Easy solderless Zakk Wylde signature pickup Install with Rob Turner, EMGtv

[@wezzley]

note the magic reversal of the the output jack wires: -> 12:43 = white left, black right -> 14:37 = black left, white right the latter seems to be the right one.

[@theoriginalliquid]

Like the fact that the boss-man still likes to get his hands dirty. Solderless setup FTW!

[@sethnoah6451]

instablaster

[@derricksmith8664]

I've always hated soldering. These are great!!!!! Nice and clean install

[@electricritual4197]

Derrick Smith Except for the fact you relying on a sticker to hold one part in.

[@calebproductions5970]

Even this is for the birds I'll take my guitar to a shop before I install pickups

[@j.d.2230]

@@calebproductions5970 --- pussy

[@j.d.2230]

@@electricritual4197 After the battery and foam are inserted nothing will move.

[@ChrisTopherBunnell]

I have used solderless guitar electronics ONCE and it was a massive failure. The wire clamp connections have no durability, so don't expect to be able to change things more than two or three times and be careful in the process not to torque the connection screws.

[@rodgutierrez9011]

This video is ON POINT. I just installed my new ZW EMG's and followed the video, a couple of hours later. Bingo Bango!!! My Les Paul Custom sounds amazing!!! Didnt even crack open the instruction booklet. Great vid!!!

[@voltaspeeder17]

Just to let you guys know - i managed to install pickups perfectly, my guitar now ROARS and i couldn't be happier with EMG's! :D I've also made 18V mod (2 bateries) and the sound is hands down SUPERB. It even improved the clarity of pickups and removed so called "sterile" sound, so i really recommend it. Thank you EMG company for this really helpful tutorial and lots of fun to new buyers! :)

[@squeelerjakeaxcradle7095]

I'm using EMG 81 and 85 ZW set which I've had for over 10 years now,still going strong. My axe is a handcrafted by Luther Pendragon called Excalibur. Now my EMGS had to be soldered due to small cavity space and no luxury les Paul roomy cavity space to do easy emg solderless installation. We'd all love that but for me no chance. And to be honest I love the emg very responsive especially for heavy rock styles etc. Yet in my ibanez prestige I'm using the superb Bare Knuckle War pigs that's passive and not active and super high output and they are amazing hand crafted scatterwound pickups. All from the uk. So for me both pickups are incredible for what they are.

[@mattwildchild]

im so addicted to guitar videos involving construction, repairs, set up etc :) really helps us understand the instrument we play :) thank EMGtv

[@petew-berg7791]

This video was excellent. Thanks for the upload! Installed the zw set tonight and they work great! Also, emg customer service is as good as these pickups; I talked to a very nice lady today, who answered their general telephone line, and she was quite friendly and knowledgeable, particularly regarding the questions I had about the length of zw pots.

[@kalisilot6010]

Dude I upgraded all my EMG guitars to this solderless system and it's amazing about time someone got smart trying to solder all those little bitty wires to those little bitty switches what's a headache well never again thanks EMG

[@asr1143]

I MADE IT !!!!!!!! took me 2 hours, 30 % this tutorial 70% diagram from emg website.

[@pablom2274]

like 4hr here

[@KopiNonton]

can you share that diagram? i really thks for it.

[@agnidurden]

I just wanted to point out that at 12:41 the cabel that comes from the jack is conected with inverted polarities... they correct it later in the video but don't say anything about it.

[@801bim]

Dude my emgs have incredibly weak signal and the buzzing is unreal I have a gibson les paul 2019 classic. Any advice I followed this vid

[@leekirschman6256]

@@801bim same is happening to me right now. Any answer yet?

[@801bim]

@@leekirschman6256 ye, what you think is the ground isnt

[@leekirschman6256]

I FIGURED IT OUT!! My issue was that I didn't use a pickup switch, I had a sh*t one and didn't want to use it. So I never connected anything to the poles. I took two wires from my previous passive pickups, snipped them up to make the wiring cleaner, and connected them from BRIDGE to OUTPUT using a heatshrink connector. (I'm only using one pickup; connected to the Buss btw)

[@zzsql]

I'm happy that we've proceed beyond soldering parts into guitars. It's a simple conception but makes such a huge difference. Thanks!

