• From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: New Pickups in my '79 Explorer E2

I just got an awesome deal off ebay. I got some Rio Grande Texas humbucker and BBW humbucker pickups for a little over $100!

I'm taking the EMG 81/85 pickups out of my 79 explorer. I got them back when I was a teenager and obsessed with Metallica and Ozzy. The pickups never dropped my jaw, and now I'm sort of just over them.

If my Rio Grandes are black with no covers, are any gold humbucker covers compatible with them? I'd like them to be gold covered, although I could live with them uncovered as long as it sounds good.

Anyone have exp with these pickups? I had muy grande pickups from riogrande and they were HUGE sounding. I'm hoping these humuckers can live up the same standards.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: New Pickups in my '79 Explorer E2

I'd like to hear some clips of the guitar when you do the PU swap if you please! big_smile

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: New Pickups in my '79 Explorer E2

Yeah you can put any cover you want to on them as long as you can solder them to the base plate of the pickup.  Make sure you but covers that fit those pickups some over sea pickups have a slightly different pole spacing then others making them not fit up on the adjustable poles.  Odds are if you go with a good name brand pickup cover they will work fine like Gibson, DiMarzio, or Seymour Duncan.  I'm sure those pickups will blow those stail EMG's out of the water!  I've only found EMG's to sound good with lots of gain and lots of volume for some reason.  Have you had any luck?

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: New Pickups in my '79 Explorer E2

To me EMG pickups were the crowning example of the "placebo" effect. hmm
I fooled myself into thinking they sounded good because Kirk Hammet and Zakk Wylde used them.
Like you said, MUSH amounts of gain and volume - yeah they sounded alright. But it also sounds like a lot of other pickups. There was some clarity there and hearing individual notes - but no real personality to speak of.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool