i have a SX lespaul copy..
and i feel like upgrading it
i checked out the EMG-ZW set = rm750
is it okay to just change the pickups?
cos some ppl said that the body will affect the sound... etc
and chapalang guitars cant handle powerful pickups or sumthing lidat

cos im on a tight budget, and to get a new good guitar would cost me more than 1k...
so im asking all the pro opinions here.. thxx

Any guitar can handle any pickup.... just have to modify it abit

But if you're adding in the Zakk set in your LP, it's going to ROAR.
Heck, throw in EMGs in a baseball bat and it'll still sound brutal.....

If you really love and cheerish your guitar and want to give it a "treat", yeah..... the EMG will work. I installed them into my low end LP-100 and it sounded quite brutal for a metal tone when paired with a powerful amp.....

But you'll have to send it to a luthier to get it installed, because they'll need to install a battery as the EMG-ZW are actives.

battery? where does the battery fit in?
my SX LP body has compartments for switch, and the knobs at the back of the body only..

^
they usually slot it into your control area

means the knobs there?

Yup...... If you flip your Les Paul around, you'll see that there is a compartment there...... where the jack is housed also.....

which one? A or B?

some ppl say not good to fit EMGs into SX guitars..izit a waste?
cos got one salesman said.. "aiya if even if u put SD or EMGs, ppl still see the headstock 'SX'...also don realy respect la"
n im not very pro in guitar also.. i just started playing for 2 weeks after stopping for 1 n half years.
now im tryin to learn some techniques by myself.. i stil dunno much of alternate picking, tapping..
usually for metal sound (81/85 combo) is for fast songs izit?

B

Respect is gained by the music you made.
But you should practice and improve more before you move to upgrade your guitar.
If you have the cash to spring, by all means go ahead.

This post has been edited by sean392: Nov 2 2007, 09:57 AM

It's A.

The battery is wired to the jack, how can you fit it in the switch area?

If you do upgrade to a new guitar, you can always fit your pickups to your new one, and install the old one with the original pickups and sell it off.

Agree on what Rossie says (BTW...... in case you didn't get the sarcasm, it's in slot B)..... even if you buy a new guitar, you can always swap the pickups in to that as well.

I still have a pair of Passive EMG-HZs from my Zakk Wylde LP that I might swap into another guitar on a later date......

No, I don't get it.

if you have the cash to spend on the pickups, why not?
but personally I'd save up and buy a new guitar instead, because honestly, EMGs on a SX guitar seem kinda like a waste. I'd much rather buy a better guitar then upgrade the pickups.
If you're looking for a metal tone, probably an Ibanez or BC Rich? Go for a heavier instrument, because they end to produce a heavier more "metal" sound after distortion (My warlock bass is heavier than an Epi LP ultra, WTH)

if you dont like the sound of the SX, change the pickups.

hanhanhan : What is your budget right now? RM750?

If I were you I wouldn't waste RM750 for the pickups to place it in the SX guitar.. Just my honest opinion.

But if you're really on a budget right now, yeah, why not? At least ur SX will sound slightly better.. But the body will still affect the overall sound.

Later when you buy a better guitar, maybe a Mahogany guitar, when you swap the pups over to that better guitar, you'll look back and laugh.

This post has been edited by skindred: Nov 2 2007, 11:49 AM

I beg to differ. I don't see any problems in outfitting SX's with EMGs or Seymour Duncans. If it'll greatly improve the sound, why not? Who cares about the headstock when you're playing on stage? As long as the guitar is solidly constructed, comfortable to play, and doesn't fall apart, it's fine!

I know coz I outfitted Seymour Duncans that cost more than the face value of my guitar. Something I never regretted

Since when the stereotype EMG/Duncan/DiMarzio/BKPs should only be outfitted on branded guitars existed?

^IMO the construction of the guitar and the tone created by the body is far more important than the pickup. Pickups can completely alter the sound, but remember the resonance generated is still the resonance of an SX, not something to be proud of. I'm not blamming SX, but i personally don't like their "stretched" sound, because it starts sounding awkward very fast.

Well, at the end of the day, a Gibson is a Gibson for a reason.

However, I still think there's no reason why one shouldn't outfit high-end pickups in a low-end guitar. It's an affordable way to get the most out of a limited budget. If we had the money, we wouldn't even consider a SX.

This post has been edited by nerd: Nov 2 2007, 12:28 PM

heck, even in a epi LP that costs double the SX...ppl will still change the pickups in them.
so yea, usually only in a guitar at least RM3k that most ppl dont really change pickups cos they're good enough.

Well, that depends also.
If I get a Gibson Classic, I wouldn't mind swapping in SD Alnico II ala Slash.......
If it's a Gibby Explorer, I would drop in EMG 81/85 in a heart beat.

Bottomline, no matter how cheap or expensive a guitar is, it's perfectly OK to modify them with pickups.

i think if you gig alot ...

then yes...SX + EMG sounds like a good idea..

i.e ..i own both Epiphone and Gibson..

i don't...bring my Gibson for gigging (obviously) , and you will realized all my Epiphones are pump with Dimarzio / EMG / Duncan

when gigging/jamming , midrange/low end guitars sounds like a great idea
cause i expect my guitars to hit here hit there lar...

but to get a decent tone i will need at least some good pickups...

Trust me , your MIA getting a big ding is wayyyyy more painful than people laughing at you ..saying you should get an epiphone intead of SX+ EMG ..so funny