[@j.d.2230]

God forbid you actually have to learn something and apply yourself. Fucking snowflake

[@antonkovalenko364]

My ZW set (and 3-way toggle switch) just came in, and I'm very excited to get them installed. I'm a longtime fan and user of EMG pickups, and can't wait to make my old B. C. Rich Bich my new B. C. Rich Bich. Edit: Also, such clean wiring is incredibly satisfying to see to an IT guy.

[@Petemotox]

Looking at the same setup for my warlock and was thinking about the x3 way selector and x3 pots vs the x4 used here, any info / links that you followed or is it documented with the pickup set?

[@antonkovalenko364]

@@Petemotox The documentation that comes with the pups is very thorough, including wiring options for different types of switches (which you will have to order seperately). The set included the wiring harness, connector wires, jack, battery bus, two volume pots, and two tone pots - really everything you need to completely rewire your guitar. The plug-and-play aspect made it incredibly easy to install, and I've had zero issues with loose wiring (which seems to be the biggest worry from the other guitarists I spoke with before buying) in the three years since installing the new electronics. I'm a longtime EMG guy, so I ordered my set straight from EMG's website. Just be advised that you'll need the 10mm stemmed pots (you choose when ordering) for your 'lock so that your knobs won't be hanging an inch above the guitar body. I hope this helps a bit. Stay TRVE KVLT!

[@Petemotox]

@@antonkovalenko364 excellent thanks appreciate the reply 👌🤘

[@AndrewRoyalsinfreealex]

Thank you, Rob! I have fun soldering but this set was awesome to install. I have the newer set so the Pickup Selection Bus is different, but so well labeled, it doesn't even matter. Made my guitar sound better than new and certainly not my last EMG set, by a long shot. Again, thank you, Rob and EMG.

[@TIBORANGE]

after 30 years fiddeling with guitars ....thanks for the"screwdriver-trick"...for me this was mindblowing...the best part of the video for me!

[@delbert9357]

I did this exact thing on my AIO Les Paul. 57/66 set super easy best thing I could have done. Now I can swap out whatever EMG pickup I want without soldering anything. It's amazing.

[@jimmyspage9650]

Aside from setting up my switch, my wiring is done on my EMG's. I custom built a fireman's axe guitar and this video got me around my final bend. Great vid, thanks!

[@danormisher8084]

Just did this in my Epiphone SG. Took me about 2 hours cause I've never done anything like this before. Didn't run into any issues and the only thing wrong is my toggle switch is the wrong way round now, easy fix when I can be bothered. Thanks for the video I would have had no chance without this!

[@RumpleStiltzkin-bu5he]

Unscrew it a bit and turn the toggle upside down...problem solved.

[@gooeykev]

This is so awesome! I think that every pickup system should be this simple!

[@perkele8341]

EMG's look fucking gorgeous on almost every guitar!

[@ColonelRPG]

I got an EMG85, comes with a kit (it comes without the battery foam though) and everything is really intuitive and polished, I haven't finished the installation (gonna buy a battery tomorrow) but I can really recommend the pickup to guitarist friends.

[@Equimanthorn11]

I find this video informative and helpful but also very relaxing.

[@HeavyMetalKid97]

I installed these pickups about 3 months back, and I am extremely satisfied how they sound. I just thought they would've been easier to install.

[@philbarrows8261]

Ron, you really are the real deal. A true Tech at heart!!

[@AdamYoudell]

Rob this video still comes in handy to this day. I just swapped a 707TW for an 81 in the bridge of my Hellraiser(replaced all the pots and switch too) and forgot how to wire the damn output jack, lol.

