This video is ON POINT. I just installed my new ZW EMG's and followed the video, a couple of hours later. Bingo Bango!!! My Les Paul Custom sounds amazing!!! Didnt even crack open the instruction booklet. Great vid!!!
With all the advances in modern technology etc, and guitars fetching anything from 40 bucks up to 150 thousands bucks, it'[s crazy that guitars are SO badly put together. Like apart from the mood, everything else is just cheap tacky shit. Look in the pot cavity on that Les Paul... a 3 grand guitar, maybe more... shitty dusty wiring, VERY messy soldering work, cables everywhere etc.. yet it's supposed to have that "Magic sound" that only shitty solder and cable jobs can get you lol. You'd think all guitars innerds now were just connect the Male to the Female like on the pickups. Should be that way directly to the pots too.
Apparently that “magic sound” is based around capacitors the size of municipal garbage cans being shoehorned into the electronics route and secured with enough solder to fill a life-sized mold of the Statue of Liberty. Extra points for a factory headstock re-glue! Play Authentic, eh? 😁
Late comment but epiphones are wired with plug and play at least for push pull pots, only things that were soldered on mine were ground and signal to the switch and tone
Nashville Hillbilly here, Been playing 30 years. All this machinery...oh, I do not like Gibson guitars. I primarily play Dean Guitars but, that is also my preference. Dean can make expensive shit too.
Thank you, Rob! I have fun soldering but this set was awesome to install. I have the newer set so the Pickup Selection Bus is different, but so well labeled, it doesn't even matter. Made my guitar sound better than new and certainly not my last EMG set, by a long shot. Again, thank you, Rob and EMG.
My ZW set (and 3-way toggle switch) just came in, and I'm very excited to get them installed. I'm a longtime fan and user of EMG pickups, and can't wait to make my old B. C. Rich Bich my new B. C. Rich Bich. Edit: Also, such clean wiring is incredibly satisfying to see to an IT guy.
Looking at the same setup for my warlock and was thinking about the x3 way selector and x3 pots vs the x4 used here, any info / links that you followed or is it documented with the pickup set?
@@Petemotox The documentation that comes with the pups is very thorough, including wiring options for different types of switches (which you will have to order seperately). The set included the wiring harness, connector wires, jack, battery bus, two volume pots, and two tone pots - really everything you need to completely rewire your guitar. The plug-and-play aspect made it incredibly easy to install, and I've had zero issues with loose wiring (which seems to be the biggest worry from the other guitarists I spoke with before buying) in the three years since installing the new electronics. I'm a longtime EMG guy, so I ordered my set straight from EMG's website. Just be advised that you'll need the 10mm stemmed pots (you choose when ordering) for your 'lock so that your knobs won't be hanging an inch above the guitar body. I hope this helps a bit. Stay TRVE KVLT!
Dude I upgraded all my EMG guitars to this solderless system and it's amazing about time someone got smart trying to solder all those little bitty wires to those little bitty switches what's a headache well never again thanks EMG
I have used solderless guitar electronics ONCE and it was a massive failure. The wire clamp connections have no durability, so don't expect to be able to change things more than two or three times and be careful in the process not to torque the connection screws.
note the magic reversal of the the output jack wires: -> 12:43 = white left, black right -> 14:37 = black left, white right the latter seems to be the right one.
I just wanted to point out that at 12:41 the cabel that comes from the jack is conected with inverted polarities... they correct it later in the video but don't say anything about it.
I FIGURED IT OUT!! My issue was that I didn't use a pickup switch, I had a sh*t one and didn't want to use it. So I never connected anything to the poles. I took two wires from my previous passive pickups, snipped them up to make the wiring cleaner, and connected them from BRIDGE to OUTPUT using a heatshrink connector. (I'm only using one pickup; connected to the Buss btw)
The fuck ?! NOW you guys uploaded this video, while 6 months ago i was waiting cause i spent 2 hours trying to install those damn pickups ?! thanks EMGTV.
I got an EMG85, comes with a kit (it comes without the battery foam though) and everything is really intuitive and polished, I haven't finished the installation (gonna buy a battery tomorrow) but I can really recommend the pickup to guitarist friends.
I got this system a couple of years ago. One thing they do not tell you for strat/tele type guitars is that you can actually get a 3 way and 5 way selector switch that's solderless. With that you can completely eliminate that buss chip. You still have to buy them separate though which was annoying. I don't understand why they cannot package the selector switch with the volume and tone pots....perhaps they have done that at this point but when I did it, it wasn't an option lol.
I don’t mind it a little more work when I did mine didn’t bother me I was just happy I got one of my favorite sets back the controversial EMG HZ set back
@@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXVfrom what I know most of the EMG community doesn’t like the passive variants that EMG did for quite a bit but I tend to prefer them cause I learned on multiple sets of them
Need a new video. I did my beast installing on an epiphone les Paul 50s 2020 and the buzz is different. And didn’t work. So had to take it to a guitar shop to fix it. Hope we can have a new video for us non experts. Thank you. Emg is the best🇲🇽
Алексей Емельянов Randy Rhoads V was a pain in the ass, considering the drill holes are the width of a pencil and the jack cables not being long enough to reach the hardware compartment.
