Pickup Question Emmons Legrande and Push Pull.

Bill Erb · Post by **Bill Erb** » 5 Feb 2003 3:35 pm

I have a Emmons LeGrande II. I tried using a Bill Lawrence 710 pick ups. I got a distortion in the sound. I read here on the forum to lower the pickup because of the pickup being so hot. The problem is that I have very little room to lower it. I was able to lower it a little and it did help but not all the distortion went away. I wondered if anyone else had this problem and how did you solve the problem.
I tried installing the 710 pickup on my push pull Emmons and had plenty of room to lower it down. I did not have the distortion noise on the push pull. The problem with this pickup on my push pull Emmons is that the high strings sounds so thin. The single coil sounded good except for the hum.
Thanks for your help in advance.

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BILL ERB

Gary Dunn · Post by **Gary Dunn** » 5 Feb 2003 7:25 pm

Bill,

I also tried BL 710's in my Legrande and I did not like them either. I put back in a set of factory single coils at 19.5k. As for the hum, I put my compressor in the front of the chain and turn it way down so not to take the life out of the steel. Then I set the noisegate that is built into the compressor to level 1 to elimiate the hum and the sustain to zero.

This seems to works for me here at the house but, I do not how well it works on stage.

Gary [This message was edited by Gary Dunn on 05 February 2003 at 07:31 PM.]

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 5 Feb 2003 8:56 pm

Bill,
after trying many different types and brands of pickups in my LeGrande, I found that I got the best sound for my guitar by using the factory humbucker #108. It sounded best, second only to the stock single coil pickup, but was "noiseless!" Noise can be a problem with the single coil, so the #108 would be a great choice. I know of six or seven other LeGrandes, all played by pro's, that found benefit form using the #108. Afterall, it was built "by" the Emmons Co "for" the Emmons!

Dave

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 5 Feb 2003 11:06 pm

Bill...what kind of volume pedal are you using?

Bill Erb · Post by **Bill Erb** » 6 Feb 2003 3:19 pm

Donny
I am using a goodrich volume pedal and a Nashville 400 amp. I also have a boss delay pedal that I like. I have E-66 pickups in the LeGrande II now. The E-66 pickups sounds pretty good in the LeGrande II.I put the 710 pickups in my push pull. The smaller strings sounds very thin. I am thinking of putting the emmons single coil pickups back in the push pull. I sure dislike the hum with the single coil pickups but the tone was better. What humbucker pick up do you think would sound the best in the push pull? I may end up selling the 710s. I hear there are some brands of steels that sound real good with them. Thanks

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BILL ERB

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 6 Feb 2003 9:28 pm

Bill,
I too use a Goodrich pedal and Nasville 400.
Give the #108 a try. It works real well in the push/pull, too. While the #108 is wound around the 22K point, it actually works out to be about the same as the 19K single coil.

When I originally ordered my LeGrande III I ordered it with E-66's. It sounded pretty good with them, at least until I got a chance to play a few nights at the club I was playing at the time. But under the typical "loud" conditions, the E-66's just wouldn't "get out there" and begin to sound a little thin. When the E-66 is right, it is really right, but not neccesarily right for all guitars. When I played push/pulls, I used the E-66, But they don't have the "sparkle that a good single coil has. I found the #108 more closer to the sound of the single coils without the noise of course, but more "sparkle". The #108 is more "forgiving" as well as "hot!" I got a few "push/pull" buddies using the #108's too!

If you try the #108 be sure to get the mounting plates for them as well.

If you like single coils go with the stock Emmons, but if you want "humbucking" go with the #108's.

Dave[This message was edited by Dave Robbins on 06 February 2003 at 09:30 PM.]

Bill Erb · Post by **Bill Erb** » 7 Feb 2003 1:19 pm

Hi Dave
I called the Emmons guitar company and ordered some 108s. You talked me into it. Thanks for you help. I will let you know how I make out.
Thanks again.

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BILL ERB

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 7 Feb 2003 5:37 pm

The 710 works best with a passive volume pedal - a good old-fashioned "pot" pedal. That's what it was designed for. If you use an active pedal like the Goodrich 10K, that might be part of the problem.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
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Bill Erb · Post by **Bill Erb** » 8 Feb 2003 9:06 am

Hi Bob
Thanks for the information. I could not understand how so many people liked the 710 pickup and did not have a distortion problem. Sounds reasonable. I was able to lower the mounting plate a little but not to much. Lowering the pickup made it better, but did not get all the distortion. I am going to take Daves advise and install the Emmons 108 pickups. I have a 1992 Emmons LeGrande that has the 108 pickups in it. It is nice and clear. Thats why I asked the question about the 710 pickups. With so many people liking the 710 I thought it had to be something I was doing wrong. Again thanks for the information. It is always a pleasure talking with you.

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BILL ERB

Tim Rowley · Post by **Tim Rowley** » 15 Feb 2003 1:09 am

The Lawrence 910 is a real nice pickup, plenty of tone and power but smoother-sounding to my ear than the 710's. But I've got a 710 in my Legrand II loafer and it sounds great too.

Tim R.

Bill R. Baker · Post by **Bill R. Baker** » 16 Feb 2003 5:15 pm

Bill, I know what you mean about lowering the pickup in your Emmons. I wanted to lower the E-66 but there was no room so I tried to shave off a little of the pickup and apparently cut a wire and ruined the pickup
The cost of experimentation.