[@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXV]

I got this system a couple of years ago. One thing they do not tell you for strat/tele type guitars is that you can actually get a 3 way and 5 way selector switch that's solderless. With that you can completely eliminate that buss chip. You still have to buy them separate though which was annoying. I don't understand why they cannot package the selector switch with the volume and tone pots....perhaps they have done that at this point but when I did it, it wasn't an option lol.

[@redstonemaster4300]

I don’t mind it a little more work when I did mine didn’t bother me I was just happy I got one of my favorite sets back the controversial EMG HZ set back

[@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXV]

@@redstonemaster4300 Why is EMG HZ set controversial?

[@redstonemaster4300]

@@AvnerRosenstein-ULTRA-LXVfrom what I know most of the EMG community doesn’t like the passive variants that EMG did for quite a bit but I tend to prefer them cause I learned on multiple sets of them

[@SylwekGrega]

This helped me install my 56/66 Set, and that was into a left handed guitar! Very good step by step video for anyone installing EMGs

[@jgmopar]

I like the 85 in the bridge

[@ryanperkowski4488]

Yeah

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

81 more clear I think I went with a 81 60 set in my first Jackson. I may switch 81 in the bridge slot out for a 85. I have to closely hear the differences. I think the 81 is more clear and better I have to really listen to the 2

[@bdogjr7779]

I was looking at the 81/85 specs on Amazon. The 85 seems better matched for the bridge imo✌🏼😁☯️

[@jgmopar]

@@bdogjr7779 I use the 85 in my jackson bridge. It great as a bridge pickup.

[@bdogjr7779]

@@jgmopar🎸 《☆》I'm thinking about putting a set of ZWs in an 04 Epiphone LP that I put some Gibson Burstbucker Pros in when it was new. Over the years of not playing it much the electronics have gotten scratchy & sometimes I can't even get the neck pup to work without flashing the coil several times. I aquired a Gibson since then that I'm thinking the Burstbuckers will be perfect for✌🏼😎☯️

[@DeeTee79]

This video was incredibly useful and will now save me a bunch of time and money, I will soon be grabbing the het set and watching this how to video again. Thanks ROB!

[@cannedmilk]

I remember installing a pair of EMGs on my Epiphone les paul back in 2005. I don't think there these plug in pots and I did an awful job. This looks so easy!!

[@voltaspeeder17]

I recieved my set yesterday and i finally have time now so... Epiphone Les Paul - i hope you're ready :D Wish me luck, it looks like a hell of a installation!

[@TMoody]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this!! I was about to loose my mind trying to figure this out. It's all fun and games until that happens. :-)

[@antonkovalenko364]

Clean wiring is *always* pleasing to see.

[@OdinAllFather77]

Need a new video. I did my beast installing on an epiphone les Paul 50s 2020 and the buzz is different. And didn’t work. So had to take it to a guitar shop to fix it. Hope we can have a new video for us non experts. Thank you. Emg is the best🇲🇽

[@damionchrist]

Rob is the man, hello from Long Beach!

[@JS-ee5gp]

Very cool video, very easy to follow step by step. Works great on my Les Paul, now it's a war machine !!!

[@westkoast81]

This was very helpful, made it very simple to follow along. Thank you EMG!

[@spidermangaming8769]

Amazing video, this guy was a real good teacher kept my attention the whole video 👍

[@aspire9360]

Definitely going to need a set of needle-nose pliers to install the selection switch wires into the EMG bus. It's such a pain to do without one.

[@TheJMG21]

man this is awesome, i love that stuff. I am just making my first guitar and i can't wait to install those in.

[@EllisJonesDeath]

I've just bought a set of these off Amazon, I have 1 large pot with that quick connection. Then 3 little regular pots with soldered prongs, wires only have connections on one end

[@EllisJonesDeath]

Also, I only have that red connection block on the bus

[@EllisJonesDeath]

Also no battery connection.

[@AMTragedy7]

I just bought the het set for my Les Paul and I love them, way more diverse the the normal 81,85

[@xdieguinix]

Thanks EMGtv! Hello from Bogotá, Colombia.