This video was excellent. Thanks for the upload! Installed the zw set tonight and they work great! Also, emg customer service is as good as these pickups; I talked to a very nice lady today, who answered their general telephone line, and she was quite friendly and knowledgeable, particularly regarding the questions I had about the length of zw pots.
81 more clear I think I went with a 81 60 set in my first Jackson. I may switch 81 in the bridge slot out for a 85. I have to closely hear the differences. I think the 81 is more clear and better I have to really listen to the 2
@@jgmopar🎸 《☆》I'm thinking about putting a set of ZWs in an 04 Epiphone LP that I put some Gibson Burstbucker Pros in when it was new. Over the years of not playing it much the electronics have gotten scratchy & sometimes I can't even get the neck pup to work without flashing the coil several times. I aquired a Gibson since then that I'm thinking the Burstbuckers will be perfect for✌🏼😎☯️
I've just bought a set of these off Amazon, I have 1 large pot with that quick connection. Then 3 little regular pots with soldered prongs, wires only have connections on one end
my 3 way toggle has no wires attached so unfortunately I am going to have to solder. Question: I noticed in your video that the red, green and blue wires coming from the toggle, have white wires inside that go to their positions, but also have another wire and all three are also attached to the ground. Is that required? I noticed that on the other end of the wires (where it goes into the solderless part) that they only have the one main wire.. can anyone explain if that is a requirement and why its like that??
I wired mine up but at the end tapping the pickups no matter what position I put the toggle switch it’s picking up on both pickups when I tap it with a screw
I'm a huge fan of active pickups! BUT the not-soldered clamps for the 6,3 mm banana clutch and the 20-cents battery connector are non-professional garbage for a vibrating device. This could have been done easily much better. So thumb down.
Only complaint is installing the black pickups on that guitar! Maybe this was made before they were offering the metalworks covers. Also the 85 is the go-to bridge pickup for versatility, the 81 only excels as a Metal bridge P/U.
I'm using EMG 81 and 85 ZW set which I've had for over 10 years now,still going strong. My axe is a handcrafted by Luther Pendragon called Excalibur. Now my EMGS had to be soldered due to small cavity space and no luxury les Paul roomy cavity space to do easy emg solderless installation. We'd all love that but for me no chance. And to be honest I love the emg very responsive especially for heavy rock styles etc. Yet in my ibanez prestige I'm using the superb Bare Knuckle War pigs that's passive and not active and super high output and they are amazing hand crafted scatterwound pickups. All from the uk. So for me both pickups are incredible for what they are.
Devilsjoker if you look online at the ZW wiring instructions, there’s different diagrams for different setups. For your setup, FIND DIAGRAM 3 in the instructions my guy. I have a 2V1T for my esp ec-256 and they even had a diagram for that setup!
Just to let you guys know - i managed to install pickups perfectly, my guitar now ROARS and i couldn't be happier with EMG's! :D I've also made 18V mod (2 bateries) and the sound is hands down SUPERB. It even improved the clarity of pickups and removed so called "sterile" sound, so i really recommend it. Thank you EMG company for this really helpful tutorial and lots of fun to new buyers! :)
I’ve been able to do my LP, SG, V, and Explorer with no problem. I can’t get a HH 3 way switch Strat to work for the life of me. I’ve even tried the solderless EMG 3 way switch. I’m lost.
Did you figure it out? You can always call EMG, go ahead and take photos of all connections made including the back of pickups and attach them to a an email. Call EMG tell em what you got going on.
@@Ikillintel1 I did. I used a couple of different diagrams and it’s working perfectly. I set it aside for about 10 days and came back to it fresh and got it first attempt.
@@nicholaslewis8938 my very first set (6 sets ago)I had a similar issue. Pretty much did the same thing only I didn't wait two weeks, just a few days. Now I can install this set very easily. I've also had and installed the Marty Friedman passive set and the Gary Holt set. I gotta admit that push pull kicked my ass a little.
+XDX I'm still looking for a way to do the same thing on a LP Special 2, I guess that the simplest way to do this would be to expose the tone control and volme wire and link them toghether, that would allow to use the same settings you have on your knobs for both pickups when flipping switch.
Cheap fix, Just bury the extra pots in the cavity if youve got the space of course that is. I preset my controls and bury them. I may be a one trick pony, but i crave consistency in my rig.
Great job demystifying this -it looks so simple once broken down. I'd like to see all manufacturers adopt a standard like this so I'd never have to strip and solder and dick around with a third hand, etc.
