EMG Pickups In Poplar Body Guitar

[Charvel1975]

What EMG humbucker bridge and EMG single coil neck work best in a Poplar body superstrat?

 

[V-man]

Ignoring the fact that the majority here are pretty straightforward here and not the most worldly about the latest reverbs etc., I’d say you are asking for a lot here. Most people who put a lot of stock into tonewood at all, probably turn their noses up at EMGs/actives, and those better versed in the pickups are likely less concerned or aware of the distinctions of Body X in Mahogany vs Alder and Poplar. Maybe I’m mistaken and some will show up and surprise us all.

For anything more contemporary, (Rock to Metal), I would be more concerned about the sound I was going for and approach the pups that cater to that. JH had a n Alder Explorer that was known for being cheaper/lesser tonewood. He went on to drop EMGs in that and the results seemed fine (not really sure there was anything problematic w the original passives either for that matter).

 

[GustHFS]

This will depend a lot on the style of music you play. In the 1980s, the SA/SA/81 configuration on alder body Strats was very popular among rock guitarists. Poplar is a wood quite similar tonally to alder, so I don't think it's as relevant. There's not much to do but research more about the characteristics of the pickups on the EMG website and try to find a guitar that has EMG pickups to try it out. I don't particularly like active pickups and I don't see many guitars with EMG pickups like there were 30 years ago.

Gust

 

[Leonard Neemoil]

JH had a n Alder Explorer that was known for being cheaper/lesser tonewood. He went on to drop EMGs in that and the results seemed fine

I didn't know EMGs even existed when Hendrix was alive!

 

[V-man]

I didn't know EMGs even existed when Hendrix was alive!

Those were Fishmans on his V.

 

[GustHFS]

I didn't know EMGs even existed when Hendrix was alive!

I didn't even know that Jimi played Explorers at the time. That's when it dawned on me that JH could perhaps mean James Hetfield. Then it would make more sense LOL.

Gust

 

[GuitarIV]

What EMG humbucker bridge and EMG single coil neck work best in a Poplar body superstrat?

There is no right answer to that without factoring in the sound you're trying to achieve. Use your ears first. What is it that you like about the guitar, what do you dislike (tonewise). What music do you intend to play with the guitar?

If you want something tighter and more aggressive, 81 and the S model. If you want bigger and warmer, 85 and the SA (the Alnico 5 variants of the 81/S).

Then there's the 57, the retroactive Models etc. etc.

I own a Strat made out of poplar and it's quite bright without a big low end, so I personally would drop in an 85/SA or the 57/SA combo. But that's MY Strat. Every instrument is unique, so we need more info.

Cheers

 

[Charvel1975]

There is no right answer to that without factoring in the sound you're trying to achieve. Use your ears first. What is it that you like about the guitar, what do you dislike (tonewise). What music do you intend to play with the guitar?

If you want something tighter and more aggressive, 81 and the S model. If you want bigger and warmer, 85 and the SA (the Alnico 5 variants of the 81/S).

Then there's the 57, the retroactive Models etc. etc.

I own a Strat made out of poplar and it's quite bright without a big low end, so I personally would drop in an 85/SA or the 57/SA combo. But that's MY Strat. Every instrument is unique, so we need more info.

Cheers

The sound I'm trying to achieve is to be able to cover the the sounds of the songs our band covers Classic rock/Hard rock/80's metal & hair metal like Grand Funk, AC/DC, Ratt, Cinderella, Poison, Judas Priest, Candlebox, etc.

What I like about the guitar is the looks and playability, what I dislike (tonewise) is the Charvel is extremely bright sounding and doesn't have any punch, clarity or definition to it and when I plug it in the gain loss is significant.

 

[GuitarIV]

The sound I'm trying to achieve is to be able to cover the the sounds of the songs our band covers Classic rock/Hard rock/80's metal & hair metal like Grand Funk, AC/DC, Ratt, Cinderella, Poison, Judas Priest, Candlebox, etc.

What I like about the guitar is the looks and playability, what I dislike (tonewise) is the Charvel is extremely bright sounding and doesn't have any punch, clarity or definition to it and when I plug it in the gain loss is significant.

I saw you post about that Charvel in quite a few other threads, it seems like you like the guitar itself but the sound is what's bothering you.

First of all: why are you dead set on active pickups? You are quite limited with EMGs. There are tons of great sounding passive pickups out there.

Next observation: if the guitar is bright, maybe that's the way it simply is and will always be. Sometimes you can do whatever you want, but you can't change the fundamental character of the instrument.

My poplar Strat is bright and has almost no low end. Sounds friggin great in a mix though, very present mids and highs. I tried everything to fatten it up, including EMGs, Humbuckers, different single coils, to no avail. The basic character is always there. I learned to live with it and eq my amp darker for that guitar and use it for when I need a cutting scalpel.

I had a Les Paul that sounded huge and dark. Amazing singing lead tones, but not exactly my first choice for edgy riffs. No matter what pickups I put in, the basic character was always there. The guitar was a sledgehammer and had a great singing voice. I used it accordingly for when the application called for such a tone.


What I'm trying to say is that it seems like you're trying all you can do to change the fundamental character of the guitar and it might be an impossible task.

If I were you I'd start looking for passive pickups, ones that are known to have a bigger low end with subdued highs, Seymour Duncan Invader comes to mind, Bareknuckle Warpigs, DiMarzio Tone Zone, Bareknuckle Ragnarok (have a spare set I'm selling cause they are a bit too big sounding for my taste), etc etc


There's plenty of options.


Then I'd fiddle around with the EQ of my amp. Use an amp that has a darker character in the first place. Some guitars sound great with particular amps and like ass with others. A Les Paul will always sound better with my JCM 800 than my Strat does.


And last thing, the most important one: don't try to turn that particular guitar into something it can never be, God knows I've been down that rabbit hole myself, so I speak from experience. If the Charvel is a scalpel, use it like one, don't try to make it a sledgehammer when you got other tools for that job.


Hope that helps and good luck, cheers!

 

[Filipe Soares]

if you want to play metal, 81. if you want to play something not so metal 85. if you want a 85 that will split into single coil 89.

 

[Filipe Soares]

IMHO 85 in the bridge is a kickass pickup.

 

[Leonard Neemoil]

IMHO 85 in the bridge is a kickass pickup.

Yup, I never liked the 81 in the bridge the few times that I actually used active pickups.

 

[Filipe Soares]

Yup, I never liked the 81 in the bridge the few times that I actually used active pickups.

I also use the 81, a lot actually, but all of my EMGs are running in 24v. that mod is essential to emgs, all of that annoying compression goes away

 

[Leonard Neemoil]

I also use the 81, a lot actually, but all of my EMGs are running in 24v. that mod is essential to emgs, all of that annoying compression goes away

Never heard of a 24v mod. Did 18v once.

 

[Filipe Soares]

Never heard of a 24v mod. Did 18v once.

they can take up to 30v, 18v is basically 2 9v battery, 24 is 2x A23 Batteries.

 

[Deftone]

JH = James Hetfield. He played an Alder Explorer with EMG's. Explorers have been around since 1958. Most are made of Mahogany, in '84-85 they were made out of Alder.

I've tried EMG's in several guitars. They work for me in some and not in others. It's subjective and it will depend on the actual guitar. IMHO.

YMMV