[@cpllenny]

you need to use the jack that came with the kit. Its a stereo jack, it turns on the pickups when you plug in the cable. Original jack is mono. check out the emg website to order a longer jack. hope this helps.

[@finaljesus]

i really like the illustration of this whole video very informative thank you

[@whitetiger2650]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, passive to active

[@kyleboggs1966]

I feel like I'm watching Bob Ross of PUP installation. oh, here's a happy tone control. right there you go!

[@gazr3933]

Awesome video, I used it to install my zakk wylde set and they are excellent pickups

[@TheSullivanBruce]

Thanks for letting the me know the string grounding is not required for active pickups

[@TheReddCell]

BTW these pickups sound amazing in a Gibson Les Paul. I have three and two of them have the 81/85 set up. Surprising clean for high gain pickups too.

[@EmeraldZoneNetGMG]

It would be really helpful if the kit came with one set of extra long output clips for people using Randy Rhoads.

[@DarkAlucardTube]

Can you please make a video with EMG 57/66 set and "arrow"-guitar (ESP SV, Alexi Laiho, Jackson RR, etc.)

[@marsbbyII]

Алексей Емельянов Randy Rhoads V was a pain in the ass, considering the drill holes are the width of a pencil and the jack cables not being long enough to reach the hardware compartment.

[@pasinbyyou]

Thanks for the video. For some reason, the wiring diagrams just never seem to work for me. I've wired 2 Les Pauls with these and both times the drawings just seemed wrong, but this video saved me this time. If anyone has an Afterburner (20db boost) pull pot. Looks like it just a replacement tone pot, with a hot wire for power - however, i can't recall - i installed one a long time and rarely use it.

[@wellingtonsimoes3791]

Emg's are the best pickups ever made

[@nicholaslewis8938]

I’ve been able to do my LP, SG, V, and Explorer with no problem. I can’t get a HH 3 way switch Strat to work for the life of me. I’ve even tried the solderless EMG 3 way switch. I’m lost.

[@Ikillintel1]

Did you figure it out? You can always call EMG, go ahead and take photos of all connections made including the back of pickups and attach them to a an email. Call EMG tell em what you got going on.

[@nicholaslewis8938]

@@Ikillintel1 I did. I used a couple of different diagrams and it’s working perfectly. I set it aside for about 10 days and came back to it fresh and got it first attempt.

[@Ikillintel1]

@@nicholaslewis8938 my very first set (6 sets ago)I had a similar issue. Pretty much did the same thing only I didn't wait two weeks, just a few days. Now I can install this set very easily. I've also had and installed the Marty Friedman passive set and the Gary Holt set. I gotta admit that push pull kicked my ass a little.

[@57Techboy]

the pots for bridge and neck pickups are reversed. Bridge pots are on the bottom for a Les paul.

[@j.d.2230]

I reversed mine as well. Just seems like a better payout.

[@PoetryEmotion94]

The fuck ?! NOW you guys uploaded this video, while 6 months ago i was waiting cause i spent 2 hours trying to install those damn pickups ?! thanks EMGTV.

[@xAkillateMx]

Do a JH set install please?

[@linkinman48]

Great job explaining, This has probably convinced me to buy EMG's. Been waiting for this lesson since I saw the NAMM demo with just the wires.

[@stephenrochester6309]

Looks really easy, good job EMG

[@AnnihilaticJC]

Just something... honestly i dont know too much about sound but i do know what i like. My friend was telling me theres a scoop of mid range (which i terribly love... though im not the high eq megadeth/oldies annihilator sound) and uhm... the sound breaks on cleans. i dont know if it was faulty... but it was brand new and after changing, it just seemed odd. while the emg 81/60 didnt break easily. i like the range of the 81/60 with the adjustment of the vol knob unlike the hetset.

[@nertrwd304]

the backround music is anoying

[@totrodder97]

It makes it seem like some call of duty mission difusing a bomb or something lke that haha but i agree with you!