This is a great video. But would never put emg's in a les paul lol. Thats like puting soda in a blue label battle. I did injoy this video and learn from it. Thank u
Nice! I have wanted to know how to install these in all of my Les Paul's. Now I can! Thanks! Going to go and buy a ton of EMG pickups now and then have to tell my GF I got "mugged" to explain why I don't have that cash anymore. haha :-D
You just ruined a perfectly great Gibson Guitar! You would have been better to install two positions pots for phase variations on the pick-ups! Also a 24 volt power supply for the active pick-ups! The original PAFs are so much better tone wise! Reissue 59s by Gibson would be the best selection! Wanna sell the OE pickups and OE pots? No, I don't blame you. You'll be putting them back in!!!! LMAO 😂 ✌🏻
I want to update my Ibanez GRG121 with the Zakk Wylder set, how do I need to solder the cables to only use one Tone and one Mater Volume for both pickups and how do i connect them with my 5 Way switch?
You can't use a 5/way switch with the ZW set. The 81 and 85 ONLY work as humbuckers, you can't split coils on active pickups the way passives work. EMG sells a 3/way blade switch for around 30$ that works with this system. You won't need the Buss if you get it, it works as both the buss AND the switch. You plug the pickups into the switch then go from the output to the volume and tone, then to the jack(there's other ways as well) If you need coil splitting/single coil sounds the 89/89R/81TW do those with individual coils and push/pull pots and sound very similar to the ZW set. Hope this helps
@@Kjaldir 30 extra bucks would be alot cheaper than a new guitar, but up to you. LIke I said if you want to switch to active pickups, they won't "coil split" like passives, Seymour Duncan or Fishman will not either. Maybe look into a new set of passives if you must have a 5-way switch. Cheers
Zakk Wylde ruined the name of a boutique guitar company, #WildCustomGuitars of France. I wouldn't trade 5 Zakk Wylde guitars for 1 Wild Custom. I wish their French name had a better translation. "Sauvage" (French for "Savage") is a way cooler name than "Wild Customs".
Please help me, which do I buy for a schecter hellraiser extreme c1 fr with 81 and 89r pickups. It's all soldered, but I want the one without it. And can I use this solderless connect ion with bareknuckle pickups? I bought a set of juggernaut and would like to switch out whenever. Please help ;~; I can't find any info on the websites
I'm very confused where the tremolo ground wire goes. I have the EMG 3 way solderless switch with 1 volume pot and 1 tone pot. I just don't understand how the tremolo ground wire attaches to the switch sense its supposed to be solderless. Do I just not use it? I'm a newbie to this haha,
I got the 81/85, but only ONE VOLUME and ONE TONE knob, with a 3 way selector switch...first EMG pickup was soldered on 10yrs ago, now I go the solderless ones with the buss and everything...way too confused.
I have the solderless 81/85 and 57/66 installed and IDK, I'm getting all kinds of noise buzzing I've even bought and installed the EMG 3 way toggle and still same results noise and buzz. Everything is fine while I'm playing but between songs if I keep my volume up I get buzzing noise I didnt have this problem with my passive pickups. I dont understand same problem with two guitar?????
I bought used guitar with emg 81/85 pickups, and there wobbly, inside the frame, I checked to make sure springs still on, and put foam inside but still loose. Any help to make firm would help?
Don't forget the primary goal of human communications is to convey the thought. You knew to what he was referring so he was successful. You just got spun up around the axle on terminology and that isn't his fault. Just sayin.
joegebhard888 if you get the kit on amazon there is a instruction sheet in like it you can look at and it tells you what to do, it’s a lot more easier then this video
Hi, could you give me a piece of advice? I have two EMG 89s, and I would like to use one of them as the 89R in the neck position. Which means that it needs to be installed upside down. Can it be done this way? The idea is to get only the outer coils live in the split mode. Will the upside-down position make any difference to the sound (either in the humbucker mode or the single coil mode?
Cool system. Don’t expect the solder industry to go down quietly. They will fight you by spreading baseless lies and fear about this system, but never give up hope. Now... get started on wireless charging for the battery. :)
This set up isn't working for me. I get no pickup output sound when jack plug installed. If plug is only half way in Both pickups make sound regardless of selector switch position. I even wired up a different stereo jack just confirm it wasn't the jack
What needs to be taken into account if I want to switch from passive to active EMGs? Sure, there's a battery in there, but to what extent does the wiring change? It would be great if you could make a video about it.
I have this pick up on my les Paul I have received the Marshall dsl5c for Christmas , but I think the sound I not amazing , maybe I make shoe when I install the pick up ....
I have a Gibson les Paul custom (2016) and the green cable has been cut too short at the factory so I had to replace the toggle switch and I bought the 81 and 60 and they don’t let you the choice of long or short pots so I have to pay $45 for the four long pots
I bought the zw emg pickups and I was wondering how to wire them so it's just the pickups, a volume knob, and a jack. nothing else. do I need to use the bus thing? or...?
I just spend several days trying to wire 1 emg h4, and it has sound, but together with this really annoying buzzing sound and a tapping sound when i touch the strings. Ground is connected to the bridge. What am i doing wrong? Please help
what i cant seem to find any information on is that most flying Vs have those big pickguards on em and all the wiring and whatnot is under the pickguard (there are no compartments on the back of the guitar). emgs run on 9v battery but with a flying V, the only way to get to the wiring where the battery would have to go, i would have to take out all the knobs, the bridge, and replace the strings. is there a way to put the battery somewhere else so i dont have to do all that work to replace it?
