Tru-Tone vs. Emmons Single Coil Pickups

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

Jim Loessberg and I are doing some experimenting with his LeGrande. The tone is not pleasing to him (or I) at all. He is trying to get the guitar to sound a little better, where he could use it on a gig. It has the Emmons Humbuckers in it now.

He would like to try some light (about 12.5K) Emmons pickups in it. He is not interested in anything other than a single coil.

On another note, Jim's Wraparound has 14.5 and 15.5 pickups in it and it sounds a whole lot different than mine. Mine is just too dark/modern sounding.
It has pickups way heavier (17.5K) than they should be. I too, would like a 13.5 and a 14.5 for it. Id prefer it to NOT have the white band that the later pickups had just to keep the guitar original looking. Of course, I will keep the originals, and the white band is not a deal breaker. Tone always trumps looks.

I haven't had any luck contacting the folks at Emmons.

Are the Tru-Tones about the same as the Emmons pickups? I know they look similar. I have had Jerry rewind Emmons and Sho-Bud pickups in the past, and they were fantastic.

Does anyone remember how the Wraparound and Bolt on pickups were wound early on? I know they got heavier as time passed, and of course you could order whatever you wanted, but I would be interested in knowing about how those early pickups were wound.

Thank you all.

Justin
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Emmons/Sho~Bud/Blanton, Fender/Peavey.
Telonics pedal

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Justin, the '67 cut tail I had a few years ago had stock PUs, and they were the same as Jim's wraparound, 14.5K and 15.5K. Not sure that helps you or not, but the tone was great with those PUs.
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Lost Pines Studio
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Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

If it's the guitar I remember, it sounded amazing. Thanks Bill!
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Emmons/Sho~Bud/Blanton, Fender/Peavey.
Telonics pedal

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Give Jerry a call. I bet he could wind a Truetone to sound close. Or if you like both, a hot pickup tapped light (assuming you don't use the tone knob switch, it could activate the tap, keeping the original aesthetics).
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Tommy Shown · From: Denham Springs, La.

I got a Trutone on both necks of my EMCI. And in my unbiased, humble opinion, they are the best ever made. Jerry make a GREAT product.

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Justin, I played that guitar at Cotton Club a few times, so it probably is the one you remember. It's this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cziGx38886Q

Definitely a bit toward the bright end IMO, but in a good way. Might be just what you need? Smile

That's straight into a Session 400 btw..
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Lost Pines Studio
"I'm nuts about bolts"

Brett Lanier · From: Madison, TN

I was told that the major difference between truetones and the original Emmons pickups is that at the beginning of the wind, they (Emmons) wove in between the magnets in a slalom pattern before going around the whole thing. Not sure what kind of sonic differences that would achieve or if it's even true, but seems worth mentioning.

I love Jim's sound btw! Hope he gets it worked out.

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

That's the gutar Bill I remember! The tone you are getting out of it is great!

I'll give Jerry a call and get at least one pickup to try out. Good idea about the coil tap
Lane. The tone control and switch could be removed and saved. That would give you a switch for each neck.

Thanks gang.
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Emmons/Sho~Bud/Blanton, Fender/Peavey.
Telonics pedal

Scott Hay · From: Portland, OR / Yucca Valley, CA USA

Hey Justin, I'll weigh in here. Agree with Lane, get Jerry to tap something.

I am a big fan of lower wound pick ups and Jerry. My ShoBud pro 1 that had a BL 710 I was dissatisfied with for the same reasons, i swapped for a shobud original single coil that Jerry rewound and tapped for me at 14.5 and 17. It came out great. I bet he can do a custom plastic (I've seen white pickups).

I also recently swapped the pickups on my Emmons D10 pp which someone had put 20k pickups in for a pair both at 14.2, and it really sounded better. I also have an Emmons S10 that's my favorite sounding that's 15.8. I'm a lower wind enthusiast, I'm biased.

Knowing that...... I have considered rewinding my D10 E9 pickup with Jerry to be closer to 15.8..... I think below 14 could get real thin. The C6 sounds killer at 14.

His Truetones are different from the Emmons pickups only in pole piece size, they're slightly larger. I'm pretty sure both are Alnico 5 magnets. You could also just have him refurbish your existing pickups. Wondering if there's a creative way to mount a tap underneath near the back apron. I'd hate to give up my tone knob on an Emmons.

Let' us know what you end up doing!

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

You could easily put a switch on an angle bracket on the inside of the rear apron.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

Thanks guys.
I'm going to have him wind me a 15.5 tapped at about 12-12.5 or so. If I like it, I'll have him rewind the originals.
I never use the tone control anyway. I put tap switches in those two holes.
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Emmons/Sho~Bud/Blanton, Fender/Peavey.
Telonics pedal

Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

I love the Tru Tone in my Sho~Bud! This is one that Ricky Davis and Wallace collaborated on to match the Original Sho~Bud pickups. I've also heard the TT's in Jack Ritters Zum, and they sound Killer!
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