Owen Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 (edited) I have a pair of EMG DC45 pick ups, bought 2nd hand from the US back when we had some purchasing power. I am having a nightmare getting them to function. The bridge one works fine. When bridge and neck are on they work fine. When neck is on it's own it is the smallest nastiest sound ever, it sounds like bleed from another channel on a desk. I am open to the fact that it is knackered, but just wondered if anyone could throw some light on the situation before I spend more money getting my local guitar emporia to not get them working, again. TIA as usual in these circumstances. Owen Edited January 24, 2009 by owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Sounds silly, but are the pin connectors reversed or damaged? There isn't much you can do to an EMG to kill it..so I can't think of anything else. I'd expect a faulty one to be completely dead. good luck - and tell us what the answer turns out to be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I've already been in touch with owen about this, but for the benefit of others, I've had an EMG 40J go tits up like this - very weak signal. It was - in fact - knackered! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 [quote name='King Tut' post='390351' date='Jan 24 2009, 01:17 PM']I've already been in touch with owen about this, but for the benefit of others, I've had an EMG 40J go tits up like this - very weak signal. It was - in fact - knackered![/quote] He has. The man is a star. You are probably right However, I don't understand why it functions fine when both are on. However, I am easily confused! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I'll state from the off that I am no 'techie' BUT I have hads a bit of 1st hand experience with gear, so my suggestions are based on those assertions. Have you categorically eliminated the fact that the wiring and/or the pots are fully functional and everything is soldered where it should be? I don't know the EMG range that well but a way to check this might be to insert and wire the pups in the other way around (I assume that they are the same size soapbars), i.e. the bridge in the neck position and vice versa. Alternatively is it possible to wire just one pup in at a time and try it in isolation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 Have you categorically eliminated the fact that the wiring and/or the pots are fully functional and everything is soldered where it should be? I have not been able to ascertain whether all the kit is fully functional, because for me basses are like cars. When they work I use them. When they do not I pay someone to make them work. The guy who has been working on it has confirmed that the bridge pick-up is fine and dandy, but that the neck one is dodgy - he is guessing at some sort of damage to the earth. However he has had it for a LONG time and is fed up of looking at it so I am now turning to the oracles of all things tech I don't know the EMG range that well but a way to check this might be to insert and wire the pups in the other way around If I did this myself, the only guaranteed info I could come up with is that soldering irons hurt when you touch them with your fingers. I cuould just buy a new neck pick up. I could get Wizard to make me a pair of something lovely. I am just too tight to spend if I can mend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
octavedoctor Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 [quote name='owen' post='390397' date='Jan 24 2009, 02:25 PM']Have you categorically eliminated the fact that the wiring and/or the pots are fully functional and everything is soldered where it should be? I have not been able to ascertain whether all the kit is fully functional, because for me basses are like cars. When they work I use them. When they do not I pay someone to make them work. The guy who has been working on it has confirmed that the bridge pick-up is fine and dandy, but that the neck one is dodgy - he is guessing at some sort of damage to the earth. However he has had it for a LONG time and is fed up of looking at it so I am now turning to the oracles of all things tech I don't know the EMG range that well but a way to check this might be to insert and wire the pups in the other way around If I did this myself, the only guaranteed info I could come up with is that soldering irons hurt when you touch them with your fingers. I cuould just buy a new neck pick up. I could get Wizard to make me a pair of something lovely. I am just too tight to spend if I can mend.[/quote] I was the EMG warranty support tech for several years back in the eighties. Internal faults are not unknown but very rare. The likelihood is that there is a problem with the installation, not the pickup. If you are up for a trip to Bridgend or Bristol I could take a look for you. Eltham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 D'OH! EMG 45 TW pick ups they are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwilym Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 [quote name='owen' post='391294' date='Jan 25 2009, 10:15 PM']D'OH! EMG 45 TW pick ups they are![/quote] you might find this useful: [url="http://www.emgpickups.com/content/wiringdiagrams/45TW1.pdf"]http://www.emgpickups.com/content/wiringdiagrams/45TW1.pdf[/url] hwyl G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 i used a DC45 and remember that the little pins on the bottom could hit the body of the bass if the rout wasnt deep enough also dont they use a clip on wire...is that connecting ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.