Hi guys , question. In 2003 I had a luthier install this set in my ZW bullseye Epiphone. But he switched the bridge and neck pickup now I see this video. I sounds great but what will differ when I install them the right way tonewise? After 19 years...
Why would you put a lovely set of pickups in a sub standard guitar ?? Please please use guitars that are better than these chinese grade bits of firewood
I have a P/J set without the solderless connectors and I am having a hard time wiring because for some reason the sound comes and go. Can you please help me because in your site most of the diagrams showing are with the connectors, please and thanks in advance; Josh
if i want to have 2 vol and 2 tones, either volumes will always act as master? can they not be independent? that was disapointing :( i must have just one tone in order to have independent volumes? help !!!
Peeps a 24 volt mod battery pack is highly recommended for these pickups. Takes these guys to the next level and longer battery life from A23 batteries. give it a shot
At 16:27 he's tapping to check the tone , he's tapping the bridge pickup but turning the finger board tone knob & tapping the finger board pickup & turning the bridge tone knob...
Like the fact that the boss-man still likes to get his hands dirty. Solderless setup FTW!
instablaster
This video is ON POINT. I just installed my new ZW EMG's and followed the video, a couple of hours later. Bingo Bango!!! My Les Paul Custom sounds amazing!!! Didnt even crack open the instruction booklet. Great vid!!!
With all the advances in modern technology etc, and guitars fetching anything from 40 bucks up to 150 thousands bucks, it'[s crazy that guitars are SO badly put together. Like apart from the mood, everything else is just cheap tacky shit. Look in the pot cavity on that Les Paul... a 3 grand guitar, maybe more... shitty dusty wiring, VERY messy soldering work, cables everywhere etc.. yet it's supposed to have that "Magic sound" that only shitty solder and cable jobs can get you lol.
You'd think all guitars innerds now were just connect the Male to the Female like on the pickups. Should be that way directly to the pots too.
Apparently that “magic sound” is based around capacitors the size of municipal garbage cans being shoehorned into the electronics route and secured with enough solder to fill a life-sized mold of the Statue of Liberty.
Extra points for a factory headstock re-glue!
Play Authentic, eh? 😁
Wait a few years when corrosion sets in while you're trying to play a show.....
Late comment but epiphones are wired with plug and play at least for push pull pots, only things that were soldered on mine were ground and signal to the switch and tone
How nice did you want the part of the guitar that is never seen to look dude?
Nashville Hillbilly here,
Been playing 30 years. All this machinery...oh, I do not like Gibson guitars. I primarily play Dean Guitars but, that is also my preference. Dean can make expensive shit too.
Thank you, Rob! I have fun soldering but this set was awesome to install. I have the newer set so the Pickup Selection Bus is different, but so well labeled, it doesn't even matter. Made my guitar sound better than new and certainly not my last EMG set, by a long shot. Again, thank you, Rob and EMG.
My ZW set (and 3-way toggle switch) just came in, and I'm very excited to get them installed. I'm a longtime fan and user of EMG pickups, and can't wait to make my old B. C. Rich Bich my new B. C. Rich Bich.
Edit: Also, such clean wiring is incredibly satisfying to see to an IT guy.
Looking at the same setup for my warlock and was thinking about the x3 way selector and x3 pots vs the x4 used here, any info / links that you followed or is it documented with the pickup set?
@@Petemotox The documentation that comes with the pups is very thorough, including wiring options for different types of switches (which you will have to order seperately). The set included the wiring harness, connector wires, jack, battery bus, two volume pots, and two tone pots - really everything you need to completely rewire your guitar. The plug-and-play aspect made it incredibly easy to install, and I've had zero issues with loose wiring (which seems to be the biggest worry from the other guitarists I spoke with before buying) in the three years since installing the new electronics. I'm a longtime EMG guy, so I ordered my set straight from EMG's website. Just be advised that you'll need the 10mm stemmed pots (you choose when ordering) for your 'lock so that your knobs won't be hanging an inch above the guitar body.
I hope this helps a bit. Stay TRVE KVLT!
@@antonkovalenko364 excellent thanks appreciate the reply 👌🤘
Dude I upgraded all my EMG guitars to this solderless system and it's amazing about time someone got smart trying to solder all those little bitty wires to those little bitty switches what's a headache well never again thanks EMG
I've always hated soldering. These are great!!!!! Nice and clean install
Derrick Smith Except for the fact you relying on a sticker to hold one part in.
Even this is for the birds I'll take my guitar to a shop before I install pickups
@@calebproductions5970 --- pussy
@@electricritual4197 After the battery and foam are inserted nothing will move.
I have used solderless guitar electronics ONCE and it was a massive failure. The wire clamp connections have no durability, so don't expect to be able to change things more than two or three times and be careful in the process not to torque the connection screws.
