V-active mod pics

fitz

fitz

Ambassador of DIY
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Entirely @DirtySteve 's fault due to his active pickup inquiry.
I finished up the EMG pup swap from my Squire Strat to Gibson V.
Much obliged by the way Steve, I'm very happy with the results.

The transplant participants.

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The V went to the bench last night for disassembly.

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I had gutted the Squire last weekend, and did the Gibson 490T&R install once the guts were removed from the V.

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Parts arrived in the mail today and the EMG install got started this morning.

Needed to insert a battery compartment, so I laid out the location on the back just below the control cavity on the front.

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Started with a 1/4" Forstner bit for the tight radius at the corners.

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Switched to a 3/4" to hog out most of the rest of the new battery holder cavity.

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Some nice sharp chisels square up the sides with little effort.

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Just a short bore hole to run wires from the battery to the controls.

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A quick test fit and...
Dammit, I didn't go deep enough.
The battery insert is 7/8" deep, and I set the depth stop on the drill press at 1".
Tried to leave a little wiggle room to position the bit, but I guess not quite enough.
Back to the drill press...

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Another 1/8" and some more chisel work did the trick.

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A view from the other side.

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Assembled all the EMG parts on the pickguard.

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Close up of all the solderless, plug and play connectors.

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A bit of a clearance issue with the 3-way toggle board.
Got out the dental nightmare bit for the Dremel and carved out a little recess.
It'll all be covered by the pickguard, so no big deal.

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Got it all fit and buttoned up.

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Fresh set of DR Pure Blues 9-42's, set the action, and tuned 'er up.

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Jethro Rocker said:
Well done! Lots of woodwork there too. At least for me!
Click to expand...
Thanks,
That battery compartment was the only tricky part to the whole EMG install.
Not a big deal to tuck a battery in the controls of a Les Paul or similar rear panel access.
But I didn't want to have to take the strings off and pull the front pickguard for a battery swap.
Those EMG solderless connectors are a piece of cake to put together.
 
fitz said:
Thanks,
That battery compartment was the only tricky part to the whole EMG install.
Not a big deal to tuck a battery in the controls of a Les Paul or similar rear panel access.
But I didn't want to have to take the strings off and pull the front pickguard for a battery swap.
Those EMG solderless connectors are a piece of cake to put together.
Click to expand...
Yeah lots of room and easy access for a Lss Paul. V is quite different! Looks great glad you like em in there.
 
Session 5 said:
Now , that's the brand of pickups , that should be in that guitar. Nice work.
Click to expand...
It's an 81/85 set.
I actually have them in backwards...
The Alnico 85 is in the bridge position, and the ceramic 81 is in the neck.
Had them like that in the Squire.

It balances them out in a way that I like - no muddy dark neck pup tones, and the Alnico gets plenty of bite at the bridge.
Pup distance from the strings is set close to unity volume and switching from one to the other, or both, adds lots of tone options.
With the 2V/1T pot configuration on that model, the tone is right next to the tailpiece and it's easy to dial in a mellow clean tone with the EMG's.
 
I came across a super deal on another set of EMG pups last weekend and accidentally ordered them with a low-ball offer.
Retro Active Fat 55 humbucker set zebras.

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Since the V is now EMG plug-and-play, I swapped out the 81/85 set and put those back in the Squire.

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Close up of the V.
The "cream" bobbins in the EMG Zebras are kinda pale, but go well with the aged white V pickguard (imo).
The Retro Active pups are passive with an active preamp.
Best sounding pups I've had in the V.

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The Fat 55's came with just 1V & 1T pot, some connecting wires and a standard 3-way toggle.
Enough parts to re-do the Squire with the 81/85 set.
Again, best pups I've ever had in this beater/modder.

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Cascade of pickups rolled downhill and landed the Gibson 490T&R set in the Maestro Special.
That 3-way toggle came in handy as the junk one in this guitar had failed on me a while ago.
Probably still a mostly wall hanger, but once again, best pups this P.O.S. ever had.

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DirtySteve said:
I'm thinking about getting one of these to get my toes wet on an active pickup guitar.

www.espguitars.com

EC ARCTIC METAL

One of the world's leading manufacturers of high quality guitars and basses.
www.espguitars.com www.espguitars.com
Click to expand...
You could put EMG pickups in just about any guitar.
Install is amazingly easy if there's room for a battery in an easy to access control cavity.
Converting a cheap used Epi or Harley Benton LP would be a sinch.

All the plug and play wiring is usually included with the pickups, and they're prices are actually reasonable for all that you get.
I'd seriously consider even some EMG passive pups for a retrofit just because they are so easy to install.
 
fitz said:
You could put EMG pickups in just about any guitar.
Install is amazingly easy if there's room for a battery in an easy to access control cavity.
Converting a cheap used Epi or Harley Benton LP would be a sinch.

All the plug and play wiring is usually included with the pickups, and they're prices are actually reasonable for all that you get.
I'd seriously consider even some EMG passive pups for a retrofit just because they are so easy to install.
Click to expand...
Yes, but then I wouldn't have a new guitar. ;)
 
I've been wanting one of those for a long time, but I was actually put off by the active pickup. Now I've decided I want to try active so it's back on my radar. There's also a black version that comes with a passive pickup, but I like the look of the white one a lot more.
 
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