Aftermaths with low output?

[Will88]

Hi,
Recently replaced my stock EMG HZ's in my Jackson DXMG with a set of calibrated aftermaths.
Just a bit concerned over their sound through guitar rig on my computer.

When i had the stock EMG's, playing through guitar rig (via a line in to my sound card) was fine. Great level of distortion and it was nice and loud.

Without changing any settings in guitar rig, the aftermaths hardly make a noise? Through my real amp and cab, they sound fine. Clearly audible but i feel the bridge pickup is still somewhat quiet?

Basically, the EMG's seemed to put out alot more volume than what the aftermaths do. Could it potentially be wiring or is that just how the aftermaths are?  :?

[rsf1977]

I'm no expert on active systems, but I know you need to replace the pots when you switch to passive pups just in case you didn't.  it would destroy your tone to use them with the pots the emgs had. Other then that i'm not sure what the issue would be

[Will88]

Yeah i replaced the pots and the capacitor with ones from BK, and the old HZ's i had were passive too.

The neck pick up is quite beefy (as you'd expect it to be, given its location) But it is still a neck pickup and not overly suited to playing metal as such.

The bridge sounds rather thin and empty? The clarity is great but its almost as if the gain has been turned right down on my amp or something.

Really just looking to see if anyone else experiences a similar sound with their aftermaths.

[Transcend]

I think you have a dry solder joint or just a generally bad connection somewhere.

However in the past when changing guitars from emgs (both active and passive) to BKPs i have noticed a output drop but nothing major.

Also the reason i suspect a bad/dry joint is the fact that there is such a difference between bridge & neck Aftermath they should be balanced really well.

Are the heights similar?

[Madsakre]

You need to change the eq settings on your rig too. theres a world of diffrence in the voicing :)

[adamj]

as TK said it may be the wiring. i had an issue a while back where the solder/wiring wasnt 100% and noticed a hell of a drop in gain from the bridge. I think it had something to do with the conductive paint in the cavity as well. Very easy to fix by the guitar tech

[MDV]

I've recently spent considerable time A/Bing the aftermath and EMG 81. The AM is louder than the 81. If its quieter than an HZ then you have a wiring problem, or have screwed something up in your signal chain to the PC

And welcome to the forum!

[Transcend]

I've recently spent considerable time A/Bing the aftermath and EMG 81. The AM is louder than the 81. If its quieter than an HZ then you have a wiring problem, or have screwed something up in your signal chain to the PC

And welcome to the forum!

Really?

I haven't compared the aftermath though. Just the MM/NB with various EMGS

[Lucifuge]

What sound card are you using?

Does it have a high impedance (sometimes called hi-Z) input specifically for guitars?

If not, and it just has standard line level inputs, then your problem lies here, as most passive pickups have a high output impedance, and will produce very little signal if you plug them into a low impedance input. Active pickups like the EMGs have a much lower impedance and so will not suffer as much from this

You may be able to solve the problem by getting a DI box to match impedance with the soundcard and plug this into a mic or line input.

[brian_ward]

read the posts, guys :x  the emg hz's are passive. check the ground connection on the pickup.

[Will88]

Thanks for all your replies, and so quickly too. I will have a look at the wiring to the bridge and see if there is a dodgy connection anywhere. The neck pickup is quite warm and wholesome, really like how it sounds. Through guitar rig im getting some amazing effects with the neck pickup, much neater and better than the EMG's. (this also leads me to believe that there is no issue between my guitar and sound card)

Seeing as this is my first time in installing pups, i probably have left a ground disconnected or something haha

[FELINEGUITARS]

Do make sure you have folloed the wiring convention right if you have 4 conductor wire.
Red = hot
green/white = soldered together and taped out of the way
black and bare wire = soldered to back of pot

Do ensure that the green and white are SOLDERED together and not just twisted - I've seen a few low output problems from that before - basically the circuit was left open and incomplete

Ensure you have earth continuity between the backs of all the pots if you have more than one

Finally if still having problems - if you have a multi-meter - take a DC resistance reading from the red wire to the black wire of the pickup

[Will88]

Do ensure that the green and white are SOLDERED together and not just twisted - I've seen a few low output problems from that before - basically the circuit was left open and incomplete

ooohhhh, i did not know this. I didnt even twist them together, let alone solder them....  :(

I will definitely try this as well, thanks for your help!

[Transcend]

Do ensure that the green and white are SOLDERED together and not just twisted - I've seen a few low output problems from that before - basically the circuit was left open and incomplete

ooohhhh, i did not know this. I didnt even twist them together, let alone solder them....  :(

I will definitely try this as well, thanks for your help!

i think if you left them as they came from bkp they come soldered together with heatshrink tubing around them

[Alex]

It should sound and feel like high power humbucker for sure, so if it doesn't, something is wrong.
Tap the pole pieces on each coil with a screwdriver as well and see if both make a clicking sound (they should) through the amp.