This is so awesome! I think that every pickup system should be this simple!
note the magic reversal of the the output jack wires:
-> 12:43 = white left, black right
-> 14:37 = black left, white right
the latter seems to be the right one.
I find this video informative and helpful but also very relaxing.
I just wanted to point out that at 12:41 the cabel that comes from the jack is conected with inverted polarities... they correct it later in the video but don't say anything about it.
Dude my emgs have incredibly weak signal and the buzzing is unreal I have a gibson les paul 2019 classic. Any advice I followed this vid
@@801bim same is happening to me right now. Any answer yet?
@@leekirschman6256 ye, what you think is the ground isnt
I FIGURED IT OUT!! My issue was that I didn't use a pickup switch, I had a sh*t one and didn't want to use it. So I never connected anything to the poles. I took two wires from my previous passive pickups, snipped them up to make the wiring cleaner, and connected them from BRIDGE to OUTPUT using a heatshrink connector. (I'm only using one pickup; connected to the Buss btw)
I feel like I'm watching Bob Ross of PUP installation. oh, here's a happy tone control. right there you go!
I've never seen someone call a neck pickup a "fingerboard" pickup before.
The fuck ?! NOW you guys uploaded this video, while 6 months ago i was waiting cause i spent 2 hours trying to install those damn pickups ?! thanks EMGTV.
Great job explaining, This has probably convinced me to buy EMG's. Been waiting for this lesson since I saw the NAMM demo with just the wires.
Thank god. this is like the first video that can help me on this.
EMG's look fucking gorgeous on almost every guitar!
I got an EMG85, comes with a kit (it comes without the battery foam though) and everything is really intuitive and polished, I haven't finished the installation (gonna buy a battery tomorrow) but I can really recommend the pickup to guitarist friends.
I got this system a couple of years ago. One thing they do not tell you for strat/tele type guitars is that you can actually get a 3 way and 5 way selector switch that's solderless. With that you can completely eliminate that buss chip. You still have to buy them separate though which was annoying. I don't understand why they cannot package the selector switch with the volume and tone pots....perhaps they have done that at this point but when I did it, it wasn't an option lol.
I don’t mind it a little more work when I did mine didn’t bother me I was just happy I got one of my favorite sets back the controversial EMG HZ set back
@@redstonemaster4300 Why is EMG HZ set controversial?
@@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXVfrom what I know most of the EMG community doesn’t like the passive variants that EMG did for quite a bit but I tend to prefer them cause I learned on multiple sets of them
Need a new video.
I did my beast installing on an epiphone les Paul 50s 2020 and the buzz is different.
And didn’t work.
So had to take it to a guitar shop to fix it.
Hope we can have a new video for us non experts.
Thank you.
Emg is the best🇲🇽
THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this!! I was about to loose my mind trying to figure this out. It's all fun and games until that happens. :-)
Can you please make a video with EMG 57/66 set and "arrow"-guitar (ESP SV, Alexi Laiho, Jackson RR, etc.)
Алексей Емельянов Randy Rhoads V was a pain in the ass, considering the drill holes are the width of a pencil and the jack cables not being long enough to reach the hardware compartment.
It would be really helpful if the kit came with one set of extra long output clips for people using Randy Rhoads.
This video was excellent. Thanks for the upload! Installed the zw set tonight and they work great! Also, emg customer service is as good as these pickups; I talked to a very nice lady today, who answered their general telephone line, and she was quite friendly and knowledgeable, particularly regarding the questions I had about the length of zw pots.
shame the vid does not go in depth about the selector switch
that's what I'm tryna figure out
metamaggot same here
The only reason I clicked on the video... Only now found out I also need to buy the selector switch seperately
@12:55
You reconnect the old one to the screw nuts. Notice that he doesn't remove it.
I like the 85 in the bridge
Yeah
81 more clear I think I went with a 81 60 set in my first Jackson. I may switch 81 in the bridge slot out for a 85. I have to closely hear the differences. I think the 81 is more clear and better I have to really listen to the 2
I was looking at the 81/85 specs on Amazon. The 85 seems better matched for the bridge imo✌🏼😁☯️
@@bdogjr7779 I use the 85 in my jackson bridge. It great as a bridge pickup.
@@jgmopar🎸 《☆》I'm thinking about putting a set of ZWs in an 04 Epiphone LP that I put some Gibson Burstbucker Pros in when it was new. Over the years of not playing it much the electronics have gotten scratchy & sometimes I can't even get the neck pup to work without flashing the coil several times. I aquired a Gibson since then that I'm thinking the Burstbuckers will be perfect for✌🏼😎☯️
I MADE IT !!!!!!!! took me 2 hours, 30 % this tutorial 70% diagram from emg website.
like 4hr here
can you share that diagram? i really thks for it.
I've just bought a set of these off Amazon, I have 1 large pot with that quick connection. Then 3 little regular pots with soldered prongs, wires only have connections on one end
Also, I only have that red connection block on the bus
Also no battery connection.
my 3 way toggle has no wires attached so unfortunately I am going to have to solder. Question: I noticed in your video that the red, green and blue wires coming from the toggle, have white wires inside that go to their positions, but also have another wire and all three are also attached to the ground. Is that required? I noticed that on the other end of the wires (where it goes into the solderless part) that they only have the one main wire.. can anyone explain if that is a requirement and why its like that??
BTW these pickups sound amazing in a Gibson Les Paul. I have three and two of them have the 81/85 set up. Surprising clean for high gain pickups too.
Check the wiring diagram with the pickups they have a layout for 2 volume, 1 tone
the backround music is anoying
It makes it seem like some call of duty mission difusing a bomb or something lke that haha but i agree with you!
+Darryl Williams haha true
the music is fine for me
I was thinking the same lol
Elevator tunes would be better
i love EMG'S THERE SO PUNCHY
thank you for sharing!!!! very nice install...
I need these. so much better than that passive soldering bs. Its such a pain in the ass changing passive pickups.
I wired mine up but at the end tapping the pickups no matter what position I put the toggle switch it’s picking up on both pickups when I tap it with a screw
Fingerboard pickup..?
W...What..?
You mean the Neck pickup..?
Nice video, very well done. I learned a lot, thanks!
I'm a huge fan of active pickups! BUT the not-soldered clamps for the 6,3 mm banana clutch and the 20-cents battery connector are non-professional garbage for a vibrating device. This could have been done easily much better. So thumb down.
Have to agree. A clip in my DG20 loaded Strat vibrated loose. I thought the set up crapped out, but nope, just a loose connection.
Only complaint is installing the black pickups on that guitar! Maybe this was made before they were offering the metalworks covers. Also the 85 is the go-to bridge pickup for versatility, the 81 only excels as a Metal bridge P/U.
I'm using EMG 81 and 85 ZW set which I've had for over 10 years now,still going strong. My axe is a handcrafted by Luther Pendragon called Excalibur. Now my EMGS had to be soldered due to small cavity space and no luxury les Paul roomy cavity space to do easy emg solderless installation. We'd all love that but for me no chance. And to be honest I love the emg very responsive especially for heavy rock styles etc.
Yet in my ibanez prestige I'm using the superb Bare Knuckle War pigs that's passive and not active and super high output and they are amazing hand crafted scatterwound pickups. All from the uk. So for me both pickups are incredible for what they are.
Just installed these pickups, and Both pickups are always on and the toggle switch doesn't work. I have an ESP LTD EC330
What if your guitar has only one master volume and master tone and a 3 way switch
Devilsjoker if you look online at the ZW wiring instructions, there’s different diagrams for different setups. For your setup, FIND DIAGRAM 3 in the instructions my guy. I have a 2V1T for my esp ec-256 and they even had a diagram for that setup!
@@JIF740 tnx man i have them already installed now👍
How would one go about installing just a standard 81/85 solderless set, in a guitar with one volume and tone knob?
www.proaudioland.com/manuals/emg/zwset/ZW%20Set%20Solderless.pdf
Just to let you guys know - i managed to install pickups perfectly, my guitar now ROARS and i couldn't be happier with EMG's! :D I've also made 18V mod (2 bateries) and the sound is hands down SUPERB. It even improved the clarity of pickups and removed so called "sterile" sound, so i really recommend it. Thank you EMG company for this really helpful tutorial and lots of fun to new buyers! :)
finally !!! this can help me with my emg 81 bridge
I’ve been able to do my LP, SG, V, and Explorer with no problem. I can’t get a HH 3 way switch Strat to work for the life of me. I’ve even tried the solderless EMG 3 way switch. I’m lost.
Did you figure it out? You can always call EMG, go ahead and take photos of all connections made including the back of pickups and attach them to a an email. Call EMG tell em what you got going on.
@@Ikillintel1 I did. I used a couple of different diagrams and it’s working perfectly. I set it aside for about 10 days and came back to it fresh and got it first attempt.
@@nicholaslewis8938 my very first set (6 sets ago)I had a similar issue. Pretty much did the same thing only I didn't wait two weeks, just a few days. Now I can install this set very easily.
I've also had and installed the Marty Friedman passive set and the Gary Holt set. I gotta admit that push pull kicked my ass a little.
how i can put these pick ups with 1 volume 1 tone and 1 3 potition switch???
+XDX I'm still looking for a way to do the same thing on a LP Special 2, I guess that the simplest way to do this would be to expose the tone control and volme wire and link them toghether, that would allow to use the same settings you have on your knobs for both pickups when flipping switch.
Adrian
yes thats right...
i done it but i like better my previous sd jb/59 pick ups hehe
+XDX It' easy, just wire the pickups directly to the bus, and put the controls between the bus and the output jack.
oyhe94 hey dude, u sure this works? I'm thinking of putting emg's hetfield set on my jackson and don't know what to do
Cheap fix,
Just bury the extra pots in the cavity if youve got the space of course that is. I preset my controls and bury them. I may be a one trick pony, but i crave consistency in my rig.
