Installing EMGs in Epiphone Les Paul Standard

[Dkr84]

I really don't want to mess up my primary guitar, so where can I get it done at? And what pickups do you think I should use?

I play Metallica, Ozzy, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, etc... I've made up my mind on EMG. I also like to make a lot of my own little solos and riffs, and EMGs sound best to me.

[theruns]

check out the zakk wylde set. those are supposed to be pretty good. and you should be able to get them put in by your local guitar/music shop.

[Dkr84]

Originally Posted by theruns

check out the zakk wylde set. those are supposed to be pretty good. and you should be able to get them put in by your local guitar/music shop.

ok thanks. where does the 9V battery go? in the back cavity?

[theruns]

you could put it there. thats probably where id put it.

[Dkr84]

Originally Posted by theruns

you could put it there. thats probably where id put it.

ok cool thanks for the help

[jrnic]

It's really easy to do. You could put them in yourself. I have a set in my Epi and it's just awesome right now. Here it is:

[GilmourD]

It's not "rocket surgery" (to quote David Lee Roth) to install your own pickups. It just takes a steady hand and the ability to follow directions.

The Zakk Wylde Set is the 81 in the bridge and the 85 in the neck. The 81 is the standard metal bridge pickup, but some people who also do some more classic stuff (like you seem to be aiming for with AC/DC and GnR) tend to like the 85 in the bridge as it's a tad warmer sounding with a bit more of a vintage vibe (as much as you can get from regular series EMGs).

The battery tends to go in the control cavity as it's most easily accessed there.

Now, only one group you listed is primarily EMG-based. A good portion of Ozzy's classics were actually not recorded by Zakk Wylde, so you had Randy Rhoads with his stock LP Custom or his Jackson Vs loaded with various Duncans and DiMarzios, and then Brad Gillis and Jake E. Lee also had passive pickups.

I'm thinking a passive setup might be more appropriate for you in general to give you a more versatile setup. I'd go with something a bit hotter than vintage but not super hot, so nothing labeled as "Distortion".

If you want something off-the-shelf, for the bridge I'd say go for something like the Custom 5 or Pearly Gates from Duncan, a PAF Pro from DiMarzio, or a GFS VEH. For the neck, I'd go more vintage, like the '59 from Duncan, the PAF or Air Classic from DiMarzio, or the '59 from GFS.

Then again, I'd just get in touch with Bryan from BG Pups Hand Wound Custom Guitar Pickups by Bryan Gunsher and tell him what I want and what I'm putting it into and have him wind me perfection, but that's just me.

[california1967]

Just buy the Zakk Wylde set. The entire thing is solderless and only takes about an hour to install - you can do it yourself. Or most guitar stores will install pickups for around $10 each if you buy the pickups from the store themselves.

[LesPauI+SG=Win]

Originally Posted by california1967

Just buy the Zakk Wylde set. The entire thing is solderless and only takes about an hour to install - you can do it yourself. Or most guitar stores will install pickups for around $10 each if you buy the pickups from the store themselves.

Yea, EMG just started the whole solderless thing didnt they? Its a cool idea IMO

[GilmourD]

Originally Posted by LesPauI+SG=Win

Yea, EMG just started the whole solderless thing didnt they? Its a cool idea IMO

I'm pretty sure that you still need to solder to the pots and output jack.

[4nd3h]

Originally Posted by GilmourD

I'm pretty sure that you still need to solder to the pots and output jack.

They come with a set of pots. I think you're right about the output jack.

[lp_junkie]

I'd look and see if there are any techs in your local area that do pickup swaps, since you will have to replace all the electronics, but the right parts come with the EMGs so no biggie.

Although out of all the bands you mentioned only one player uses EMG's.

I tried a set of 81/85's about 15 years ago in a Gibson LP Deluxe, the EMG's ended up in the trash and the original pickups back in it within a week. I found them harsh and sterile sounding, a good passive setup will get tone for days.

I considered it a waste of $200, and before Fleabay or Craigs-ho there wasn't really a good outlet to unload them quickly so the dumpster seemed like a good idea at the time.

[Dkr84]

Thanks for all the help guys- and jrnic- my jaw dropped when I saw that pic!!!!! NICE!!!!!

[GilmourD]

Originally Posted by 4nd3h

They come with a set of pots. I think you're right about the output jack.

I think the wires going to the pickups from the pots need to be soldered as well.

[jrnic]

Originally Posted by Dkr84

Thanks for all the help guys- and jrnic- my jaw dropped when I saw that pic!!!!! NICE!!!!!

Thank you very much!

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by GilmourD

I'm pretty sure that you still need to solder to the pots and output jack.

There's not a single solder joint to be done on the solderless EMGs.

[Syn]

Originally Posted by -=[Shifty]=-

There's not a single solder joint to be done on the solderless EMGs.

You beat me to setting the record straight.

I installed a solderless set in my LP a couple of months ago and added the 18v mod and there was NO soldering. At all. It took about 45 mins, and there was nothing tricky about it.
Also having that system in makes it so much easier to swap EMG pickups if you want to try something else. You just take the pickup out of the cavity, un-clip it and clip in another one.

[GilmourD]

Originally Posted by -=[Shifty]=-

There's not a single solder joint to be done on the solderless EMGs.

Well, that's new! I even checked EMG's website before I said anything but I didn't find anything and all the pics of the sets I looked at were set up the old way.

Man... I'm starting to feel old... I'm losing track of new things, I don't recognize the bands on the radio, and I'm getting crotchety... And I'm only 30!

Hey, I'm not always right... The moment I think I am, I'll stop being able to learn new stuff.

[california1967]

If you want the Zakk Wylde Solder Less set you don't have to spend $210. Have American Music Supply or Guitar Center price match this EMG ZW Zakk Wylde Set/Black - You have to add it to the cart to see the price. It's only $159 and if you use bing cash back (Bing Shopping) at AMS or Guitar Center you get an additional 6%. Free Shipping and no tax from AMS. Pretty sweet if you ask me.