What do I do if I wanna remove these damned EMGs?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Matt300ZXT
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Matt300ZXT

Matt300ZXT

Well-known member
I've got this Chubtone that came with HSS EMGs and I've basically hated the pickups since day 1. The single coils are quieter in output than the humbucker, or even the hum-middle setting and I just find the sound of active EMGs to be gross. If I wanted to replace these with far superior pickups, say some DiMarzio passives, what all do I need to remove/toss/replace to put them in? I'm guessing just the battery box and the pickups, then just wire to the 5 way and volume pot as I would any other install?
 
EMG Pots are 25k, you'll want to swap it/them out as well.
 
Good comment regarding the pot values. In my opinion it wouldn't hurt to try a 57 in the bridge or maybe even a fishman.

I only suggest that because if I'm not mistaken you can easily swap those pickups without any wiring differences.

You might not like the end result however, I love the EMG 57 and I highly dislike Fishman for whatever reason so at the end of the day you may want to just go passive and be done with it but my suggestion could be a very simple and straightforward resolution
 
Try an EMG 57 in the bridge first. If you don’t like it sell the pickup and rip out everything but the pickup selector switch and start over with passives.
 
If you go passive, you need to check if there is a bridge ground. It isnt hard to drill a route, but i would do it while pickup is out.

Actives dont need thst ground so often it isnt there
Yup, the hole for the wire is there. I never even noticed the claw wasn't grounded.
 
Try retroactives first. 77 or fat 55 and maverick singles.


If that doesnt work, rip everything out and do an entirely new electronics setup with a ground - the emgs wont have a bridge ground.
 
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