Great job demystifying this -it looks so simple once broken down. I'd like to see all manufacturers adopt a standard like this so I'd never have to strip and solder and dick around with a third hand, etc.
Same install. Just they will show you how to lower all the gain and volumes on all the channels on the amp to compensate. :-)
This video was very helpful.
im so addicted to guitar videos involving construction, repairs, set up etc :) really helps us understand the instrument we play :) thank EMGtv
Damn, i just ordered emg passives.. i didn't know how easy these active pickups are to install.
"Solderless pickups" but you still need 36 tools and a degree in eclectronic engineering to install them
no you don't it comes with a very clear diagram when you get the pick ups.
Its so easy just follow the instructions
Try out to solder some Seymour Duncans. That shit is way more difficult to do.
Antony Quigley it’s really easy, actually.
Antony Quigley also, much safer to do than soldering, it’s easy to get badly burned
@@arando4359 thats the main reason i go emg. 30 minute install? Noiseless pre amp? Oh fuck yea!
Lol i didn’t know that les Paul’s has all this weird stuff, I got it for my SG 😅😅😅
yes! just connect de two tone wires on the only tone knob!
This is a great video. But would never put emg's in a les paul lol. Thats like puting soda in a blue label battle. I did injoy this video and learn from it. Thank u
Can you do an install video with the James Hetfield set?
the pots for bridge and neck pickups are reversed. Bridge pots are on the bottom for a Les paul.
I reversed mine as well. Just seems like a better payout.
Nice! I have wanted to know how to install these in all of my Les Paul's. Now I can! Thanks! Going to go and buy a ton of EMG pickups now and then have to tell my GF I got "mugged" to explain why I don't have that cash anymore. haha :-D
Jason Lanier Brown remember slash often used the 5 finger discount;).
You just ruined a perfectly great Gibson Guitar! You would have been better to install two positions pots for phase variations on the pick-ups! Also a 24 volt power supply for the active pick-ups! The original PAFs are so much better tone wise! Reissue 59s by Gibson would be the best selection! Wanna sell the OE pickups and OE pots? No, I don't blame you. You'll be putting them back in!!!! LMAO 😂 ✌🏻
Same thing but shorter shaft with different pickups :) I have one. It really is the same.
I want to update my Ibanez GRG121 with the Zakk Wylder set, how do I need to solder the cables to only use one Tone and one Mater Volume for both pickups and how do i connect them with my 5 Way switch?
You can't use a 5/way switch with the ZW set. The 81 and 85 ONLY work as humbuckers, you can't split coils on active pickups the way passives work.
EMG sells a 3/way blade switch for around 30$ that works with this system. You won't need the Buss if you get it, it works as both the buss AND the switch.
You plug the pickups into the switch then go from the output to the volume and tone, then to the jack(there's other ways as well)
If you need coil splitting/single coil sounds the 89/89R/81TW do those with individual coils and push/pull pots and sound very similar to the ZW set.
Hope this helps
@@AdamYoudell Thank you^^ so I guess I will buy a new Guitar then^^
@@Kjaldir 30 extra bucks would be alot cheaper than a new guitar, but up to you. LIke I said if you want to switch to active pickups, they won't "coil split" like passives, Seymour Duncan or Fishman will not either. Maybe look into a new set of passives if you must have a 5-way switch. Cheers
Zakk Wylde ruined the name of a boutique guitar company, #WildCustomGuitars of France.
I wouldn't trade 5 Zakk Wylde guitars for 1 Wild Custom.
I wish their French name had a better translation.
"Sauvage" (French for "Savage") is a way cooler name than "Wild Customs".
Please help me, which do I buy for a schecter hellraiser extreme c1 fr with 81 and 89r pickups. It's all soldered, but I want the one without it. And can I use this solderless connect ion with bareknuckle pickups? I bought a set of juggernaut and would like to switch out whenever. Please help ;~; I can't find any info on the websites
this makes me want to buy 3 sets now i can do it myself
I'm very confused where the tremolo ground wire goes. I have the EMG 3 way solderless switch with 1 volume pot and 1 tone pot. I just don't understand how the tremolo ground wire attaches to the switch sense its supposed to be solderless. Do I just not use it? I'm a newbie to this haha,
I got the 81/85, but only ONE VOLUME and ONE TONE knob, with a 3 way selector switch...first EMG pickup was soldered on 10yrs ago, now I go the solderless ones with the buss and everything...way too confused.
Thank you 🙏🏻 any picture-story on the homepage?
HEY Emg ... can you guys show us how to install the 18 volt mod?
I have the solderless 81/85 and 57/66 installed and IDK, I'm getting all kinds of noise buzzing I've even bought and installed the EMG 3 way toggle and still same results noise and buzz. Everything is fine while I'm playing but between songs if I keep my volume up I get buzzing noise I didnt have this problem with my passive pickups. I dont understand same problem with two guitar?????
