Hi.
I just bought a new set of EMG's and I'm having errors installing them.
The pickups respond only when the lead is halfway in the guitar.
This is a common problem, with the resolution being correcting the quick-connect cables, but thats no good a.t.m.

I sent a few emails to EMG, they're not being very detailed, and i dont feel like hassling them anymore.

They asked whether my switch is grounded. I have no idea what that is... I think it shouldve been already right? Anyone know what it is?

I'm about to give it one last shot by completely re-wiring it.
And then I'll take it to a guitar tech.. but i dont fucking want to.. it's gonna be expensive

So can anyone give tips whether they've been in the same position or whatever, I'd really appreciate it.

BTW, I have a Warlock, 1 tone, 1 volume, 1 3way switch.

P.S. the distance between my volume and tone pots is greater than the length of the wires on the EMG pots.. i extended both wires, including the wire with the capacitator on it.. would this be a problem???

Thanks.
John

so long as you have done it properly, extending wires will only create more background noise, and a thinner and quieter tone.

find a wiring schematic for your guitar. i would look but im lazy.
and go here

they will be able to help you.

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As mentioned above if you've extended the wires properly that shouldn't be a problem.

If you are going to re-install them again(I presume you've got 2 EMG's to fit) disconnect everything and remove it all from the guitar. Try fitting one pick up first, wire it in and check to see if that's working properly when you plug the guitar lead in etc. If thats ok, move on to fitting the second pick up then make sure that is ok. If you are still having problems check the wiring and your soldering, just make sure no bare wires are touching and shorting out the circuit also check the input socket.
A few months ago I fitted an EMG 81 in to the bridge space, I didn't have to fanny around with selector switches but looking at the wiring schematics I have it doesn't mention much about switches or grounding. All it says is "with dual pick up installations it may not be necessary to rewire the selection switch"

As a customer you have every right to question EMG for help in solving your problem, so keep contacting them should problems persist. It's probably something really simple that you've missed and re-fitting might eradicate it

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as above so below.

i also noticed that EMG and some shops reckon that these active pick ups dont need to be earthed, or grounded- which is bullshit, koz once i had a tech install it and it made a horrible white noise staticky sound. so, i earthed the pick ups to the bridge, never had a prob since.

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My guess is that you have a stereo input jack and you wired up the pickups to the wrong leads (tangs). Swap them. On most stereo input jacks wire the tone POT to the middle tang and the battery to the top tang (looking at the input jack from below with the tangs orientated to the left side). The bottom tang on the input jack should be wired to the volume POT.

Reference diagram #4 in the link below.
EMG Active Wiring (PDF)

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Future reference: Pickups are GEAR talk!

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Yeah thanks fellas, i just made a few sketches of possible output jack configurations.. and tried them one by one till i got it.. woohoo!

So yeah it's a good tip for others... If your pickups respond while halfway in draw up the possible configurations for the wires and try them out. I dunno why this problem exists originally.. but the solution works