Someone talk to me about the emerald

[Gibson 1964]

I think based on clips I like its sound enough to where I might want a guitar with emeralds in it.

I have a rather remarkable number of guitars and I build, so...

What wood is it recommended for?

What pickup would you compare it to at all? I have a pretty broad level of pickup experience, seymour duncan, lawrence, emg, lace, gibson, emg, but not much dimarzio.

[Brow]

Going by the Thin Lizzy reference of the name I'd have a guess at it being quite at home in a Les paul.

It's strange you mention the Emeralds as it's 1 I've always been curious about but you don't hear too much about it on the forum.

[Twinfan]

I had them in all korina PRS McCarty and they sounded great, but the lack of top end from the maple meant they weren't so good for harder rock tones in that guitar.

I would want them in something other than all mahogany or korina, so SGs/Vs/Explorers would be out.

[FELINEGUITARS]

43 gauge wire - 12.7k resistance
Alnico 5 magnets
Like an underwound Duncan Custom 5?

I've had it in a LP before and it worked well
Crunchier than a Riff Raff with a bit more mid grind
Light in the bass - so kind of good in a Les Paul where you have no shortage of bass

Had it in an SG and it was ok there as well

[AnnunakiMassacr]

Think Andy Timmons (Emerald Neck)

[Philly Q]

I've always had the impression that they're primarily intended for, and suited to, LP style guitars - a big chunk of mahogany, with a maple top.  Bright, and lean in the bass so they don't sound muddy.

After one discussion on here a while back, I formed the impression that the Emerald covers similar territory to the Abraxas in terms of power/brightness/clarity, but with a bit of a harder edge to the sound.  That may be wrong though.....

(I have a set......... but haven't actually tried them yet  :roll: )

[Twinfan]

I shouldn't have sold them to you Phil - they'd probably be great in my Singlecut!

[Philly Q]

I'm definitely keeping them Dave!  :lol:

But I'm fussy about finding something with gold hardware to put 'em in  :roll: .  Even considered getting gold parts for my McCarty, but realistically gold would look terrible on that particular sunburst.

[FELINEGUITARS]

I'm definitely keeping them Dave!  :lol:

But I'm fussy about finding something with gold hardware to put 'em in  :roll: .  Even considered getting gold parts for my McCarty, but realistically gold would look terrible on that particular sunburst.

I could always build something for you Phil.......like a lightweight Lion

[Twinfan]

:lol:

Go on Phil, you know you want to...

[Philly Q]

I'm definitely keeping them Dave!  :lol:

But I'm fussy about finding something with gold hardware to put 'em in  :roll: .  Even considered getting gold parts for my McCarty, but realistically gold would look terrible on that particular sunburst.

I could always build something for you Phil.......like a lightweight Lion

:lol:

Go on Phil, you know you want to...

My thoughts have been edging in that direction, believe me..... especially since finding a lightweight LP Custom, Yamaha SG or Ibanez Artist seems to be nothing but a pipe dream....

But you guys know I have commitment issues.....  :? :lol:

[WhiteRam]

I spent a lot of time with the Emerald in the bridge of my alder body maple/maple Strat.

It was the most harmonically rich BKP I've ever heard, 3D harmonics swirling around the room in hypnotic glory. This was all when playing chords, it made me want to give up lead playing and just play full rich chords forever.

Problem, it was way too bright for my guitar to play lead solos, I did everything I could think of (adjustments, strings, etc.) and could not deal with the brightness in both the upper mids and treble.

I long for an all mahogany guitar with a rosewood fretboard or other dark woods, a maple top les paul may work if it was a darker sounding guitar.  It was my favorite BKP humbucker and I will have a set someday. 

I did not hear Thin Lizzy in it at all, possibly because of my guitar/woods.

[Philly Q]

^

This doesn't really surprise me.  I'm much more familiar with humbuckers in Gibson-style guitars (I've owned quite a few Fenders, but nearly always with single-coils).  The few times I've tried humbuckers in Strats (or similar) I've been struck by just how much brighter they sound than they would in a Gibson.

[FELINEGUITARS]

The origins of the Emerald are that Tim had a mid 1970s Gibson LP Custom - similar to the one Brian Robertson was using with Lizzy at the time.

The bridge pickup of that guitar had a great sound.
Tim took it apart and checked out it's build as it was pretty hot and that spec is basically what evolved into the Emerald

[lulusg]

Nice!!