Fitting a H-S-S pickup set in a H-S-H guitar

Fishzn

Hi guys

As you can see from the title I have a dilemma:

So I’m thinking about getting a set of EMG pickups for my guitar from a friend whose letting me have them at a steal. It consists of two EMG SA single coils and one EMG 89 humbucker, the same as in this Ebay link: http://cgi.ebay.com/EMG-SA-SA-89-Strat-Replacement-Guitar-Pickup-Set-sa-89_W0QQitemZ300367848685QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item45ef51a4ed .

The thing is I believe these sets of pups are for a Stratocaster setup, I on the other hand have an Ibanez GRG170DXL. It is a humbucker-single-humbucker setup with one tone and one volume control knob. What I want to know is whether I'd be able to fit these pickups in my guitar and what would be the likely cost of such a setup? I have not bought the pickups yet and waiting first to see if they can actually work in my guitar before getting them. Also I have found that there is a humbuckers to single adapter, like these ones: http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/covers_adapters.htm that can be used to accommodate the final single coil in the neck humbuckers position. Does anyone know where I’d be able to get them in SA? If not then I can order them from Ebay, so basically I think the main limiting factor would be would I be able to wire these pickups into the GRG setup even though they are meant for a strat? Would I have to put in an extra tone control knob or can I get by with just the one. I would really appreciate you guys insight into the problem before I go out and buy them and realise they won't work or will cost me a whole lot just to get them setup in my guitar! Also these are active pups will they all run of 1 9v battery? Where could I fit these?

Thanks again any and all help is much appreciated.

Cheers
Brendan ?

AlanRatcliffe

Nothing is impossible given a decent hammer. ?

Those adaptors you linked are for bridge position - see how they are angled. A little known secret is that a single-coil will actually fit onto a humbucker mounting ring. ? It looks a little bit lost, but it fits. You can also glue a piece of pickguard plastic inside the mounting ring to fill the empty space, cut from an old pickguard (with single-coil size hole already in place), then you can position the pickup as close as possible towards the neck. You could even make your own mounting ring adaptor from some ABS plastic. I've done all these things before.

The 9V battery should fit into the control cavity, even on the off chance it doesn't you can arrange the springs in your trem cavity to make space - not ideal but it works. You can get by with one "master" tone that works on all the pickups at once.

As to how much it'll all cost to do, find someone to help (there's nothing too difficult) or if all else fails you'll have to ask a tech for a quote to do it.

TomCat

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Nothing is impossible given a decent hammer. ?

LOL...... ? ?....as they say....bigger the problem...bigger the hammer.... ???

Fishzn

Thanks for that response Alan, you really seemed to have cleared up all of the questions that I had about this setup.

With regards to the pickguard idea, that seems like a good alternative though I'm not the best when it comes to fashioning things out of nothing. I still hope to find an adapter for the neck position. Though am I correct in assuming the neck pickups will fit into those bridge position adapters but just look out of place?

The battery I do believe will fit into the control cavity, there seems to be plenty of space in there, I asked since I haven't had a set of active pups before and was just wondering where everybody seems to put theirs.

Finally I think getting this done by a guitar tech would be the best bet for me since its a bit of a custom setup and I would want it setup as best as possible to get the most out of the EMGs and I want the bridge setup as well. Plus things like pickup height, wiring etc. I'm still getting to grips with. So does anybody know anyone in Durbs that might be able to do this for me? Also out of your experience any idea what I would have to pay on average to get the pups installed with the pots and a single master tone and then the bridge adjusted? Thanks for the help, it really helps a beginner-intermediate like myself understand especially when I don't have the opportunity to spend time with other guitarists who have the knowledge!

Fishzn

Managed to find this too: http://www.terrapinguitars.com/estore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=96&products_id=450 - Works out to $18 incl shipping, not too bad I think ?

AlanRatcliffe

Fishzn wrote Though am I correct in assuming the neck pickups will fit into those bridge position adapters but just look out of place?

It will look a little strange, but there is a bit of a tonal difference too - closer to the neck and it's warmer and bassier, further from the neck and it's brighter and snappier. This is a left handed guitar, right? So with a angled adaptor your treble strings will sound warmer and your bass strings will sound a bit snappier - much better than the other way around.

So does anybody know anyone in Durbs that might be able to do this for me?

There is someone - the Durban guys have mentioned him before. Try a search or see if one of 'em chips in...

Fishzn wrote Managed to find this too: http://www.terrapinguitars.com/estore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=96&products_id=450 - Works out to $18 incl shipping, not too bad I think ?

Those are for the Wide Range pickups - which are bigger than a standard humbucker, so they won't fit.

TomCat

Just a thought now that I'm on the P90 bandwagon.......How about replacing the neck HB with a P90 for adding another tone variation to the mix..... :-\ :-\.

You would still have the single coil type sound with some extra bite when needed....You would also not need to mod the guitar in any way....

AlanRatcliffe

'cos then he'd have to find a 'bucker sized P90 that is also active. AFAIK, there isn't one...

TomCat

Alan Ratcliffe wrote 'cos then he'd have to find a 'bucker sized P90 that is also active. AFAIK, there isn't one...

Hmmm....a minor but somewhat very important point...... :-[ :-[

Danny-B

Well I'll be hornswoggled - there is one! http://www.emginc.com/products/index/87/10/1

AlanRatcliffe

That's P90 size. Anyway, the OP is buying a set, he probably doen't want to buy in an extra pickup, or he would have bought another 'bucker sized pickup to add in.

Fishzn

hey guys, Alan is right in that I'm buying a set and don't want to have buy another pickup. I have listened the P90s and I feel the SAs would be able to do a similar job in terms on the genres in would be able to handle.

I'm primarily buying the set for the 89 to help my heavier music have bit of extra punch and thought it wouldn't hurt to experiment would the strat sound too ? Right now I think my best option is to get this set of 89/SA/SA and do what Alan recommended in the first post about the pick guard plastic and then later on when I have more money lying around I'll probably try and get another EMG humbucker like the 81 or 85 ?

Also to any of the durbs guys here, I would appreciate if you guys know good guitar techs who might be able to do this for me and not cost an arm and a leg ?

Danny-B

You have PM