[@nertrwd304]

+Darryl Williams haha true

[@acehorn]

the music is fine for me

[@the8bithesher433]

I was thinking the same lol

[@scottchilds5726]

Elevator tunes would be better

[@christopherhickman3579]

I wired mine up but at the end tapping the pickups no matter what position I put the toggle switch it’s picking up on both pickups when I tap it with a screw

[@bigmattybennett]

How would one go about installing just a standard 81/85 solderless set, in a guitar with one volume and tone knob?

[@puppettrash]

www.proaudioland.com/manuals/emg/zwset/ZW%20Set%20Solderless.pdf

[@iivan1966]

If you wanna do it on a Flying V that has the output jack at the end of the wing, be sure that you ask for long wires upon ordering. The standard wires are way too short. Except that flaw EMG has a good support, I sent them a mail about the problem and within 3 workdays I received the extended wires.

[@ivanimhof6550]

@Dusty Chugs Agree, but the customer asked for the pickup replacement only and to keep the jack as it was.

[@MBA380Aviation]

What needs to be taken into account if I want to switch from passive to active EMGs? Sure, there's a battery in there, but to what extent does the wiring change? It would be great if you could make a video about it.

[@DredFulProductions]

The pots are the same as long as you solder them to correct pickups. For example pot x works with both bridge and neck pickup. Same for pot y. So you can have bridge pickup to pot x and neck to pot y or the opposite way :)

[@INeverWanted2010]

I've never seen someone call a neck pickup a "fingerboard" pickup before.

[@victorrivera7296]

i love EMG'S THERE SO PUNCHY

[@danelectro769]

my 3 way toggle has no wires attached so unfortunately I am going to have to solder. Question: I noticed in your video that the red, green and blue wires coming from the toggle, have white wires inside that go to their positions, but also have another wire and all three are also attached to the ground. Is that required? I noticed that on the other end of the wires (where it goes into the solderless part) that they only have the one main wire.. can anyone explain if that is a requirement and why its like that??

[@msbj10]

Check the wiring diagram with the pickups they have a layout for 2 volume, 1 tone

[@MetalBass0420]

I need to install some emg's on my Dean ML, this video did help a good amount though!

[@jimbola77]

thank you for sharing!!!! very nice install...

[@BadMotivator66]

love the passive hz and singles in my cort x11! thank you emg!

[@VidicsFerenc]

I have it in my Les Paul, awesome pickups

[@gageforreal]

Thank god. this is like the first video that can help me on this.

[@hamartime17]

Thank EMG for solderless operations

[@steveblue2027]

i was thinking of putting EMGs in my LP BFG... after seeing this vid.. it must be done!!! thanks for the vid!!! TBLO

[@trevorjackson772]

Just installed these pickups, and Both pickups are always on and the toggle switch doesn't work. I have an ESP LTD EC330

[@MatejSJ]

I am installing JH set right now

[@AdamYoudell]

Only complaint is installing the black pickups on that guitar! Maybe this was made before they were offering the metalworks covers. Also the 85 is the go-to bridge pickup for versatility, the 81 only excels as a Metal bridge P/U.

[@dannymonge7923]

I just installed an 81/85 set with the quick connect kit into my Epi. LP and it was a breeze. It all went in nice and easy with no problems. The only thing is I find that when I have the 3 way switch in the up position the guitar has extremely low volume, don't know what's up with that unless that's the way it's suppose to sound. I've checked and re-checked and everything is plugged in correctly.

[@maximiliano1761]

I have an epiphone LP standard and I'm thinking about changing pick ups. Were you able to get the problem with the volume fixed?

[@ILLRICARDO]

Maximiliano emg Actives have weaker magnets, so you need to raise the pick ups closer to the strings

[@punkskat87]

What about installing into a Fender Blacktop Telecaster? Could you show how to do that

[@davidrees1840]

Great job demystifying this -it looks so simple once broken down. I'd like to see all manufacturers adopt a standard like this so I'd never have to strip and solder and dick around with a third hand, etc.

[@phillipmcgrath599]

At 16:27 he's tapping to check the tone , he's tapping the bridge pickup but turning the finger board tone knob & tapping the finger board pickup & turning the bridge tone knob...