I bought used guitar with emg 81/85 pickups, and there wobbly, inside the frame, I checked to make sure springs still on, and put foam inside but still loose. Any help to make firm would help?
man this is awesome, i love that stuff. I am just making my first guitar and i can't wait to install those in.
Am I the only one getting pissed off by him saying "fingerboard pickup"?
Don't forget the primary goal of human communications is to convey the thought. You knew to what he was referring so he was successful. You just got spun up around the axle on terminology and that isn't his fault. Just sayin.
no, fingerboard pickup pissed me off a little too, like, bruh, everyone calls it a neck pickup
I like to say: the "not bridge" pick up.
Palm hand pickup and fingering pickup next time.
no
I have 3 EMG pu. 2 singol coil s1 and 1 HB alexi laiho with boost and switch 5way EMG, I can't find wiring anywhere, can someone help me?
Does anyone know what to do with installing these with only one volume and one tone switch.
joegebhard888 if you get the kit on amazon there is a instruction sheet in like it you can look at and it tells you what to do, it’s a lot more easier then this video
The volume knots does'nt fit on the pots? Am I supposed to press the pots together to make them fit?
Hi, could you give me a piece of advice? I have two EMG 89s, and I would like to use one of them as the 89R in the neck position. Which means that it needs to be installed upside down. Can it be done this way? The idea is to get only the outer coils live in the split mode. Will the upside-down position make any difference to the sound (either in the humbucker mode or the single coil mode?
My kerry king 81 85 is coming tomorrow and my Kerryking wartribe only has one time knob and one volume does that mean I just use one of each?
Cool system. Don’t expect the solder industry to go down quietly. They will fight you by spreading baseless lies and fear about this system, but never give up hope. Now... get started on wireless charging for the battery. :)
This set up isn't working for me. I get no pickup output sound when jack plug installed. If plug is only half way in Both pickups make sound regardless of selector switch position. I even wired up a different stereo jack just confirm it wasn't the jack
What needs to be taken into account if I want to switch from passive to active EMGs?
Sure, there's a battery in there, but to what extent does the wiring change?
It would be great if you could make a video about it.
Hello, i have a Gibson Flying-V from 2001 with passive humbuckers. can i install this kit into it? my Flying-V has just 3 potentiometers holes.
I have this pick up on my les Paul
I have received the Marshall dsl5c for Christmas , but I think the sound I not amazing , maybe I make shoe when I install the pick up ....
I have a Gibson les Paul custom (2016) and the green cable has been cut too short at the factory so I had to replace the toggle switch and I bought the 81 and 60 and they don’t let you the choice of long or short pots so I have to pay $45 for the four long pots
I bought the zw emg pickups and I was wondering how to wire them so it's just the pickups, a volume knob, and a jack. nothing else. do I need to use the bus thing? or...?
I just spend several days trying to wire 1 emg h4, and it has sound, but together with this really annoying buzzing sound and a tapping sound when i touch the strings. Ground is connected to the bridge. What am i doing wrong? Please help
Wanna buy these. But what is with the toggle-switch of my les Paul?
what i cant seem to find any information on is that most flying Vs have those big pickguards on em and all the wiring and whatnot is under the pickguard (there are no compartments on the back of the guitar). emgs run on 9v battery but with a flying V, the only way to get to the wiring where the battery would have to go, i would have to take out all the knobs, the bridge, and replace the strings. is there a way to put the battery somewhere else so i dont have to do all that work to replace it?
Love the color of that Gibson. Definitely would remove the pickguard, though
Hi guys , question. In 2003 I had a luthier install this set in my ZW bullseye Epiphone. But he switched the bridge and neck pickup now I see this video. I sounds great but what will differ when I install them the right way tonewise? After 19 years...
If I remember right I think Zakk had said something about switching his pickups around so you may have them right.
Why would you put a lovely set of pickups in a sub standard guitar ?? Please please use guitars that are better than these chinese grade bits of firewood
Hi will the long stem POTs fit on other non Les Paul style guitars? I want to experiment on a Squier Showmaster. Will they fit that strait body style?
I put these in my Les Paul. Sounds awesome but my action is off now. The strings aren't hitting the pick-ups so I have no idea how it happened.
I have a P/J set without the solderless connectors and I am having a hard time wiring because for some reason the sound comes and go. Can you please help me because in your site most of the diagrams showing are with the connectors, please and thanks in advance; Josh
They forgot to mention if you are using a Jackson rhoads you will need extra wire to connect the output jack!
if i want to have 2 vol and 2 tones, either volumes will always act as master? can they not be independent? that was disapointing :( i must have just one tone in order to have independent volumes? help !!!
Peeps a 24 volt mod battery pack is highly recommended for these pickups. Takes these guys to the next level and longer battery life from A23 batteries. give it a shot
At 16:27 he's tapping to check the tone , he's tapping the bridge pickup but turning the finger board tone knob & tapping the finger board pickup & turning the bridge tone knob...
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