Anyone here knowledgable on active pickup wiring?

RiffDuck

RiffDuck

Experienced
I have an Ibanez RG that came stock with Fishman Fluence Moderns, and I swapped them out for an EMG 81/85 set using the same wiring since I read online that they're "allegedly" directly compatible. Obviously I lost the multiple voicing and split-coil features, but they otherwise work just fine. However, there's something a bit off about them compared to other EMG guitars. They have a bit less output, and are slightly less aggressive in the midrange and high end. It's just a difference enough where, in terms of how EMGs sound, they sound like they're yelling loudly instead of screaming, if that makes sense.

So I'm deeply suspicious that there's something different in the wiring between the two brands but I don't want to start gutting anything or pay $100 for a luthier to dig in until I'm certain it isn't just how EMGs sound in this guitar.

Does anyone have experience here? I'm just looking for technical confirmation that the wiring is or isn't compatible, and if not, what needs to be changed.

And yes, I've changed the battery, lol.
 
paranoid said:
https://www.emgpickups.com/top-wiring-diagrams. I once bought emg pick ups on the Internet that just didn't sound right. I contacted emg and found out they were knock offs.
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These EMGs came from a deluxe line LTD, they wouldn't be knockoffs. But I did speak with EMG customer service about this, and they were just completely uncertain whether the wiring is fully compatible or not. Hence why I'm reaching out here in case someone has dealt with this switch.

Unsure why you linked their solderless wiring diagrams...
 
The wiring should be the same, 25K pots and 0.22uF caps.

I’ve swapped both Fluence Modern and Classic pickups into my EMG equipped guitar with no issues.
 
Domct203 said:
The wiring should be the same, 25K pots and 0.22uF caps.

I’ve swapped both Fluence Modern and Classic pickups into my EMG equipped guitar with no issues.
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Huh, looking it up, it seems EMG actually uses a 0.1uF cap, despite .22uF still being fine to use. So if the Fishmans come default with 0.22uF, wouldn't that actually explain the slight lack of high end I'm perceiving?
 
RifferMcDuck said:
Huh, looking it up, it seems EMG actually uses a 0.1uF cap, despite .22uF still being fine to use. So if the Fishmans come default with 0.22uF, wouldn't that actually explain the slight lack of high end I'm perceiving?
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If both volume and tone are on ‘10’ I doubt you would hear a difference between caps as that cap is essentially bypassed at that point.
 
Domct203 said:
If both volume and tone are on ‘10’ I doubt you would hear a difference between caps as that cap is essentially bypassed at that point.
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Ah yeah, good point. And I certainly am not a guy who lowers either.

Well, perhaps EMGs just aren't super great in this guitar. Bummer.
 
State of Epicicity said:
I think with EMGs you get the best tone by setting them as high as you can, if I'm not mistaken. If yours aren't already set high, I'd give that a try just to see if that makes a positive difference.
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Yeah I keep mine about as high as they can go. But between my 3 EMG guitars, with all the same pickup height, the ones in the Ibanez I have to boost the input gain quite a bit beyond 50% in order to match the others' signal.

The other thing though is that my others are neck-thru TOM bridges, while the Ibanez is of course bolt on with a hipshot bridge. I've always felt TOM bridges give a guitar's tone more aggression and EMGs some extra sizzle and midrange, so that might be the difference as well.
 
RifferMcDuck said:
Yeah I keep mine about as high as they can go. But between my 3 EMG guitars, with all the same pickup height, the ones in the Ibanez I have to boost the input gain quite a bit beyond 50% in order to match the others' signal.

The other thing though is that my others are neck-thru TOM bridges, while the Ibanez is of course bolt on with a hipshot bridge. I've always felt TOM bridges give a guitar's tone more aggression and EMGs some extra sizzle and midrange, so that might be the difference as well.
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Oh, to me you hit the nail on the head then. Neck construction is a massive element that influences how mid focued your tone is, and having a tun-o-matic. The two most muscular sounding guitars I've had were an Epiphone Les Paul and a Washburn USA P3, which was essentially their take on a Les Paul. The thing with EMGs is, it's so easy to swap them out, you might just switch the actual pickups between your guitars just to make sure there isn't anything weird going on, just to make sure.
 
It's possible that the Fluence are slightly higher output. What EMGs are they?

Edit: Ok I see you said 81/85. I wasn't kidding about the SPC. That thing is golden if you just need a little more push. I have installed them in lots of guitars including ones with passive pickups and it always works a treat.
 
frankencat said:
It's possible that the Fluence are slightly higher output. What EMGs are they?

Edit: Ok I see you said 81/85. I wasn't kidding about the SPC. That thing is golden if you just need a little more push. I have installed them in lots of guitars including ones with passive pickups and it always works a treat.
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81/85, made in 2015 (I personally think they sound different depending on the decade)
 
I bought an RG 5121 a few years back and I never play it, despite it being my nicest guitar, because I just can't get a sound I like with the Fishman Fluence Modern pickups.

I have two Schecter neck-thru guitars with TOM bridges that sound epic, one with Blackouts and the other with EMG 57/66 pickups.

I've been thinking about selling the 5121 or swapping in a set of one of those pickups but I don't know if it's worth the expense and trouble. After reading your post I think I should probably just sell it.

I also have an ESP LTD with 81/85 pickups, but I don't like the sound as much as the blackouts and 57. Everyone says they are supposed to be really hot, but I have to turn up the Axe's input sensitivity to like 60% before they hit red. With the 57 it has to be turned down to 15%.

The Moderns have no chug power at all. They're so flat a lifeless, with a weird cocked wah quality that I just don't like at all. I can easily get a more aggressive tone from passive pickups. It's weird.
 
Flashback said:
I bought an RG 5121 a few years back and I never play it, despite it being my nicest guitar, because I just can't get a sound I like with the Fishman Fluence Modern pickups.

I have two Schecter neck-thru guitars with TOM bridges that sound epic, one with Blackouts and the other with EMG 57/66 pickups.

I've been thinking about selling the 5121 or swapping in a set of one of those pickups but I don't know if it's worth the expense and trouble. After reading your post I think I should probably just sell it.

I also have an ESP LTD with 81/85 pickups, but I don't like the sound as much as the blackouts and 57. Everyone says they are supposed to be really hot, but I have to turn up the Axe's input sensitivity to like 60% before they hit red. With the 57 it has to be turned down to 15%.

The Moderns have no chug power at all. They're so flat a lifeless, with a weird cocked wah quality that I just don't like at all. I can easily get a more aggressive tone from passive pickups. It's weird.
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It’s free to swap around the active pickups you have now to see how they fit the different guitars. Who knows, you might stumble on a combination you like.

If nothing wows you, put them back in the guitars they came from.

Be sure to document pickup height before you pull them out of the original guitar.
 
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