solid flame maple Hamer Californians. They sound great in those bodies, not too bright, just right.

SA = alnico V magnet
S = ceramic magnet

 

[Alfang]

Thanks for the education on s and sa.  My EMG's came pre mounted on a pick guard and it was a perfect fit on my W strat

Just because i own a set of EMG's doesn't mean I know anything about EMG's, I know mine sound good, I recently added one more battery to boost it to 18 volts, and that seemed to give better sound as the volume is rolled off.

I got 1 battery packed in the controll route, and another under the jack plate.  Under the jack plate you ask, yes, I flipped the jackplate over so that it protrudes outword from the body, It looks funny at first, But i didn't have to route a battery box and someday when the EMG's go by by, My body will be totally intact

 

[Panthur]

I've got the DG-20 set in my strat. I didn't bother with a battery box, just routed a bit more wood out from under the pickguard for the battery, works nicely just got to remember to change the battery when I'm changing strings (obv not every time, but I do it every few months).
As for the jack socket, I used the one that came with the set (as already said, it's really just a stereo jack socket) with no problems, didn't need to route extra space or anything.
As for the sound, awesome. A few people say they sound 'sterile' but I've never really understood that (I use mine with a single 9v battery), maybe they're refering to other EMG pickups. The active tone controls really help though, I have the mid boost on full quite a lot, and they seem a fair bit hotter than single coils and pushes preamps a bit harder which I like (although this is probably because of the pre-amp controls not just the pickups themselves). I used to have Lace Sensor Hot Golds and I've never looked back. That said, I'm currently dreaming of a Warmoth with PAFs,  :glasses10:

 

[Big V]

I've got the DG-20 set in my strat. I didn't bother with a battery box, just routed a bit more wood out from under the pickguard for the battery, works nicely just got to remember to change the battery when I'm changing strings (obv not every time, but I do it every few months).
As for the jack socket, I used the one that came with the set (as already said, it's really just a stereo jack socket) with no problems, didn't need to route extra space or anything.
As for the sound, awesome. A few people say they sound 'sterile' but I've never really understood that (I use mine with a single 9v battery), maybe they're refering to other EMG pickups. The active tone controls really help though, I have the mid boost on full quite a lot, and they seem a fair bit hotter than single coils and pushes preamps a bit harder which I like (although this is probably because of the pre-amp controls not just the pickups themselves). I used to have Lace Sensor Hot Golds and I've never looked back. That said, I'm currently dreaming of a Warmoth with PAFs,  :glasses10:

Would you recommend a battery-box? I'm not handy at all when it comes to working with wood....  :tard: And I certainly dont want to relic my finish by messing around, trying to make a battery box-rout  :doh:

 

[Dan025]

if you go with a single battery it can sometimes fit next to the 5-way switch.
you can also flip the jack plate of a strat upsidedown and put a 9-volt in that cavity.

 

[Big V]

Thanks for the education on s and sa.  My EMG's came pre mounted on a pick guard and it was a perfect fit on my W strat

Just because i own a set of EMG's doesn't mean I know anything about EMG's, I know mine sound good, I recently added one more battery to boost it to 18 volts, and that seemed to give better sound as the volume is rolled off.

I got 1 battery packed in the controll route, and another under the jack plate.  Under the jack plate you ask, yes, I flipped the jackplate over so that it protrudes outword from the body, It looks funny at first, But i didn't have to route a battery box and someday when the EMG's go by by, My body will be totally intact

if you go with a single battery it can sometimes fit next to the 5-way switch.
you can also flip the jack plate of a strat upsidedown and put a 9-volt in that cavity.

I want my strat to look completely "normal", so I don't want to turn the jackplate upside-down. I'm considering the double battery-boxhttp://www.warmoth.com/Double-Battery-Box-P716C220.aspx
The only problem is this review :tard::

by Deven Corella
on 7/29/2009 Double Battery Box
I custom built my bass via parts from Warmoth. The parts were top notch but I encountered a few problems. The main one was this battery box. The copper plating isnt secured very well(I have to order another one due to malfunction with my last one) If the battery has any swell it may lead to breaking the copper part out of order. I took my bass into a local repairman thinking it was something else but he told me out of all the Warmoth instruments he has constructed he said he has always had problems with this piece. So here's what I have to say. It is a good product but please be careful with it so you don't have to replace it like I do.