[@metfx81]

I have a Gibson les Paul custom (2016) and the green cable has been cut too short at the factory so I had to replace the toggle switch and I bought the 81 and 60 and they don’t let you the choice of long or short pots so I have to pay $45 for the four long pots

[@TheJMG21]

Well, I've done a lot of background search about those pickups and i think you should get another pot with killswitch because the ones included don't have such a feature.

[@saklfjpior8quefi]

Sorry I am a newbie. What happens in the end of the video when Rob is balancing the pickups. Is he adjusting the hight of the neck pickup when adjusting middle screw? And why does it affect output from bridge pickup (both pickups) ? I have a used guitar equipped with the pickups and it needs this adjustment ;-) Thanks to EMG for the video.

[@Luxorcist]

Johann Elmo Yes, hes adjusting the height of the pickups. the closer the pickup is to the string, the more treble it has. the farther away, the more bass it has. So he set the bridge to were he likes it, and then adjusted the neck pickup according to the bridge sound, just so it wasnt so drastic of a difference. its all preference really. some people like the neck to sound WAY different than the bridge, so they set it that way. Id suggest fiddling around with your pickups. Start with the bridge like he did, set it relatively close to the strings, and see how it sounds, and then the same for the neck. but do one at a time so you can judge the sound of one off of the other.

[@UV-NIR-Thermal]

Cool video, I need a video to show how to make an active pickup guitar to a passive pickup guitar?

[@topazio96]

I love the EMGs pickups because i no need to solder anything !! Who's With Me ?

[@guitar1167]

I need these. so much better than that passive soldering bs. Its such a pain in the ass changing passive pickups.

[@devinwhite5086]

Damn, i just ordered emg passives.. i didn't know how easy these active pickups are to install.

[@joshua3732]

Great video. Very helpful.

[@Jmaker100]

well that depends on the style that you are playing, you also need to check the size for your pickups, then you can install them.

[@jimmygrant3151]

Dude, you are so cool. Wish I had a copy of you to do my pick-ups for me. lol.

[@therichardnogginproject9012]

I put these in my Les Paul. Sounds awesome but my action is off now. The strings aren't hitting the pick-ups so I have no idea how it happened.

[@TheReddCell]

This is an incredible instructional video. Thank you for posting this. I for one greatly appreciate it.

[@druidesskat]

Did I see correctly? Did he say white on right, black on left then plug the jack in wrong?

[@antonyquigley5219]

With all the advances in modern technology etc, and guitars fetching anything from 40 bucks up to 150 thousands bucks, it'[s crazy that guitars are SO badly put together. Like apart from the mood, everything else is just cheap tacky shit. Look in the pot cavity on that Les Paul... a 3 grand guitar, maybe more... shitty dusty wiring, VERY messy soldering work, cables everywhere etc.. yet it's supposed to have that "Magic sound" that only shitty solder and cable jobs can get you lol. You'd think all guitars innerds now were just connect the Male to the Female like on the pickups. Should be that way directly to the pots too.

[@FloridaManMatty]

Apparently that “magic sound” is based around capacitors the size of municipal garbage cans being shoehorned into the electronics route and secured with enough solder to fill a life-sized mold of the Statue of Liberty. Extra points for a factory headstock re-glue! Play Authentic, eh? 😁

[@chadapold1055]

Wait a few years when corrosion sets in while you're trying to play a show.....

[@rossneyman7781]

Late comment but epiphones are wired with plug and play at least for push pull pots, only things that were soldered on mine were ground and signal to the switch and tone

[@EliPorterMahn]

How nice did you want the part of the guitar that is never seen to look dude?

[@johnnyrebuffatti483]

Nashville Hillbilly here, Been playing 30 years. All this machinery...oh, I do not like Gibson guitars. I primarily play Dean Guitars but, that is also my preference. Dean can make expensive shit too.

[@darkdeviltj101]

Can you do an install video with the James Hetfield set?