Is this a normal problem? Do you guys think that it will work for me? :hello2:

 

[Panthur]

Would you recommend a battery-box? I'm not handy at all when it comes to working with wood....  :tard: And I certainly dont want to relic my finish by messing around, trying to make a battery box-rout  :doh:

That's pretty much the reason I did it the way I did, there is plenty of room for the battery now because I routed a battery sized gap off the side of the control cavity, works perfectly, battery sits in there nice and snug. The best bit is because it all sits under the pickguard, I didn't have to worry about being particularly tidy about it all, good job too because I used a Dremel. Only problem is i've got to take the pickguard off to change the battery, which doesnt bother me. It only takes a few seconds to unscrew the pickguard and the battery lasts a very very long time (I change it every six months, but I've left it as long as a year before with no problems).

 

[Big V]

Would you recommend a battery-box? I'm not handy at all when it comes to working with wood....  :tard: And I certainly dont want to relic my finish by messing around, trying to make a battery box-rout  :doh:

That's pretty much the reason I did it the way I did, there is plenty of room for the battery now because I routed a battery sized gap off the side of the control cavity, works perfectly, battery sits in there nice and snug. The best bit is because it all sits under the pickguard, I didn't have to worry about being particularly tidy about it all, good job too because I used a Dremel. Only problem is i've got to take the pickguard off to change the battery, which doesnt bother me. It only takes a few seconds to unscrew the pickguard and the battery lasts a very very long time (I change it every six months, but I've left it as long as a year before with no problems).

Hmm, searched a bit, it seems that I have to get myself a Dremel-tool, as it seems quite nifty :laughing7:
BUT, there is, of course, a but, here in Norway, they cost like 135$ :tard:
Anyhow, how did you connect the second battery? As I know, there is only one battery-clip with the EMGs :icon_scratch:

 

[swarfrat]

I have a set of SA's in my Zion hardtail strat. Absolutely love em after badmouthing them for years. I had a chance to get some time with a buddy's 70's fender with a set of S's in it, and I was sold

Removing the pickguard to change a battery is a PITB, so I flipped the strat jack plate  upside down and there's room for the battery in the recess under the jack.  I had to slip some heat shrink on the ground contact so that it wouldn't ground out against the jackplate, but once I did all that it's great.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Here's an option for the battery. Put a 2.1mm barrel jack under the jack plate and wire it to a rechargeable battery under the pick guard. When it's time to charge the battery, pop out the jack plate and plug up the charger. You could do the same thing to check the voltage of the battery also. If you're really adventurous, drill a hole on the jack plate and mount the 2.1mm barrel jack for easier charging and checking.  :icon_thumright:

 

[Panthur]

I borrowed the Dremel, haven't got one myself.
Also, I only use one battery (9v), no need for a second battery/clip. That said, there would be plenty of room under the pickguard to route out a space if you wanted to run two batteries.
The rechargable idea is pretty coo, would love to see it done, although I have no issues with the under pickguard method as the battery needs changing so infrequently. In fact, I've never had a dead battery, I've always thought it was due for a change but when I've swapped them out they've always had loads of charge left.

 

[Big V]

I've searched a bit:

Where is the battery located?
If your guitar came with EMG pickups as standard equipment, you may have a battery
cavity with it’s own cover. In most other cases, the battery is located in the main control
cavity which is usually accessible by removing a cover plate. Stratocaster-type guitars
don’t have a cover plate - in this case, you would remove the pickguard to get access to
the battery.
If you’re thinking about installing an EMG system, look for a suitable location for the
battery. Although it’s tight on Strats, you often can fi t the battery under the pots with
little or no body modifi cation.
Don’t forget - most 9 volt batteries have a metal casing and should be insulated with
foam or tape before installation.

Taken from the EMG Q/A-page (this is from the PDF with the Q/A on batteries)
http://www.emgpickups.com/pdfs/faq/EMG-FAQ-Battery-Questions.pdf